January Thorpe Bay Oracle 2012

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Thorpe Bay

January 2012

ORACLE Thorpe Bay at a glance Est. Sept 2005. Circulation 4,500

Hair & Beauty Guns n' Poses

Local Issues

A Cause for Concern

Recipe British Onion Soup

Oracle Motoring Winter Driving Tips

NEW! Planning

Understanding Architecture Kumon’s maths and English study programmes work to unlock your child’s potential, building their confidence and independent study skills.

To unlock your child’s potential, contact your local Instructor for a Free Assessment: Thorpe Bay Study Centre Alison Wallace 01702 216511

Start their future today kumon.co.uk

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Thorpe Bay

OR ACLE

publisher’s letter

B

y the time this hits the streets the New Year celebrations will be behind us and if you are anything like me, will be very happy to get the house back to normal and start thinking about the year ahead.

A word of warning! Everybody is well aware business is tough and to get it, then maintain it, is hard. However, during December I learnt that a new local magazine, launching in the New Year, had been using my name and business name in order to get business. I want to make it quite clear that Oracle Publications UK Ltd., is not associated with any other publication so please don’t be fooled and check with my office before confirming any space or worst of all parting with any monies.

Within this issue there is a new article written by local architect,Tim Knight who will be giving guidance during the next few months on finding your way around planning and development issues for either your business or home.

Lastly, a happy and prosperous New Year to you all.

Emma Wynne-Morgan Publisher

01702 393838

39 Alexandra Street, Southend, Essex SS1 1BW

www.oraclepublications.co.uk info@oraclepublications.co.uk

www.twitter.com/oracle_essex www.facebook.com/oraclepublications Printed by EVONPRINT, Small Dole, Sussex 01273 494631 JANUARY 2012

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ORACLE

Flat Roofing

Problems?

Established 1975

Estuary Roofing specialise in all types of Felt and Asphalt Roofs

contents

Approved contractors to most major Felt Manufacturers

Local Issues

For your FREE quote Phone

11/12

Estuary Roofing Ltd.

Guns n' Poses Hair & Beauty by Craig Smith

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01702 295314

Diversification is the Key

22

A Cause for Concern

By Rosemary Scofield

Money Matters by Jacqui Moyies

Life is worth exploring Alpha Course by Margaret Hyde

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Understanding Architecture NEW! Planning by Tim Knight

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British Onion Soup Judy's Recipe Page

34

Winter Driving Tips Oracle Motoring by Stuart Winder

38

Plenty on offer Cultured Club by Tracy Jones

42

Goals Health & Beauty by Cris Ramis

44

Sudoku

46

Diary Dates

50 56 58

Useful Numbers Advertiser Index

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Advertorials CHC Property Thorpe Hall School Shoeburyness High School 4 T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

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Advertorial

Grey-t Expectations Silver Maintenance helps Southend Pensioners Stay Safe

N

o one likes to feel that they have wasted n ALWAYS check the trader’s identity! Were you or, even worse, been conned out of their expecting them? If not, but you are interested in money. their product or service, ask them to come back However, despite the best efforts of Police and later. This will give you a chance to check them Trading Standards, there are still hundreds of out, either online or with family and friends. rogue traders doing exactly that every day to vulnerable people. It is reason enough for the n Take control – you ask the questions.

BBC to commission an 8th series of Rogue n NEVER commit to, or sign anything on the Traders. spot. A common feature of scams is pressure to Unfortunately, older people do present an commit quickly. You may be told that an offer is attractive target to rogue traders, not least only available for a limited period, or that by because they are more likely to have easily signing now you will get a discount. A genuine accessible savings than younger people and may no longer have as many close family and friends offer is unlikely to require you to make an instant or other trusted individuals to go to for advice. decision so don’t let yourself be rushed Not only that, they are less likely to have access to the internet as a resource for information n If in doubt ask the person to leave. about which firms are reputable or not – albeit that the number of so-called ‘silver surfers’ is n Take as much detail about the person and their vehicle as possible and if you feel in any way increasing. unsure, report them to your local police – simply However with the right information and support dial the non-emergency number 101 – and give the elderly can protect themselves from scams. as much detail as possible, this will help officers Here are some simple and effective suggestions catch the individual responsible. that can make all the difference.

8 T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E www.oraclepublications.co.uk JANUARY 2012

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One solution that pensioners throughout the county can adopt for guaranteed security and peace of mind is CHC Construction’s Silver Maintenance scheme.

It is the brainchild of CHC’s Managing Director Trevor Williams, who as a board member of Age Concern Southend and is uniquely placed to know exactly what older members of society need and therefore designed his new service to meet their requirements head on.

Registering for the scheme is easy and completely free. Silver Maintenance members also have the option to nominate a ‘buddy.’ This can be a family member, friend or carer and is someone whom will always be co-advised of any works agreed prior to commencement or indeed, money changes hands.This creates an additional layer of financial security and peace of mind.

Whenever the customer has a building or maintenance requirement, Silver Maintenance’s friendly team are never more than a phone-call away. A Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)-checked expert will then visit their home, discuss the work that needs doing and follow this up with a detailed and clearly written quote, with

everything – from materials to labour charges itemised. Once the Silver Maintenance customer is satisfied, then the highly qualified and experienced CHC team will swiftly come and do the work.

Trevor, who himself has more than 25 years of experience in the construction and maintenance industry and whose firm is behind several landmark buildings in Southend, says: “I know from my experience with Age Concern that there are still far too many members of society becoming victims of rogue traders, so I have listened and designed a safe, secure service for older and more vulnerable people. “ He adds: “Pensioners need things to be safe, transparent, reliable and quick whenever and wherever possible. Our reliable, trustworthy and affordable Silver Maintenance service covers everything from installing a single grab rail to more involved internal modifications, such as bathroom and kitchen remodelling or complete construction of purpose built extensions. And most importantly, in a way that gives peace of mind and keeps them completely safe.”

To find out more about Silver Maintenance call CHC on 01702 512226 or visit : www.chcproperty.co.uk

O

01702 512226 chcproperty.co.uk JANUARY 2012

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S O FA S

CHAIRS

C U R TA I N S

BL I N D S

DESIGN, STYLE & CRAFTSMANSHIP Visit our extensive, newly refurbished showroom and workshop in Thorpe Bay. We offer a complete interior design service. A fantastic choice of styles, finishes, fabrics, leathers and bespoke upholstery – a talented and dedicated team of interior designers, furniture craftsmen and curtain makers to create your specific requirements – let us transform your home. Interior design by Michelle Elliott-Britto.

MORRIS

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Local Issues

A cause for Concern A

ge Concern has had a presence in the town for over 35 years (in those days we were Southend Old Peoples Welfare).

We became Age Concern in 1993.

Our offices are very central and situated on the 3rd floor at Queensway House, Essex Street, Southend on Sea. SS1 2NY. The opening hours are Monday – Thursday 9.30 – 4.30 and Fridays 10.30 – 4.30, with an hour for lunch between 12.30 – 1.30. We are very pleased to welcome callers, many who come have a variety of issues to be dealt with which our friendly and helpful staff are pleased to assist with.

Services Some of the services we provide are befriending – this being one of the most important services we offer. An Age Concern Volunteer visits a lonely old person for an hour or two per week in their home for a chat and a cup of tea. Often this is the only face to face human contact that our elderly clients receive from week to week.

It is therefore hugely welcomed, it is also very satisfying for our befrienders who say how much they get out of such visits.

JANUARY 2012

Another very in-demand service we provide is that of our drivers for medical transport – this includes GPs, Hospital, Chiropody and other clinics. The Age Concern driver picks the patient up at their own home, transports them to the place of their appointment and takes them home afterwards. A small mileage charge is made for this service to cover the drivers out of pocket expenses.

We also have a number of high quality wheelchairs available for temporary hire at a small charge.

Hearing Aid batteries may be exchanged either in our office or by post – please send a SAE for this service.

We also provide occasional social events for older people, such as our Summer Garden Party and Christmas Bazaar. In October 2011 as a new venture we held an Autumn Get-together at Nazareth House, this was a free event (refreshments very kindly provided by Nazareth House) and over 100 persons and residents attended and enjoyed a varied programme from Cecil Jones College with their wonderful choir performing, also some vocalists. Sylvia our resident organist played to the delight of the guests.

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The event was also visited by Mr David Amess meetings – just a phone call away on 01702 MP and Cllr Sally Carr Deputy Mayor, adding 215780.

We also print a magazine 3 times a year, this is to the pleasure of the afternoon. entirely free so if you would like to receive a A blessing was given by two priests, Father copy get in touch with us. – especially if you Brian of Nazareth House and Father James of could write an article – it could be past St Lukes Church. Father Brian in the talk experiences, work experiences – even writing reminded everyone of the curse of loneliness a poem for us! So you may discover some and the devastating effects it can have upon hidden talents! people. We at Age Concern can certainly vouch for this from the many phone calls we Other assistance receive from elderly lonely people.

We welcome offers of help in our office, to We have had a big campaign to increase our provide assistance in our fund-raising befriender volunteers and are very pleased to activities, including the organisation of Social say we now have almost 90 people going events and in any other ways. We look into the community visiting elderly people. forward to hearing from you.

I do hope you have found this article informative and helpful – it there is We are currently looking for more volunteers anything we can do to assist please and equally importantly people to visit. So feel free to contact us. our appeal for help is twofold – firstly if you have an hour or so please contact the office Rosemary Scofield on 01702 215780 to discuss with Cathy who Manager will arrange an informal interview followed by references being taken up and a CRB check. Once this is sorted “you are on the road”.

Volunteers Wanted

O

Also, we are looking for people to visit – either yourself or if you know a lonely elderly person please get in touch – it as simple as that and could transform your entire life as many rich friendships are formed from these 12

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01702 215780

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Fe Op br en ua in ry g 20 12

Cedars Care Centre

Providing Quality Residential & Dementia Care

“We are passionate about offering our residents and their families a warm homely caring atmosphere in a modern purpose built care centre” Cedars Care Centre is a modern and purpose built residential care centre situated in a pleasant area of Southend very close to the town centre and is easily accessed by road and public transport.

We provide care for older people who may be physically frail or have dementia. Additionally, we can offer respite care packages.

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9 Freshly prepared nutritious meals 9 Dedicated full-time Activity Coordinators 9 Dignified person centred approach to care 9 Bright and airy en suite bedrooms 9 Interactive safe and secure gardens 9 Sensory/therapy room 9 Designed to meet today’s care needs

For more information or to arrange a viewing viewing

Call: 01702 236090

admin.cedars@churchgatehealthcare.co.uk admi n.cedars@churchgatehealthcare.co.uk www.churchgatehealthcare.co.uk www.churchgatehealthcare.co.uk Cedars Care Centre, 14 Sweyne Avenue, SSouthend-on-Sea, outhend-on-Sea, Essex SS2 6FQ

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T.V REPAIRS We will set up, tune in and demonstrate new equipment

Including Are you prepared to go DIGITAL early 2012?

Call WIZARD SERVICES for same day service

01702 520450 07904 976040 Re-upholstery & Antique Restoration by experienced local craftsmen High-quality craftsmanship :FREE C Specialists in Young Bros. and Coopers Estimates C 3-Piece Suites made to your specifications C Curtains made-to-measure C Extensive library of fabrics including:Voyage, Villa Nova, Ross, Linwood etc.

C Very competitive rates

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Oracle Hair & Beauty

Guns ‘n’ Poses W

ow! What did you think of the Downton Abbey Christmas special? I absolutely loved it and not just for the storyline. Downton’s huge success must, in part, be due to the amazing backdrop of Highclere Castle and the clothes, not just the great acting.

Men are getting the Abbey habit also and abandoning sweatpants and hoodies in favour of more gentlemanly lounge wear. John Lewis has seen a 100 per cent year-onyear increase in sales of silk dressing gowns and two-piece cotton pyjamas as favoured by the Earl of Grantham.

The hit TV series has sparked a revival in the nation’s obsession with class and how the upper crust liked to dress and enjoy itself. It also coincides with the increase of interest in country sports, which requires all manner of outfits.

Sales of cravats are up 28 per cent at Debenhams and waistcoats, the must-have for all Downton men, have also seen a sales spike of 21 per cent.

Aristocratic chic is very much back in fashion but you don’t have to shop in London’s famous St James district or hunt down vintage pieces across the internet to get the Downton look – it can be found on the High Street.

The trick to capturing Edwardian elegance is to take some of the key essentials; fur capes, a cloche hat, pearls, simple but elegant dresses and elbow length gloves, and give it a modern, slightly dressed-down twist.

George at Asda is currently selling a hat that would not look out of place on Lady Mary’s head, whilst BHS and Top Shop both sell faux fur stoles at prices that are every bit as good as they look. Dorothy Perkins – who sounds like a character in the show – plus Monsoon and Wallis are also stores that have embraced the rebirth of the Edwardian era’s glamour.

Of course, giving your wardrobe an aristocratic edge isn’t just about fur, hats, jewellery and corsets. Teaming a crisp cotton shirt with a tweed jacket, jeans and knee length country boots is the perfect way to look like posh totty.

M&S has seen sales of men’s British fabric tweed blazers rise by more than 750 per cent on some styles. They put it down to popular films, such as The King’s Speech and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy along with Downton all combining to give men the confidence to wear classic British heritage styles. Ironically, the concept of the ‘quintessential English gentleman’ is something the Italians have long-embraced as a fashion starting point, re-packaged and sold to the rest of the world as the gold standard of male cool.

And if that isn’t enough, you can also surround yourself with Downton style - Past Times is selling a range of mugs, calendars and cushions, emblazoned with some of the best quotes from the hit show.

The memorabilia will feature one-liners and famous putdowns from characters like the Dowager Countess of Grantham including “What is a weekend?” and “Oh good, let’s talk about money.”

For all your hair and beauty issues write to beauty@oraclepublications.co.uk Sponsored by

And don’t forget the statement hair! Backcombing and then piling up your tresses into an elegant beehive with a loose curl on either side is very sexy and looks great as an everyday style or when out for a sumptuous dinner with Lord Fabulous. And for your make-up, keep it light and fresh with lots of subtle browns and pinks – less is most definitely more.

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Clock Repairs, Sales & Restorations It's About Time est. 30yrs

01702 472574 863 London Road, Chalkwell SS0 9SZ (opposite Chalkwell Park)

Call now 01702 256018

Showrooms open: Mon-Sat 10.00am-5,00pm 61 High Street, Hornchurch, RM11 1TP Alton Garden Centre on the A127, Wickford

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LOVE SHUTTERS

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ORDER BEFORE VALENTINEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DAY 2012

LOVE SHUTTERS FOR FUNCTIONALITY AND BEAUTY At Creative Shutters & Blinds we simply Love Shutters, they offer unsurpassed flexibility in design and installation styles and are perfect for both traditional and contemporary interiors. Our range of S:CRAFT shutters offer many benefits (in addition to their aesthetics) and can fit practically any window shape and style you can imagine.

Contact us now to benefit from Love Shutters and an honest (no strings attached) 20% OFF - offer valid until 14th Feb 2012 T: 01702 543024 or 07985 566339 E: info@creative-shutters.co.uk W: www.creative-shutters.co.uk We are an accredited S:CRAFT Stockist providing industry leading levels of service, from initial consultation to ensure the best aesthetic solution to a hassle free installation.

Creative Shutters & Blinds Interior and exterior decorating, painting and wallpapering

Professional, friendly and reliable Local Thorpe Bay Decorator Top quality workmanship Guaranteed City and Guild qualified Competitive prices Fully Insured

M K Decorating Services For a free no obligation quotation, Please call Michael

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Money Matters

Diversification is the key to successful investment I

t is the part of a wise man to keep himself today for tomorrow, and not venture all his eggs in one basket”, or so goes the quote from Cervantes’ novel Don Quixote. And almost 400 years later, the sentiment is as true today as it may have been back then.

With the global economy seemingly teetering on the brink, the adage of having a balanced portfolio has never been as relevant.

No-one can predict which investment is going to produce the best returns year after year, but by spreading your money across a selection of asset types, countries and sectors, your investments stand a better chance of achieving more consistent returns.

Building a balanced portfolio is a question of managing risk versus return. Risk is not just about potential capital losses – you also have to consider the risk of inflation, for instance, and a reduction in income if circumstances go against you.

For example, the derisory rates on cash deposit accounts means that most people’s savings are failing to keep up with inflation. Indeed, higher-rate taxpayers need to find an account paying 8.67 per cent to keep pace with rising prices (source: Office for National Statistics, November 2011).

An investor’s attitude to risk is a key factor. It is vital to understand the different levels of risk inherent in various types of investments.

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Different asset classes have different risk profiles.

Cash, gilts and corporate bonds are generally perceived as lower risk investments and, historically, have provided less volatile returns than other asset classes. However, equities are considered to be further up the risk ladder but offer investors the potential for greater returns.

History demonstrates that investing in equities beats the returns of other assets, including cash, over the long term. According to data from Barclays Capital, over the period since the end of 1899 equities have provided annualised real r eturns of 5.1% versus just 1.4% for gilts and 1.0% for cash (source: Barclays Capital 2011 Equity Gilt Study, assumes income reinvested).

The uncertainty that is gripping global markets is likely to be here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future. As the bailout discussions in Europe have shown, there is no quick or simple fix. But the same cannot be said for re-organising your investment portfolio and the discussions you might need to have with your financial adviser.

by Jacqui Moyies

O

To receive a complimentary guide covering Wealth Management Retirement Planning or Inheritance Tax Planning, contact: Jacqui on 01702 589553 Jacqui.moyies@sjpp.co.uk or visit www.sjpp.co.uk/jacquimoyies

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questions, experiences & backgrounds are welcomed. The groups get to know each other well and often find that friendships are formed that continue to grow after Alpha has finished.

Life is Worth Exploring J

anuary 2012 - As the evenings start early and the weather’s not great, the gardening, golf and sailing might have to wait a few months. So, is it catching up with unread books, thinking about a diet & fitness routine, or perhaps a new interest, hobby, class or course?

If you are interested in a course, you might consider doing Alpha. This has been running for over 20 years, and in 2011 was delivered to over 17 million people in 169 countries in 112 languages.

So, what is it? It’s an opportunity to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting over ten thought provoking weeks. The evenings at Shoeburyness & Thorpe Bay Baptist Church start with a delicious freshly cooked hot supper including classic puddings. An interesting talk is given on a different topic each week and is followed by a discussion in groups of 8-10 people. The atmosphere is informal, fun and friendly and all opinions,

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Why do people attend? For many reasons but, perhaps for some, because they have achieved success in their careers, have a happy family life, enjoy their friendships and hobbies, but occasionally wonder, “Is this all there is...?”

Most Alpha courses start in January and September and begin with an introductory no-obligation Guest Supper. This is a sort of “taster” and guests can choose whether or not they would like to return for the ten weeks or just leave it at the one evening; there is no pressure to continue. Alpha will be starting soon in several churches in the area and these can be found on the Alpha website: www.alpha.org/alpha/find-a-course The photos of the autumn Alpha course at S&TBBC were taken by Laura Cook: www.lauracookphotography.net

More information about the January Course can be found on the S&TBBC website: www.shoeburybaptistchurch.org.uk

www.shoeburybaptistchurch.org.uk

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Advertorial

Learning to explore world issues A

t Thorpe Hall School pupils are presented with many opportunities to bring life to their learning. They are encouraged to become strong, independent thinkers with the ability and confidence to explore real-world issues. At the same time, pupils are taught to recognise teamwork skills and to appreciate the real benefits of working together.

An example of this is in practice is The First Lego League (FLL), a robotics programme for 9 to 16 year olds designed to get children excited about science and technology and teach them valuable life skills along the way.

Every year, FLL releases a challenge based on a real-world scientific topic. The 2011 Food Factor Challenge set over 200,000 children from 55 countries exploring the topic of food safety and examining the possible points of contamination our food encounters – from exposure to insects and creatures to unsterile processing and transportation – then finding ways to prevent or combat these contaminates. In part two of the challenge, teams had to build, test and program an autonomous robot to solve a set of food safety missions as well as research, develop, and share their innovative food safety solutions.

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For the last three years, Thorpe Hall School has taken part in the FLL Challenge and has won the regional competition each year. Having been awarded first place again in November at Ford’s Technical Centre at Dunton, Team Thorpe Hall will now go on to the UK National Competition at Loughborough University later this month.

“Teams are judged by the standard of their work on the robot challenge, how they worked as a team and how they individually performed in their respective roles over the course of the project as well as on the day of the competition.” explained Mr. Andrew Hampton, Headteacher. “Pupils have great fun in the process but to be the best demands innovation, resourcefulness, teamwork and commitment – all excellent life skills”.

01702 582340 Wakering Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 3RD

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Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.

John Dewey

forward thinking Here at Thorpe Hall, we hold traditional values dear but we keep a clear and consistent focus on a brighter future. This is a progressive and forward thinking school for a modern world; a place where new ideas and initiatives are always explored and embraced.

Our teaching style is founded on support, guidance and a love of learning and our pupils are actively encouraged to become strong, independent thinkers.

Our aim is to bring life to education as well as bringing education to life.

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Planning

Understanding Architecture T

he home is a unique and individual environment offering an opportunity to create a style, warmth and security that allows us to live our daily lives. The physical representation of our distinctive character and personality, it is often the single largest investment of finance, time and design most people experience in their lives. When coupled with our place of work we often spend the vast proportion of our lives occupying, experiencing and observing the built environment that surrounds us Within our small part of the country the housing stock tends to be traditional in style and size and is becoming less suited to modern living. Homeowners are now more than ever looking to extend and modify their houses to create their ideal homes. In addition the economics of such construction works leads many to consider demolition to design and build their perfect dream homes.

The decision to undertake extensive building works should be exciting, stimulating and challenging, and offers a rare chance to develop your design style within the most public and historic of art forms…Architecture.

However the development process is often shrouded in mystery and clouded with anecdotes of poor planning decisions, ‘cowboy builders’, spiralling costs and delays. This should not be the case and over the next few editions I hope to dispel some of the myths and provide an insight into the process of designing, approving and

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constructing your ideal home or business The first and possibly most important decision is employing the correct professionals. Structural Engineers, Party Wall Surveyors and M&E Engineers may be required but the process invariably starts with the Architect, who must be registered with the A.R.B. A full list of your local architects is available at www.architecture.com Architects come in all shapes and types and it is important to choose one who recognises your aspirations and with whom you feel you can work closely. An Architect will help create a totally tailored solution for your living needs and steer your project through to completion, overseeing the design, planning and building regulations, the builders and your budget. Make this decision carefully as a close working relationship often produces the best results.

In the next issue I will discuss the design and planning stage of work and how to best realise your ambitions within a planning approval.

Should you have questions you would like me to address please email: info@oraclepublications.co.uk

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recipe of the month British Onion Soup

In the Kitchen with Judy Barden

Serves 4

Ingredients 50g/2oz butter or dripping 1kg/2lb 4oz onions, finely sliced 1 tbsp golden caster sugar Few sprigs fresh thyme 3 bay leaves 150ml/ ¼ pt cider 1 litre/1 ¾ pt stock, vegetable or chicken For Topping 4 thick slices from a round country loaf 100g/4oz mature cheddar Handful chopped fresh parsley Method: 1. Heat most of the butter or dripping in a large pan. Add the onions, sugar and herbs.

Season and cook, uncovered, over a low heat, stirring occasionally. You want the onions to go lovely and soft and then turn sticky and a rich golden brown colour, this will take about 45 mins.

2. Pour in the cider and reduce by half. Pour in the stock and cook for 20 mins. Season again taking care if it needs more sugar as well as salt and pepper.

British Onion Soup

A

lthough we usually associate France with onion soup it could also be a very British dish. Add a little bit of cider to bring out the sweetness of the onions and cheddar on top of the croûtes to give it that British twist. It also freezes very well without the topping.

3. When ready to serve, heat the grill to high. Spread the bread on both sides with the remaining butter or dripping and then toast both sides until golden. Scatter with the cheese and place back under the grill until melted. Serve the soup in bowls with a slice of the cheesy toast floating on top and scatter with parsley.

O

Next month’s recipe:

Make your own Marmalade

Enjoy!

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Oracle Motoring

Winter Driving Tips

By Stuart Winder ADI

F

ollowing on from last month’s article on preparing your vehicle for winter, this month I thought I would give you my top tips for safely dealing with the worst the winter weather can throw at us.

Is it worth it?

Firstly, and most importantly of all, If conditions are particularly bad, ask yourself whether you need to travel or not. If it’s not an essential journey I suggest staying in and warming your hands on a hot toddy*. Before there is visible snow, the integrity of the road surface may not be obvious. As a general rule of thumb though, temperatures below three degrees centigrade are likely to be accompanied by ice of some sort.

Hitting skid row The sight on the morning news of cars pirouetting down the high street can make for titters at the breakfast table, but finding yourself in a skid can be frightening and, if you panic, quite dangerous. With ice on the ground, any vehicle – even a four wheel drive – can lose traction and end up in a skid. To avoid this, follow this simple set of rules: n n n n

Slow and steady Stopping distances are ten times longer in snow and ice so keep your distance from traffic ahead and manoeuvre gently. Try and keep to major roads rather than smaller, quiet roads. If the steering feels unusually light or the sound of your tyres on the road changes, you could be driving on ice, so take great care and slow down by easing off the gas, rather than braking.

Avoid revving the engine in thick snow - this could cause the wheels to dig deeper into the snow. Drive as slowly as you can in as high a gear as possible, higher gears have greater torque, meaning your wheels are less likely to spin.

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n

Drive slowly and carefully Brake early and steadily on approach to corners Avoid over-steering and accelerating suddenly mid-turn If your lose grip while turning, depress the clutch and turn into the direction of the skid.

Avoid braking suddenly - this can lock the wheels and prolong the skid.

(*Hot Toddy recipes are available on request.)

Stuart Winder Planet Leasing

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A little corner of an English Heaven Savour a drink and good company at the award-winning, traditional, Angel Inn, Free House. at North Shoebury Enjoy the west-facing, beer-garden and extensive views across ripening cornfields. Thatched roof, flagstone floor, exposed timbers, wide range of Real Ales, good wines and excellent food.

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Understanding your past partnering your future

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Cultured Club

Plenty on offer for culture vultures this New Year

By Tracy Jones

I

f Christmas was something of a pain in the arts, fear not, there’s plenty to tickle your cultural taste buds during the early part of 2012, right here in Southend.

A highlight of the Cliffs Pavilion’s New Year schedule is the touring version of the awardwinning West End musical, Legally Blonde. ‘Smart, sassy and spectacular – right up there alongside Mamma Mia and Hairspray’ says The Daily Telegraph, and is sure to blow away the festive cobwebs from 17 to 28 January.You can also enjoy earthy comedy from Jethro and Rochford’s own Terry Alderton plus music from Madness frontman Suggs and the Sensational 60’s Experience.

2012 marks the centenary of the Palace Theatre, and to launch a year of festivities local amateur and youth groups are joining forces to take the Palace back to its variety roots on 28 January. With songs, dance and some special guest appearances from the Palace’s past, the show is promising to start the celebrations with a bang!

Fans of classical music should flock to the free, lunchtime recitals held monthly at the Civic Centre in Victoria Avenue. Wednesday 18 January sees the first of the year, with Rosalind Ventris playing a selection of viola classics.

For contemporary live music, visit Club Riga on Milton Road next to the Cricketers pub for The Soul Detectives playing a live funk and soul classics from across the decades (14 January) and fans of Pink Floyd will love tribute band, the Floyd Effect (21 January).

If you’re in need of a few laughs after receiving your Christmas credit card bill, then the Southend Comedy Club will provide you with plenty of those. Five brilliant comedians are on the bill upstairs at The Bell in Prince Avenue on 28 Jan. A raft of new releases throughout the month will surely have movie buffs queuing for tickets at the local multiplexes. Already widely tipped to be an Oscar front-runner, Meryl Streep takes on the role of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady (6 January) and then 13 January sees Steven Spielberg’s big screen adaptation of War Horse go on general release. Adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s bestselling novel, Spielberg’s film re-tells the tale of a boy who heads to the Flanders trenches in 1915 to rescue his beloved animal.

At the Focal Point Gallery (in Southend Central Library) there is still a chance to catch 'Kaiki', an exhibition of German artist Kai Althoff's work. He’s exhibited at the Venice Biennale, the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Pompidou Centre in Paris, so this is a rare chance to see a world class artist on your doorstep.

Southend Town Centre comes alive with a glittering celebration marking the start of the Chinese Year of the Dragon on Saturday 28 January. Don’t miss spectacular free performances throughout the day with a variety of breathtaking Chinese entertainment, including traditional Lion dancers.

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Health & Beauty

Goals - Setting them and reaching them

by Cris Ramis ‘Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.’ (Les Brown)

G

oal-setting - why bother? Surely only top-class athletes, evil villains bent on world domination and Simon Cowell bother with such things?

Wrong. A life without goals is probably one that’s being led pretty aimlessly. Think about it. Is there nothing you want to achieve? Have you made it where you want to be in life, or have you just settled?

When you were young I’m sure you had loads of dreams and aspirations, some realistic, some less so. Then you got older and, perhaps, a little more cynical or ‘realistic’ as some prefer to call it.

This is the perfect time to set new objectives, as they will give you something to strive for; something to build towards and achieve. You may have to work long and hard to achieve them, but it’ll be worth the effort.

Regardless of whether you want to travel to Australia, get fit or take over the world, once you’ve made up your mind to achieve something, you need a plan.

want to achieve it. This creates a sense of urgency that will motivate you to take action.

Break the plan down into small, achievable steps.

When training my clients for fat loss I advise them to aim to lose no more than 0.5 to 1 pound of fat per week, regardless of how many pounds they actually want to lose. This ensures that steady and, most importantly, sustainable progress is made until they eventually reach their goal; their ideal weight.

Making a checklist each morning will help you stay on track and take one day at a time. Your list must focus on all the things you need to do to make your day a productive one that brings you closer to your goal.

You must also believe in yourself. You really can achieve all that you want to provided your goal is realistic and you want it badly enough. Work through any setbacks rather than dwell on them, and do your best to enjoy the journey towards achieving your goal; that’s very important. Keep a diary of your journey to your goal and if times get tough, look back in it to draw some inspiration and see how far you’ve come.

Good luck!

Your goals must be clearly defined if you want to accomplish them. Harvey MacKay’s old maxim ‘If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail’ is true. To accomplish any goal in life, you need to put a plan together. Lord Sugar will tell you that.

Your plan needs a realistic deadline by which you

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ORACLE Diary Dates CHINESE NEW YEAR AT SOUTHEND FREE TOWN CENTRE 28th Jan 2012 Southend Town Centre 11-4pm Join us for a glittering celebration marking the start of the Chinese Year of the Dragon.

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would be turned away. Consequently we simply had to organise the programme to deal with such large numbers. Every single junior school in the area has children who are members of High 5; some have already started and some start in February.

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High 5 bus that picks some children up from their junior schools. The children work in rotation each week taking part in activities such as making their own working torch, finding the energy content of foods by burning them, purifying water; all activities that in some way relate to our theme of the importance of different types of engineers following a natural disaster â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an approach which immediately captured the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s imagination and interest. It has been absolutely fantastic to see the enthusiasm with which the children have approached all the tasks they have been set and also the enthusiastic support the parents have given us.

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Winter Sale Starts 10am Boxing Day

What is it that makes County Unique?

County Interiors are one of the very few companies who can offer our customers a fully bespoke service.

Simply choose the sofa you like, then tell us how long, how wide and how high you would like it made. If you favour a soft, medium or firm sit, this can be arranged. Sofa and chair arms can be designed to match your exact requirements as can any part of your sofa. With a glorious choice of leather and fabrics to select from, the possibilities are endless. You tell us what you want, then we create it.

Huge savings on our bespoke range

SAVE UP TO 65% up to

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Hudson Part leather, part fabric, the Hudson is a magnificent looking, high quality sofa that’s fit to grace any home.

Leather sofas FROM ONLY

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up to

Large and medium sofa NOW ONLY

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Belgravia From our exclusive bespoke range, the Belgravia features a stunning floral fabric, gorgeous scrolled arms and deep cushioning for a wonderfully comfortable sit.

£1799

Buckingham

Simply amazing value! This elegant, traditional sofa is available in 3 sizes of settee and comes with a massive choice of fabrics to pick from.

Chair now reduced to £399

Open: Mon-Fri 10.00am - 6.00pm; Sat 9.30am - 6.00pm; Sun 10.30am - 4.30pm www.county-interiors.co.uk

1663

GORDON ROAD

STIRLING ROAD

NOW COUNTY INTERIORS

LEIGH-ON-SEA SOUTHEND

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