Moulsham Times September 2014

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Look out Blues in the City is coming this month - see page 11

Issue Number 21 - September 2014

MT Welcome

Hello readers and welcome to the September edition of the Moulsham Times.

This month Nick has his charity festival, Blues In The City, running from 26th - 28th September raising funds for the Helen Rollason charity. Check the details on page 4 and the poster on page 11.

Also this month City Diversions is coming to Chelmsford on Saturday 27th September. See the advert on page 30.

If you attend any of these events let us know what you thought by writing us a letter - editorial@itsyourmedia,co.uk.

Enjoy Paul & Nick

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Editorial Advertising Paul Mclean Nick Garner 07595 949701 07970 206682 ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk editorial@itsyourmeida.co.uk Disclaimer: It’s Your Media publish the Moulsham Times. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Its Your Media Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of Its Your Media Ltd. Reg Co No. 09154871. Printed by Imagery UK.

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Chelmsford

Blues in the City Festival 2014

Blues, Booze, Rock & Roots 26th to 28th September 2014 Blues in the City Festival special.

It is September and that can only mean Blues in the City (Blues Booze Rock & Roots) Festival 2014.

Before I start I must say we had the most fantastic night at the Bassment on 13th August with a first - Cold Norton, who were great and then up next a bit of a different act with Julian Burdock from 24 Pesos doing a great deal of looping. Whether you liked it or not everyone was in awe of what Julian was doing all at once. He is such a great guitarist and he ended up playing for 2 hours and the audience wanted more.

This month, as our warm up to the festival on Wed 17th September, we have the incredible Kent DuChaine and his trusty guitar Leadbessie at the Bassment. This is one not to miss as Kent is one of the best Delta Blues players around today and having played with many of the greats including Muddy Waters. Kent wanted to play the festival again but the times did not marry up. This will be a fantastic warm up to the festival. We also have the Hokum Boys supporting.

This year’s festival runs from the 26th to 28th September with 16 acts playing all over the city, some free entry and some paid (see the advert on page 8). As normal all profits are going to charity and this year it is the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity who do fantastic work and need support. So with your help we will raise lots of money. Thank you to all the sponsors: Hawksley Pearce, Chelmer Web Design, Graphic Impression, Grapevine magazine, Round Tower Brewery, Sign Masters & It’s Your Media.

This is our fourth annual Blues in the City festival and will take place as normal in various locations in and around Chelmsford except for Saturday night which will be in Hullbridge, Essex at the Hullbridge

Sports and Social Club, also known as the Touchline.

This year’s line up is almost all made up of acts playing the festival for the first time.

We start on Friday 26th September at the Chelmsford Social Club (tickets £15) with a great line up. First is Porter from Southend.

Gary Porter’s band, who are gaining a lot of recognition right now. Next is another great act from Bedford, Pearl Handled Revolver, who are going from strength to strength and are one of the most talked about acts. Our next act is a name you may not recognise, Phil Spalding. Phil’s pedigree goes before him having played bass for Toyah, Mike Oldfield, Elton John, Roger Daltrey, Robbie Williams, Mick Jagger, Joe Cocker, Seal and his band, All Messed Up who play the music of Bad Company and Free. The band consists of Robert Hart of Manfred Mann’s Earthband on vocals, Pat Davey, (bass) and a member of Jim Cregan’s band having been a bass pro for 30 years with artists from Rumer to Zoot Money, Olly Richmond-Jones on drums a recent member of the Elvis and Blues Brothers shows as well as touring with The Marmalade. Phil Spalding is playing guitar for the first time on stage.

The headline for Friday is one of the best guitarists in the world, Robbie McIntosh, who has been part of so many bands, including Paul McCartney, John Mayer, Tom Jones, Average White Band, The Pretenders and Norah Jones plus countless others. The Robbie McIntosh Band are not to be missed - a band full of talent. Playing Robbie’s great songs are Paul Beavis (who is also drummer for Andy Fairweather Low), Thea Gilmore, (The Waterboys, Robert Fripp, Andy Summers & Toyah). Steve Smith, keyboards (played with Bad Company, Roger Daltrey and many more). Steve Wilson on bass. who again has played with many and Peter Hope-Evans, (harmonicas) who has played with Medicine Head and Pete Townsend and others.

On Saturday we start with two acts playing in pubs in Chelmsford. The first is the Star and Garter with The Blues Spiders from Southend, then it’s on to The Orange Tree with the great Robin Bibi Band - and the beer festival is on as well. The evening is at Hullbridge Sports and Social Club, home of the Touchline, (tickets £15) where we have three acts. Firstly Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective playing their great mix of rock, blues and roots originals, then all the way from the north of England we have the legendary Cliff Stocker’s Slack Alice who started back in 1973 and are distinguished by great original songs and playing as well as Cliff’s distinctive powerful gravelly voice. The headline tonight is Del Bromham, who made his first stage appearance playing at the age of 13 and went on to form Stray at the age of 15. The band are still going strong since the release of the first album in 1970. The band has seen changes over the years but now have a strong line up of Del on guitar and lead vocals, Robbie Stewart-Mathews on bass and vocals, Karl Randal drums and Pete Dyer guitar and vocals. They will start the show as the Blues Devils before playing the Stray part of the show.

Then Sunday is free entry around the pubs of Chelmsford with Lil Ian Goodsman (The Cricketers), Red Butler (Star & Garter), Dave Jackson Band (Woolpack), Mississippi MacDonald & the Cottonmouth Kings (The Ale House), Blind Dead McJones (Black Bull), Split Whiskers (The Ale House) and Saiichi Sugiyama Band (Black Bull) to end the festival.

I would also like to thank all of our musicians, the venues and helpers, without whom it would never happen.

For tickets, locations, times, and links to all the acts and all other info go to: www.bluesinthecity.co.uk.

If you would like to donate a raffle prize, please let us know by emailing ads@itsyourmedia.co.uk

From the House

by Simon Burns MP - Streets Ahead Campaign Recently an important campaign was brought to my attention by a constituent. That campaign is Streets Ahead, which was launched by Guide Dogs. The main aim of the Streets Ahead campaign is to call for UK- wide laws to make it clear that pavement parking should be the exception not the norm and only allowed where no other parking options are available. Not only this but the Streets Ahead campaign also aims to provide blind and partially sighted people with the tools to help them engage with their local authorities and developers and ensure that inclusive design principles are at the heart of new projects. Blind and partially sighted pedestrians and wheelchair users all have particular trouble with this type of

obstruction which can force a person to walk on the road to get past and puts them at greater risk of being hit by passing traffic.

The idea behind this is to work alongside professionals who can actually change the urban landscape, i.e. engineers, architects, town planners and other urban design professionals. This would mean that the needs of the blind and partially sighted people are understood and that they are properly consulted instead of just being an afterthought.

The Streets Ahead campaign has also focussed on informing local shopkeepers and local councillors about the unnecessary nuisance of ‘A’ boards and other poorly positioned street furniture as these can cause serious risk to blind and partially sighted people and can even turn the

shortest journeys into a nightmare. Also the actual behaviour of the motorists themselves has to change; not only does inconsiderate parking cause millions of pounds worth of damage to the pavement, but it can cause serious injury to any blind or partially sighted people as it completely impedes their passage along the footways.

Research by the Guide Dogs actually shows that people parking on pavements is the most common obstruction encountered by both blind and partially sighted people and pedestrians who have no sight issues. 90% said that they had experienced problems with pavement parking.

This is a very important campaign and more has to be done to find the problems caused by vehicles parking on pavements.

If I Had Wanted an Easy Life I Wouldn’t Have Started This Adventure.

After not getting anywhere with the bureaucracy at The Ministry of Interior in Islamabad, I decided not worry about the NOC (non objection certificate) and ride north up the KKH (Karakoram Highway) and take it as it comes. I had read about this famous road, which is the highest paved road in the world and links Pakistan with China, but never dreamed I would be about to embark upon the journey myself.

The road follows the mighty Indus River as it flows down as we ride up. Over the next 12 days a Canadian, German and myself rode to the Chinese border and back riding in both some of the most amazing landscapes and also some of the most demanding riding conditions, we rode high into the Karakoram mountains reaching 4,720 metres at Khunjerab Pass, where I marvelled at the fact that I had ridden from England to the Chinese border. En route up the Indus Valley we twisted and turned around mountain passes with sheer drops hundreds of metres down at the very edge of the road, sometimes the road was ok but often we had to ride in off-road conditions over sand, dirt, rocks and rivers. My riding skills we tested on many occasions and I did fail once dropping my bike as I crossed a river. The bike and I were fine but some of my luggage was water damaged including my iPad.

pushed the bikes over unstable planks and lifted them on, my bike was perched at the front and it didn’t look safe. For 45 minutes the boat took us up the lake with bright blue water and sheer rock face on either side with snow mountains high above and the sun bearing down on us - wow.

This feels like real adventure motorbiking.

I have now arrived in the country I most enjoy travelling in, India. I leave behind Pakistan which has been both the hardest country I have ever travelled in and one of the most rewarding with diverse landscapes, lovely

people but also too much bureaucracy and real safety concerns with many different conflicts.

I’ll be in India until the start of November, initially in Kashmir where I hope to ride across the Himalayas and possibly over the highest navigable road in the world before I head south back to the heat and monsoon.

After India I hope to ride across Myanmar (Burma) into Thailand.

Who wants an easy life?

The KKH is permanently under repair with frequent landslides blocking the road. About 5 years ago there was a massive landslide which killed 19 people and 400 lost their homes. The landslide caused a 10km lake to form behind it completely blocking the road and the only way to continue was to load the bikes onto a small boat from a dirt bank. With the help of 4 or more porters we

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Write For Us If you wish to write a one off article of write regularly for one of our magazines, please email us at: editorial@itsyourmedia.co.uk

MT Gardening

Well… what a month! I survived the Prudential Ride London 100 this year along with around 20,000+ others in the torrential rain. Now that I have regained all feeling in my legs I’ve been rethinking my garden and have started to go all vertical. Using climbers and wall shrubs really does add a new dimension; creating height and allowing your eye to wonder upwards rather than straight down to the bottom of the garden…it also softens all those harsh walls and fences that some of us have. Here are just a few of my favorites…

Actinidia kolomikta (Kiwi Vine)

flowering at their best.

Flowering can take a few years to start.

Orange, red and yellow flowers. Can grow to 40ft.

Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris (Climbing Hydrangea) These are extremely slow to get started, but there is nothing to beat the sight of a mature specimen in bloom. Climbing Hydrangea is a deciduous vine that clings with aerial roots. It needs solid support, like a wall, fence or even a large tree. They produce the lacy hydrangea flower heads in June. The dried flower head and peeling bark give it winter interest.

Worth the investment in time. White flowers. 10 - 80ft.

And of course… there is also the tried and tested range of clematis…

Now don’t panic, I know a number of these look like they’re going to morph into huge beasts - rest assured plants can be contained on the support you are growing them on. There’s no need to think you’ll wake up one morning to be surrounded by a climbing triffid!

Grown for its distinctive, heart-shaped foliage. New growth is purple and matures to various degrees of variegation highlighted with splashes of pink. The flowers are tiny and inconspicuous, although they do have a slight scent. Female plants produce grape-like berries in the autumn, but male plants reportedly have better variegation.

12 - 30ft.

Akebia quinata (Five Leaf Akebia, Chocolate Vine)

This April bloomer produces spicy scented, brownish-purple blossoms that hang like pendants. The foliage remains nice looking, with oblong leaves, usually grouped in leaflets of 5. It’s a very fast grower that clings by twining. Also comes in white (alba). 30 - 40ft.

Campsis radicans (Trumpet Vine) A native American plant much loved by butterflies. Widely adaptable to heat and cold and an especially good choice as a perennial vine for the south east gardener. Since they can get quite woody, their weight requires a strong support. Mature specimens make for nice winter interest, although they do require some maintenance pruning to keep them

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Lastly, if you’re looking to develop a new garden skill this year or want to move into horticulture as a career, please check out our huge range of courses on offer at Writtle College: www.writtle.ac.uk from this September.

Good luck and happy gardening!

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CITYdiversions Festival Returns This Month - 27th September On Saturday 27 September, Chelmsford City Centre and Anglia Ruskin University host the annual festival of outdoor art and street diversions, CITYdiversions - the new name for an event that’s been unique to Essex for 12 years.

From 10.30am, a family day of activities at Chelmsford’s Anglia Ruskin University includes vintage fun fair rides, free live music, comedy, children’s shows, arts and crafts, storytelling, international street food, Bobby’s Girl Vintage Fair and more. All of this leads up to a mesmerising and energetic performance from Spark! Worldbeaters at 8.30pm featuring high-impact choreographed drumming and lights in a 40 minute show not to be missed.

For further information on CITYdiversions Festival, please visit www. chelmsford.gov.uk/citydiversions , find CITYdiversions on Facebook or follow #CITYdiversions.

CITYdiversions Festival 2014 is kindly supported by Anglia Ruskin University, BBC Essex, Essex Chronicle, High Chelmer Shopping Centre, The Meadows Shopping Centre, Essex & Suffolk Water, The Printing Place, 1159 Productions, Sshhh Events, The City Times and SeaChange Arts.

Meanwhile, from 12noon until 5pm, Chelmsford High Street enjoys a variety of free shows from street bands and theatre companies from the UK and Europe. Promenade performances such as Carnage Productions (France), Mimbre (UK) and Mr Wilson’s Second Liners (UK) will pass through the High Street and also High Chelmer and Meadows Shopping Centres. Static shows from FIPA and Colchester’s Buffalo Tank can also be found in Bell Meadow.

Remember, after 5pm, the party continues at the University. It’s a short 10 minute walk and there’s also a vintage bus will be providing transport between the top of the High Street and the university campus.

Don’t forget that on Saturday 20th September, you are invited to witness a journey of flight as the Twilight Spectacle, Firebirds by Theatre Titanick from Germany, is performed in Saltcoats Park, South Woodham Ferrers. A promenade of four marvellous machines and their eccentric pilots will attempt to win the favour of the audience using pyro effects as the sparkling power behind their outrageous flying attempts. This free spectacular will start soon after 8.30pm.

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FROM COUNTY HALL

by Cllr Dick Madden

As I write this article this past weekend the V Festival has been going on in Hylands Park. Unlike previous years, the impact it has had on our residential area and Moulsham Street, in my view, does not seem to be as much as before, in fact, talking to my daughters and local residents, there appears to be a view that the festival was less well attended. Generally though, the weather was good and the investment into wellington boots was well made!

Over the next few weeks it will be reported that after 2 years of negotiation with Essex Police and the Police Commissioner’s Office, we at ECC have signed a temporary lease surrounding the Moulsham Lodge Community Group creating a Community Hub at the now closed Moulsham Lodge Police Station. More details will be reported in the local media, but from my perspective, working with the Moulsham Lodge Community Group we have undergone 2 years frustration but at last our main objective has been achieved. After 2 years of a closed police station it will be open again soon and having had discussions with the Chief of Chelmsford Police, we have invited local police officers to eventually use the building again to carry out local community surgeries.

In a previous article I mentioned about a domestic abuse campaign developed by victims which recently has finished. This included ‘tweet your feet’ and other publicity to heighten the awareness of this matter. The joint two month ‘Standing Together’ campaign has now come to a close with tremendous success.

The campaign, led by Essex County Council and Essex Police, aimed to raise awareness of domestic abuse and provided information and

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advice. It also aimed to get the community as a whole talking about a subject that is often seen as taboo.

Since the campaign launched on 9th June, millions of people worldwide have been reached online via social media, advertising and other online channels. Page views of the main campaign web page during the two months of the campaign, June and July, totalled a massive 10,891. This is compared to 507 during the previous two months, April and May. This equates to a staggering 2,048% increase.

Have we seen the last of the hot weather? Believe it or not I have just agreed to have delivered in our area 1 ton of gritting salt in anticipation of our next winter. Last year’s winter allocation of salt was not used for our area and still have that available, so I now have 2 ton of gritting salt ready to be distributed around our estates in the coming winter. As we enter a cold winter period the Moulsham First Community Group and Moulsham Lodge Community Group will distribute around the community where there is a need. It’s unbelievable that I am talking about gritting salt and having it delivered before summer is even over! However, from a highways perspective it is a positive move rather than wait for our winter to arrive.

BE SAFE

www.moulshamtimes.com

Orange Tree Beer Festival The Orange Tree on Lower Anchor Street will be holding it’s annual beer festival on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th September. The Chelmsford & Mid Essex CAMRA Pub of the Year is a traditional public house that always has at least eight cask ales on tap. An ever-changing list of guest ales and ciders from around the country join the three regular session beers that are always available. Dark beer lovers can enjoy a pint Oscar Wilde Mild from Maldon’s Mighty Oak Brewery which was voted Champion Beer of Britain 2011 and the Champion Mild of Britain in 2006. Sheep Dip from Plain Ales in Wiltshire offers a citrus, hoppy golden pint and the very enjoyable blonde City Gold, which is brewed in Chelmsford by Round Tower Brewery is always available.

Silent Mike and the rest of the knowledgeable Orange Tree team will be offering an extra 30 real ales, ciders and perrys for the beer festival. Award-winning milds, stouts, porters and golden ales from across the UK will be served between midday and 11pm. For every ale, cider and perry on sale, tasting notes will be available for the uninitiated and for the experienced ale connoisseur. Hot and cold food will be on offer and there will also be live music during the two day festival; The Chelmsford Blues in the City Festival arrives at the Orange Tree on Saturday 27th September in the form of the Robin Bibi Band.

For further details of the Orange Tree and its beer festival, please visit their website at www.The-OT.com.

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MT Cookery

Hello all, with England Women’s rugby team in the final of the 2014 World Cup against Canada on Sunday 17th August and the announcement of Twickenham hosting the inaugural European Rugby Champions Cup and the World Cup, it is exciting times at the home of world rugby in 2015.

Another main event of this summer is The Orange Tree Beer Festival 2014 at the end of September. Look out for more details on their web site: www.the-ot.com. It also shows which beers are available on a daily basis.

by Andy Starling Handful of chopped fresh parsley Pre-heat oven to 180C/160C fan/ Gas 4 Method:

Now for a classic dish…

1/ Add the sausages to the rapeseed oil in a non-stick frying pan on a low heat turning the sausages to brown on all sides. Add the onions and cook them for 6-8 mins with the sausages, until onions are softened and slightly coloured.

Cassoulet (Serves 6)

2/ Trim celery, peel carrots cut into 2cm pieces and set aside.

Ingredients:

3/ Trim the chicken thighs remove skin and cut away from bone.

Keep them in bit size pieces.

1tsp of rapeseed oil 6 good quality pork and herb sausages (or your choice) 4 sticks of celery cut into 2cm pieces 3 medium carrots peeled and cut into 2cm pieces 2 medium onions coarsely chopped 2 garlic cloves crushed 6 boneless and skinless chicken thighs 200g of gammon trimmed and cut into 2cm cubes 2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes 150ml red wine 300ml of cold water 1tsp caster sugar 1tbp of chilli flakes 1 bay leaf 3 sprigs of thyme 1 x can of cannelloni beans drained 1 x can of butter beans drained For garnish

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4/ Add the chicken and garlic with the sausages browning the chicken on both sides, and then transfer everything into a flame proof casserole dish.

5/ Stir in the gammon, celery, carrots, red wine, cold water and tomatoes, then sprinkle caster sugar and flaked chilli. Stir in bay leaf and thyme and lots of freshly ground pepper. Bring to the simmer on the hob, then put into the oven for 45 mins. Remove from the oven stir in the beans and return to the oven for 30 mins.

6/ Take from oven and add the garnish over the dish, serve in deep plates with fresh bread or baguette.

Serve with a large glass of red wine…

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When you visit the nursery you will find a lovely intimate coffee shop and licensed restuarant serving fresh home cooked food 7 days a week. During fine weather you can enjoy the mature garden and courtyard while sampling our range of fine wines and beers. Children love to visit our resident bantams Beyonce and Philomena who are often found admiring themselves in their mirror.

In the nursery you will find an interesting flower and gift shop, and a range of seasonal plants. Our team of Sheila, Carol, Emma and Julia are happy to advise on aspects of flower and plant care. Neil, meanwhile, will be happy to discuss the latest football results and will also be on hand to assist with gas, coal and log sales!

Close to Chelmsford town centre on Writtle Road, you will find Writtle Road Nursery.

A family run business since 1869, now in the hands of the fifth generation, the nursery has evolved to keep apace of the challenges of the retail environment.

Nestling in the heart of the nursery is The Greengrocer where Jodie is pleased to welcome you and encourage you to sample seasonal fruits. Jodies family have over 30 years of experience in the trade offering great service along with free local delivery, weekly boxes and much more. The fruit baskets, made to order, make ideal gifts.

Next to The Greengocer you will find Suzi who owns Love Shabby Chic. Suzi has a great range of shabby chic, vintage inspired homewares and up-cycled furniture. You can book here for a variety of art and craft workshops with afternoon tea included in the price!

She can also rejuvenate your tired old furniture!

When you visit why not take the opportunity to declutter and turn your unwanted clothes into cash at Cash for Clothes. Linas is on site Monday to Saturday from 10 till 4 and will be pleased to see you.

Bandit, the one eyed corporate cat, is a regular visitor to all the businesses alongside Mr Penguin, the splendidly handsome cockerel and his two lady companions.

Open 9am-5:30pm Mon-Sat 10am-5pm Sunday

Offering delicious home made food, scrummy cakes, scones and clotted cream.

Our Harris room and marquee are the perfect venues for all occassions.

With chritsmas fast approaching, throughout December we are offering a festive christmas lunch 2 courses @ £19.50 or 3 courses @ £23.50 Something new at the secert garden this year, three christmas party nights december 5th,12th and 19th @ £27.50 per head for a threee course meal, a great evening to spend with colleagues, family and friends, with party music and fun, We can also provide outside catering for any occasion.

Just ring Jane or Wendy on 01245 348337 for more information or to reserve your table.

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The Knights of Danbury

by John Power Danbury is the highest place above sea level in Essex, so it is little wonder that it was first fortified as a place of defence as early as the late Stone Age to early Bronze Age. It served the same function during the Roman occupation. The area derives its name from a tribe of Saxons called the Daeningas, who also built and repaired defences to create their own hill fort. In the Doomsday Book, the national inventory of this country’s assets created for William the Conqueror in 1086, the area is referred to as Danengeberiam.

But when William rewarded his followers with grants of land the surrounding district went to Geoffrey de Mandeville, who became Earl of Essex.

The church erected by the Normans was replaced between 1272 and 1307 by the stone structure that is St. John the Baptist’s Church, that is the oldest building in the village. By the Medieval period, it was surrounded by the manors of of St. Cleres and Runsell. St. Cleres is a dialectical spelling of Sinclair, one of the most powerful Scottish families, descended from Hrolf (Rollo), the Viking chieftain who signed the treaty of St. Clair-sur-Epte with his French (Frankish) contemporaries that founded the Norman dynasty. They were also prominent in the Crusades and in weaving one of the strands that lead into the 17th century operational guilds of masons that in turn morphed into the philosophical developments of Freemasonry. Three full size carved wooden effigies of knights are to be found lying in the north aisle of the church which is said to have been built by the St. Cleres, in the 13th or 14th century, at the end of the crusader era.

The many other carvings of mythical creatures in the church however date only to 1866 when they were added by Gothic revivalist Gilbert Scott. One carving is of a lamb carrying a flag which is a Templar device, so someone had made the Templar connection at another point in history. A more physical remnant associated with crusader knights was unearthed in 1779, under the church floor in a lead, elm lined coffin containing a bath of oils and herbs that have preserved what has come to be called ‘the pickled knight’, minus armour and hair but in a good state of preservation. It has been reasonably suggested that Middle Eastern methods of embalming were used to preserve the body in order to bring it back from the crusades. This also offers a possible explanation for legends of earlier saints like Cuthbert of Lindisfarne being said to have left corpses that did not decay.

In 1985 the author Andrew Collins in a book entitled ‘The Knights of Danbury’, did much to advance the idea that the Danbury knights were of the warrior-priestly order of the Knight’s Templar, (or the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon). This was itself after the publication of The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail by Henry Lincoln, Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh, which brought - amongst many other obscure historical threads - the Knights Templars to public attention. Parts of this book however, proved to be based on fraudulent information by a French informant, M. Planchard, that placed him in descent from a group of well known historical figures who had kept alive the task of protecting the bloodline descendants of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. This organisation, the Priory of Sion, may well have existed at the time of the Crusades but documents detailing leaders of the Priory up to Planchard were forgeries. This naturally tended to discredit all the other information the trio had unearthed, but much of which was valid. It didn’t in any case stop Dan Brown from turning the story into a novel, ‘The Da Vinci Code’ or Hollywood from making a film of the novel.

Not too straightened by their fraudulent source material, Baigent and Leigh went on with their research but stuck to more soundly

verifiable evidence concerning the Knights Templar and their influence in the founding of Freemasonry, especially in Scotland, where it enjoyed royal patronage on numerous occasions and evolved specialised rituals that became known as ‘the Scottish Rite’.

That book was called ‘The Temple and the Lodge’ and begins with discoveries of graves identified by dating to just after the dissolution of the Templar order with carvings of swords of the appropriate design, as being those of Templars as the only identifying marks.

These are to be found along the coast of Argwll and Loch Awe (modern Strathclyde), especially in the churchyard of Kilmartin. Many more recent graves in the area show masonic symbolism, as if the area is seen as a place where masons wish to identify with the older secret history. Only two Templars were ever interrogated in Scotland, and they were both English knights. I have touched on issues of Templar lands in Essex at Cressing and connections to Scots nobles like Robert the Bruce, his father’s Essex estates and John Comyn’s descendants connection to Hylands Estate in other articles. It comes as no surprise then to find another powerful Scottish family, the Sinclairs (aka St. Clere) holding lands in Essex also. Recent Edward I coin discoveries and the seal for a Papal Bull from Gregory 9th (1145-1241) found recently by metal detectorists Simon Iles and Richard Chester near Temple Farm in Galleywood led them to discover that the ‘Temple’ that gives it its name was also a Templar site. One of the three Bullas of Gregory that could have born the seal said that “cats were creatures of the Devil” and led to European rituals of throwing the poor creatures from church towers, thus reducing the number of predators capable with dealing with rats: the carriers of the plague. This does not say a lot for Papal infallibility!

The secrecy surrounding the Templars of course is linked to their fall from grace. Masons have at various times during religious sectarian changes behind royal succession felt the need to maintain levels of secrecy, especially those backing the Jacobite Stuart cause, although they are free to be far more open in the 21st century. The Templars demise began in 1307 and was intended to lead to the arrest of all French Templars on Friday 13th of October of that year, but it seems this trouncing by French King Phillip IV and his puppet pope was known of by some who spread the word, leading to many escapees, most notably the Templar fleet which left its bases in La Rochelle and the Seine, and sought refuge it seems certain, in Scotland with Robert the Bruce, who was excommunicated by the Pope for killing John Comyn, a rival contender for the Scots’ crown and who would have been a puppet King under Edward I of England. Bruce had Celtic blood on his mothers side, as well as the Norman blood of his father, so cared little for approval of the Church of Rome. King Phillip’s finances were in a poor state, yet the Templars, who had formed in 1118 to protect pilgrims and crusaders en route to the Middle East, had since grown rich by the invention of banking and were a powerful force to be reckoned with. Phillip’s designs on the Templar wealth however came to nothing as their alleged treasure, if there was one, disappeared with them.

The charges brought against the monks were of heresy, whether real or trumped up and were said to consist of worshipping a Ramlike idol called Baphomet and a preferrance for John the Baptist, the beheaded end of the Age of Aries who baptised his successor, the representative of the coming Piscean Age, Jesus. These ideas were supposed to have originated from the order’s time spent in Jerusalem, excavating the ruins of the Temple of Soloman. A test of candidates obedience to the order was said to be spitting on the cross and denouncing Jesus. Under torture people will often agree to anything, but these odd confessions by a few would certainly

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suffice to prove heresy. However when the order was formally dissolved by the pope in 1314 no final pronouncement of guilt was made, yet the grand master of the order and one of his regional preceptors were roasted to death on the Isle de France in Paris in front of where Notre Dame Cathedral now stands. Not many European monarchs aligned themselves behind Phillip at first and when directed to do so by the pope, most did so in a half hearted manner, which allowed most of the order to swap their monkish habits for civilian dress and and disappear into annonymity. So the secrecy began.

The Knights of Danbury have no identifying marks, just like the graves in Argyll. The Templar lands were reassigned mostly to the Order of the Knights Hospittlers (the origins of St John’s ambulance) who had tended to the sick and wounded of the Crusades. That is why Notley Hospital grew on old monkish lands, before recent redevelopments by the NHS. In Freemasonry, beyond the three Craft Degrees there are, for those that pass under the Royal Arch, 30 more degrees and one of these is the Templar Degree. Not dating back to the Crusades but constructed in retrospect with what degree of inner knowledge only Masons of that degree will know. Certainly many Masons are aware of their Templar heritage, and many historically have sought to promote it. The Templar involvement with the ruins of Solomon’s Temple and many other sites associated with them bear witness to skillful masons having been amongst their numbers. One Templar motif that has survived into masonry for certain is the skull and crossbones. This was the flag of the Templar fleet. Once they were outlawed by Papal dissolution the flag soon degenerated into a symbol for pirates generally, as other outlaw vessels began to fly it as a warning of fighting prowess. At the time that Robert the Bruce’s grave was opened in the early 19th century at Dunfermeline Abbey it was found that his thigh bones had been placed in a cross below his skull. It is a widely held legend that Bruce’s outnumbered troops at the decisive battle of Bannockburn were saved by the arrival of a force of crack troops that routed Edward I’s army and won the day for the Scots. The only elite troops that could have filled that place in the legend would have been the highly trained warrior monks of the Templars, exiled and/or of Scottish origin before the persecutions. Bannockburn led to Bruce’s Kingship of Scotland and the line which lasted until 1603 when James VI of Scotland also became James I of England, after the death of Elizabeth I. Not bad for an Essex boy!

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MT Therapy by Jenny Hartill

Carrying on from last month, today I’ll look at the Transactional Analysis approach to addiction, in particular looking at Game Analysis. According to Eric Berne MD, the man who came up with the theory of Transactional Analysis and Game Analysis and author of Games People Play, we all play games in every area of our lives from relationships at work, with our significant others and even in therapy.

Every interaction is like a mental contest, an opportunity to assert our will. Transactional Analysis (or TA as I will refer to it from now on to save word count!) is all about understanding human personality, relationships and communication. After studying TA as part of my training I realised just how much of our lives and human interaction is all about cycles, or as Eric Berne put it, Games People Play.

Before I explain the game of “Alcoholic”, here is a brief introduction to TA and one of the most important aspects to it: ego states. Here are the ego states: Parent: this ego state is representative of the behaviours we have learned from our parents.

Adult: this ego state is logical and unchanging and represents our ability to think in the moment without prejudice.

Child: this ego state is representative of behaviours we have learned from childhood.

According to Berne, TA is a branch of social psychology and Game Analysis is a branch of TA. There’s a social level and psychological level to games we play. On the surface at a social level the game may look like a parent–child ego state interaction but at a psychological level the game being played out may be child–child ego states. It all depends on what each party gets out of playing the games.in TA there’s no such thing as an addict, alcoholic, drug addict, sex addict etc but there is a type of Life Game called “Alcoholic”. If a biochemical or physiological abnormality is the prime cause of the particular excess (alcohol, drugs, sex etc) - and in the opinion of TA enthusiasts that is still open to some question – then the client needs to see their GP. Game analysis is interested in the kinds of social interaction that are related to excesses that can be termed as “addiction”. So, let’s look at the life game of “Alcoholic”.

Games often have sub-games, in this case it is “Hangover”. This is the payoff for the alcoholic, never mind enjoying a social drink and banter, it’s the opportunity to berate oneself that the alcoholic is really after. For the alcoholic a good old fashioned round of “Morning After” (let me tell you about my hangover) is the secondary gain, which organisations like Alcoholics Anonymous provide an unlimited time frame to indulge in (Eric Berne was not a fan of AA!). Remember the parent-adult-child ego states from earlier? Now we’ll use them!

The transactional object of the drinking, apart from the obvious “drinking to forget/numb the pain etc, or any pleasure they may get, is to set up a situation where the child ego state can be scolded – not only by the internal parent ego state but by other parental figures known to the person. Hence therapy using this theory and this style concentrates on “The Morning After” not the drinking itself.

The game called “Addict”, mentioned by Eric Berne, is described as similar to that of “Alcoholic” but is more sinister, more dramatic, more sensational and faster. In this game the “Addict” is in such a situation where the role of persecutor is more readily available, Patsies and rescuers are less available and the connection plays a much more central role. Eric Berne says the psychological cure of “Alcoholic” is simply to get them to stop playing the game altogether , rather than get them to change role. In his eyes organisations such as AA transfer the role of “alcoholic” to that of “rescuer” – but then what happens if the rescuer has nobody to rescue? I’ll leave you guys to chew on that one!

Cloud9 Counselling and Hypnotherapy www.counsellinginchelmsford.co.uk info@cloud9-counselling.co.uk

It it’s full form this is a five-handed game, although the roles can be condensed so it starts and ends as a two handed one. Let’s look at the full-blown game though: Central Role: alcoholic Chief Supporting Role: persecutor (typically the alcoholic’s partner).

3rd Role: rescuer (typically a doctor or someone interested in the patient and their problems).

4th Role: Patsy/Dummy (a parental role who gives the alcoholic money and sympathises that others (like the persecutor) don’t understand the alcoholic).

5th Role: connection (direct source of supply who understands alcoholic talk and who in a way is the most meaningful person in the life of any addict).

In the initial stages of the game “Alcoholic” the partner may take on the additional roles of Patsy in the evening (helping the drunk get to bed, feeding them, even putting up with abuse), persecutor in the morning (berating the alcoholic for their evil ways) and rescuer that evening (pleading with the alcoholic to look after themselves). In later stages of “Alcoholic” the roles of persecutor and rescuer may disappear (usually due to the deterioration of the alcoholic) but they may still be tolerated if, after being scolded and told life doesn’t have to be like this (perhaps at a shelter or from someone taking pity), then they can have a handout of food, money etc.

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Help Raise Money in Memory of Nipper and Help Two of the Charities He Supported

As many will already know, Nipper from The Anchor and previously the Bassment, sadly died last week aged 45. He was a well known character around Old Moulsham and throughout Chelmsford and “Friends of Nipper” would like to create a lasting memorial to him. He supported The Royal British Legion and Help for Heros amongst others and any money left over will be divided between the two charities.

On Friday 22nd August many gathered at The Anchor and donated a total of £640. If you would like to donate, pop in to The Anchor and hand your donation to any of the staff.

We will keep you updated with the total raised and further information about the memorial when we have it.

Nipper always took time to say hello to me and many others he knew and

Joining a Rotary Club - a Letter From a New Member As the district governor for the area I receive all manner of correspondence, some of which relates to the wonderful work Rotary carries out locally and internationally and some asking about how one can become part of the world’s largest service organisation. Here I reproduce a letter from Michelle, one of our newer members, which shows what she has got out of becoming a Rotarian and the impact it has had on her life.

Dear all, I would like to update you with an opportunity for some of you who are looking to get involved locally, not only making some new friends, listening to some interesting speakers, networking, having many social events and functions to be part of, as well as fund raising for some primarily local good causes. I joined Rotary when I was at a low ebb, but looking for something to get involved in and to make a difference. Since I joined I now have a great support network of like-minded people. There are 5 clubs in Chelmsford from a breakfast club, 2 lunch-time clubs, and also two evening clubs one of which I go to and am involved in regularly. It is a great opportunity to get as involved as much as you have time for, as well as give something back to the community, whilst making friends and having a great social life. If anyone is interested in coming along to one of the clubs and seeing if it is for them, then you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. There is no pressure at all to join unless you feel it is right for you and each club has a slightly different feel. You can come as a couple, with friends or just on your own and will be made welcome. You just need to let whichever club interests you know that you will be attending. Although you can come along at any age, I would suggest that it might appeal to those from 45 upwards.

The only initial cost will be for the meal, although not all clubs eat when they meet, which will affect your outlay. If you would like to come along to our club let me know, or if you want to try one of the others I will put you in touch with the club in question. Any questions either contact me in direct reply or if you prefer send me a personal message.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Michelle

I would just take slight issue with Michelle about age. It is true that the age group is largely over 45 but on the other hand we have two club presidents in the district who are both just 25, so age is no barrier.

It is a blend of experience and new energy.

Following Michelle’s letter she had several replies including one from John who is looking to do something valuable whilst getting away from watching the TV and making his life more fulfilling. It is a common theme, so Rotary could be the answer for you. If you would like to find out more about Rotary in general and a club near you visit www.rotary1240.org or phone me on 01245 260349 (office hours).

Stan Keller

Rotarians at V Festival transferring alcohol into plastic bottles as glass is not allowed into the grounds. The £1 collected goes towards the End Polio Now campaign.

Wine Corner Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying the summer, Make the best of it with some lovely wines from around the world.

With the German holiday seeming a long time ago now, back to the old routine.

This month I will start with Italy. There are wine areas throughout the country, from Sangiovese in Lombardy in the north to Syrah on the island of Sicily in the south. About 60% of Italian departments produce wine. Italy is generally the largest, (or sometimes second largest) wine producer in the world, producing about 33% of the global production exchanging places with France every now and again, depending on yields.

The appellation system has four levels: Vini – wines that can be produced anywhere in the EU and must not show the grape variety or vineyard on the label, just the colour of the wine, unless they come in very odd shades. I don’t think we really need that.

most popular wines by looking at wine lists in pubs and restaurants. You will almost always see Sauvignon Blanc amongst the white choices and good old Merlot in the reds. Both reliable and tasty, but take the chance to try the slightly different tastes dependent on the country they are from.

Bin end chuckles.

I walked into my local the other day and asked the bar tender if they had helicopter flavoured crisps. He said “sorry, we only have plain”.

Whilst I was there, a hamburger and a chip walked into the bar, the bar tender said “sorry we are not serving food today”.

Keep calm and carry on drinking, in moderation.

Vine Varietali – these are wines made from one of the EU’s authorised international grapes (these include Merlot Cabernet Franc amongst others). The grape(s) and the vintage can be shown on the label.

Vini IGP wines with Protected Geographical Indication (IGT in Italy).

These are wines from a specific territory, where specific regulations are in place.

Vini DOP – wines with Protected Designation of Origin. This is the top level of classification.

Talking of classic, you often see the word Classico on Italian wine labels, the grapes in these wines having come from the oldest part of the territory. If the wine is labelled Superiore, the abv will be at least 0.5% higher than the regular DOP wine. Riserva is a wine that has been aged (kept in the barrel) for a specified minimum period.

Italy is at about the same latitude as the USA, which, I must say, I was surprised to learn, but I guess the wines from both countries are similar in some respects.

By the way, when I was shopping recently, not in the wine aisle as usual, I was looking at a range of crisps. On the bag it said that they were hand cooked! Now, I don’t know where the ‘elf and safety people are in that factory, but I bet they get loads of injuries to deal with. It must be almost impossible to dip the raw crisps into a vat of scolding oil without burning fingers! It must take ages to cook the crisps. Whilst in the same shop, I looked at a tin of cooked ham, you know the one with the funny shaped tin and the little key to open it (which incidentally, I can never open without getting in a tangle of metal strip). The label claimed that the product was hand selected.

What is that all about? Does someone go out to the farm and say, I want that one in this tin, that one in this other tin.....

Back to the wine, I know I’ve talked about Chile before, but I continue to be impressed by their produce. I have found a lovely Sauvignon Blanc from that country. Personally I prefer this wine to those from other countries, perhaps with the exception of the Loire Valley in France. Although it originates from Bordeaux, it is now found all around the wine world. Those from California are sometimes called Fume Blanc. The taste varies, dependent on the climate of the area, with the famous Malborough from New Zealand particularly easy to identify from its individual taste. Very much appreciated in recent years by many wine drinkers.

It is best suited to warm climates, rather than hot ones, as the grapes bud early, but ripen late in the season. You can usually identify the 22

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Yours truly spent a very interesting couple of hours walking around Old Moulsham recently dropping off Neighbourhood Watch newsletters (which you can see on our website www.moulshamfirst.org.uk) to good folk who have volunteered to distribute them to neighbours in their streets, roads, avenues, crescents, etc. As recently reported, we now have about a quarter of the area covered – but whither now? Or is it wither now? Because MoulshamFirst (Neighbourhood Watch or much more potential) is not going to thrive unless we have some more people engaged to link in. It needn’t take much.

Just dropping off newsletters is only four time a year, coming along to the meetings is only six times and year. Helping now and again, giving vocal support – all helps.

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MT Charity - RSPCA Danaher Animal Home MELBOURNE PARK, CHELMSFORD CHARITY SHOP In April this year the Danaher Animal Home opened a charity shop at 48-48A Trent Road, Melbourne Park, Chelmsford CM7 3HF to help support its animal rescue home just outside Wethersfield, on the road to Sible Hedingham, near to Braintree. All the profits from the shop go towards the running costs of the home.

Chelmsford Star Co-op and Danaher has formed a partnership with the Co-op to raise funds. The Co-op has given Danaher some Community Cards for their supporters. These cards are used when the supporters make a purchase from any Chelmsford Star shop and accumulate points for us (with a few exceptions including petrol, tobacco products, lottery tickets and postage stamps). These points translate into cash donations by the Co-op. Cards are available from the shop or by emailing danaher.fundraising@rspcaessex.org.uk.

The animal home relies vey much on the income it receives from its charity shops and could not operate without them. Danaher now has shops in Braintree, Witham, Dunmow and Sudbury as well as Chelmsford in an effort to cover all its costs. Whilst it is affiliated to the RSPCA it is a separate independent charity which is totally responsible for its own funding. The cost of running the home is increasing every year and there is more and more demand for its services.

Danaher provides a temporary refuge for up to 84 dogs, 43 cats and a variety of small animals. Here they are assessed, seen by a vet, treated and nursed by staff and volunteers and then the vast majority rehomed.

The shop is open to all customers, whether on two legs or four, and our staff and volunteers are always happy to welcome the four legged ones with a drink of water particularly on the hot days.

Some of the animals have been badly treated or neglected and have been rescued by the RSPCA (often being subject to cruelty cases), some are strays whose owners have not claimed them, others had owners who died or who were just not well enough to look after them any more, whilst others are just not wanted. Sadly for every animal rehomed there is another waiting to come in.

The Danaher Animal Home (named after the couple who first donated the site in 1990) is open from 11.00am until 3.00pm every day except Wednesday. Visitors are very welcome to look round.

Danaher’s aim is to rehome the animals that come mainly from Essex and the surrounding areas as soon as they are fit and healthy enough so they can go to a loving home where they may spend the rest of their lives. Staff and volunteers try to give each dog a walk everyday whilst cats are groomed and socialised. However in both cases it can be quite stressful for them to be locked away so long.

Donations of good, clean goods which the shop will put up for sale are always needed including ladies, men’s and children’s clothes, toys for all ages, books, DVDs, CDs, small electrical goods and furniture, bric a brac, jewellery, china, games, sports equipment, household goods etc. Danaher operates a gift aid scheme by which they can claim (if you pay Income or capital gains tax) 25% of the sale price of the goods from the Inland Revenue (the shop staff have full details) at no cost to you.

There are a lot of animals at Danaher that are desperate to find a new loving home and if you feel you can help by adopting one of these please, initially, either look at the details of the animals that are available for rehoming on Danaher’s web site: www.rspcaessex.org.uk, or contact reception either by ringing 0300 111 4321 or by emailing reception@rspcaessex.org.uk. You might even see one you like on the many posters we display outside our Chelmsford shop. Visits can be arranged for you to meet the animal in question. You are, of course, welcome to just turn up and look around if that is what you would prefer.

Thanks to the donations Danaher receives from supporters, their shops offer a very wide range of good quality goods at very competitive prices. More donations are always needed however – just take them along to the shop and do not forget to gift aid the resulting proceeds if you are eligible. Parking is easy near the to the shop so come along to browse and bring in donations of goods.

Apart from the manager, all the staff are unpaid volunteers who are the key to the success of the shop. Anyone who would like to help should ask the shop manager for details. All volunteers and staff share a passion for animals and want to support them by giving their time.

The shop is in the same parade of shops in Trent Road as a local 24

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“Volatile Retribution” (Part 6) – A Detective Carter Mystery Written by JR Blake Last time we saw DS Carter obtain the identity of the person that could crack her case wide open. Now she needs to interrogate her suspect so she can gain the information she needs to catch her killer…

Conall O’Gealghain had been sat in his cell all night seething. He hadn’t slept. All he could do was think about who the hell these people thought they were, messing with him!! Stupid, that’s what they were. He wouldn’t tell them anything. He knew what was really going on, blatant xenophobia that’s what! Well, he wasn’t going to let these pigs get what they wanted, and he was sure they wanted him behind bars. They wanted to control him, they’d always wanted to control him. That’s why he built explosives, to show them he wouldn’t be arrested and kept like an animal in a cage bending to their rules, being… compliant. He spat at the floor in disgust at this last thought.

No, the pigs wouldn’t keep him down. Never. He’d spent most of his life fighting against the system, he wasn’t about to stop now.

The pigs could hang him if they wanted, he wouldn’t talk. He would be a martyr, he would fight to the death for his right for freedom or slaughter the pigs in his crusade for liberty.

DS Carter read Connall O’Gealghain’s notes through slightly bleary eyes and a hazy headache. Last night’s couple of glasses of wine had turned into about 3 bottles. That she could remember. Carter didn’t really get full blown hangovers, it was more the fact she could taste the wine from the night before that was irritating. A few packets of Smints should sort that out though. O’Gealghain was clearly a very angry young man, he was incredibly volatile when the police went to pick him up for questioning, throwing punches at the officers and struggling from their grip – not to run away but to attack the people sent there to pick him up. He was only twenty three but he had one hell of a track record already, mainly assaults, drunk and disorderly, urinating in public, urinating at the public. Reading the notes he struck Carter as a very troubled young man with a lack of boundaries.

She also suspected he would hate the police and had probably already decided not to co-operate. That wouldn’t be a problem though, thought Carter. People like him could be the easiest ones to crack, especially if you give their temper a little encouragement. She spotted DC Reid coming towards her down the corridor: “nutcraker at the ready?” DC Reid asked DS Carter.

“Always” replied Carter with a wry smile.

“Let’s prise this walnut open then!”

“I think he looks more like a pistachio. The salted kind” “Mmm… I’ll have to pick some of those up later…” and DC Reid and DS Carter entered the interview room. DC Reid already planning in his head his salted pistachio nut trip for later.

Their suspect glared at them as they entered the interview room.

His shocking red hair gave a glimpse into the red hot temper that was as volatile as a volcano, and Carter knew he would erupt at any moment. DS Carter introduced herself and DC Reid for the tape before she started her questioning…

“Mr O’Gealghain, we’d like to ask you a few questions. I believe you are familiar with the substance Semtex” began Carter.

Glare.

“In fact we know you are because we found a large amount of it at the property where we picked you up” Carter continued.

Glare.

“What we would like to know is who has purchased some of this Semtex recently”.

Glare.

“Oh Dear DC Reid. Mr O’Gealghain doesn’t appear to be very vocal today”.

“That’s a shame,” DC Reid replied, “I was planning on getting those pistachio’s later”.

Confused glare.

“Oh yes, we were talking about pistachio’s earlier weren’t we DC Reid?”

“We were”.

“DC Reid commented that we may need a nutcracker to break open your hard shell, and I replied that actually I thought you would be as easy as a pistachio. Looks like I was right” Carter said.

Confused seething glare.

“You see, Mr O’Gealghain, it’s the quiet ones that are the most weak.

They think they’re holding a strong silence, beating the system,

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backing us pigs into a corner, but actually you’re just like a feeble twig swaying in the wind until quite soon… SNAP!” Carter goaded her suspect.

Seething murderous glare.

“I can see the twig bending in the wind…” DC Reid whispered loudly to his colleague.

Seething murderous glare directed at DC Reid.

“How is Saorise these days?” Carter asked.

Murderous slightly shocked glare.

“It is nice to see family isn’t it? Especially when you can help them out. Especially when helping them out involves things that go bang.

You like things that go bang, don’t you Mr O’Gealghain?”

Glare.

“Let me clear this situation up for you Conall. We know Saoirse is your cousin. We found a LOT of Semtex at the property where you’ve been staying. Basically Conall, you’re screwed. Completely, totally screwed. The shame is that you’re so unbelievably dim that you can’t see this. If you’re saying you didn’t help your cousin out, then why? Is it because you knew she was violated? She isn’t pure in your family anymore? Did you abandon your family in her hour of need Conall?”

Seething murderous glare. Carter could see the volcano was close to eruption. Any minute now…

Reid continued where Carter left off, “Don’t your family protect each other? You must have felt so weak, so helpless when you found out what happened to her. As well as being disgusted of course,” “It may have happened a long time ago, but families don’t forget these things, do they Conall?” Carter said. “You must be a sad, weak, pathetic excuse for a human being if you ignored the plight of a woman in need. If you ignored family in need”.

Carter knew she was pushing it, calling a suspect sad and pathetic didn’t exactly fall into protocol but she knew she was close. Then as Carter took a breath to continue her tirade, the volcano blew his top, speaking in a low growl and gradually building to practically screaming…

“I am not weak, I am not pathetic. My family don’t take things lying down, we rip our enemies apart and we make them pay. If we feel pain, they feel more pain. You pigs never did anything, you did nothing, you don’t care about us, you’re all ruled by the system!

Brainwashed into thinking you’re all better than me, that Redfern was better than me, than Saorise, than any of us! You think that pervert professor stopped at Saorise? No way, disgusting pervs like him can’t stop themselves, they use the system to try and make us all weak.

So yeah, I did help her, I gave her enough Semtex to blow that sicko pervert’s face right off and it worked. She’s a brave girl our Saorise, she showed that twisted, evil degenerate who really has the power.

That’s how we do things my way in my family! ” Bingo.

“Thank you Mr O’Gealghain” Carter replied calmly.

Now Carter has the link she needed, on tape that Conall had given Samantha Galvin, or Saorise O’Gealghain, the Semtex to blow up the professor, her case was almost closed, there was just one thing left to do. Arrest her killer…

25

Ami’s Diary

I went to Guide camp for a week and enjoyed cooking dinner on a camp fire. I had great fun abseiling, crate stacking and doing crafts and we made lots of loom bands.

I finally got to watch The Boy with a Camera for a Face on TV which is a short film I acted in two years ago.

It was narrated by a famous actor called Steven Berkoff. It was quite a strange film but it made more sense than when I filmed it.

I have also had my agency portfolio photographs updated as my hair has grown a lot and the Christmas commercials castings are starting to come through.

Two years ago, I modelled for a photographer and was the face of

the marketing materials for a ‘Cute Kids’ competition. She asked to photograph me and my dog George again, so I went to a park in Brentwood where she photographed me in different poses - some with my dog George and some with a guitar.

The Muppets Most Wanted film is out on DVD, but I haven’t managed to buy it yet as I am on holiday in France but I have it downloaded on my tablet so have been able to take some screen shots of my scenes with Kermit at the canal for my portfolio.

The sci-fi film I acted in called Z-Listers is in post-production and is due to be released on 20th September. I travelled to Norwich for filming over two days and I was in a choreographed fight scene where the nasty man in it actually got injured so I’m looking forward to seeing how it comes out in the film.

Another film I acted in at the same time called Man in the Mirror is still being filmed, so I don’t know when that will be released.

I am excited that the Queensway pitch video I acted in has been seen by the editor of Fifty Shades of Grey and she thought it was excellent.

I hope it gets the funding for it to be made into a feature film as I really want to be cast as Megan again.

Kids and Koffee in Hall Street Celebrates 1st Birthday The Kids and Koffee team would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who came to our first birthday celebration and to all those who couldn’t make it for their loyal custom over the past year. Kids and Koffee have lots planned for coming year including our next petting zoo which will be on between 11am and 1pm on 18th September.

To get your tickets call 01245259225.

Thanks again Laura and the team x

27

Meditation by Abbott Paul King Last time I explained how everybody has the potential to meditate. Now I will look at how modern research into the placebo effect is helping to explain how meditation can be used to help improve your health.

The placebo effect is where an inactive substance like a sugar pill or saline solution is given to a patient instead of the real medicine but still gets results.

This has been known for a long time but recent research is discovering just how powerful it is. In the recent BBC Horizon program, The Power of the Placebo, it was shown how a placebo given to the British Olympic Cycling Team helped improve their performance. This was one of many studies that have consistently shown that placebo can increase performance by approx 3-4%. That does not sound a lot, but it is the difference between winning the gold medal or finishing 20th.

stimulates the body’s natural ability to absorb calcium. Within 10 days of starting the practice the swelling had begun to reduce and after 100 days it had gone completely. Now 6 years later my mother, who is now 69, is still pain free. (For full testimonial go to www.wisdom36.com/testimonials).

Now this one case alone does not prove that meditation can cure arthritis. But when viewed in the light of new research, it suggests that those Buddhist masters might have found a simple yet powerful way to harness the power of the placebo.

Next month I will explore further this interesting relationship between placebo and meditation.

Paul King is Abbot of the Dari Rulai Fa Yin Temple based at the Marconi Club in Chelmsford.

Paul offers free introduction to Meditation sessions at the Marconi Club. You can contact him by email at paul@wisdom36.com

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Researchers found that placebo works by tapping into the body’s internal pharmacy. As a researcher explained, it is all about the link between our minds and our bodies: “Our thoughts and expectations can release chemicals in our brains to cause changes in our body”.

For example, when a placebo was given to somebody suffering from Parkinson’s disease, it caused the brain to produce more dopamine, the same effect that the genuine drugs achieve.

Therefore we can see that placebo unlocks the body’s potential to heal itself. The main question for scientists now is how to harness this power. However, Buddhist masters have been working on this for over 2000 years.

They discovered that when a person entered into the meditative state it enabled them to access the body’s potential to heal itself, just like the placebo effect. So they developed esoteric meditation practices. As I explained last month, esoteric meditation uses the combination of Mudra, Mantra and Visualisation to enable people to enter into the meditative state quickly.

A good way to understand this is to think of the internet. The internet is a vast depository of information, but to connect to it you need a computer (or phone), an account and password. The use of Mudra, Mantra and Visualisation works in a similar way. By combining all three you can quickly access the body’s ‘internal pharmacy’.

Different types of Mudra, Mantra and Visualisation can be used to help various conditions. For example, my mother was suffering from painful swollen joints which were getting worse with age. There is an esoteric meditation practice called Calcium Enrichment that

28

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29

Moulsham Lodge Camera Club Hi My name is Malcolm Turner and I am a member of Moulsham Lodge Camera Club and have been so for more than 30 years. I started with the club after a trip to America with my old firm on business where I took a lot of pictures that weren’t very good. I saw an advert in the local news agent for MLCC that was about to start meeting at St Luke’s Church on a Monday evening, the rest is history.

I’m writing this article to let people know a bit more about the club I belong to and how it has helped me become a better photographer. Just let me say from the outset that we do not teach photography.

We learn through competitions with outside judges whose comments about our images can help improve our work. There is always someone that can help you out if you can’t understand a particular problem with your camera or image software - we have all been there at some point.

Above all, we try to be a friendly club and welcome all types of photographer, whether a beginner or advanced. We don’t care if you only have little compact or a high spec DSLR, as long as it takes an image we are happy. Our aim is to take your pictures from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Subjects vary from landscapes, portraiture, wildlife and sports to name but a few.

We have a varied programme with competitions, practical nights and guest speakers. Check out our website for further details at www.moulshamlodgecameraclub.co.uk. We have dropped slides from our competitions in favour of digital projected images but if you still use film we also have print competitions to cater for you.

We have a diverse membership with a lot of female members who are just as keen as the male members to participate in all areas of our hobby, our members also have other interests such as classic cars, volunteering on the Epping and Ongar railway, cycling, swimming and painting etc.

Please come along and join us in September when we restart after our summer break, you will be made welcome. We meet on Mondays at 8.00pm at St Luke’s Church Hall, Gloucester Avenue, Moulsham Lodge Estate, opposite the parade of shops. You can have three free evenings just to see if you like it before becoming a member, and think to yourself not just what the club give to me, but also what can you bring to the club.

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