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Issue 67

Cover photo by Jon Sturdy Photography

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New showrooms now open at Bypass Nurseries, Capel St Mary and Glasswells, Ipswich

What’s new at Colchester Zoo!

Help Colchester Zoo name their Asian shortclawed otter pups! Help Colchester Zoo name their Asian short-clawed otter pups! On the 22nd of November, Colchester Zoo’s Asian short-clawed otter pair Summer and Ravi welcomed a litter of pups! As the months have passed, they have been enjoying exploring outside and have had their first health checks where we also found out their genders! Colchester Zoo can confirm that Summer and Ravi have successfully bred 4 female and 1 male pup! Now we know the genders of the new arrivals it is time for them to be named and Colchester Zoo are asking for your votes to help decide whilst also raising some much-needed funds for Colchester Zoo’s Emergency Operating Fund! The Animal Care Team have shortlisted their favourites and selected several names beginning with R or S in

honour of mum Summer and dad Ravi. Visit the Colchester Zoo website to find out more and keep an eye out for the big name reveal! Vote closes early March 2021. 20% OFF Pass Renewals on reopening! For Zoo Passholders who would like to renew their Zoo Pass when Colchester Zoo reopens, as a celebratory discount for reopening, Colchester Zoo will be offering a 20% discount until 28th May 2021! Renew early to avoid disappointment! This offer will only be live and available to purchase from the date of the Zoo reopening and valid until 28th May 2021. Terms and conditions apply visit the Colchester Zoo website to find out more including full T&Cs.

Issue 67

For any information or to submit an article or advert contact David Cook:

Call: Out Of Office: Email: Head Office:

Cover photo by Jon

y Sturdy Photograph

ies, More Propert More Space, onal Ser vice! Same Excepti on Free Valuati Letting or Your 572233 FFor Sales & t Us On 01206 Please Contrac partner s.com Sales@ palmer

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Issue 68: 27/3/21 Issue 69: 27/4/21

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

Colchester attracts additional £18.2m investment into borough Ambitious and dynamic plans to help deliver long-term economic growth for Colchester are a step closer, following the award of £18.2m from the Government’s Town Deal Fund. This significant investment was confirmed as part of the Chancellor’s budget statement on Wednesday 3 March 2021. This means a variety of projects, which will have widereaching benefits to residents across the borough, can now be progressed. At the start of 2020, Colchester was chosen as one of 101 towns across the country that could apply for up to £25 million from the Government. Over 1000 individuals, groups and businesses submitted their views on how Colchester can be improved following a successful bid. These ideas were developed into several related projects under the broad themes of ‘How We Live, Grow, and Connect’. The bid was submitted by ‘We Are Colchester’, a dynamic partnership involving public, private and voluntary organisations, formed in January 2020. Councillor Mark Cory, Leader of Colchester Borough Council, said: “I am delighted that the ‘We are Colchester’ partnership has managed to secure this significant investment into the Borough. “This funding focusses on things that really matter to residents and businesses. This includes town centre improvements, more investment for the heart of Greenstead, facilities for younger people, improved digital provision including 5G and physical infrastructure for walking and cycling. This is a fantastic boost for the borough and is testament to the hard work of many partners.” Councillor David King, Colchester

Council Portfolio Holder for Business and Resources, and We Are Colchester Advisory Group Chair, said: “This is just the beginning of a new, exciting chapter for the town. We are keen to continue working with residents and local organisations to ensure their input positively shapes the development of our final plans. “The timing could not be better. We soon will emerge from the health and economic crisis and these and other town centre projects will help Colchester adjust and recover. At a time of worry for businesses and those they employ, our town deal success will sustain or create new jobs and give us all confidence in the future.” The projects supported may include: •

The creation of digital work hubs

•

Transforming facilities for young people

•

A digital skills hub at the Wilson Marriage Centre (Barrack Street)

•

Public realm improvements in the town centre

•

Restoration of 1000 year old Holy Trinity Church

•

The first phase in restoring our iconic Victorian water tower ‘Jumbo’

•

Transformation of community facilities in Greenstead

•

The accelerated introduction of 5G

•

Improved walking and cycling links across the town.

The projects will draw on lessons learned from Covid-19 and further

Issue 67

For any information or to submit an article or advert contact David Cook:

Call: Out Of Office: Email: Head Office:

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Cover photo by Jon Sturdy Photography

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Issue 68: 27/03/21 Issue 69: 27/04/21

boost the ongoing recovery work, to help make Colchester a greener, healthier place to live and work. This major investment will also provide a catalyst to attract further outside investment into the borough. Cllr Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “This is great news. We have established a bold vision that will help the town to embrace the future, with a strong package of investment programmes and projects around active travel, employment and skills, regeneration, young people, heritage and culture. “We look forward to continuing the work with the community, local stakeholders, Colchester Borough Council and Central Government to take forward the Town Deal forward and the many opportunities it offers.”

Simon Blaxill, We are Colchester Board Chair and local businessman, added: “It’s fantastic news that Colchester has managed to attract this important funding. It will make a huge difference to local people - generating jobs, offering further opportunities to upskill and delivering improved community facilities. “I’m looking forward to working with local businesses and residents to progress these exciting projects. These projects promise to make positive difference right across the borough.” The next steps will be to agree ‘Heads of Terms’ with government on the funding, then continue detailed scoping work on the projects. This will include extensive public engagement, giving residents the opportunity to influence and shape how the projects develop.

Upskill for brain health Learning new things has all kinds of fringe benefits Lots of us began 2021 with the ambition to learn a new skill: beginner’s computer programming, conversational Italian, or how to paint with watercolours maybe. We learn new skills for many reasons. Perhaps we need to improve our computer literacy to gain a promotion, or Italian so we can speak to our new in-laws, or we’ve always fancied learning to paint. Learning is fun but its benefits go way beyond the actual skill learned, and the skill is irrelevant, whether its crochet or advanced mathematics, the extra benefits are the same. Positive brain changes - The white matter in our brain is comprised of nerve fibres covered in a fatty sheath called myelin. It is involved in learning and co-ordination of communication between different brain regions. The more we practice a new skill the more our white matter increases in density, which helps us when we learn other new skills. Increased learning speed – When brain neurons are stimulated, more neural pathways are formed and the faster our brains process new information. It’s as if ‘learning’ is a muscle which strengthens as its exercised.

Interconnections - When we learn a new skill our brains draw on information and skills we already possess, and we build on that existing knowledge. But a wide knowledge base also makes it easier for us to learn more new skills. Increased interestingness! - (Yes, it’s a real word!) Well-rounded individuals tend to find it easier to relate to others because a wider knowledge base makes it easier to find things in common and thus make friends. Beat boredom - Repetition can quickly become monotonous. Following the same routine every night, ‘supper, bath, TV, bed’ makes it easy to become bored. Learning new things breaks the cycle of monotony and gives our brain something to do. Increased adaptability - Learning new things physically alters our brains in such a way that our outlook and perceptions change. These alterations make it easier for us to adapt to sudden life changes, like a global pandemic for instance! Adapting to change is a skill, and the more varied our life experiences are, the easier it is to draw on them and adjust Prevent cognitive decline - Learning origami doesn’t mean we won’t get dementia. There are many

types of dementia and the causes are nuanced. But there are many studies which suggest that people who learn new skills are less likely to experience cognitive decline including dementia. Mental decline is linked to demyelination of our brain. People who actively learn new skills are not giving their brains a chance to demyelinate, and their neural pathways are primed to create workarounds if some area of the brain does begin to fail. The key

seems to be to learn things outside of our comfort zone, so if you are a knitter, don’t choose to learn crochet, which is similar, choose Russian, or salsa dancing, or the ukulele instead, subjects which push you out of your comfort zone, but (importantly) which you actually want to learn and will enjoy. Keep exercising your brain!

Word Search Can you find all of the Greek and Roman gods hidden in the grid?

Aphrodite Apollo Ares Artemis

Athena Ceres Demeter Diana

Dionysos Hephaestos Hera Hermes Juno

Jupiter Mars Mercury Minerva

Neptune Poseidon Venus Vesta

Vulcan Zeus

Pick up a Dragon Fruit in your next shop Have you ever seen the fruit in the photo and wondered, ‘What is that? How would I even begin to eat it? Starting with the ‘what?’, it’s a Dragon Fruit, sometimes called a pitahaya or even a strawberry pear. A ripe fruit has bright red/pink, evenly coloured skin that gives slightly when squeezed, like a ripe mango or avocado. To eat it you cut it in half using a sharp knife to reveal the sweet seed-speckled pulp, which you scoop out with a spoon. Dragon fruit is low in calories but packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre. It’s also high in beneficial plant compounds like polyphenols, carotenoids and betacyanins which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies suggest that diets high in antioxidants are key to helping prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis. Dietary fibre is important for gut health and Dragon fruits also contain prebiotics which help promote good gut bacteria. Dragon contains more magnesium than most fruits. One Dragon fruit provides 18% of your recommended

daily intake. Magnesium is present in every one of our cells and is integral to 600 important bodily biochemical chemical reactions including the breakdown of food into energy, muscle contraction and bone formation. Enjoy it in salads, smoothies, and yogurt, or simply grab a spoon and dig in. By Hannah Merry-Wade

Quick Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS 1 Hot on health, Uri could be sanctimonious (6-4-4) 9 Earns roughly a pound for the team (7) 10 One responsible for hospital cuts? (7) 11 Dines on lamb and beef, perhaps, but no starter(4) 12 Passage is a tissue of lies (5) 13 See daughter at opening of exhibition (4) 16 Awful ordeal involving Penny’s cat (7) 17 Hemingway for example is said to be serious(7) 18 British equestrian sport is stimulating (7) 21 Very full, having bolted a stew (7) 23 Doctor I perceive at first as ineffectual type (4) 24 I wander back to find New Zealander (5) 25 One who ruled in bygone Rome (4) 28 Not good to move out the country, an Islamic one (7) 29 I’m following Milan team for the meantime (7) 30 Ben hid tatty newspaper that’s out of date (6,3,5) DOWN 1 Stars and models have them? (8,6) 2 So hotel failed in African country (7) 3 English cricket side initially stagnated for ages (4) 4 Agreed everyone’s bound to go outside (7) 5 Jack’s new love is free from blame (7) 6 Sounds like rush or weed (4) 7 What 10 Across does for work (7) 8 Quotes could provide varied comments (8,6) 14 First off, wrongly naming street urchin (5) 15 Think anxiously of offspring (5) 19 Annie is foolishly idiotic (7) 20 Leader of Indian state gives permission to proceed (2-5) 21 To polish with running water is hard (7) 22 Those people will accept alternative energy principle (7) 26 One boy raised by painter (4) 27 A flier is up to no good (2,2) SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1 holier-than-thou. 9 arsenal. 10 surgeon. 11 eats. 12 aisle. 13 date. 16 leopard. 17 earnest. 18 bracing. 21bloated. 23 drip. 24 Maori. 25 Nero. 28 emirate. 29 interim. 30 behind the times.DOWN: 1 heavenly bodies. 2 Lesotho. 3 eons. 4 tallied. 5 absolve. 6 tare. 7 operate. 8 inverted commas. 14 gamin.15 brood. 19 asinine. 20 go-ahead. 21 burnish. 22 theorem. 26 dali. 27 at it.

The Magic Dragon

Spring Clean Be Green? When the spring light catches the surfaces in my home, I see smears and dust, and I fall victim to ‘the springcleaning bug’. Suddenly I want to scrub, dust and polish everything in sight. A few years ago, I made a big effort to become a ‘greener cleaner’. I worried about the active ingredients in my cleaning products and wondered how much damage that chemical cocktail was doing to the planet? Most of us have a miniature chemical factory stashed under our sinks: detergents, bleaches, and degreasers, all containing potentially hazardous substances which find their way into groundwater and contaminate the lakes and the oceans. Phosphates are some of the main culprits. They are common in laundry detergents and some cleaning products. An average consumer uses the equivalent of 14Kg of detergent a year. High phosphate levels in water cause ‘algae blooms’ which contribute to the death of fish and other waterdwelling creatures. These algae blooms are becoming more common thanks to a combination of pollutants and global warming. Cleaning products can have an adverse effect on our health.

Household ammonia is often found in window or general glass cleaners. It is a skin and eye irritant and deadly to fish, even in low concentrations, so it’s not something we should flush down our drains. Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is corrosive and an eye, skin, and respiratory irritant. It is especially toxic to people with heart conditions or asthma. D-limonene is a degreasant found in citrus and orange cleaners. It is also a neurotoxin, an irritant and can cause respiratory distress. But as I investigated Eco products I stumbled into a minefield. Many big companies produce eco-brands, but this involves ‘greenwashing’, which is defined as an attempt to make consumers believe a company is doing more to protect the environment than it actually is. They use unregulated words like ‘natural’ and ‘eco-friendly’ while still using potentially harmful chemicals. They don’t list ingredients or information about manufacture and supply, and if you check their websites there are no environmental targets published nor information about progress on their environmental impact. I won’t lie, truly environmentally friendly products are more expensive so the cheapest way to do a green spring clean is to make your own and

there are some great websites around with detailed instructions on how to do just this. I did try to make my own but found that work constraints meant I struggled with some of the more time-consuming concoctions, but I’ve listed a couple of websites in case you feel you’d like to try this. I am a huge fan of distilled white vinegar which I use to clean toilets, windows, and mirrors. I also like Bicarbonate of Soda which is a great degreaser, scouring agent, and deodoriser. For ready-made

cleaning products I’ve suggested a couple of UK websites which are certified environmentally and vegan friendly. I’m not perfect. Sometimes I do grab a regular cleaning product for convenience but I’m gradually becoming greener and if we all switched even one or two of our products for a greener cleaner, the planet would thank us.

Switch off to care for your air New signage in pollution hot spots provide drivers with a timely reminder to switch off their engines

an important issue in Colchester, affecting everyone who lives and visits our town.

Colchester Borough Council has installed new signage in two of the most highly polluted areas of the town, asking drivers to switch off their engines while stationary. Roadside signs can now be seen by all road users at the traffic lights on Brook Street, in both directions, and at the East Gates rail crossing.

"Cars are a major source of air pollution, with as much as 30% coming from vehicle engines running whilst stationary. We hope the installation of these new signs will help remind drivers of the simple actions they can take to help improve the air we all breathe."

The road signs feature three different psychological messages that build upon previous academic research in this field1. They focus on: • Responsibility: “Join other responsible drivers in Colchester” • Effectiveness and recognising that your own actions have an impact: “You will improve the air quality in this area” • Reflection: “Think about your actions” To evaluate the effectiveness of each sign the council is working in partnership with the University of Essex. Councillor Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Environment and Transportation, said: "Air quality is

Dr Marie Juanchich, from the Department of Psychology at the University of Essex, said: “We were very happy to support Colchester Borough Council in their plans to cut pollution in our town and to improve air quality. As scientific advisors on the project, we ensure that the benefits of this programme are thoroughly evaluated so that findings could inspire future actions to curb pollution.” Research Assistants will regularly monitor the number of drivers switching off their engines, and the impact on air quality near to the signs, for the next 18 months. It is hoped that by taking a psychological approach the signs will encourage as many drivers as possible to take immediate action. The researchers will also consider whether the signs need to be rotated to help maintain positive

behaviour change and to reduce the risk of drivers becoming tired of the messages. The project is funded by the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and supports the Colchester-wide CAReless Pollution

campaign. Launched in October 2020, the campaign encourages drivers to switch off their engines while stationary to bring important health benefits to everyone inside the car and cut pollution in Colchester by up to 30%.

Activate Keeping Kids Fit The National Child Measurement Programme for England (NCMP) includes nearly all children in reception year (aged 4-5) and year 6 (aged 10-11).

Shakespeare week March 15th – 21st the beauty of Shakespeare’s language. His soliloquies and monologues are some of the most eloquent every written.

According to their statistics 10% of reception age children are obese (not just overweight) and this figure rises to around 20% by year 6. We’ve spent a year with kids not being in school, and for the most part not being allowed out to play so experts expect this figure to rise. The scientific advice is that children should engage in 60 minutes of physical activity each day and encouraging them to become more active now will help them maintain a healthy weight, improve their general fitness and wellbeing and reduce the risks of serious health problems in the future. So, what can we do when activities are still restricted? Be the Example - Children will model the behaviour of their parents. If they see you are active, they are more likely to be active. If they see you watching television, eating jammy dodgers, so will they. Exercise with them - Go cycling or walking together or put on an exercise DVD and do it together as a family.

Give them chores - Doing a bit of vigorous vacuuming or walking up and down stairs a few times putting laundry away will get the cardiovascular system working. Play with Your Kids - Play tag or runaround games. Try an egg and spoon race, or Twister…anything to get them (and you) moving. Be the Parent - We need to encourage healthy behaviours and limit unhealthy ones – sometimes this means making unpopular decisions like limiting your children’s screen time outside of home-school hours. Make these tough decisions for your children but explain why. They may not recognise the benefits immediately, but the idea will percolate and feed into decisions they make for themselves in the future.

Has your teenager lamented ‘WHY do we have to study Shakespeare? It’s BORING! Perhaps that was also how you felt when you were in school? In a world of amazing modern writers why do we still teach Shakespeare? Rich language - Shakespeare loved language and played with it, subverting it, changing nouns into verbs, verbs into adjectives, and connecting words never previously used together, adding prefixes and suffixes, and even inventing completely new words. Scholars estimate that Shakespeare invented at least 1700 of our common modern words. Phrases from his plays have been repeated so often we don’t even realise they are Shakespearean in origin: ‘heart of gold’, ‘wild goose chase’, ‘love is blind’. Our language would be poorer if not for the bard. Few other writers have ever matched

How to play Sudoku it’s simple! Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the numbers 1

Complex characters - Shakespeare understood people. His heroes were not cardboard cut outs, but nuanced human beings, capable of the full range of emotions. He also wrote great parts for women (though they would most likely have been played by men in his time). Themes – Shakespeare’s themes as relevant today as they’ve ever been: love, loss, treachery, honour, tenderness, anger, despair, jealousy, contempt, fear, courage, and wonder. He questions morality, politics, war, wealth, and death. To read and understand Shakespeare takes effort. If students can engage with the rich, dense language and syntax of Shakespeare, they can handle other demanding study situations. It sharpens their brains for other modern languages but also the languages of science and maths. Shakespeare may not be the ‘be-all and end-all’ (that’s one of his) but I hope he continues to be read in schools ‘forever and a day’.

through to 9 with no repetition. You don’t need to be a genius. These puzzles use logic alone. Watch out! Sudoku is highly addictive.

Garden View

This month Tools of the trade The right tools make gardening easier, and in my opinion you should buy the best you can afford then look after them so they will last many years. But which tools are essential? Gloves - Gardening is hard on the hands. Weeds, roots and digging are brutal on the skin. Buy a thick, good quality multi-purpose pair to begin with. Make sure they fit. My first pair were too large and cumbersome. I was so naive I didn't realise they came in different sizes...much like gardens... and gardeners! Secateurs - The task of pruning comes around with alarming regularity, so a good pair of secateurs is one of the most used items in my garden tool kit. Find a pair that feel good to hold, are well-balanced and easy to operate with one hand. Keep them clean and sharp and they will serve you well for many seasons. Trowel - Useful for hand weeding, dividing smaller plants, planting, potting on, and seed sowing.

Hand Fork – A hand fork is essential for breaking up compacted soil. Sometimes it’s easier to use than a trowel and is less likely to damage roots in more densely planted areas or when separating smaller plants. I like a comfort handle for my hand tools but make sure to choose tools where the shaft of the handle and trowel (or fork) are one unit, not welded or rivetted together, as they are not as strong and snap with repeated use. I choose stainless-steel tools because they are rust resistant. Watering can - A large watering can is great, but very heavy when full so if you have arthritis or not much upper body strength choose a smaller watering can that you can handle easily and make a few more trips to the tap. A rose allows for a gentle sprinkler effect on tiny seeds and seedlings. You can use a hose if you garden a larger area. Choose a multitasking one with misting and sprinkler attachments Spade –You can't dig large areas

without one. As with hand tools, I prefer stainless steel. Keep it clean, with a sharp edge for digging, planting, and edging beds. Choose one that feels right for your height. Fork - A stainless-steel fork is great for stony soil, and for breaking up compacted earth. It's also good for lifting shrubs without damaging the root system too much. Dutch Hoe - Weeding is a necessary task (and a somewhat relentless one during the growing season). The

Dutch hoe has a shallow angled blade with a front cutting edge for keeping weeds down between seedlings and established shrubs and plants. Ground rake -. Use this for breaking down the soil to that fine tilth gardening books go on about. Use the wide head and teeth to open and level the top surface of the soil, then use the back of the rake to firm it down. It makes seed-sowing easier and more likely to produce healthy seedlings.

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Classic Steak and Ale Pie Quick Crossword Puzzle

Serves 4 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: Filling - 3.5-4 hours (plus cooling time) Pie - 45 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients Pie Filling Lard or dripping (you can use sunflower oil at a push) 700g boneless beef shin – cut into mouth size chunks 25g plain flour, seasoned 200g smoked bacon (diced) or lardons 225g whole baby onions 400ml sweet dark brown ale (Theakston’s Old Peculier works well if your ale knowledge is not strong!) 400ml beef stock 1 tsp dried thyme 1 bay leaf 1 tbsp dark muscovado sugar 1 tsp red wine vinegar 1 tsp cocoa or 1-2 squares of very dark (80%+) chocolate For the pastry: 400g plain flour, plus extra for rolling 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp mustard powder (optional) ½ tsp salt 175g suet Iced water A little milk or egg, to glaze Method

Place the seasoned flour into a large plastic bag. Add the beef in small batches and shake thoroughly to coat evenly. Reserve the floured pieces to a plate. Heat a generous chunk of lard or dripping a large frying pan over a high heat. Brown the beef pieces in small batches, transferring them to an ovenproof casserole dish as you go. Reduce the heat a little and add the chopped bacon or lardons and the onions to the pan. Cook until the bacon fat begins to render, and the onions are brown on all sides, then add into the casserole. Pour a small amount of the beer into the pan and bring to a simmer, scraping the bottom to incorporate all the flavoured meat scraps and flour. Pour this into the casserole too, then pour in the rest of the ale, and add the stock, herbs, sugar, vinegar, and cocoa (or chocolate squares) and bring to a simmer.

ACROSS 1 Grand house (7) 5 Verifiable truths (5) 8 Dividends, earnings (5) 9 Ghoulish, spooky (7) 10 Evened the score (7) 11 Coach, teach (5) 12 Animosity, hatred (6) 14 Stick, attach (6) 18 Permit (5) 20 Sincere (7) 22 Beasts (7) 23 Belief (5) 24 Ledge (5) 25 Pudding (7)

DOWN 1 Important business person (7) 2 Sound (5) 3 Brilliance, astuteness (7) 4 Wanderers, travellers (6) 5 One side of a many-sided object (5) 6 Savoy, Red, or Napa (7) 7 Severe, sombre (5) 13 Depression, sickness (7) 15 Ridicules (7) 16 Drain, take out (7) 17 Stopped (6) 18 Collect, compile (5) 19 Dock, levee (5) 21 Bald, Golden or Pygmy (5)

Cover, and place into the oven for about 2 hours, then uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, for another 1½ -2 hours (depends on your oven), until the meat is tender. Set on one side to cool then transfer to a pie dish. To make the pastry place the flour, baking powder and mustard powder in a bowl with ½ tsp salt. Stir in the suet, and then add just enough iced water to bring it together into a dough. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for an hour or so. Preheat the oven to 190C / 170C (fan) / Gas mark 5. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to about 1cm thick. Place over the filled pie dish, sealing the edges tightly. Cut vent slits to allow the steam to escape. Brush with beaten egg or milk and then bake for 45-50 minutes until golden.

Preheat the oven to 170C or 150C fan / gas mark 3.

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Quick Crossword Puzzle

A good read characters from Sweden to Hebdy Island. Here, more than in many other novels, the geography of Sweden feels like a character in its own right and the mood of the characters and the pace itself cleverly switches as we move from one to the other. For me this was the most satisfying part of this exemplar of the Nordic Noir genre.

The Werepuppy by Jacqueline Wilson

Mickey has four sisters, and three of them are older than him. He doesn’t

ACROSS 1 Attempt to go after friend is worthless (6) 4 It’s a blue shift, and appropriate (8) 9 Perhaps Caesar heard of royal dynasty (7) 11 Senior member performed, restraining desire (7) 12 Animal returned for grass (4) 13 Races off in alarm (5) 14 Staff morale’s initially excellent (4) 17 Disgraced boxer may be found here? (2,3,8) 19 Pleasant chief is upset by insult (4,2,3,4) 22 Captain found in America habitually (4) 23 Southern island offers diving (5) 24 Right time for anger (4) 27 I am finished with old way of painting (7) 28 English bird on a lake is unchanging (7) 29 Film director achieves success, acquiring second franchise finally (8) 30 Newspaper boss tried zero changes (6) DOWN 1 Picture of parrot ruined it (8) 2 Constant unit of brightness? (7) 3 Smuggled dollars chiefly and another currency (4) 5 But leader then goes off to get very drunk (5,3,5) 6 Starts to think of yearly Shakespeare plays (4) 7 Pop group takes a long time to wrap up (7) 8 French pupil joins northern team (6) 10 Award for winner getting first clue in this puzzle? (8,5) 15 Vehicle carrying Ed Wood (5) 16 Poet establishing university in port (5) 18 Be derisive about healthy retailer (8) 19 Fluid for cleaning locks (7) 20 Opposed to renovation of Santiago mostly (7) 21 One bear’s suffering from disease (6) 25 Goddess lives twice (4) 26 It’s crazy taking drug with alcoholic drink (4)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson First published in English just over a decade ago this Swedish thriller – the first of a trilogy – was a huge hit. It was a time when Nordic Noir was just starting to take off in this country and remains a classic of the genre. So I was interested to see if it stood up to a re-read 12 years later, and it certainly does. Mikael Blomkvist is an investigative journalist but a recent article about the wealthy Swedish financier Wennerstrom has landed him with a two month prison sentence for libel. But while waiting for his sentence to begin Blomkvist receives an unusual job offer from millionaire industrialist Henrik Vanger. He wants Blomkvist to investigate the murder of his greatniece, Harriet, forty years earlier. He takes the job, moving to the island where the Vangers live. He ends up turning to computer hacker Lisbeth Slanader for help, a young woman who has no tolerance for others, society, or the law. What appears to be a simple thriller on the surface offers so much more. From corruption in Swedish society to attitudes towards women in Sweden, this evocative novel is satisfying, if violent. As a reader you feel part of the action as you move with the

get on with them and is frequently teased. Then on night his parents go out, leaving the three older girls, Meryl, Mandy, and Mona, in charge. Delighted to have the house to themselves the girls decide to watch Savage Snarl a scary werewolf movie. And it really IS scary. Even the older girls think so. But for Mickey it has a lasting effect: he becomes scared of dogs. Unsure what to do, his mum decides that the only real solution is to buy Mickey a puppy of his own! Dragged to the dog rescue home Mickey would rather be anywhere else until he encounters one puppy who bites his younger sister’s finger. Could this be Mickey’s very own werewolf – or werepuppy! Wolfie, as he is called, is no ordinary puppy and turns out to be the best pet that any boy could ask for! By Willow Coby

SOLUTIONS ACROSS:1 paltry. 4 suitable. 9 Romanov. 11 doyenne. 12 reed. 13 scare. 14 mace. 17 in the doghouse. 19 slap in the face. 22 Ahab. 23 scuba. 24 rage. 27 impasto. 28 eternal. 29 Scorsese. 30 editor. DOWN:1 portrait. 2 lambert. 3 rand. 5 under the table. 6 toys. 7 bandage. 8 eleven. 10 Victoria Cross. 15 cedar. 16 Auden. 18 jeweller. 19 shampoo. 20 against. 21 rabies. 25 Isis. 26 mead.

G-man, Hugo and the SOS bus “G-man was experiencing some housing issues, so I suggested he come and had a chat to me on the bus and I would see what I could do”.

It sounds like the title to a new adventure book, but this is a real-life story of people being helped in Tendring. Since December, the SOS bus has assisted numerous people including G-man Blues and his faithful companion, 4-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier Hugo. Normally found on Colchester High Street on a Friday and Saturday night assisting revellers, the SOS bus has been redeployed in recent months to support the residents of Tendring. Visiting Clacton, Christmas Tree Island on a Friday and Harwich, outside the Park Pavilion, on a Monday. The bus is manned by various individuals, many of whom fall under the SHELLS umbrella. SHELLS, which stands for Shelter & Health Enlisting Local Support, is a partnership of local organisations all coming together in Tendring to help support homeless people or those at risk of homelessness with health, wellbeing, and accommodation. Linda Embleton is the local Health Advocate and can be found on the bus most weeks. She first met G-man at the Baptist church FoodCycle:

G-man continues the story: “The landlords were wanting to do some refurbishments and remove some residents but with Linda’s help, Hugo and I have managed to stay put, for which I am very grateful. I suffer with mental health issues, but Hugo really helps me with this, he is my best friend and having somewhere to live that allows pets is essential”. Linda is able to help with all sorts of different problems and her background as an outreach worker means she is able to navigate the local services and advise people on the best course of action: “People rarely have one issue in isolation. For example, one gentleman came aboard the bus to ask if we could recommend a rash cream. On further investigation he was suffering with bites from bed bugs, many of which had turned septic. As well as getting him an appointment with the doctor I managed to get in touch with pest control to sort the bug infestation”. Most recently G-man visited the bus for help booking his vaccination, he explains: “I received a text message from the surgery giving me a link to an online booking system. I am not on the internet and the text specifically said not to call the surgery,

Plans unveiled for an exciting new public space Colchester Borough Council is asking residents for their views on designs for an exciting new public space at St. Nicholas Square in the town centre. An online survey will run from Monday 15 February 2021 until Friday 19 March. Residents will get the opportunity to see initial proposals for the space, which is set to be transformed into an attractive new area where people can meet, relax and enjoy the surroundings. An online webinar will also be held on Tuesday 2 March, at 6pm, where the project’s designers, local architects HAT Projects, will present the plans and answer questions and feedback on the initial ideas. The St Nicholas Square project is due to complete later in 2021. Funded by the Accelerated Town Deal fund, it will create a flexible and attractive square, with more space for seating, market stalls and outdoor events. Councillor David King, Portfolio Holder for Business and Resources said: “I am looking forward to the opportunity to present initial plans for what promises to be a very exciting new public space. This investment will be a real boost for

local retail and hospitality businesses and I am extremely pleased work on this project is moving forward. “I would encourage local stakeholders and interested parties to join the webinar to hear more about the proposal for a safe and vibrant social hub in the heart of our town centre.” Hana Loftus, director at HAT Projects, added: “We have been working hard, behind the scenes, with local businesses and user groups to develop designs that are both practical and beautiful. “We now really want to hear what the wider community thinks – and we’ll then be refining the designs in response to feedback. “St Nicholas’ Square is a wonderful and historic space but it has not been used to its full potential for some time, so we are excited to help it become a vibrant space for the future.” The online survey can be found at: https://www.colchester.gov.uk/ st-nicholas-square. The page also contains a link to the webinar taking place on Tuesday 2 March at 6pm.

so I wasn’t sure what to do…. but I knew someone who would! I waited until Friday and visited Linda on the bus and as usual she helped me to sort it all out. As well as getting the vaccination I also had my diabetes review”. G-man talks very highly of the SOS bus: “There is a need for help in Clacton. The people on the bus are very helpful and friendly, and they

know what they are doing. It is great to have this level of support on our doorstep.” Although the redeployment of the bus occurred because of the COVID-19 crisis there is hope that it will become a more permanent fixture in the Tendring community, ready to positively impact many more real-life stories.

Get involved with the Climate Emergency! Colchester Borough Council is working to increase engagement and get residents more involved with its climate emergency work. The council is launching a survey to capture views on how it can effectively communicate this important work on environmental issues. The quick survey opened on Monday 8 March 2021 and will close on Monday 5 April 2021 at midnight. This survey aims to identify residents’ communications preferences and to find out more about how they learn about the council’s work on the climate emergency. It will also highlight engagement opportunities for residents to get more involved in the council’s work linked to sustainability and climate change. Councillor Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Environment and Transportation said: “It’s really important for us to work together with residents on our climate emergency work. We have already achieved a lot so far, but we are keen to collaborate and keep people up to date with news and opportunities from our ongoing projects.

“The survey is really quick and easy to fill out, so I encourage people to get involved and let us know their views. The results of this survey will help to inform our engagement going forward.” The council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019, making a commitment to reaching zero net carbon emissions by 2030. In 2020, a Climate Emergency Action Plan was developed, outlining key actions to ensure sustainability and decrease carbon emissions through services and partnerships. The council has already made significant progress through some important projects, such as the Woodland and Biodiversity Project, Clean Air for Colchester and the Colchester eCargo bike library, and will be continuing a number of workstreams to help meet its environmental targets. This survey is just the beginning of the council’s work to engage with residents around the climate emergency. There will be more engagement opportunities to get involved coming soon.

PI day Do you have an irrational love for π? Sunday March 14 is officially named Pi Day. Why? Well in most of the world the date is written 3/14…or 3.14, which is of course Pi. In the UK we use 14/3, which doesn’t work at all, but we’ll gloss over it. Pi, or the Greek letter π, is the figure obtained when the circumference of a circle is divided by its diameter. It begins 3.1415926535 and goes on forever, without repeating. It’s an ‘irrational’ number, which means it cannot be expressed as a fraction (unlike 0.5 which is 1/2 or 0.125 which is 1/8 and computers have calculated it to more than one trillion digits past the decimal point. Although I only came across it this year, March 14th has been celebrated as Pi Day for more than 20 years. A US physicist, called Larry decided to start it as a “geek holiday”. To his surprise the event grew into an international phenomenon, with Pi parties and educational events taking place across the world. Pi has been known about for almost 4000 years. The Babylonians and Ancient Egyptians both attempted to calculate it. But it was Archimedes,

one of the greatest mathematicians of the ancient world who first showed that the value of pi could only ever be an approximation, falling somewhere between 3 1/7 and 3 10/71. The symbol π was first used a couple of thousand years later in 1706 by mathematician William Jones and was popularised by the famous Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler in 1737. π has intrigued and exasperated mathematicians and scientists for thousands of years. A circle is such a simple concept, yet so difficult to pin down mathematically. It is the most studied number in mathematics, because its integral to our understanding of geometry. π has uses in physics, astronomy, mathematics, architecture, and construction.

Pi Facts! Since the exact value of pi can never be calculated, we can never find the accurate area or circumference of a circle. The record for reciting the greatest number of decimal places of Pi was achieved by Rajveer Meena at VIT University, Vellore, India on 21 March 2015. He recited 70,000 decimal places. which took over 10 hours! Some people loved pi enough to invent a dialect based on it. In “Pi-lish” poems and prose are written where the number of letters in each word match the corresponding digit of pi. The first word has three letters, the

second has one letter, the third has four letters, and so on. This language is more popular than you might think. Software engineer Michael Keith wrote an entire book, called Not a Wake in this language! The calculation of pi is used as a stress test for a computer. It works like a digital cardiogram since it indicates the level of activity within the computer’s processor. The Greek letter π is the first letter of the word periphery and perimeter. And as we all know, pi is the ratio of a circle’s “periphery” to its diameter.

Holy Cow!... ...Michaels now do Mortgages too?

The Michaels Property Group are thrilled to announce the launch of Michaels Financial, our very own mortgage Brokers, on the 5th of April. Fully independent with access to every lender on the market, Michaels Financial will guide you through what can be a stressful experience with the very best advice, to individually tailor a package that suits your needs... and your pocket. Borne from a company that prides itself on a reputation based on recommendation, trust, and transparency, we’re very excited to embark on this new venture, and look forward to discussing your mortaging needs with you very soon.

Telephone: 01206 576999 Email: info@michaelsﬁnancial.co.uk

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. As with all insurance policies, conditions and exclusions will apply. Buy to Let Mortgages are not usually regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.