Moulsham Times 2014

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Issue Number 13 - January 2014

MT Welcome

Welcome to the January edition of the Moulsham Times.

Here we are at 2014 and we hope you had a great Christmas and wish you a Happy New Year.

A few changes for the new year. We have added some more colour to the magazine!

This month look out for the new competition for children in the kid’s section. We would like you to get creative with your writing.

Please support our advertisers and use their vouchers as they are the people who keep the magazine going!

Thanks Nick & Paul

Your Local Cancer Charity Needs You! Volunteering….. It will help someone else and you will have fun doing it!

Helen Rollason Cancer Charity support people living with cancer. We do not receive government funding and we would like your help to make 2014 even better than last year so we can look after more people.

You can make a real difference to the lives of people living with cancer by volunteering your time and skills. 2014 is the 15th anniversary of Helen Rollason Cancer Charity and we will be holding various events throughout the year to bring in money to fund our services. Volunteering can also be loads of fun, meeting like-minded people and making new friends whilst doing some good in the local community.

On May 11th this year, we are holding our Ride For Helen circular bike ride of 15, 30 and 60 miles, starting and finishing at The Crix in Hatfield Peverel. Come on, sign up now and help us make this event a huge success. From being a course marshall to handing out bananas! It really will make a difference to a local person living with cancer.

If you’re willing to give up some time to help, please contact admin@helenrollason.org.uk.

You can register at www.rideforhelen.co.uk and finally, a massive thank you to our friends at QBE for their generous sponsorship.

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From the

House

by Simon Burns MP Christians in Syria At Christmas one of the major festivals in the Christian calendar is celebrated we should give a thought to other Christians around the world who are facing persecution and real hardship.

I am concerned for the Syrian Christians and for all civilians caught up in the crisis. The Government takes the subject of Christian communities extremely seriously, not just in Syria but elsewhere in the world when Christians find themselves under unprecedented levels of attack.

The Government recognises that religious minorities in the Middle East have suffered. In a large number of cases this is as a result of instability linked to the Arab Spring. I assure you that the Government deplores discrimination against religious minorities and any constraints imposed on their freedom to practise their faith, and will always make this position clear in bilateral discussions with nations in the Middle East.

The conflict in Syria has reached catastrophic proportions, with more than 100,000 people killed, 6.8 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, rising extremism and major regional instability. The UK’s priority remains finding a political solution that ends the bloodshed and leads to a Syrian-led political transition.

I do understand the concerns that have been raised about elements of the Syrian opposition. But Britain mustn’t accept that the only alternative to Assad is extremist terrorists that is why the UK is supporting the moderate opposition.

There are millions of Syrians who want a peaceful and democratic future and we must do all we can to facilitate a lasting solution which will restore security to the Christian community and peace to the whole country.

Send us your letters.

We would like more letters.

Please send to letters@itsyourmedia.co.uk www.moulshamtimes.com

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MT Therapy

Panic is different to anxiety. Both are cyclical in nature, meaning anxiety and panic disorders can be very debilitating.

Panic attacks tend to be more extreme, so one attack produces a fear of another. In effect, it produces a fear of fear meaning an attack is more likely to happen. A panic attack is a severe attack of an acute anxiety reaction resulting in severe physical and emotional reactions. Sometimes they come with no warning and can be triggered by a situation or event. This situation or event may be seen as dangerous by your subconscious rather than your conscious mind, hence sometimes they seem to come out of nowhere.

As I have myself experienced many a panic attack, I can tell you it’s not an experience you forget in a hurry! I remember in my training there were only two of us in the class who had ever experienced a panic attack. One of us had to explain what it feels like, and I was the lucky individual. Even just recounting what a panic attack feels like made me very anxious and I started to experience some of the symptoms. So from the top of my head (calming cup of tea in hand), here is a brief run down of your typical panic attack: • Start to feel anxious, don’t know why, this makes you more anxious.

• Heart palpitations.

• Sweaty hands.

• Breathing deeper and faster but even trying to control it doesn’t make any difference. Feel nauseous.

• Anxiety increases.

• Chest pain starts.

• Negative thoughts start – generally along the lines of “I’m going to die” “I’m going mad” “I’m losing my mind”.

• Feel very hot.

• Feel light headed.

• Begin to shake (from the adrenaline).

• Fingers feel tingly.

• The need to run away is almost overwhelming.

Panic attacks can last from 1 minute to 40 minutes and when they come in waves can last for up to 2 hours, but however long it feels like a lifetime. Panic attacks can be a common symptom when dealing with phobias. If your subconscious wanted to tell you something was an extreme danger, a very good way to do this is to make you panic so you run away from the situation or fight it off.

Panic attacks are not dangerous in healthy people. Although you feel like you’re going to die, it’s extremely unlikely that you will. The reason being that panic attacks are designed to keep you alive, they’re part of your fight or flight response, so what would be the point in them killing you? That would be a biological irony!!!

Panic attacks are related to slight abnormalities in brain messenger chemicals known as neurotransmitters. This is the reason that medications can be effective in their relief. They also tend to run in families and are more likely to be triggered by a life crisis, like bereavement for example.

A panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder characterised by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks. Remember earlier I said a panic attack can lead to a fear of fear (a fear of having

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another panic attack)? This is the extreme version of this.

Although generally perceived as a behavioural disorder, it can be caused by a chemical imbalance. Although a panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder, they are different. Here’s how you tell: Anxiety: an emotional reaction, sometimes with physical symptoms, that happens as a result of chronic stressors.

These stressors build to intense emotional reactions (anxiety) that can last for days, weeks, months or years.

Panic Attacks: a severe emotional and physical reaction, your body’s drastic attempt to avoid a perceived dangerous situation. This prompts acute events (a panic attack) triggered by a (seemingly) sudden, out-of-the-blue cause; duration is short and symptoms are more intense.

Panic attacks can occur at any age to anybody. The problem with panic attacks in children is that they are less likely to know what’s going on, also the parent is more likely to be distressed as well. Seeing somebody have a panic attack is not a nice experience, the key is to keep calm. They need you to be strong for them, they need to know they will be ok.

This is also the key to dealing with a panic attack – you will always, always come out of it. Even though it seems like it’s lasting forever, you will calm down again. The general rule is that panic attacks can’t last for more than 40 minutes.

However, many people have reported that they have panic attacks for hours, the problem is that panic attacks can roll into one another, so although it feels like you’ve a panic attack for an hour it’s more likely you’ve had more than one and the extreme symptoms have over-ridden the brief calmer moments, or you felt anxious between the attacks anyway.

Remember this though, your body can only produce so much adrenaline, therefore the panic has to eventually stop at some point because quite simply, you run out of juice!

The best way to deal with a panic attack, firstly, is to breathe.

Hyperventilating increases carbon dioxide in the brain, you need oxygen in there instead and deep, slow breathing not only is good for you physically but it can provide a good distraction, something to concentrate on rather than the crippling fear and negative thoughts. Next you need to talk yourself through it. Remind yourself you will be OK, you will get through this, it will end, you’re not dying, you’re not going mad, etc etc. You need to do this over and over and over again, it’s called self soothing. The panic attack will last as long as it lasts, but YOU WILL ALWAYS BE OK EVENTUALLY. I hope this article has been of some help, next time I’ll discuss bereavement and the grief curve.

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

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The Vicar of the Moulshams “Never give up on a good thing.

Remember what makes you happy .....”

.... sang George Benson on my car radio, as I sang along to this 80s classic pop song. And as I did so, I thought to myself, “Do y’know, that’s not bad advice.”

OK, so it’s a love song and, as such, it appeals to those who might be contemplating breaking up to think again, (the chorus continues, “never give up on a good thing. If love is what you got, you’ve got a lot”). That’s good advice for any couple who’ve been together for however long, to think twice before they throw away a loving relationship.

But actually, it’s a good thing to do at any time, that is: to remember what makes us happy.

At the start of another new year, you’ll no doubt greet many people you know with a “Happy New Year”. Undoubtedly, the same wish will be expressed to you. But what do we really mean when we say this to one another?

I guess at a very basic and superficial level, we simply wish those we know to be happy and to have a happy life. And presumably those who say the same to us mean the same for us.

As members of the human race, we are each the product of a loving relationship. Hence, we have a natural need to interrelate with other human beings. We are not designed to be alone. We are social creatures. We delight in company. We

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form different levels of relationship. We fall in love. We learn to form deeper relationships.

Some find a partner for life. Other relationships fail.

Fortunately, I am happily married but even so, my life became much more meaningful and I became a much happier person when I came to faith. This is because the Christian faith is so much more than simply believing in God: coming to faith is to enter a relationship with Jesus Christ.

As I write, I am conscious that for many, January is a ‘low’ month. Perhaps, through a relationship breakdown or bereavement, you find yourself unhappy. If this is you, the cheery, ‘Happy New Year’ greeting probably rings hollow.

People mean well; they just don’t know your situation.

So if you’re in the post-Christmas doldrums and would like some company, don’t hide away: you can always contact me through our church websites (see below). And you are more than welcome to drop into St John’s Coffee Pot (on a Tuesday and a Thursday, 10.30 am – 12.30 pm) or to come to St Luke’s Saturday Coffee (10.00 am – 12.00 noon), any time it suits you.

Meanwhile, I wish you every blessing for 2014.

Carol Smith www.stjohnsmoulsham.org.uk, www.stlukemoulsham.co.uk

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MT Gardening Still looking for that late, belated Christmas or looming birthday present? You can’t go far wrong than to pop into Writtle College on the 8th January 2014 to see what’s on offer!

We have a ‘Meet and Greet’ for higher education students during the day starting at 10:00am, and then on the same day a free for all information event from 6:00 – 7:30pm: here you can discuss all types of courses; short (1/2 day to 2-3 days) through to part and full time further or higher courses. If this doesn’t float your boat… why not purchase a tree and follow my advice below.

The ideal time to plant trees and shrubs is during the dormant season and so anytime between now or early spring before bud break would be fine. Before you begin planting your tree, be sure you have had all underground utilities located prior to digging.

6. Fill the hole gently but firmly.

Fill the hole about one-third full and gently but firmly pack the soil around the base of the root ball. Continue this process until the hole is filled and the tree is firmly planted. It is not recommended to apply fertiliser at the time of planting – best do this from March onwards, e.g., Growmore at 35g/m² 7. Stake the tree, if necessary. One of the most common methods is staking. With this method, two stakes used in conjunction with a wide, flexible tie material on the lower half of the tree will hold the tree upright, provide flexibility, and minimize injury to the trunk.

Carefully follow nine simple steps, and you can significantly reduce the stress placed on the plant at the time of planting.

1. Dig a shallow, broad planting hole. Make the hole wide, as much as three times the diameter of the root ball but only as deep as the root ball. Breaking up the soil in a large area around the tree provides the newly emerging roots room to expand into loose soil to hasten establishment.

2. Identify the trunk flare. The trunk flare is where the roots spread at the base of the tree. This point should be partially visible after the tree has been planted. If the trunk flare is not partially visible, you may have to remove some soil from the top of the root ball. Find it so you can determine how deep the hole needs to be for proper planting.

3. Remove tree container for containerised trees. Carefully cutting down the sides of the container may make this easier.

Inspect the root ball for circling roots and cut or remove them.

Expose the trunk flare, if necessary.

4. Place the tree at the proper height. Before placing the tree in the hole, check to see that the hole has been dug to the proper depth and no more. If the tree is planted too deeply, new roots will have difficulty developing because of a lack of oxygen. It is better to plant the tree a little high, 5-7.5cm (2 to 3 inches) above the base of the trunk flare, than to plant it at or below the original growing level. This planting level will allow for some settling. This is also known as the nursery mark.

5. Straighten the tree in the hole. Before you begin backfilling, have someone view the tree from several directions to confirm that the tree is straight.

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8. Mulch the base of the tree. Mulch is simply organic matter applied to the area at the base of the tree. Some good choices are leaf litter, shredded bark, well rotted garden compost, or composted wood chips. A 5-10cm (2- to 4-inch) layer is ideal.

More than 10cm (4 inches) may cause a problem with oxygen and moisture levels. When placing mulch, be sure that the actual trunk of the tree is not covered.

Provide follow-up care. Keep the soil moist but not soaked; overwatering causes leaves to turn yellow or fall off. Water trees at least once a week, barring rain, and more frequently during hot weather. When the soil is dry below the surface of the mulch, it is time to water. Continue until mid-autumn, tapering off for lower temperatures that require less-frequent watering.

Other follow-up care may include minor pruning of branches damaged during the planting process. Prune sparingly For an immediately after planting why no y gardening tip tc and wait to begin Head o ontact Tom s Cole fF necessary corrective & Envir aculty for La , pruning until after a full Colleg onment, Wr nd e, C ittle season of growth in the 3RR b helmsford, y CM p new location.

SAE) o ost (includin 1 r by em g ail at t a cole@w o m . rittle.a Good luck and c.uk happy gardening!

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FROM COUNTY HALL

by Cllr. Dick Madden The Moulsham Street, Christmas ‘turning the lights on’ event a few weeks ago seems to have received a positive response from local residents. Closing the street and setting up an assortment of stalls in the street added to the atmosphere of, Christmas is coming. I find the best judges of these types of events are my grandchildren, who are totally honest with their views. The majority enjoyed their ‘tour of adventure’ through the street, however Santa’s Grotto empty and no sight of him did not go down to well with one of the honest children. It was recovered though by explaining even Santa has a tea break.

Moving swiftly on, in reasonable weather, the grandchildren gave it a ‘thumbs up.’ Having lived in the area for nearly forty years, I am a Moulsham Street Christmas parade fan, however, who am I to judge? The best judge of any Christmas events are the children. So to the Moulsham Street Traders, in particular its Chair Pat Kennett and all those volunteers who supported the day, from the grandchildren of the Madden clan, a BIG THANK YOU.

Now from the turning on of Christmas lights to the part night lighting in our residential areas since the 1st of September.

I attended the recent public meeting with the Police and Crime Commissioner which was held at the Civic Centre.

The attendance from the public was very low, only ten persons, four including myself were members of Moulsham First Community Group so as a community we had good representation. We were made aware that since the lights have been turned off there has been no increase in reported crime and anti-social behaviour. In fact there has been a slight decrease in these two areas, however the period the lights have been off is just over three months so we will need more time to see if any significant reductions occur. What is a fact, contrary to some media predictions and members of our own community, there has not been an overwhelming increase in crime and anti-social behaviour, as a minimum there has been no change. As time goes on we will have to keep tabs on this matter liaising with the police to ascertain if any significant changes occur.

Remember the Essex Crimestoppers number - 0800 555 111 and www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

I went to the celebration of 25 years of Crimestoppers at Anglia University a couple of weeks ago. Crimestoppers was founded by Lord Ashcroft, of Anglia University fame, following the murder of Police Officer Keith Blakelock during the London riots. They play a vital role in the fight against crime.

Information through the Crimestoppers telephone number is passed on to the police often helps them solve crimes on all levels. By telephoning this number 0800 555 111 you enter a unique route for passing on information about crimes and you are guaranteed 100% anonymity. The vision of Crimestoppers is for everybody in the UK and everybody who knows anything about crimes that affect the UK to know and trust Crimestoppers passing information to them and in turn

passing that information to the appropriate law enforcement agency, guaranteeing the security of the caller, through anonymity. If you have any information that you want to share with the police but do not want anyone to know your identity, then call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit www. crimestoppers-uk.og

I have just got back indoors from a meeting with Moulsham Lodge Community Group. You can see their latest article in this magazine, they are really coming alive, well done to you all.

By the time you read this article Christmas and New Year will have come and gone, I do hope you all had a wonderful time. I look forward to representing you this coming year of 2014. BE SAFE.

Dick Madden

The Moulsham Times is printed by www.graphic-impressions.co.uk 12

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MT Cookery Apart from cooking, Nic and I have two things we like to do on our weekends off, rugby and national hunt racing.

I have always followed Harlequins Rugby Club since I was given a shirt in my mid teens. I played after leaving school substituting the round ball for the egg shaped variety. We have been season ticket holders for the past four seasons and in that time we have won a trophy in three of the four seasons.

The other passion is National Hunt racing which is more of a winter to spring event. The season all heads towards the main show piece on the second week of March, The Greatest Show on Turf, the Cheltenham Festival. We have been going to Cheltenham for the past 18 years and walking through the gates with Cleeve Hill in the background is a sight never forgotten.

Win, lose (more often than not), or occasionally breaking even, it is a special week away. Over the years we have seen some fantastic horses including Make a Stand, Istabraq, Wichita Lineman, Best Mate, Viking Flagship, Champagne Fever, Masterminded and many, many more…

By Andy Starling 4. Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat, whisk the flour in the milk until foaming, add the cooking liquid and keep whisking until the liquid starts to get to boiling point. Once reaching this point continue to whisk and cook out for 2 minutes. Add parsley. Basically you are making a roux.

5. Preheat the oven to 180C (350F/Gas 4). Put a third of the sauce into a buttered 3 pint pie dish. Spoon the flaked haddock on top in an even layer. Cover with the remaining sauce, then scatter on the prawns and chopped hard boiled eggs. Spread the mash potatoes on top to cover completely.

6. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until the potato’s peaks are brown and sauce is bubbling at the edges.

Enjoy….

We would love your cooking tips!

Fish Pie

Do you have any we could feature?

After Christmas it may be nice to have something a bit different, like fish and prawns in the form of a fish pie, comfort food at it’s best. It is completely up to you what fish you use either all haddock, all cod or a mixture of the two just make sure it is a firm fish.

Please send them to us at letters@itsyourmedia.co.uk We will feature in future editions!

Serve 6 1lb 4 oz potatoes (peel and and cut into similar sized chunks) Enough water to cover potatoes Salt 4oz hot milk Knob of butter Milk for marinade 8 black pepper corns 2 bay leaves Small onion (quarter) 1lb 10 oz skinned haddock fillets cut into pieces 2 oz plain flour 10 sprigs of flat leaf parsley chopped fine 5 oz cooked peeled prawns 3 hard boiled eggs 1. Cook the potato in boiling salted water for 10-12 minutes or until tender. Drain thoroughly, then mash with 4 oz hot milk, and a knob of butter. Season to taste.

2. Place milk into pan, add pepper corns, bay leaves, and an onion cut into four. Bring to boil and leave to infuse for 10 minutes.

3. Add the fish to the milk, cover, and simmer for 5-10 minutes or until it will flake easily, test with a fork. Remove the fish and keep the cooking liquid. Cool and flake the fish.

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hy ver, w Xmas o our oven at y not tre clean! to a

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Catch-Up Cafe by Suzie Pugh Highwood’s new village hall was built two years ago and I set up the Catch-Up Cafe with a team of my neighbours. My original idea was to have a community group that anyone can attend; unlike the other groups at the hall such as yoga and art, at our cafe, you don’t need a skill, you don’t need to sign up for a course, you just turn up for however long you want. We formed a committee and I worked very hard on paperwork, formalities etc. Well, the monthly cafe has gone from strength to strength and it has been a feature for many people’s social lives. It has reunited neighbours, created friendships, community spirit and many customers say that our village now feels a much friendlier and well connected place to live. We even organised last years Diamond Jubilee Party, with over 200 people attending!

The cafe provides two information stalls each month; one being the Council Information Service and the other a Village Agent Service. These two lovely ladies provide support and advice about all local issues, council information and signposting. They also give out recyclable bags, free lightbulbs and smoke alarms etc.

We have a marketplace of good quality stalls; local people selling their produce, craft, cards and gifts.

Our team of volunteers (all of us neighbours), make a selection of cakes such as victoria sponge, carrot cake, coffee and walnut cake and bread pudding. Plus we also have a lovely coffee machine that makes cappuccinos and lattes.

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We don’t charge entrance and its just £1 for a big slice of cake, 50p for a cup or £1 for a mug of tea/coffee (£1.50 for the cappuccinos/lattes). All monies goes back into the group or the community.

So many of our customers rely on our group for friendship, support and companionship. We have all ages and both men and women attend. Big tables of chatting, friendly people creates a wonderful, bubbly atmosphere.

We regularly have our village school (with only a total of 40 pupils) come visit our cafe and entertain us with singing and fashion shows etc. We have our local vicar visiting often, the local police giving a Beat Surgery and local members of the Council and MPs giving surgeries. We even had a flu-jab clinic provided by our local doctor’s surgery! It’s a real hub of information, advice and friendship - just what I originally planned!

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City Music Preview

by Nick Garner I cannot believe we are in January already, time flies and we have now been going for over a year. Well lots happened over Christmas, sadly too late to write about most of it for this edition. There is also lots going to be happening this year, so lets make 2014 an even bigger and better year for live music in Chelmsford and the surrounding areas.

A few gigs that I know of that are coming up: firstly is my Blues in the City at the Bassment which again is becoming one of Chelmsford’s great live music venues as it was previously. On the 29th January I have the excellent Bad Influence playing.

This is the full electric duo of Richard Hayes (one of the greatest living electric slide players) and Val Cowell who is said to be the English Bonnie Raitt. Their sound is massive and they are amazing. If you do not know them, check them out on their website www.badinfluence.org.uk. You may also note that they have been the support for Status Quo amongst others.

On Saturday 1st February at The Ale House in the railway arches in Viaduct Road, Jamie Williams and the Roots Collective (this is the band I am in) play. We are playing a special pre-CD launch event for our Dug Deep Found Steel CD which is due for release on the 3rd March. This is your

opportunity to hear some of our new tunes and to buy the CD before its official release as well as having a great night. out On the 6th February at Evoke is an amazing 80s double headline gig with Ex Simple Minds and China Crisis. This will be another show not to be missed so make sure your get your tickets before they sell out as they did for Wilko Johnson in December.

There is so much starting to happen across the city now with Smiths in Moulsham Street starting live nights with Shakey (he is everywhere these days). Well done my friend, you are doing a great job. The Cricketers do their Soul Nights, The Star and Garter put on great live music every week, as do Asylum (which is the place to be seen). Then just up the road there is The Ale House, then there is of course Brett’s place the Fleece in Duke Street who do lots of live events not forgetting the Wheatsheaf, The Black Bull, The Globe, The Woolpack, The Orange Tree and The Bird in Hand, if I have missed anyone out I am sorry.

So lets all help keep great music live by going out and supporting it as it makes us happy.

A Walking Guide in Chelmsford

Do you know in which Chelmsford street every building down one side was at some time or other a licensed premises? Or which of the original fine coaching inns in the town was mentioned by Charles Dickens in his book Pickwick Papers? Or which other famous author wrote parts of some of his novels when staying at the Saracen’s Head?

Or which pub in Old Moulsham derives its rare name from the Moravians, a seventeen century Protestant religious sect?

The answers to these questions, along with many other interesting facts about the pubs and former breweries of Chelmsford, are provided in A Walking Guide to the Pubs of Central Chelmsford and Moulsham: Past and Present. It comes as a handy sized 16 page pull out leaflet ideal for the pocket, which will give focus when walking off all the extra Christmas food and provide a reminder of the pub options that still exist.

The guide has been published to complement the exhibition Ale and Hearty: The Pubs and Breweries of Chelmsford shown at the Chelmsford Museums over the summer for which a booklet of the same name was issued (see www.aleandhearty.co.uk). Copies are available free of charge from Chelmsford Museums located in Oaklands Park, Moulsham Street. Also from Chelmsford Public Library, the Essex Record Office and some public houses in Chelmsford. It has been produced by the Friends of Chelmsford Museums and the Chelmsford & Mid Essex Branch of CAMRA with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund.

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Chris Challis’ Quest for Kerouac by John Power Following the previous articles about local author Dr. Chris Challis and his writing concerning the American Beat Generation and his meetings with the remaining members of the group in 1987 in an across the states road trip, resulting in the book ‘Quest for Kerouac’, I thought it would be of interest to detail that journey. The novel is in the form of a picaresque, which means it uses the device of bringing in new characters at suitable places in the narrative in order to discuss details of their life and work, so the synopsis below also manages to give a brief outline of the main figures in a literary movement who are still influential to this day.

When I first met Chris we were at the end of our teens, and he was training as a technical author for the Marconi Electronics firm in Chelmsford, but his real writing ambitions were of a different, more cultural nature. As I was studying painting and graphics at Colchester art school I suggested that he pack in Marconi and join the merry band of students at Colchester College and do A Levels. He took this advice and achieved three and a scholarship level in English as well. He used these to gain entry to Leicester University where he began a degree in American literature, and where he could nurture his admiration for the writing of the major chronicler of the Beat Generation of American writers, Jack Kerouac. He followed that with a masters degree, with its dissertation also about Kerouac, and rounded it off with his doctoral dissertation on Jack Kerouac and the Beat Generation. As we had met at the local beatnik venues of our home town. it is no surprise that as an aspiring writer at that time, Chris should choose Kerouac for his model.

marijuana and so rubbed shoulders with serious junkies from the streets like Herbert Hunke, or with the rich heir variety like William Burroughs, who could actually afford the habit; and of wild parties at Bill Cannastra’s flat.

Chris and Heather’s wanderings around the city took in sites like the Chelsea hotel, with its long history of infamous guests, but generally they found that the old beat haunts had disappeared with re-development, and that Greenwich Village had been ‘gentrified.’ But their first encounter with a character from the beat mythos did come when they went to the bookshop in the Bronx where Carl Solomon worked. It was Carl who the epic and axiomatic poem ‘Howl’ was dedicated to by Allen Ginsberg after they met in the mental hospital. Solomon was from a family of publishers: his father ran Ace Paperbacks and first published Burrough’s ‘Junkie.’ Grand Central Station had seen better days and was in the ‘80s a hangout for a new brand of hustlers, while Times Square, scene of so much ‘40s and ‘50s action, was still a hub of cosmopolitan activity that had been the inspiration for Ginsberg’s ‘Reality Sandwiches.’

Chris and Het managed to stop with an ex-pat Chelmsfordian, who had left his country of birth for the New York gay scene and the life of a computer programmer. It was from Terry’s flat that Het rang round to hire a suitable gas guzzler car rental for their exploits on the road, that lead them to Interstate 70 out of the city.

When Chris approached Faber and Faber - who had just been given a financial reboot by The Who’s Pete Townsend - about publishing the doctoral thesis, Pete and his editorial staff decided that it was too dry and academic as it stood but came up with the idea of transforming it into a travelogue, or picaresque novel by going ‘On the Road’ across the states to find the remaining beats. Jack by then had drunk himself to death and his sidekick of early adventures, Neal Cassady, suffered a heart attack brought on by exhaustion and amphetamines. So the academic Quest for Kerouac became a physical quest.

Chris and his then girlfriend, Heather, thus arrived initially in New York, suitably so, for it was there, in the ‘40s that the seeds of the Beat Generation were sewn when the main protagonists were either enrolled as university students or happened to be the Times Square hustlers they mixed with.

In the 1984 Faber book ‘Quest for Kerouac’ this gave Chris pause for reflection on how the founding beats had come together and interacted: how Jack and John Clellon Holmes had coined the word beat to describe the disillusioned post World War II generation, who they became the spokesmen for; how Allen Ginsberg had let thieving friends store their goods at his flat and been arrested trying to dispose of them, and with good legal support escaped jail by an eight month spell in a mental hospital; how Lucien Carr had rebuffed the gay advances of David Kammerer with a fatal knife attack and Kerouac had suffered a great deal of hassle for helping him dispose of the evidence, only to escape jail by a marriage of convenience; how the group had discovered jazz and 18

The road took them through Pennsylvania and the beginning of small town America: the America where most beats had had their roots: Ginsberg’s Paterson or Kerouac’s Lowell where jingoism and small minds thrive. On to Missouri and a chance to reflect on William Burroughs’ contribution to the writing of the era in St Louis, for a long time the centre of Burrough’s world. Older than most of the beats he said he was not one of them but had known them all. His writing is of a different magical, drug induced fiction and philosophical consideration, often paranoid of the State, and even psychic possession due to drug inducements, but always frank about his own experiences in a way sure to upset the status quo. His experiments with ayahusa under South American shamanic tutelage and recorded in letters to Ginsberg as the ‘Yage Letters’ set him off on trails of Mayan codices, Carlos Castenada, fringes of Western Occultism and techniques of prophesy and coincidence like those using cut up lines of

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poetry to make surreal sense in the melting pot of junk hallucination and gay sex of his work.

Still in-the-closet era, he was twice married, once to save a Jewish lady from Nazis and also to Joan Vollmer, the wife that he accidentally shot in a drunken William Tell game. But his favourites were the young boys that he found plentiful in his years in Algiers.

He did spend many years in England after the ’60s, and his ‘Book of Breething’ was first published

by Henri Chopin and fellow US ex-pat Harvey Matuso, when living in Ingatestone near Chelmsford, where Chris himself was born, suitably synchronistically. In a couple of Kerouac’s novels he was referred to as Will Hubbard and Old Bull Hubbard, again synchronistically, as he became briefly involved with Scientology, founded by L Ron Hubbard, before using their e-meter technology on a freelance basis himself.

From St Louis the trail took Chris and Het through Kansas to Colorado, giving plenty of time for reflection on the trails that the original beats set alight, and on the influences that led to their styles and concerns: William Carlos Williams, was an established writer from the same town as Ginsberg and had been happy to communicate with him over writing.

Walt Whitman had been the archetypal travelling poet of a previous era and also had trouble publishing writing with gay themes. ‘The Land of the Free’ it seemed had little regard for the freedom of expression that writers chose to portray. Jack London was one of Kerouac’s favourites. While beats Gary Snyder and Lew Welch had taken sources that were a revolt against materialism. Snyder went as far as to go to Japan to become a Zen monk.

When they arrived in the mile high (above sea level) city of Denver they headed for Boulder, the University town on the Rocky Mountain fringes and knocked on Allen Ginsberg’s door, which he opened for them. For his (arguably dubious) Tibetan guru, Chogyam Trungpa, Allen had founded the Naropa Institute there for old beats to tutor aspiring writers, and the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics for the likes of Gregory Corso and Ed Sanders to offer seminars on poetics at. Ginsberg considered his output as one long poem.

The money he made when finally accepted as a man of letters by the establishment he re-cycled to help other writers. He had always been a manuscript handler for his beat pals. It was ‘Howl’ that he wrote in the New York mental hospital, for Carl Soloman, that made his name when San Francisco bookstore owner and publisher, Lawrence Ferlingetti put it into print.

Both had to go to court to argue that it was not an obscene publication but art, and the judge found in their favour. The groundbreaking publicity really rocketed the beats into media celebrity. ‘Kaddish’, about his dying, mad, mother, and ‘Reality Sandwiches’ were soon to follow as the wellspring of poetry

began to gush. The money also allowed him to travel, and he did - to India, meeting Gary Snyder and wife Joanne Kieger, who shared a similar spiritual outlook and writing the ‘Indian Journals’. He also visited Ankor Wat in Cambodia, before it was on the tourist trail. His was the politics of freedom and he took part in the infamous Yippie revolt at the Chicago Democratic Convention in 1968 when heavy police tactics had him tear-gassed and The Chicago Seven student and agitator leaders were brought to trail. In England he took part in Legalise Cannabis rallies and was expelled from Czechoslovakia for his political and artistic opinions after his diaries were confiscated by the Communist police. After the Vietnam war ended he concentrated on his fringe teaching activities, well at home in ‘leftie’ Boulder.

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Rotary in Chelmsford Has an Exceptionally Busy Time So much goes on in Rotary on the approach to Christmas, but the everyday projects are never forgotten. A new initiative – a Cup of Kindness - was introduced to Lawford Mead Junior School by Chelmsford Rotary Club and the first child to be presented with the trophy was five year old Natasha Foster.

The school’s Code of Conduct is “be good, be kind, work hard and listen”. The cup will be presented every Friday to a child who has been particularly kind to others during that week.

This was so well received by the school that the club may well look to extend it to other junior schools.

Members of the Chelmsford club raised money by growing a Movember moustache. This is to support awareness of cancer and mental health problems for men. Alan Sayles raised about £570 through his efforts and as you can see in the photo the ladies in the club made a pretty good attempt as well, although possibly they cheated a little!

On Sunday 24th November, Rotarians from all five Chelmsford Rotary clubs and under the able direction of sommelier, David Cope, president of Chelmsford Phoenix, dispensed mulled wine, minced pies, fruit punch, cookies, hot chocolate and good cheer to the shoppers in Chelmsford as the Christmas lights were turned on. Rotarians with voices to rival the noise from the stage show run by Heart Radio at the end of the High

Street bellowed out the familiar refrains – ‘get your mulled wine here’ and ‘don’t forget your hot mince pies’.

Clearly their technique worked well and the success of the day can be measured by the excellent sales figures. £1095 was collected for the Mayor’s charity, The J’s Hospice.

Meanwhile, aid to the Philippines has reached an amazing £75,000 in Rotary District 1240 where the Chelmsford clubs are based. Some of this is from street collections and some from the Rotary clubs’ own resources. We sometimes hear of aid being held up or even ending up in the coffers of some foreign despot but when money is given to Rotary you are guaranteed that the people for whom it is intended will receive it and very quickly, because aid is passed from Rotary club to Rotary club. Much of this aid was in the form of Shelterboxes or Aquaboxes and if anyone is interested we can show a demonstration of what these aid boxes look like. They bring hope and relief to so many and some local Rotarians have been stopped in the street by Filipino people living locally to thank them for helping their country.

So I will add my thanks you to all who help fill the collecting tins and buckets at Christmas and a reminder if you would like to join a Rotary club near you then visit our website www. rotary1240.org or simply give me a call on the number below.

It’s a lovely feeling knowing you are making a difference to somebody’s life whilst you are enjoying yourself.

Happy Christmas and a healthy New Year.

Regards Stan Keller 01245 260349 (office)

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Wine Corner

Hello again, I hope you had a great Christmas, and I wish you a very Happy New Year.

I’m starting with a general point on wine. Amazingly, there is said to be proof that it was the Mesopotamia culture who were the first to cultivate grapes as early as 6000 BC. However, it was left to the Egyptians to take it to the next step and actually make wine. Three cheers for the Egyptians I say! By the way, for those who, like me, do not know exactly where Mesopotamia was, it was in the eastern Mediterranean, mostly in what is now known as Iraq, but also spreading into Syria and Turkey.

So, this month I am in eastern Europe. I was surprised how many countries there are and the number of them, I always thought, were made up for spy films!

Hungary is one of those countries and wine making started back in Roman times. Those of a certain age may remember Bull’s Blood, made from a blend of grapes. It’s a dry fullbodied red, very tasty and it seemed very strong at the time.

Hungary has moved on since then, although Bull’s Blood is still available.

Hungary also produces Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. Guess what, they also produce Malbec, so that may be worth a try.

Romania is one of the oldest wine producers in the world, starting about 6000 years ago. Their wines include the popular Pinot Grigio and Pino Noir, as well as Chardonnay and the ever present Merlot. Interestingly, some of these are marketed with very French sounding names. At the same time, France is marketing wines with very New Zealand sounding names. The marketing people are on the same track it would seem. Romania was the13th largest wine producing country in 2010, and is the top producer in eastern Europe. Several other counties from the area are grouped just beneath Romania, with Bulgaria in 22nd place.

So why not try some of these as a change.

We sometimes have some of our grandchildren to stay for a ‘sleepover’, and, if we open a bottle of wine, they like to wait on us, topping up the glass now and again. One evening, we were watching a quiz that we had recorded earlier. The children were upstairs playing schools. A question came up: name the group of islands off the northern coast of Scotland. Now, we visited these on holiday recently, so we knew the answer and my wife said loudly, “Orkneys”. Almost immediately our grandson rushed down stairs, went to the kitchen and found the open bottle of wine, rushed into the lounge and seemed amazed that our glasses were still full.

“What are you up to?” we asked him. “You shouted MORE PLEASE didn’t you?” he replied. Oh how we laughed. Needless to say, when they come round now and we want a refill we say Orkneys, which totally baffles any other visitors we have at the time.

designation of origin (PDO) which means that the grapes are from that area, and wine production takes place in that area, or protected geographical indication (PGI), slightly less restrictive in that only 85% of the grapes need to have come from the area. These should be displayed on the label.

Locally there are a number of vineyards where you can go along to taste. These will quite rightly be labelled English wine (PDO or PGI).

However wines labelled as British are also generally available in shops. These are wines using grapes or concentrate from anywhere in the world, that are processed in the UK. Sparkling wines (over 50% of the UK production) have been particularly successful, comparing very well with French wines, winning a number of awards.

So if you fancy tasting wines at the vineyard, save some money and pop down to your local vineyard. If you pick a nice sunny day, you could pretend to be in France!

Bin end chuckles.

Back to the classroom.

Teacher: “John, why are you doing your maths multiplication on the floor?”

John:”You told me to do them without using tables”.

Teacher: “Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?”

Donald: “HIJKLMNO”.

Teacher:”What are you talking about?”

Donald “Yesterday you said it was H to O”.

Keep calm and carry on drinking, in moderation.

Chelmsford The City Times will be available throughout Chelmsford from 17th January 2014

UK wines have come on leaps and bounds in recent years and they are worth a look. You may be surprised to know that there are over 400 vineyards in England and Wales. Most of these are in southern England, but there are some in the north and Scotland. UK producers are able to attain either protected 22

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Free Dementia Family Workshops One of the initiatives the team at Home Instead Senior Care is most proud of to date is the launch of their new family training workshops.

Free dementia training has been delivered nationally to over 5,000 family carers and members of the community to teach them the latest techniques for coping with the condition.

Based on Home Instead’s unique research-based CARE training programme, the workshops were extremely well received by families and members of the community, keen to learn more about living and working with people affected by the disease.

Too often elderly people suffering with Alzheimer’s disease, or one of the other forms of dementia, are moved into care homes earlier than is necessary, simply because family carers feel unable to cope.

The vast majority of older people wish to remain in their own homes for as long as possible and this is particularly beneficial for people with dementia who benefit from familiar surroundings and maintaining regular routines.

Speaking about the workshops, Sam Brocklebank, director and co-founder of Home Instead in the UK said, “The aim of the workshops is to share our valuable knowledge with those people who are affected by the growing number of our ageing population having dementia.

“As social care budgets are stretched to the limits, more people are taking on the role of primary carer for loved ones. For families this can cause emotional stress, worry and fear.

“The knowledge people have gained will give them confidence in dealing with behaviours that can be irrational or hard to understand.

By extending our CARE programme to family carers, we equip them to cope better with the challenges they face. Letting them know that there is training and support available is one of the great things about our approach.”

Home Instead offices will be rolling out a programme of dementia family workshops throughout the rest of the year. To find out details of workshops in the Chelmsford area please contact us. www.moulshamtimes.com

Web: www.homeinstead.co.uk/chelmsford/ Telephone: 01245 200780/81 Email: adele.vanrensburg@homeinstead.co.uk

Address: Home Instead Senior Care Citygate House 197-199 Baddow Road Chelmsford CM2 7PZ

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Some Mid-Season Thoughts on Energy Saving. By Robert Jones As we are well into the heating season and have been watching our gas and electricity meters relentlessly clocking up our bills and/or watching our oil, coal and wood stocks dwindling, we thought it would be useful to have a mid-season reminder of what can be done to keep energy costs down: Robert Jones is now long-retired but, in pre-privatisation days, was appointed to head all energy conservation matters for British Gas, was an adviser to governments and universities and was heavily involved with ‘Fuel Poverty’ organisations. We asked him to give us some thoughts on energy saving.

I am assuming that readers have done all the obvious things to make their homes ‘energy efficient’: masses of insulation in the roof spaces, cavity walls filled, double-glazing fitted, windows and exterior doors draught-proofed and the hot water tank heavily insulated - not forgetting the flow and return pipes between it and the boiler. The boiler will have been up-dated and serviced and thermostats fitted to radiators. There is plenty of advice around about those sorts of things and many competent firms and charities able to do it all, including government help in some cases. Here are a few tips that are not always in the official advice.

If visiting to advise on home energy efficiency - and these days I only do it for relatives and close friends - the first thing I do is to ask to be shown into their lavatories, especially upstairs ones. Invariably there is a window open, sucking out masses of expensively bought heat, often on a 24/7 basis! If the owner pleads, “freshness”, I reply that regular cleaning ought to take care of that. Mind you, the very worst offenders for wasting energy through lavatory windows are pubs and hotels.

That must make a terrible dent in their profits.

Next on the list is the matter of fireplaces and chimneys. If not in use, they should be covered. If occasionally used, then a pleasantly decorated piece of wood or hardboard will do the trick when the fire is not used and save pounds off the heating bill. (A nice little job for budding artists in the family!). The problem is that the ‘pull’ of the unused chimney sends warm air uselessly into the sky. The temporary closure will not need fixing because that ‘pull’ will hold it in place. The way the cover slams back when positioned will demonstrate the wasting power of the chimney. When an open fire is in use, with coal or wood, you should turn all radiators in the room to ‘off’. So long as the hearth is taking its combustion air from outside (For example, through a ‘Baxi’ arrangement.), then closing the room door will keep heat from the rest of the house from being sucked up the chimney. It really does pay to give a bit of thought to the physics of air movement around the whole house; where heated air is getting out and where cold air is coming in.

On entering the house I also note how the occupants are dressed; especially the young. You cannot have low heating bills if you expect to dress for summer during the heating season. I would not go so far as to refer to Mediaeval or Elizabethan paintings that show people wearing hats indoors but thick clothes and sweaters should be considered as the norm indoors once heating is needed. Sensibly dressed people do not need such high temperatures indoors. If you can reduce the indoors temperature by just one degree, you will be amazed by the saving.

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As the evening draws on someone in the household should have the job of closing every curtain, even across doubleglazed windows and doors. The curtains themselves should be as heavy as possible and lined: You can even buy heatreflecting curtain lining material. However, curtains should not cover radiators. Where they only hang down to top-of-radiator level, a few ornaments or books can usefully keep them back on the window-sill; so that the heat rising from the radiator goes into the room, not onto the cold window panes behind the curtain. Again, it does help to think about these things!

I am always asked about “all-day” or “intermittent” - or “allnight”, for that matter: is it better to have the heating on all the time or for clock-controlled periods only? In our house, as we are ancient, we tend to go for “all-day” (say, 7am to 10pm) when the winter has set in. Once it gets really cold, we go for 24/7. The individual radiator thermostats enable us to have varying temperatures around the house and what professionals would call, “night set-back”; that is to say, lower room temperatures at night. Once in bed all one needs is the chill kept off the air. Overall, this is not a simple matter and has a lot to do with the ‘thermal mass’ of the building and how you use the interior and exterior doors (Have you got lobbies {air-lock spaces!} on all exterior doors?) and what to do when leaving the place unoccupied, even for a short while. Does the building heat up quickly or slowly? And so on....

This is just a short article, not a great hand-book; so I will finish by mentioning electric appliances left on ‘stand-by’: If you are the sort of person who leaves TVs, radios, computers and so forth ‘on’ when not in use - or lights ‘on’ in empty rooms - then you are not serious about energy saving. Some years ago an Oxford University friend of mine worked out that all the TVs that are powered on ‘stand-by’ 24/7 consume the equivalent, nationally, of 4 power stations! Even if you have no problems with your fuel bills, would you make charitable donations to the bosses of the Big Six power companies? That is what you are doing when wasting energy. Also, remember that almost every penny you spend on gas and electricity goes straight out of the local economy, probably abroad, creating few or no jobs and no local wealth. Which brings us to the matter of switching suppliers to get better deals: I’m not going to go into that mine-field but we switched to Co-operative Energy as soon as they started up; if profits are being made, at least we share in them!

Finally, if you are genuinely interested in saving energy, start reading your meters daily, to find out just what is going on.

This can be a great job for the youngsters; especially when the results are drawn up as graphs and pie-charts. Then you will get some uncomfortable surprises and realise just where the energy is going and how much you can save. As I have already said a couple of times, you need to think carefully about the whole business - and that means the whole family....

Next time, as the end of the heating season comes in sight, we can discuss things that you can do to make your home more energy efficient for next year. This article has mostly been about behaviour rather than investment; things you can do now without spending more cash. What you save this time could be invested for bigger savings.

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MT Business

Local Girl Wins Theo Paphitis Accolade

A Chelmsford based family business recently received a boost from TV Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis. Last week, 21-year old Victoria Glascock, Marketing Manager at Schoolwear Plus, and her father, Managing Director Steve Glascock, met the former Dragon at an exclusive event at the ICC in Birmingham for winners of his ‘Small Business Sunday’ initiative.

Shortly after the business’ 10th anniversary this year, Victoria tweeted Theo about her family’s business during the weekly Small Business Sunday competition.

Theo retweeted Victoria’s message to his 402,000+ followers and, as a result, Schoolwear Plus (www.schoolwearplus.com) has gained over 200 more followers and considerable interest in their expanding range of workwear and staff uniforms.

Victoria said, “what Theo Paphitis is doing to raise the profile of small family businesses like Schoolwear Plus is fantastic. It was an incredible experience to win Small Business Sunday, especially so close to our tenth anniversary – and even better to meet Theo himself. He comes across as really genuine and is a truly inspirational speaker! I have been running the Twitter and Facebook presence for Schoolwear Plus for about two years now and I’m honoured that Theo has chosen to recognise all the hard work that my family and I put in to running the business.”

If you have a business and you want to be in with a chance of being retweeted by Theo, then tweet him about your business on Sunday between 5 PM and 7.30 PM and include #SBS. Six lucky winners are retweeted every Monday at 8pm and

Coffee With a Shot of Botox

So, you are thinking of having Botox right? After all, you have seen what it can do for some of your friends and the celebs swear by it (although never admit it), so is it THAT good? Why not come and see us for a free no obligation consultation and we can have a natter about it? We’ll even tell you some of the celebs that have had it done as long as you promise to keep your lips sealed! On top of that, at The Anti Ageing Clinic here is sunny Old Moulsham, we cater for all your antiageing and beauty needs in one place and we make a mean mocha coffee! We are local to you, we have over twenty year’s expertise behind us, and we are fully qualified to boot.

You will benefit from the highest quality result - driven treatments. You will be treated with the utmost care and attention and your first visit will leave you in no doubt you have made the right choice.

Ok enough about us, we know its McFly (all about you) so why not give us a call to see what we can do for you. It’s the New Year, how about a new you?

To arrange a FREE no obligation consultation (coffee and a natter), just call Anna on 07941-029883.

then invited to enter their business profile on the SBS website. This is all free of charge and is sponsored by Ryman Stationery, where Theo is chairman.

Schoolwear Plus is now profiled on www.theopaphitissbs.com which is exclusive to Small Business Sunday winners.

Contact Schoolwear Plus, 12 Parkway, Chelmsford, CM2 0NF. 01245 491170, marketing@schoolwearplus.com For further information, photos and product samples, please contact Steve Glascock at Schoolwear Plus on 01245 491170 or steve.glascock@schoolwearplus.com.

For further information about Small Business Sunday please visit www.theopaphitissbs.com

On a shell phone

Ami’s Diary

The Executive Producer of a music video I was in in April, contacted me to be in another music video which was being filmed at the Palace Theatre in Southend. One of the girls I acted with in ‘The Boy with a Camera for a Face’ (which won another film award – ‘Best of Fest’ at the St Louis International Film Festival) was also cast, so it was really good fun to be acting together again. We had to dress in posh outfits and were filmed booing and clapping the singer who was a Russian man. Some actors decided they didn’t want to be in the video, saying it was ‘beneath them’. I thought it was very rude and you do meet actors who think they are much better than anyone else. I find it quite funny and I am always polite as you never know what that job will lead to or if you might work with the director or producer again. If you are rude or do not follow direction, they may not want you next time!

I had an ‘Ami’s Candles’ stall booked at the Coggeshall Christmas Craft Fair, but the music video was filmed the same day, so my dad took me to the filming and my mum ran the stall for me. Two lots of customers came there just to see ‘Ami’s Candles’ as they had read on the internet that I made and sold candles to earn money to go to a performing arts college when I am older and wanted to support me which I thought was really nice.

I did a reading at the District Guide Carol Service at St Luke’s Church and we are carol singing at Oakley Care Home. I am also singing with the school Rock Choir at Chelmsford Cathedral, so December is a busy time for me. I just hope 2014 is as good as 2013.

Kid’s Writing Competition Here at the Moulsham Times we thought for the new year we would start a quarterly writing competition!

We have decided there will be 3 age groups to make it nice and fair for all of you budding writers out there in Moulsham.

The age groups at the time of sending in your stories are: Age up to 7 Age 8- 11 Age 12 - 16

WRI TE A STO RY A WIN BOUT TER The winners from each quarter will get their stories published, and a space for the following two months To write for us about anything that is of interest to them.

The subject for the first competition is ‘winter’. You can write about anything you wish as long as it has a wintry theme.

For this month, the deadline for entries will be 15th January 2014, so not long to get your stories written and sent in to us.

Please send stories along with your first name and age to: competition@itsyourmedia.co.uk ENTRIES WILL BE JUDGED INDEPENDANTLY SO FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF WRITERS AND ADVERTISERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

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MT Community

Moulsham Lodge Community Trust by John Puczkowski As the new Consultant for Moulsham Lodge Community Trust (MLCT), I am delighted to be able to help and assist in the development of new and exciting community projects planned for 2014.

SpringHealth Centre, situated adjacent to Moulsham High School, has become the focus point for the MLCT to kick start community activities. Already classes such as Jiggly Tots Playgroup for under fives, Heathers Crafts and burlesque classes have taken place at the centre and have attracted a great deal of interest. The first meeting of the Moulsham Choir, under the direction of Choir Master John Trent Wallace, attracted over fifty new members with many more people wanting to sign up next year. Singing to the tune of ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ and ‘Radio Gaga’ everyone seemed to get over their pre-singing nerves very quickly and started to really enjoy the session.

The Quiz night held for the community at the centre was also very well attended and with the added attraction of a fish & chip supper and a raffle, raised £160 to go towards the development of future community projects for the Moulsham community.

Discussions by the trust and Moulsham High School are also underway regarding the hire of rooms at the school to develop evening art workshops and cookery classes as well as photography and drama courses. There is a great deal of work to be done next year by the MLCT in order to structure all these activities and is reliant on the good will of volunteers

to help and assist in the development of future programmes that address the needs of the community. It is also hoped that new office facilities early next year will be made available in the Moulsham area to co-ordinate and plan community activities in the future and this will be announced in due course.

My previous role as Community Development Manager for Springfield has given me a positive insight as to how the needs of communities are addressed.

Having lived for the greater part of my life in the Moulsham area of Chelmsford I look forward to working in the community and am delighted to be able to be part of a new and exciting beginning for the MLCT. The next Choir session will take place at SpringHealth on 9th January 2014 at 7.30pm – 9. 30pm (session fee £5).

If you feel you can contribute in setting up new activity classes for the community or have any ideas that you would like to put forward to MLCT in the new year, then please do not hesitate to contact me on 07842069950.

I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of MLCT a very happy New Year.

Moulsham First Says, “We love Old Moulsham” Most folk who live in Old Moulsham would say this – it’s a great place to live: locality (close to the city centre and amenities, shopping and the markets, theatres, cinemas, trains, busses – busses to the airport, access to the A12, environment and yes, the people. At the Moulsham Street Christmas Fair back in November, we had over 50 local people sign up to the MF Neighbourhood Watch programme, so now we have a contact list of over 250 (strictly confidential and never shared elsewhere). If these good people link to neighbours and friends, then we can get the word out about keeping safe and enjoying where we live.

If you wish to sign up and haven’t done so, please email us on moulshamfirst@btinternet.com or drop your name and contact details in the drop-off boxes at The Lemon Tree Café, CD’s Café, or McCarthy’s (Residential at number 74) – all along Moulsham Street.

We are holding a special Neighbourhood Watch event during the evening of Monday 3rd February, when we’ll be having further advice from the police on how to work together across Old Moulsham – please make contact with us if you’d like to come along.

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Remember, Neighbourhood Watch is simply about looking out for oneanother – especially the elderly or more vulnerable in our communities. It’s about being alert to home and personal safety and sharing information to and from the police and with neighbours about anything suspicious. The police want our help as much as we want results from them.

But remember Moulsham First is also about having a voice for the people of Old Moulsham – we don’t have a local council, but we do have great links with the City Council and the police. Check out our website for more information on www.moulshamfirst.org.uk and please get in touch with any ideas and queries. http://www.moulshamfirst.org.uk/ http://www.twitter.com/moulshamfirst http://www.facebook.com/moulsham.first

www.moulshamtimes.com

29

Are you a planner or a reactor?

As I write this article, Christmas 2013 has not yet arrived.

However, I realise that by the time you read this, it may well be that it has already passed. So whilst it may be appropriate to wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year, it does seem rather strange to do so when I am still very much in 2013!

But this got me thinking: are you a planner or a reactor? The planners of you out there may have already picked up some bargains in cards, wrapping paper and presents for next year in some post-Christmas sales (remember when the January sales actually started in January?) The trick for the planners will be remembering what they bought, for whom, and where the “safe” place was that these bargains were put!

But for others, the thought of such forward planning is alien at best and downright ridiculous at worst. Such people prefer to leave things much later in time, enjoying each moment in life as it comes to them. They do not feel that they have no time to celebrate events and achievements, because they are already planning the next thing on the calendar! They are the ones I call reactors, able to somehow “pull the rabbit out of the bag” just in the nick of time. The end result may well be the same – a happy ending – but the journey could not be more different.

Personally, I am a planner, but I do understand that this can be tricky. I have had a box of Christmas presents put away in my “safe place” since last spring, together with my Filofax to remind me what I have bought for whom. But when I actually came to wrap them for Christmas, there has been a considerable amount of re-thinking going on. Why ever did I think such-and-such would make a great present back then, and yet question my choices now? It is the curse of the planners that we have to live with attempting to do the same thing several times over, because by the time we reach the important “date”, much may well have changed, for both the giver and the receiver..

decisions to be made by those selling foodstuffs as to how many of which types of bread may be needed at any one time.

These decisions get much harder when you are dealing with purchases such as clothes, art or furniture, for example, which are so dependent on trends and individual preferences. And as for those in our catering establishments, the menu choice that worked wonderfully well one week may be struggling to attract custom in another week – with no apparent rhyme or reason. It is a tribute to the traders that they are able to plan so well ahead yet still respond to changing tastes.

So, as we enter a traditional phase of new starts and a new season, it is well worth remembering that there is considerable scope for personalities who are planners and others who are reactors. The trick is learning how to both recognize yourself and to acknowledge and respect others who may be completely opposite to you. So to the reactors out there – enjoy the moment! And to the planners – well done for getting next Christmas “sorted” already!!

By Pat Kennett

As traders on Moulsham Street, we have to be both planners and reactors. We have to plan for changes in stock levels, some of which may have much longer lead times than others.

The huge variety of stock held by such a wide range of traders and shops can mean that some have to plan months ahead, whilst others have to react extremely quickly to changes, often beyond their control (or anyone else’s, to be fair!) Whilst people will always need for example, bread, there are always

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