L N ocal ISSUE 11
etwork Magazine
Those Jeans by Brenda Burling Garden View Puzzle Page Recipe - Coq au vin Safe Selfies Kings Wills & Trusts Build Your Strengths
THE WOODEN FURNITURE COMPANY Unit 2 Ford Farm, Braintree Road Dunmow CM6 1HU Tel: 01371 872292 www.woodenfurnituredunmow.co.uk Oak, Painted & Rattan Furniture for your Home & Garden. 1,000’s Square feet of furniture on display. All at Rock Bottom Prices. For more details see page 5 FREE Magazines delivered through the letterbox
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www.localnetworkmag.co.uk info@localnetworkmag.co.uk 12,000 Free Magazines Delivered Through The Letterbox Every Month Would you like details about advertising? Call Kim Wallis - 01371 830200
Page 17 Brenda Burling - Those Jeans! Page 3 Watson Legal Page 7 Garden View
Page 19 & 21 Sky Diving Shall we go and play with the clouds
Page 8 Sodoku
Page 23 Safe Selfies
Page 11 Word Search & Crossword
Page 24 Kings Wills & Trusts
Page 15 Recipe - Coq au vin
Page 29 & 31 Building Your Strengths
JAC ElECtriCiAns Approved NICEIC electrical contractors We perform a wide variety of electrical work for domestic and commercial properties throughout Braintree, Essex and surrounding areas. Our services include: Domestic Electrical Testing n Commercial Electrical Testing n Essential Repairs and Rewires n Emergency Electrical Services n
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Disclaimer While every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of artwork. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given for use in this publication. Adverts are accepted on the understanding that the description of the goods and services are fair and accurate. Local Network Magazine does not officially endorse and advertising material included in this publication. No part of this publication maybe reproduced, stored in any retrievable system or transmitted in any form-electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise – without the consent of the publisher. Publisher: Local Network Magazine. 8 The Maltings, Thaxted, Essex. CM6 2NB
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Are you aware of the recent key changes in law? There are several key changes that commenced on the 1st October 2015. Landlord and Tenant You may recall our “Quick Tips for Landlords and Tenants” where we discussed ways in which to terminate an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (“AST”) Agreement. In essence any tenancies created from the 1st October 2015 and tenancies created on 1 October 2014 and is renewed upon expiry of its fixed term (and before it becomes a statutory periodic AST) on the 1 October 2015 will be subject to the new rules. The changes include but not limited to: • A landlord will not now be able to serve a section 21 notice at the start of a tenancy. • A section 21 notice will effectively become invalid if it is not used as the basis for a possession claim within six months of being served • Section 21 notices will not be valid where a landlord has failed to comply with certain legal requirements such as Energy Performance Certificates and Gas Safety Certificates Other key changes that landlords need to be aware of include: • Requirement to install smoke alarms on all of the property’s floors. • Carbon monoxide alarms are also required in all rooms with solid fuel burning appliances. Consumer The Consumer Rights Act 2015 aims to consolidate existing Consumer Law. These include: Statutory terms that must be complied with in respect of the supply of goods: 1. The goods must be of a satisfactory quality 2. The goods must be fit for a particular purpose 3. The goods must match the description, sample or model
1 Ducketts Wharf, South Street, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3AR
4. The goods must be installed correctly (where this is agreed as part of the contract) There is a set standard for the supply of services: 1. The service must be carried out with reasonable care and skill; 2. Information written or said to the consumer is binding where the consumer relies on it; 3. The service must be done for a reasonable price; and 4. The service must be carried out within a reasonable time. The standard of care is that to be expected of a reasonably competent person in that trade or profession. Consumer provisions now apply to digital content. 30 days to return faulty goods compared with ‘reasonable period’ as previously required. Other major changes If you park a car in a private car park, you are now entitled to a ten minute grace period after your ticket expires. This measure already applies to car parks owned by councils. It is now illegal in England and Wales to smoke in a car carrying someone under the age of 18. The law does not apply to anyone driving in a convertible with the roof down, and does not apply to vaping an electronic cigarette. This is only a brief outline of the changes. If you require further information or would like book a free 30 minute consultation then call us on 01279 466910 or email info@watson-legal.com
Tel: 01279 466910 www.watson-legal.com info@watson-legal.com
Sarah Watson Principal of Watson Legal
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Garden View
Happy Fencing
While the sun is still shining, or at least it was while writing this article, we need to turn our thoughts to winter and without doubt some strong winds. Hopefully that creates a picture in your mind of your trees and shrubs swaying but staying firm along with your fence panels! Fencing is one of those jobs that often gets put to the back of our minds when the garden is growing and blooming. The shrubs and climbing plants often cover the fencing giving us a false sense of security. However will your fencing stand the strong gusts of winds we seem to get more and more of during the winter?
only the top and it won’t affect the rest of the fence! Now thinking about how beautifully straight the front fence is we knew we had to get the best we could find. It turns out that was easier said than done! We went to two different stores the first didn’t have 1 straight length of fence capping - without exaggerating certain parts could have been made into boomerangs. The next store had a lot more stock to choose from, but we needed 6 lengths of this capping and had to go through two well stocked bays to find 6 straight pieces, even then they all needed to be sanded down as they were so rough!
The damage fence panels cause during high winds can be horrendous to say the least; at best it just damages a panel or two and a few of your plants as well as a few of your neighbours, but think about the what if’s! Broken greenhouses, damaged sheds and worse. If it’s front fence damage what about the cars on the road, the ‘what if’ list is endless.
Well, the back fence has to be done and we’ve seen fencing that comes as a package which is storm proof and beautiful, in a range of stunning colours, and the price includes installation and even better guaranteed for 25 years! No fencing to worry about for 25 years just think of the money and worry saved!
DIY stores have a range of fencing in various shapes and sizes from larch lap, forest lap to feather edge and more and you can get them at a reasonable prices, but you need to consider the quality of what you are buying. For years I have considered going along buying some panels and getting them put up by someone, in my eyes if they could get the fencing up and it was cheap enough that was fine. So what does our back fence look like? It has a shape all of its own, it’s not secure and we need to do something about it sooner rather than later. Recently we’ve had our front fence done - by a perfectionist; I think the fence will be there for many years. It has been built in feather edge, not panels but each length of wood put up individually, this was all purchased from a fencing specialist and the posts are set into metal spiked fence post supports which have been set in concreate, so that fence doesn’t budge. This goes to show workmanship is everything, as is the quality of the materials. We did forget to purchase fence capping and thought not to worry we can pop into a well-known DIY store and get some, after all it’s
Happy Gardening Diane Gardener 7
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Crossword Clues Clues Across
Clues Down 1 2 3 4 5 6
Spear (sporting) (7) Royal breed of dog (5) Farewell (informal) (3) Decision, opinion (9) Tense, anxious (7) Spasm, pound (5)
1 4 7 8 9 11 12 14 16 18 20 21 23 24
Biblical grandson of Abraham (5) Jolly outing or excursion (5) Directly above (8) Conservative (informal) (4) Definitive (8) Desert in Asia (4) Silky wool (6) Individual, organism (6) Squabble, altercation (4) Lesson, coaching session (8) Indian garment (4) Southern English county (8) Last letter of the Greek alphabet (5) Pleasant, refreshing weather (5)
10 13 15 17 19 22
Girl’s name (Russian) (9) Sketch, rough plan (7) Catastrophe (7) Ancient Greek philosopher (5) Bucolic, pastoral (5) Angry group (3)
Word Search List abscess ache acid amalgam appointment bacteria bite braces brush caps chew crown decay dentist drill enamel fear filling floss fluoride gargle
gold gums hurt impacted implant incisor inlay jaw molar mouth needle nerve numb nurse open plaque rinse smile sugar teeth
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The re’s s can omeon always d e wo o it ch who qua uld you eaper, b lity a nd s get the ut ervi ce?
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Coq Au Vin n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
Ingredients 8 chicken thighs 3 level tablespoons of plain flour Salt & pepper 70g butter 2 teaspoons dark brown sugar 1 tablespoon tomato puree 3 tablespoons of light olive oil 125g diced lean bacon 1 medium onion - peeled and quartered 1 medium carrot - peeled and sliced 2 cloves of garlic - crushed 200g small shallots - skinned 200g button mushrooms wiped clean 1 celery stalk thinly sliced 60 ml brandy 550 ml red wine 150 ml chicken stock Tablespoon of chopped parsley for garnish
Bouquet Garni - (bouquet garni is a bundle of fresh herbs) this is traditionally a few sprigs of parsley, a few sprigs of thyme and a bayleaf which is tied with a small piece of leek, however you can now buy small muslin bouquet garni bags. The bags make it so much easier to remove herbs from casserole or sauces. Casserole dish should be large enough to take the chicken thighs in one layer so you can cover them with wine
Instructions
n Season 1 tablespoon of the flour with salt and pepper n Coat the chicken pieces with the seasoned flour n In a large deep frying pan melt 30g of the butter and 1 tablespoon light olive oil and gently fry the chicken thighs until the skin is golden brown, put the chicken thighs into a casserole dish. n Add the bacon to the frying pan cook for 2 minutes then add the peeled quartered onion, small shallots, celery and sliced carrot, fry until vegetables are soft then add crushed garlic and fry for another minute then add to the casserole dish. n Add the brandy, red wine and sugar to the pan then boil to burn off the alcohol for a few minutes. Set aside 150 ml and add the remaining mixture to the casserole dish. n Add the bouquet garni to the casserole dish cover with lid or foil and cook on 180c (350f) for 1 hour. n After the chicken has been cooking for about 50 mins n Add 20g of butter with 1tbs light olive oil to a saucepan add mushrooms then cook over a high heat for a few minutes until golden brown, remove and keep warm. n Turn down the heat of the pan and make your sauce by adding 20g of butter, 1 tablespoon of light olive oil when the butter has melted add 2 level tablespoons of plain flour and mix well, keep the heat low and gradually add chicken stock and the remaining 150 ml of the wine & brandy that was set aside, this will make a nice thick shiny sauce. n Take the casserole dish out of the oven remove the bouquet garni then add the mushrooms and sauce, mix gently and put the casserole dish back in the oven uncovered for another 10 minutes. Remove from the oven leave to stand for a minute or two season to taste, garnish with chopped parsley and serve. n Serve with either boiled new potatoes or rice and green beans.
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[ T y p e a q u o t e f r o m
THOSE
jeans By Brenda Burling
S
o, here I am trying to once more convince myself that if I just lost a few pounds (ten to fifteen at the very least, if I’m honest) it would make all the difference and I would be able to fit into THOSE jeans. Who am I kidding? I am not the person I was twenty years ago, which was about the time THOSE jeans were bought. Having had a family and age taken its toll, I would be a fool to think otherwise. Yet we all seem to try desperately to hold onto youth. There probably isn’t a diet I haven’t tried; calorie counting, food units, good foods, bad foods and even no food for at least two days of the week! I feel there are two approaches to diets; those that are medically led and are a necessity. If you are unfortunate enough to suffer with any condition which symptoms could be alleviated by losing weight, then nobody needs to be told that maybe a diet is the way forward. Never easy, but the benefits must outweigh the struggle in the long run and I salute all those who have this undertaking and wish them well. The weight loss programmes and diets that are cause for concern are those that kid you into thinking if you lose weight, life will be sorted. Our
quest for youth is never ending and the perception that if you are thinner you will look more attractive, be more successful, become more desirable. When in fact, what we need to strive for is our inner happiness and how to find it. On a good day, I acknowledge and accept that I am heavier than I was in my twenties and thirties but then isn’t that what nature intended? Having successfully borne children, ran marathons, endured years of little sleep and survived the continuous peaks and troughs life has thrown. If this results in me being a little rounder, then so be it. Watching television a while ago, I admired Kate Winslet enduring all that Bear Grylls had to throw at her during one of his survival quests, including his questioning of her life in the spotlight. She explained she was happy with her curves and had always wanted to portray the benefits of being happy and healthy over and above any preconceived ideas of how we should all look today. For now I’m with you Ms. Winslet and THOSE jeans are off to the charity shop. That said, I’m sure I have eaten at least three hundred and fifty calorie’s worth of chocolate whilst writing this article, ho hum!
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By Kim Wallis
Shall we go and play with the clouds? Fundraising for St Clare Hospice call: 01279 773 750
If you hate flying and are afraid of heights why would you even consider doing a skydive for charity? A while back, I attended a network meeting at Linden House where Peter James from Stansted Business Forum had arranged for a gentleman to come along and tell us all about his life, skydiving and parachutes; this meeting was also attended by Sarah a fundraiser from St Clare Hospice in Harlow. At the end of the presentation we were asked if anyone would like to do a skydive for St Clare Hospice; I still don’t know why but I put my hand up, the talk had been so interesting I presume I just got carried away and didn’t think, then I realised just what I’d offered to do! My stomach flipped and I felt sick and I said to myself “you’ve said yes, shut up, smile don’t back out now”. As I looked down there was a leaflet on the table with happy smiley faces, then I realised it was a leaflet from St Clare Hospice I wondered how much fear and panic was felt by the patients and families when the diagnosis was made for a life shortening illness; it has to be beyond belief. It was at that point I knew I would do it without question. I also thought I stood a reasonable chance of raising some money because people who know me knew I hated flying and I’m terrified of heights! A date was arranged - September 12th - and as each day went by I tried to make light of it and joke about it to alleviate the fear. I became fixated with YouTube, basically trying to do some mind conditioning by watching videos of sky diving, particularly at Sibson Airfield and regardless of some of the titles the outcomes were all good and everyone came down with a huge smile! I’m a massive fan of ‘I’m a celebrity get me out of here’ and those who have to jump out of the plane to enter the jungle have all said how fantastic it was, so I did my utmost to stay positive. The morning arrived and with mixed emotions but mostly determination, I shocked myself. Originally
there was going to be six of us but for various reasons I ended up being the only one; fortunately my good friend Angela Lock came to my rescue, she called and said “it’s on my bucket list I’ll do it with you”. Angela arrived at my house looking happy and excited yet calm and collected. I remember her saying it will be fun! I kept looking at her thinking why can’t I be just like her. We made our way to Sibson Airfield which is in Wansford, Peterborough, and we arrived around 7.45am. Once we were all checked in and called for training my heart started to sink but actually the training was confidence-boosting, even though there were things I didn’t like the sound of! The trainer delivered it in a way that really helped. The first group went off and amongst them was a young lad who was just a fearful as me - we’d had a good chat when we were registering and he was raising funds for the British Heart Foundation and nothing was going to stop him but he was really frightened. Angela and I stood at the edge of the airfield, watching the plane take off and go round and round and then disappear into the clouds. After about twenty minutes we saw them gliding down, the parachutes fully opened, some having a nice gentle ride whilst others were swirling and turning and looking rather acrobatic. The brightly coloured parachutes looked stunning. Everyone including the younger man who’d been worried about making the jump came back with huge smiles - just like I’d seen on TV and on YouTube, and that helped me as I knew just how worried he’d been. Our group was then called to get changed into our jumpsuits and this was an exercise in itself for me as I’m only 5’3” but rather round; I needed something to fit my body but in jumpsuit terms that meant I should have been at least 6’ tall, the leg length was about 10” too long as was the crutch without the harness and I walked like a penguin. I was partnered by this very tall instructor Mark Harris, he helped me into my harness explaining how it will be tightened during the flight and
Continues on page 21
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introduced me to another lovely guy who was our camera man. I had paid for the video and pictures after all it was never going to happen again and my grandchildren were keen to see how terrified I was. Given that I hate flying, the climb to 13,000ft in a tin can for me was not enjoyable to say the least, yet everyone else in the plane was smiling and laughing including my friend Angela; she looked serene, calm and was enjoying the ride. I just thought they were all mad! When you get to a certain height the harnesses are tightened, they are very secure, I heard my instructor counting and checking each connection then he double checked once again and this was a big plus for confidence knowing he was doing his job so efficiently. It was time for the shutter to be opened (yes it’s a roller shutter not a door) and I expected there to be a huge gust of wind throwing us all over the place, but no, it just turned colder and was a bit blowy. The first two ‘jumpers’ shuffled into place and ‘shuffled’ is the right description because you wiggle forward on your backside, and before you could blink they’d gone, my camera man then climbed up and out - they hang onto the aircraft so they can film you coming out! It was now my turn we did the ‘jump shuffle’ and wiggled forward and I could hear my instructor repeat every word the trainer had said earlier “head back and left, hips forward and legs back”. At this stage you are hanging slightly out of the aircraft and curling your legs back, this is where you try and touch the aircraft with your calves (I kid you not), however there is so much to think about before you know it your out and into the sky free falling! I can’t lie, the air hitting you so hard was a shock and the speed in which you fall initially terrified me; I know some have said breathing was a bit difficult at that stage but you only fall for about 45 seconds. The sky was very blue and not just because the sun was out! It’s a shame it happens so quickly because by the time the free fall was coming to an end I started to think this is ok and stopped screaming. Then the parachute opened and I felt huge jolt and as I looked down I saw the camera man still plummeting, but of course he free falls a lot longer so the parachutes are clear of each other - plus he’s down on the ground quicker to film me coming down.
Then WOW what an experience once the parachute opened it was brilliant! Mark the instructor said “shall we go and play with the clouds?” and that is exactly what we did; just thinking about it now makes me feel rather emotional, it was like nothing I’d ever done before, it really was the most wonderful, magical journey imaginable and he did an amazing job talking to me all the way down. I even asked to do some of the swirly things I’d seen a few of the first group do and we did. It was totally fantastic, in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger “I’LL BE BACK”. I don’t think I will ever get used to the plane journey but I feel sure I will one day enjoy sitting on the edge of the plane anticipating the fall with excitement instead of fear and ready to jump into the clouds and enjoy the free fall before the parachute opens. I also want to do a lot more swirly things. My instructor gave me such confidence and made me feel so safe. Yes you’ve heard how scared I was, but he did his job brilliantly. Thank you Sibson Airfield, Mark Harris my instructor and Tim Plummer my camera man. I promise I won’t scream next time. St Clare Hospice give their patients, their family and friends support and care, they turn a frightening and difficult time into a journey with compassion and do everything they can to take away that fear. They are there with them every step of the way but they need our help to do this. If you too would like to go and play with the clouds just as I did, St Clare Hospice can organise it all. You will need to put down a £50 deposit and then pledge to raise £400 or more in sponsorship, they will let you know dates available and set up your Just Giving Page for you. I have raised £1035 so far and my fear of planes and heights really is nothing in comparison to that of the patients of St Clare Hospice.
For fundraising call: 01279 773 750 21
Covering all building work in the Essex area
You love the house, you like the neighbours and you´re very happy in the neighbourhood. But a growing family needs more room. So why move out when you could move up with a Roomadder loft conversion and create valuable new space in your current home. With Room Adder you can create space to work by turning the loft into an efficient office, where you can work from home without distractions. Depending on the size of your loft, you could add an extra bedroom, children’s playroom, shower room or even a master suite. With a little help and some professional expertise, your loft could be transformed into a usable living space without having to move.
Services we offer n Extensions
n Renovations
n Loft Conversions
n Bathroom Conversions n Bedroom Conversions
n Roof Conversions
n Office Conversions
n Dormer Conversions
n EPDM Rubber Roofs n Building Work
Witham: 01376 230 030 | Chelmsford: 01245 830 030 Maldon: 01621 880 080 | Email: info@roomadder.co.uk 22
Safe Selfies By Bill Saver
More people have died this year whilst taking selfies than have been killed by sharks. 12 individuals have died whilst distracted during a selfie, but sharks have only claimed eight lives. 17 year old Russian Xenia Ignatyeva climbed 28 feet up a bridge to take a selfie and impress her friends. Unfortunately she slipped and was electrocuted by a power cable. In Moscow in May, a 21 year old female posed for a selfie whilst holding a gun - she shot herself in the head but survived. Russia has seen a spate of young people competing to take selfies in increasingly dangerous locations. Authorities have responded with a ‘Self Selfie’ campaign and the accompanying booklet gives warnings against attempting selfies in front of an approaching train, whilst climbing an electricity pylon or whilst standing near a wild animal! The warning to avoid wild animals might seem obvious – but not for a 43 year old female visitor to Yellowstone National Park. She and her daughter turned their backs on a bison for a selfie. The bison charged, tossing her in the air – but she survived. Yellowstone bison have claimed four other selfie-takers this year. In August this year, David González Lopez, a 32 year old Spaniard, was killed whilst taking a selfie at the Villaseca de la Sagra bullfighting arena. He had turned his back on the bulls when one broke free, goring him fatally through neck and thigh. In North Carolina in April 2014, Courtney
Sanford took a selfie whilst driving and singing along to Pharrell Williams’ song “Happy”. She posted it online whilst still at the wheel but shortly afterward crashed into a truck and died. In September, a retired Japanese tourist slipped on the steps of the Taj Mahal whilst taking a selfie with friends. He died later of head injuries. Thrill seekers in Sydney, Australia, have been flocking to the Wedding Cake Rock in the Royal National Park. This smooth sandstone cliff – looking just like an oversized slice of iced wedding cake juts 60 metres above the ocean. It has become fashionable for visitors to photograph themselves doing dangerous stunts next to the sheer drop, posting the results on Instagram or Twitter. In June 2014, Fabien Ardoin – a 23 year old French student - died when the cliff gave way whilst he was posing. Despite the risks – or maybe because of them – Google Trends reports that searches for the term ‘selfie’ increased eightfold in 2014. Selfies have even become the subject of an unusual lawsuit. When wildlife photographer David Slater was photographing crested macaque monkeys in Indonesia, he temporarily left his camera unattended. His subjects grabbed the camera and unknowingly took hilarious selfies, one of which has become the famous ‘Monkey Selfie’. Now PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has launched a lawsuit on behalf of the monkeys, claiming ownership of the photographs. What does the above teach us? Don’t monkey about when taking selfies.
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Wills Trusts No Will The courts have taken custody of children for up to 2 years while ‘they’ decide who will have them. Here are some other things to take into consideration; Marriage after Death If you die, your assets go to the surviving spouse. If they then remarry and then divorce, that new partner gets 50% of the assets from your surviving spouse. Worse still, if your surviving spouse predeceases the new partner, they get 100% of the assets. What do your children get from your marriage to your surviving spouse? Nothing! Inheritance Tax Ensure that once your children receive an inheritance, it cannot be attacked by divorce settlements or creditors. For example; If you leave your son and daughter £250,000 each, they then get married, but then divorce, their spouse can take 50%. Bloodline Planning If your son or daughter predeceases their spouse, then the spouse gets 100% of what you gave them. You may have worked for 40 years to earn this money. You wish for your 2 children to benefit
from it giving them the equivalent of 20 years each. In a divorce, their partners can take 10 years of your working life each! Long-Term Care Costs If you have more than £23,000 in assets in the current tax year (14/15), then your home is at risk of being sold to pay for long-term care. You may well think that if your parents die, you will get their main home assets? Think again! Life Insurance and Death in Service Benefits If you have Life Insurance or Death in Service Benefits with an employer, where are the benefits paid? Could this lead to a future Tax problem? What are the options available to you? Speak to us TODAY Simply call in or telephone to make a suitable time to discuss this further.
l l i W t s a L & t n e m a t s e T
2 - 4 New Street Braintree Essex CM7 1ES Telephone: 01376 320 999 www.kingsfinancial.co.uk Editorial details provided by Kings
LOCalNETwOrk LoCaLNETWoRk iSSUe 18
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iSSUe 5
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Inside 7 Top tips to planning your wedding Garden View Pass the salt Maybe tomorrow? Steve Chew - Crisp Crossword Garden View Wordsearch Pass the Salt Recipe Steve Chew ‘Crisp’ Killer iPhone App Vegetable Chowder Crossword & Word Search Maybe tomorrow if I get a moment
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For full information on these vehicles and our complete stock of nearly 70 cars please visit our website. We also have 7 lenders available to us giving us the ability to finance any credit situation. RAC warranty on all vehicles, up to 20 photographs of each vehicle on the website.
2003 - 03 Audi A4 T Sport
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Mill Hill, Braintree, Essex CM7 3QU Tel: 01376 311 107 Mobile: 07976 838 071 28
Building Your Strengths By Blake Henegan and Scott Drayton Throughout all ages, there has always been a need to develop those areas that you are good at. In today’s challenging economic climate, this approach has never been more important. It goes without saying that if you are good at something and that something is useful – then do it. If it isn’t useful, then perhaps look for a way to make it useful. This is something that we all know and yet not nearly enough of us actually live by it in our daily lives. Ever heard of ‘a jack of all trades is a master of none’? Why invest so much time in making ourselves average in certain areas we were previously weak in, when that time could be better invested in making ourselves the very best in our field in something we are already strong at? So how best to build on your strengths? n Identify your strengths – you might be aware of them or need input. Get feedback from peers, family or managers. Take personality tests such as Belbin, Myers Briggs and so on. At this point, weaknesses will emerge as well, giving you a balanced picture. n Relate back to what you are currently doing – do your strengths help or hinder your
current performance? How can you use your strengths in the role or situation you are currently in? n What do you want to achieve? Set goals for yourself and then plan backwards to establish how you can achieve them. n Spend time learning – a minimum of 15 minutes a day will add up over a life-time see our blog for advice on how to spend those 15 minutes. Create a focused learning plan which you can update and compare against. n Measure and review – make sure you can see progress. In some cases such as weightlifting you can easily measure by how much you can lift. For other cases it might be harder, but a simple out of ten benchmark could be good e.g. you give yourself a 7/10 for presentation skills, then 6 months later you feel you are 9/10. Better still get other people to rate you. Acceptable weaknesses Remember that on some occasions there are weaknesses that can be ignored and don’t have an impact on the success of what you are doing. Make sure you know what these are at
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LocaLLy based covering aLL east angLia
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all times. This applies to both the individual and the manager. I’ve made mistakes in my time when I’ve looked at team members and tried to get them to build on weaknesses even when there was no negative impact on the role they were doing. I’ve got strengths and weaknesses that I’ve identified and am happy with. One of my weaknesses is that I’m not a completer finisher. However, the strengths I do have are my innovative and creative ideas at the start of a project. My solution – get a team of people around me who are completer finishers! Managing the strengths of teams If Richard Branson created a football team and brought in of the 11 best footballers as well as his office staff, he would pick the best people for that job. The best footballers would play football and the best office staff would work in the office. Although this seems obvious, too many times it’s ignored by companies. Round pegs for round holes is the best approach. However, we are aware that in practice sometimes it is harder to implement due to the restrictions within organisations. Businesses do this on a much grander scale. However, these strengths are then called core competencies. These are the activities or assets that the company are strong at and, most importantly, give them competitive advantage. For Apple, this is their innovation processes, which allow them to constantly think what others are unable to. Providing something that others cannot is the key in business and it is something that we as people strive to do – differentiating ourselves. By building on our strengths and investing time in them rather than spending all our time in trying to improve our flaws, we are able to create this competitive advantage and make ourselves more valued. Of course any gaping weaknesses should be identified and addressed if necessary – however, by concentrating on your strengths these weaknesses can be negated. To summarise, to be the best you can be, you need to concentrate on your strengths and what
you are best at. Just as in business, your core competencies are what sets you apart from others and what ultimately make you an asset worth having. Therefore, by honing your skills and practising your strengths you will be making the best investment of your time. Editor’s note: Have a bit of fun and check out your personality profile, we tried www.16personalities.com it’s free to use and we found it very good.
www.optimussourcing.com Unit N, The Maltings, Station Road, Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM21 9JX Blake Henegan is the Managing Director of Optimus Sourcing, an independent training brokerage company. We specialise in sourcing and booking high quality training solutions at the best prices for both companies and individuals. We source a wide variety of training including IT, Microsoft Office, project management, sales and marketing etc. We handle every step of the training booking administration process and are confident we can source a solution for your training need, in any subject, however unique and in a range of formats from single employee to company roll outs. I am responsible for business strategy, new business development and working with our key accounts. I am an associate member of the CIPD and have over 12 years’ experience working with clients including Shelter, CBI, JPMorgan, QVC, Jamie Oliver and Intu Properties. I’m a strong believer in lifelong learning and that you should always push yourself to do that little bit more to get the most out of life.
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