Simply Brightlingsea Issue 64

Issue 64

Under Pressure Raspberry Swiss Roll Which pressure washer should Home-made Swiss rolls are so you buy? good, and surprisingly easy to make.

If you've been thinking about buying a pressure washer but aren't sure where to start we have some tips.

Pressure washer size is determined by the pressure it provides rather than the physical dimensions of the washer.

Pressure Washer Size Guide: Light duty: 100 bar / 1,500 PSI and below - use for cars, bikes, garden furniture, bins, and outdoor play equipment.

Medium duty: 100-200 bar / 1,5002,800 PSI - use for fences, lawnmowers, gutters, sheds, walls, decking, patios, and driveways.

Heavy duty: 200+ bar / 2,800+ PSI - use if you have large, dirty walls, decking, patios, or a long driveway.

Water Flow Rate (WFR) - The water flow rate is measured in litres per minute or hour. High WFR + high PSI provides very efficient cleaning and rinsing capability.

Water Butt Connectivity - A water butt

connection will allow you to purchase a compatible accessory that will connect your pressure washer to your water butt. This means that you can use the rainwater collected in your water butt for pressure washing, which saves you money and is kinder to the environment.

Extra features to consider - These will determine how easy your pressure washer is to use – consider wheels, hose length, and cord length.

Most pressure washers will come with a selection of attachments such as interchangeable wands, nozzles, brushes, and detergents. But you can also buy specialist accessories.

Caution - Be careful with windows; especially old ones because the pressure might be too strong for the pane causing it to crack. Some pressure washers have adjustable pressure settings, and a lighter pressure setting may be suitable for cleaning windows but check the manufacturer’s instructions.

Preparation time - 30 mins Cooking time - 10 to 30 mins

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Preheat the oven to 190C/170C Fan/Gas 5 and line a 23x33cm/9x13in Swiss roll tin with greaseproof baking paper.

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air as possible. Pour the mixture into the lined tin and spread it evenly with the spatula. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until just firm to the touch.

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Place the eggs, sugar and vanilla paste into a bowl and whisk together until pale, fluffy, and thickened to the consistency of double cream.

Sieve the flour into the mixture and carefully fold it in preserving as much

Place a sheet of baking paper, slightly bigger than the tray, onto a work surface and dust with caster sugar. Turn the sponge out onto the paper, peel off the baking paper on the bottom of the sponge and set aside to cool a little.

Pour the double cream and vanilla extract into a large bowl and whip to soft peaks.

Make the jam – Heat a pan until hot.

Add the sugar, lemon zest and juice and cook for 3–4 minutes until the sugar has dissolved. Throw in the 350g of raspberries and cook for 3–5 minutes until they break down and thicken.

Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

Spread the jam over the sponge, leaving a 2cm gap around the edge.

Spread the whipped cream over the top of the jam, then sprinkle over the whole raspberries.

Starting with the longest edge of the sponge and using the baking paper to help (but take care not to roll the paper inside the sponge!), roll the sponge up tightly, making sure the filling stays inside. Keep rolling until the sponge rolls off the baking paper. Dust with extra caster sugar or the icing sugar and cut into slices to serve.

The Enchanted Lost Kingdom of Wyvernwood casts its spell in the East

A unique adventure park, set in more than 20 acres in Alresford near Colchester, is preparing to open its magic portal to an Enchanted Lost Kingdom, providing the perfect family day out.

Wyvernwood has existed in this quiet and beautiful countryside location for centuries and has only been recently rediscovered by the

outside world. From this summer it will be possible for visitors to come and see this Enchanted Lost Kingdom and experience the magic and awe themselves.

Wyvernwood’s Experiences Director, Nick White, was previously the Experience and Entertainment Manager at the world-famous Hamleys toy store in London as well as

spending over a decade with Merlin Entertainments as part of the team managing Shrek’s Adventure and the London Dungeon.

a world inhabited by fabulous fairies, fierce dragons, wise wizards, menacing goblins, a warrior princess and a heroic captain.

He explained: “Wyvernwood is like no other visitor attraction in the United Kingdom. It offers an extraordinary world full of wonder and is perfect for children aged 2 to 12 and their families to explore for the day. It will give them the opportunity for a digital detox while connecting with nature.”

“Children can scale the castle walls, set sail in the galleon, find missing treasure, soar with the dragons and flutter with the fairies. They can also make their dreams come true at the Magic Wishing Well and, if they dare, we want them to discover what lies deep within the goblins’ lair!

There are numerous play areas and adventure activities, including a 9-metre-high Enchanted Castle, a Captain’s Galleon, Goblins’ Tunnels and Dragon Karting. There is a ‘Little Kingdom’ for smaller children and a birthday party tepee for youngsters to celebrate with their friends.”

“Once families have explored the adventure activities in the Castle Grounds, they can venture along the Dragon Trail, past the huge maize maze, to the Wellbeing Woods where they’ll discover the Land of the Fairies, find the Captain’s Campsite, and help Merlin create magic potions in the Wizard’s Domain.”

The awesome inhabitants of Wyvernwood play a central role in their guests’ experience as they search the Kingdom for adventurers to help them solve puzzles, decipher riddles, and take on quests such as finding missing treasure.

“Wyvernwood is where magical and mystical creatures live and thrive,” said Nick. Guests will enter through a Magic Portal into another world, Issue 63

Wyvernwood will be open from this summer at St. Osyth Road, Alresford, Colchester, Essex, CO7 8ES with the entrance via the B1207.

Tickets for Wyvernwood and further information about the Enchanted Lost Kingdom can be found at www. wyvernwood.co.uk.

To Advertise in Simply Magazine: 01206 233717 F any information or to submit an article or advert contact David Cook: For Call: C 01206 233717 Out Of Office: O 07734 171985 EEmail: SimplyColchester@gmail.com Head Office: H Simply Magazine, 1 George Williams Way, Colchester, Essex CO1 2JS

COPY DEADLINES: C

Issue 65: 28/06/22 Issue 66: 28/07/22

Simply Magazine assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained about each individual, event or organization has been provided by such individual, event organizers or organization without verification by us. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Simply Magazine. Therefore, Simply Magazine carries no responsibility for the opinion expressed thereon. Any form of reproduction of any content without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. For information on advertising or submitting a article please email David Cook at: Simplycolchester@gmail.com or call 01206 233717 / 07734 171985

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5

A Good Read

people have congregated in central London. They make a proxy family to protect Lowrie and Shen. The young people are taught the life skills on which they will depend when they are the last people left alone.

The Quiet at the End of the World by Lauren James This novel is a deeply human story about a 'soft apocalypse' - what happens when humans stop being able to reproduce, and you have to slowly watch your entire species go extinct as you grow up?

Teenagers Lowrie and Shen are the youngest humans left on earth. In February 2024, the population of the world was infected with a virus that made them all infertile. The only humans conceived after this date were from eggs frozen at fertility clinics.

Now it's 2109 and the population of the earth is so small that the last

Alongside the remaining humans are robots working to protect the planet and the people, including lifeguard robot Mitch, who patrols the banks of the river Thames ready to save anyone in difficulty. It is Mitch who saves Lowrie and Shen when a helicopter crashes near where they are searching for treasure. The pilot had a seizure and crashed into Big Ben. Over the next few days, others start to have seizures fall unconscious, and Lowrie and Shen need to find a way to help them before they really are the only two people left on the planet.

The Quiet at the End of the World is a blend of philosophy and sci-fi. Woven through the plot is the story of Maya Waverley, told through old social media posts. Through Maya, Lowrie learns all about the past, the virus, the symptoms, and what happened to the world, and Maya.

Beautiful, melancholic, and hopeful - this is a book written for the times we live in. 'The Quiet at the End of the World' might restore your faith in humanity.

Gallant by V. E. Schwab Olivia Prior is an orphan, and the black sheep at Merilance School for Independent Girls. She has to deal with lessons and bullies and the fact that she cannot speak, and no-one understands sign-language. She spends her free time drawing and studying her mother's old journal, which is full of strange inkblot illustrations. The journal tracks her mother's love affair with Olivia's father, his mysterious death, and her own descent into madness. The journal closes with one final, desperate entry addressed to Olivia: "The shadows are not real. The dreams can never hurt you. And you will be safe as long as you stay away from Gallant."

Then Olivia receives a letter from an uncle she's never heard of, requesting that she goes to Gallant, which is the Prior family estate. at first she's entranced by the colourful surroundings, and the kind staff, and even the house ghouls. The only person who is hostile towards her is her cousin Matthew. Gallant is a place of secrets. Olivia is forbidden to leave the house at night and is strangely

drawn to the crumbling wall at the edge of the garden, which holds back a menace that no one wants to talk about.

This is a multi-layered modern-day gothic novel. It has it all: a haunted house, a dark, forbidding atmosphere, a tragic love story, and a rebellious heroine desperate to find her place in the world. Schwab's use of eerie imagery pairs with the illustrations to produce the magical feel of a novel which has the potential to become a classic.

Word Search

Save Your Energy Insulate your loft

It can’t have escaped your notice that gas and electricity bills have been rising at an astronomical rate. Energy is suddenly a more precious resource than ever before and we want to preserve every last joule. One of the most efficient ways to conserve energy in your home is to make sure it’s properly insulated.

Heat rises, so if your loft isn’t adequately insulated your home could lose as much as a quarter of its heat through the roof.

There are four types of insulation to choose from.

Mineral wool matting is sold in rolls and is laid between the joists, with a second layer placed at right angles to cover the joists.

Rigid insulation boards can be laid in lofts used for storage. Laid on top of mineral wool, wooden boarding is then

6

fitted on top of the insulation boards.

Alternatively, floor boarding pre-bonded with insulation board is available.

If your loft space is irregular use loose-fill insulation. It’s sold in bags, and is poured between the joists to the correct depth.

Finally loose, fire-retardant insulation material should be blown into loft areas that are hard to access. This is not really a DIY job so hire a professional. It should take no more than a few hours.

In all other cases if you are experienced at DIY you should be able to insulate your loft yourself, but do wear a protective mask and gloves if handling mineral wool.

Bach

Clementi

Gershwin

Prokofiev

Smetana

Bartok

Copland

Handel

Ravel

Strauss

Beethoven

Debussy

Haydn

Rossini

Stravinsky

Berlioz

Dvorak

Liszt

Schubert

To get a list of possible installers go to the National Insulation Association website www.nia-uk.org

Brahms

Elgar

Mahler

Chopin

Faure

Mozart

Verdi Schumann Wagner Sibelius

Answers on page 8

Transition Time Is there such a thing as a mid life crisis?

We’ve all heard the term ‘mid-life crisis.’

But what is it exactly?

The psychoanalyst Elliott Jaques first suggested the concept in in 1957.

He hadn’t completed any research though, basing his assertion solely on a few autobiographies of famous men. He declared that that men in their mid-30s go through a depressive period when they contemplate their mortality for the first time. Jaques didn’t include women in this sweeping statement, citing the menopause, claiming it “obscured” women’s midlife transitions!

Gail Sheehy then popularized the idea in the 70s. She based her assertions on rudimentary research from Yale, involving just 40 male subjects.

In spite of this small sample, she confidently stated that the midlife crisis starts in the 40th year and ends at 45 ½, which seems oddly specific.

More recent research suggests that we all go through three to five major transitions in our lives, some voluntary and some involuntary. They might be personal, including serious illness, major career change, birth, or divorce, or they might be due to external factors such as a housefire, bankruptcy, death of a close family member or a pandemic. It can take five years or more to completely work through just one of these transitions so we could each spend 30-50% of our lives in transition. It makes a lot of sense therefore to learn some strategies for dealing with change.

First, accept that things change. Try not to fight or resist, and don’t go into denial. Acknowledge the change and lean into. Embrace the fact that although not all change is bad, even positive change brings stress. A new baby is joyful, but stressful, even if you planned for it. The same goes for starting a new business.

During transition periods it helps to

Quick Crossword

stick to routines. Go for a walk or a run every day; make time to watch your favourite TV show, play five aside or practice your piano…whatever gives your life structure. These routines act as anchors to remind us that some things are still the same, and they give our brains a chance to recharge.

Eat healthily. Stress can make us crave comfort food, or alcohol. Concentrate on buying and eating healthy foods but allow a few treats too. Exercise even if you don’t want to. Walking at a brisk pace clear’s your mind and bathes your brain in feel-good hormones. Have plenty of early nights.

Set a regular bedtime and stick to it.

Regular sleep really does refresh you and help you think more clearly.

Find a support group. This can be a formal group, such a bereavement group, or the informal support of a few good friends or family members.

No-one can do everything alone.

Asking for help is a mature, sensible approach to coping with transition..

Be proactive about changes. What can you do to make the transition happen more smoothly? Write the steps down you need to take and work through them one by one. When you look back you’ll be surprised how far you’ve come.

Across 1 Frog noise (5) 4 Devoted, obedient (7) 8 Remains on a plate (7) 9 More timid (5) 10 Accept, trust (7) 12 Backslide (5) 14 Burdened with urgent business (4, 7) 18 Artist's stand (5) 19 Supposed site of a US UFO crash (7) 21 Remove from bank account (5) 23 Vacation (7) 24 Defamation, misrepresentation (7) 25 Addendum, codicil (5)

Down 1 Stout, plump (6) 2 Weigh down to excess (9) 3 Controversial far right columnist _____ Hopkins (5) 4 Hideaway, sanctuary (3) 5 Brawls, scuffles (7) 6 Take to the air (3) 7 Pantry, cuddy (6) 11 Mistake (5) 13 Made-believe (9) 15 Watered down (7) 16 Stones with a central cavity lined with crystals (6) 17 Sports participant (6) 20 Cosmic (5) 22 Female undergarment (3) 23 Opposite of him! (3)

Most transitions even positive ones, involve a grieving period for the old life, where we come to terms with what we’ve lost or given up; a period of readjustment, which might seem chaotic, when we change habits, shed relationships, learn new skills, maybe even move house or continent; followed by a new beginning, where we can finally see a clear path ahead of us.

We can’t ignore transitions and we can’t will them away. When we learn to deal with change we can accept it, embrace it, and use it to move forward in our life.

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A Quick Cup of Coffee

Falling in Love with a Drunken Bricklayer!

is also known for his 'Television' and 'Banjo' vases. Baxter’s work is highly collectable and rarer pieces can fetch a few hundred pounds.

Whitefriars Glass was the Wedgwood of the British glass industry, with the same ambitious standards of design and creativity, while remaining commercially desirable.

Their glassware was sold by leading department stores including John Lewis and Fortnum & Mason.

The history of instant coffee I thought instant coffee was a recent innovation, but it has actually been around since the turn of the last century.

A chemist named George Constant Washington, developed and patented a coffee compound branded as Red E Coffee in the US. It was quite different to the instant coffee we know today, and a world away from fresh coffee.

In the 1930s, the Brazilian coffee industry, wanted to develop a way to preserve excess coffee crops and experimented with liquid coffee extract. It was Nestlé, who pioneered powdered coffee, producing its iconic product in 1938. Instant coffee found popularity during the Second World War because of its a convenience and long shelf life, and the fact that it could be made anywhere without the need for a coffee machine. In fact, one year, the U.S. military bought more

than one million cases of Nescafé, which represented a whole year’s output for the company!

In 1963 Maxwell House developed a freeze-drying process which came to dominate the market and gave a taste more comparable with fresh coffee.

The green coffee bean is first roasted to bring out flavour and aroma. The roasted beans are then finely ground and dissolved in water. This coffee solution is then dried by one of two methods: freeze drying, which is the removal of water by sublimation; or spray drying.

These modern manufacturing methods have greatly improved the taste and solubility instant coffee, allowing better aroma and complexity of taste but it can never match the taste of the freshly ground variety.

However, for convenience in a busy life, it’s an instant win!

My friend showed me an unusual vase he'd bought for his wife's birthday.

I was captivated by its colour and shape. 'It's a Drunken Bricklayer vase,' he said, 'I've been looking for one for ages.' I'd never heard of such a vase so when he left I looked it up.

James Powell and Sons was one of the most important manufacturers of British art glass. The company was founded in the 17th century and was also known as Whitefriars Glass. After the second World War Whitefriars became known for innovative modern design. Geoffrey Baxter was a particular star, responsible for designing recognisable British art glass; the most notable and enduring example of this was his Drunken Bricklayer vases, though he

Geoffrey Baxter joined Whitefriars as an art student in 1954 but didn't develop his range of textured vases until 1967. He loved texture and used found objects including bark and nails to create moulds. He introduced colours such as Tangerine, Meadow Green, Aubergine, Ruby, and Kingfisher blue, encasing the coloured glass inside clear glass. These textured pieces attracted international and domestic attention but during Britain’s economic decline in the 1970s the factory went into decline and was destroyed in the mid-eighties. Baxter remained with the company until the end.

Part of his success was due to the fact he switched to soda glass rather than sticking with full-lead crystal.

Soda glass was both cheaper and more flexible which meant his work could be bought by ordinary people.

This was important to Baxter who once said, ‘It’s all very well to make a masterpiece, but what’s the point if only the elite can afford to buy it?.’

You can still find lovely original examples of Drunken Bricklayer cases.

Expect to pay a few hundred pounds for the best examples.

puzzle solutions:

8

Summer Loving In praise of the romantic comedy For me, watching a rom-com is a lot like eating a whole tub of Ben and Jerry's. You know you shouldn't; you'll probably feel slightly queasy afterwards, but it feels so good in the moment. They are perfect summer watching.

You do have to accept the limitations; it's no good looking for clever subtext or the meaning of life here, and you have to be ok with cliché…actually you have to fully embrace it because cliché is the lifeblood of the rom-com.

For example, most characters in romcoms work in advertising or journalism in a big city. Occasionally a doctor or a vet is allowed to be a main character, but the chances are at least one of the leads is trying to make a deadline or win a contract. There's the 'will they, won't they?' part of the storyline, and even though we know they inevitably will, it's important when they meet for the first time, that there's friction, or preferably intense dislike between the leads. Usually, this revolves around a car accident, or a situation where one of them acts uncharacteristically like

a jerk. There is an unwritten rule that if one of the characters is a doctor or a vet they will inevitably be a 'country' doctor, or a 'country' vet and the big city journalist or advertising executive will learn salutary life lessons from their sweet, super sensible country ways...and there's generally a community fete or barn dance where the chemistry begins.

There are always ditsy / drunk / geeky / obnoxious / sensible-but-plain / seriously hot-but slightly dim / totally dysfunctional-but-loveable <delete as applicable according to the plot> best friends or family members. These characters are there for their comedic value and they are always endearing, even the obnoxious ones.

Then there is a PROBLEM (capital letters intentional) for the couple to overcome. One of them isn't who they say they are, or there's a misunderstanding where one thinks the other is married / involved in fraud / a murderer. Basically, the relationship is ALWAYS entered into under false pretences by one or both parties in a

rom-com. These false pretences may be real or entirely imagined but they will always cause a PROBLEM, usually exacerbated by a well-meaning and aforementioned best friend or family member.

audience.

Finally, there is a chase as one of the leads, driven to rash action by the PROBLEM, rushes off to take a new job in another country. Usually, the chase scene ends with a kiss in the rain...or a fountain...or a river. For some reason water features large in rom-com resolution scenes. Oh...and the guy nearly always apologises even if the woman was in the wrong. Because rom-com rules dictate this...possibly because women are the target

The Wedding Planner

I know ALL this, and I still love romcoms. Here are some great examples of the genre to discover or revisit this summer. Enjoy!

Crazy Rich Asians 27 Dresses There's Something About Mary My Big Fat Greek Wedding The Wedding Singer My Best Friend's Wedding

9

Garden View This month - Trellis Trellis is underutilised in most gardens, yet it has a myriad of uses. It can cover an ugly wall or screen an ugly garden building, and it can be used on one or more sides of a patio to provide privacy. You can use it as a framework to support plants but can also be a decorative feature in its own right.

Strategically placed trellis can make a garden appear more interesting.

Counterintuitively it can also provide the illusion of greater space by interrupting the line of sight and making people curious so drawing them out into the garden to explore.

Most garden centres have a good range of functional and attractive trellis, readymade into units. If you can't find exactly what you are looking for there are companies who will precision cut a specific design and size for you. Obviously, you will pay more for the privilege, but you will get exactly what you want. In a small space where you might only need one piece it can be a worthwhile investment, because in a small garden any structure is more noticeable and becomes a visual statement.

If you plan to grow plants up your trellis then make sure the posts or wall that it is fixed to will support the weight of the trellis plus the fullgrown plant.

It can be tempting to plant a variety of climbers, but a small space often benefits from bold planting using fewer varieties. Beware of using all deciduous plants because the structure will look bare in the winter.

Vines such as Vitis coignetiae, which has large heart-shaped leaves and beautiful autumn colour are great for a large area. V. vinifera 'Purpurea' has very attractive leaves which as the name suggests are purple. It produces bunches of dark, tightly clustered grapes.

Clematis are a good choice. C. montana is vigorous and might swamp a small trellis, but if you have the space they can be grown through other climbers and produce a fabulous summer display.

Ivies are good for winter colour. Don't think that all ivies are dark green. H. Helix 'Goldheart' has super attractive yellow leaves edged in bright green while H. helix 'Chester' has leaves with

wide cream margins and is good for brightening up a gloomy area.

a strong, sweet fragrance. Prune every winter.

Passion flowers look very exotic and are a particularly good choice for a trellis.

Remember to check trellis every year for broken or rotten supports and treat periodically with wood preservative to prolong its life and freshen its appearance.

Scented climbing roses are one of my favourite plants to grow up trellis which is screening a patio. I love ‘Compassion’, which has the most beautiful blooms in pink / apricot, and

Consider adding a trellis screen to your garden this summer.

Happy gardening,

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Leisure World Colchester puts plans in place to stay open during national chlorine shortage Due to a countrywide chlorine shortage, Leisure World Colchester is making some proactive, temporary, changes to its fitness and teaching-pool timetables.

These changes will ensure the venue can continue to offer access to a range of classes and sessions, whilst prolonging chlorine supplies and helping to prevent the chance of further changes needing to be made.

The fitness and teaching pools will now be closed to the public on the following dates: • Saturday 11 June • Sunday 12 June • Wednesday 15 June • Friday 17 June • Saturday 18 June • Sunday 19 June •

Wednesday 22 June

Swimming lessons, school and club sessions on these days will be running as normal. The Leisure Pool and Aqua Springs spa, which operate using a different type of chemical dosing system, are currently

unaffected by the shortage and will remain open as per their normal opening hours.

The national chlorine shortage has been attributed to several factors, including a temporarily reduced supply in the UK, a backlog coming from China’s supply chain caused by Covid, a significant fire in a US chemical plant in late 2020, and worldwide transportation issues.

To help manage chlorine supplies Leisure World is asking users of the pool to continue to ensure they shower before entering the water and follow the barefoot policy by removing outdoor footwear when in changing rooms or poolside.

Cllr Adam Fox, Deputy Leader of Colchester Borough Council, said: “Due to the national chlorine shortage, we have put in place some proactive measures to ensure people can continue to access our swimming facilities and sessions. We know that many other swimming pools across the country are having to close, and by acting now we can prolong our chlorine supplies and continue to offer sessions and classes for

all demographics across our wide range of swimming facilities.

“If we experience further delays to deliveries, we will continue to do everything we can to ensure we keep all services operational, although this may involve further changes to timetables across our offering.”

“We are monitoring our supplies closely and are in contact with our chemical suppliers to ensure we are in the best place possible to keep services operating.

Clearing a path ahead at Fieldgate Quay work has begun to clear the site and we will soon be able to move forward to find an alternative use for the land, to repair Fieldgate Quay and to fully restore the riverside path.

Contractors have been given the green light to begin clearing the former CTruks Marine Services site, as planning work continues for nearby Fieldgate Quay.

Specialist contractor Squibb Group moved onto the 2.5-acre site on the 30th May and is expected take up to three weeks to safely dispose of waste and other materials left behind after parent company Alnmaritec went into administration in February.

“Lots has been going on behind the scenes, as we continue to look at options to repair the riverbank in a way that is both sensitive to local ecology and the needs of walkers and other river users.

More information on the river bank repair will be shared in due course.

Clearing the site, which has since returned to Colchester Borough Council, will enable plans for a temporary diversion of the riverside path between Rowhedge and the Hythe to proceed in the coming weeks. However, the priority is to ensure the site is secured and made safe before the diverted path reopens.

“The River Colne is internationally important for wildlife, and the council is in consultation with several statutory organisations to minimise the impact of any work to the surrounding biodiversity.

“We will of course continue to provide further updates as and when significant progress is made to complete this important work.”

Councillor Mark Cory, Portfolio Holder for Resources, said: “I am delighted that

Quick Crossword Puzzles

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Liquorice What’s the story behind this polarising confectionary?

My Gran loved liquorice, but she was not a liquorice connoisseur. Bertie Basset's Allsorts were her particular poison of choice and I use the word ‘poison’ quite deliberately as I hate the stuff. Berties’ mainly comprise various forms of sugar, including molasses and glucose syrup, wheat flour, starch, gelatine, and vegetable oil. Liquorice extract comes way down on the ingredients list, but it is at least present. In the U.S. black 'licorice' candy (they even spell it differently) generally contains no real liquorice at all; the flavour comes from anise seed. Die-hard liquorice-lovers by contrast insist on brands with a minimal ingredients list: molasses, flour, liquorice extract and aniseed oil, possibly a pinch of salt and natural colour.

Liquorice root extract contains glycyrrhizin, a natural sweetener and steroid-like substance that can cause high blood pressure or heart arrhythmias when eaten regularly in large amounts. Gran was definitely on blood pressure medication back in the seventies so maybe there was a link, though she would have had to munch through something like 50g (2oz) per day for it to have had any effect and the quantity of sugar in a box of Berties’ means she would probably have died of diabetes long before

succumbing to death-by-liquorice!

I'd read about a genetic quirk which is the reason that some people can't stand the taste of coriander and I wondered if something similar might be responsible for the fact I dislike liquorice so intensely. I couldn't find any research on the subject...but that doesn't mean there isn't an SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) lurking on a gene somewhere in my DNA which means liquorice tastes like bitter tyre rubber to me. Or maybe the taste is my body's way of protecting me from the potentially harmful effects of glycyrrhizin. Who knows?

The human affection for liquorice (although not this human) seems to date back to 400 BC, when Greek physician Hippocrates proclaimed it could treat ulcers and quench thirst.

Alexander the Great even doled out liquorice rations to his troops to keep them hydrated on long marches, and stockpiles of liquorice were found in Tutankhamun’s tomb, sitting alongside other treasures.

Glycyrrhizin means 'sweet root' in Greek, and it is indeed very sweet, being 40 times sweeter than sugar. It belongs to a flowering shrub which grows in the subtropical climate and rich soil found in Southern

Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. Glycyrrhizin is said to suppress coughs and clear phlegm, reduce inflammation and decrease viral loads.

It’s also purported to fight cancer, diabetes, and dental disease, though there's very little scientific research to support the latter claims.

I've always thought liquorice sweets taste like bad medicine and in fact there is a story (or possibly a myth because I couldn't find a name) that we have a pharmacist to thank for them. In 1760 in Pontefract this mystery pharmacist supposedly added sugar to a cough medicine containing liquorice root to make it more palatable, and a whole new line of confectionary was born. By the 1800s manufacturers were in

full scale production across Europe.

The Netherlands actually consumes the most liquorice per capita, and in Sweden they have Lakritsfestivalen (“liquorice festival”) complete with tastings, entertainment, and even sculptures made out of the stuff. But then they also eat pickled herrings, so I feel the bar for Swedish cuisine is not set terribly high.

In spite of my distaste for all things liquorice, consumption of real liquorice (in contrast to the highly processed 'candy' version) is growing rapidly across Europe as we cut back on sugary snacks but still crave something sweet. I'm not sure I could ever learn to love liquorice though; I'd rather eat pickled herrings!

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DR SAMIR B PATEL • DR JAMIE NIGHTINGALE DR BHAVINI MUIR • DR THAMARA GUNASEKERA 40 STATION ROAD • BRIGHTLINGSEA • COLCHESTER •ESSEX • CO7 0DT Tel: (01206) 302522 • Email: colne.medicalcentref81116@nhs.net www.colnemedicalcentre.nhs.uk • facebook.com/Colnemedical

Extended Access Appointments are available outside of our surgery hours through the Colte Extended Access service.

Clinics take place at various locations around the area, including at our own surgery, between 6.30 and 8.00pm Monday to Friday and between 8.00am and 1.30pm at weekends. Specialised clinics such as for blood tests, COPD checks and cervical smears are face to face and practice nurses and healthcare assistants can be booked in advance for dressings, blood pressure checks etc. Telephone and video consultations with GPs, Nurse Practitioner and physiotherapists can also be booked.

If you would like to make an appointment through Extended Access please phone or visit the surgery and speak to a receptionist.

World Blood Donor Day Every year countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD). The event serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.

A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a key component of an effective health system. The global theme of World Blood Donor Day changes each year in recognition of the selfless individuals who donate their blood for people unknown to them.

For 2022, the World Blood Donor Day falls on Tuesday 14th June and the slogan will be “Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives” to draw attention to the roles that voluntary blood donations play in saving lives and enhancing solidarity within communities.

The specific objectives of this year’s campaign are to: • thank blood donors in the world and create wider public awareness of the need for regular, unpaid blood donation; • highlight the need for committed, year-round blood donation, to maintain adequate supplies and achieve universal and timely access to safe blood transfusion; • recognize and promote the values of voluntary unpaid blood donation in enhancing community solidarity and social cohesion; • raise awareness of the need for increased investment from governments to build a sustainable and resilient national blood system and increase collection from voluntary non-remunerated blood donors.

If you are interested in becoming a blood donor please visit the NHS Blood and Transplant website.

Thank you for reading

Katie Pirie Practice Manager 14

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