Issue 74
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Ever wondered what Colchester Castle is like after dark? Are you brave enough to spend a night there? Ever wondered what Colchester Castle is like after dark? Now you can, because Knightzzz at the Castle, the ultimate sleepover, is back by popular demand. Get ready for an overnight adventure like no other. Suitable for the whole family – take part in fun activities, meet historical characters, enjoy a tour of the Castle (with some spooky tales thrown in for Halloween) and bed down for the night in the most amazing venue after your late-night hot chocolate treat. All you need do is bring your sleeping bags and get ready for a most unusual camping experience.
Autumn Wellness Walks at High Woods Country Park
Councillor Darius Laws, Portfolio Holder for Economy, Business and Heritage for Colchester Borough Council said: “Make some memories by enjoying what must be the ultimate sleepover: a night in Europe’s largest Norman Keep. If the Castle’s walls could talk, what would they say? This October, pack your overnight bag and head to the Castle for an unforgettable evening and become part of the Castle’s history!” Knightzzz at the Castle returns on the 23 October 2021 and prices start at £35 per person. Head to the website for further information. To book call 01206 282 939 and speak to a member of the team.
The autumn programme of Wellness Walks at High Woods Country Park is now available.
14, 28 January 2022
Run by Colchester Borough Council’s parks team, the ranger- and volunteerled walks are suitable for all. The autumn programme includes Family Wellness Walks, Friday Wellness Walks and Sunday strolls.
Cllr Beverley Oxford, Colchester Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Communities, said: “I’m pleased to be launching the autumn programme of Wellness Walks at High Woods Country Park. They are a great way of staying fit and encouraging a better mental well-being by bringing people together. The walks complement our work with Street Tag helping to get more people moving and enjoying the benefits of staying active outside. I encourage anyone to come along and join a walk.”
Family Wellness Walk is running on Saturday 23 October. These walks are for young families, new and expectant parents, to come for a light stroll around the park to walk and talk. Little ones very welcome and the route is buggy friendly. Meet at the Visitor Centre at 11am.
Sunday Wellness Walks are running on 1, 15 and 29 October. Suitable for all. An ideal way to improve fitness or mobility in a sociable atmosphere. The walk follows a three-mile circuit. Meet at the Visitor Centre at 11am. Additional dates: 7, 14, 28 November 2021 12 December 2021
11, 25 February 2022
Walkers must book in advance and must not attend if they or anyone in their household is displaying symptoms of Covid-19. To book a place on the Wellness Walks please complete the Wellness Walks Registration Form and for Family Wellness Walks please complete the Family Wellness Walk Registration Form, if you have any queries please email the Countryside Park Ranger team at countryside@ colchester.gov.uk
9, 23 January 2022 6, 20 February 2022 Friday Wellness Walks are running on 10 and 24 October. Suitable for all. An ideal way to improve fitness or mobility in a sociable atmosphere. The walk follows a one-mile circuit which can be repeated for those who want to go a bit further. Meet at the Visitor Centre at 11am. Additional dates: 12, 19 November 2021
Keep up to date with upcoming Health Walks following @EnjoyColchester on Facebook and @YourColchester on Twitter, or by visiting the our Health Walks webpage at colchester.gov.uk/ country-park.
Wellness Walks and Street Tag support the Council’s commitment to Livewell, promoting healthy messages and supporting residents to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
33, 17 December 2021 Issue 73
For any information or to submit an article or advert contact David Cook: Call: 01206 233717 Out Of Office: 07734 171985 Email: SimplyColchester@gmail.com Head Office: Simply Magazine, 1 George Williams Way, Colchester, Essex CO1 2JS
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23rd to 31st ˂˖˧ˢ˕˘˥ ʥʣʥʤ
Join us for our FANG - TASTIC activities throughout October half term as we stay open until 5pm everyday!*
Select a pumpkin and create your own masterpiece at the Pumpkin Carving area or transform into your favourite monster at the Face Painting station.
Collect our Day of the Dead trail leaflet and look out for the four activity boards to complete during your visit. PLUS LOTS MORE...
ARE YOU BRAVE ENOUGH TO WALK THE Book tickets: www.colchesterzoo.org 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 27th, 29th and 30th OCT 2021
Ts and Cs apply to all events.
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Passholders and non-passholders MUST purchase a booking slot in advance online to attend The Trail of Terror.
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A Good Read to experience similar, nightmarish, dreams. Contacting the nephew of their dead friend, they find he also has something to contribute to their shared nocturnal visions, forcing them to explore people and events from their collective past—a past they’d much rather forget.
Ghost Story by Peter Straub Although Straub had written a couple of novels before this, this was the book that made his name. It was written in the late seventies, and is an epic creeping horror that has influenced many other writers, including Stephen King. It is set in a small fictional town, where the elderly members of The Chowder Society meet regularly to tell each other spooky stories over a few drinks. The book opens with a seemingly unconnected tale and then the death of one of the group members. Each of the remaining members begins
The novel, although good in its own right, is also a tribute to ghost stories in general. Straub obviously set out to pay his respects to the genre and there are nods to Nathaniel Hawthorne and M.R James among others. There's a main overarching plot that incorporates a few shorter stories. Straub was clearly having fun, and he includes most of the ingredients for a classic scary story. It's not fast paced but the tension builds nicely, and a real sense of menace develops as Straub draws all the threads together for the climax. It's a must for fans of all things scary. The storytelling is superb and it's definitely good read for Halloween. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak Another book from the Seventies, In the Night Kitchen is not as well-known as Sendak's other dreamscape, Where the Wild Things Are, but is every bit as
magical, with beautiful illustrations. The story is a fragmented, comic book romp through a child's dream. A stream-of-consciousness, random, quirky, child's-eye-view of the world, set in a sort of kitchen-cum-cityscape built from giant boxes of baking ingredients. Written in a poetic meter that stretches and contracts with the ebb and flow of the action, it's almost as much fun for an adult to read as for a child to listen. My kids (aged 5 and 3) love it, but I will issue a nudity warning to those parents who may not appreciate some of the illustrations. The little boy
Mickey is naked for most of the book, which my three-year-old finds utterly hilarious for some reason. My husband had no problem with the nudity, but he wasn't fond of the Oliver Hardy look-alike bakers, proving that even Sendak can't please everyone. Giant milk bottles, planes made from bread: for me, Sendak is a master storyteller who doesn't talk down to his audience. It's highly stylised and like Where the Wild Things Are it feels slightly of its time, but that doesn't matter; the kids feel a mixture of intrigue, excitement, trepidation, and wonder - it's perfect storytelling.
Word Search Can you find all of the circus-related words hidden in the grid?
apparition appearance banshee daemon demon
devil eidolon haunt kelpie manes
phantasm phantom poltergeist revenant shade
shadow soul spectre spook vampire
vision visitor wraith zombie
Answers on page 8 6
Living Life To The Full In Colchester When Patricia Flack and her partner, Michael Pearson, decided to downsize from their terrace house in the centre of Colchester, they took one look at McCarthy Stone’s Lancer House Retirement Living Plus development nearby and were instantly sold on the lifestyle on offer. Patricia, 84, explains: “Whilst we loved our former home, the upkeep of it was becoming too tiresome for us. We’d both much prefer to spend our energy and time on doing the things we enjoy, rather than on home maintenance, so we decided to think about our options. “We have friends who live in other McCarthy Stone developments and were aware of Lancer House being built so we thought we’d start there. We were very impressed with the set up and attention to detail. Everything was very well appointed and it didn’t take long for us to make the decision to move. “Our new apartment felt like home straight away and despite the pandemic, we’ve settled in and been so busy. During lockdown we spent lots of time keeping in touch with our friends over zoom and since restrictions have eased, we’ve been enjoying getting out and about and back to our hobbies. We’re both members of an art society, are part of a church community, and friends of Castle Park. We like to stay social and Lancer House gives us the freedom to do that without worrying about all the ‘jobs’ that need to be done. Plus, if we want a relaxing day at home on our own, we can do that too. “We’re both looking forward to getting to know the other homeowners at Lancer House better and attending some of the social events on offer. It’s a shame that Covid meant we couldn’t start taking advantage of the social aspect of the development right away, but now that restrictions have eased we have been able to socialise with our fellow homeowners. “In the meantime, we have been enjoying having the choice of going to the bistro for lunch, it’s great to be able to just nip downstairs for a meal when we want and not have to worry about cooking all the time and cleaning up. We also like to sit in the garden and watch the shrubs develop. I loved our garden at our previous home and really thought I would miss it, but it’s been lovely to watch the plants bloom here and see the garden take shape. “It’s also wonderful to have the reassurance that the McCarthy Stone team is here if we need them. My son lives in America, and I know he
appreciates that there is support available if we ever need it. The team have been brilliant the whole way through. In particular, Katherine Gant, the sales representative, went out of her way to make everything as trouble free as possible. We also received a very warm and friendly welcome when we moved in, and the team have remained as happy and helpful as they were on day one! “Although we’ve only just joined Lancer House, we couldn’t have made a better choice. It’s certainly the right place for us to be and it’s been absolutely wonderful to have the freedom to live life how we want.” Comprising a selection of 53 one and two-bedroom luxury Retirement Living Plus apartments, exclusively for people aged 70 and over, Lancer House provides everything retirees could want for a relaxing and independent retirement. The community features a communal lounge and landscaped gardens, which are ideal for socialising with new neighbours, and a hotel-style guest suite which provides a comfortable stay for family and friends. Designed to provide complete peace-of-mind, there is an Estate Manager on hand, along with a security entrance system and 24-hour emergency call points. A bistro-style restaurant serves fresh and nutritious meals daily for those who do not wish to cook in their apartments, and domestic and personalised care packages can be tailored to suit individuals.
Keep Your Pets Safe on Bonfire Night My Jack Russell terrier Pippa takes Bonfire Night in her stride. but Tess, my mixed breed rescue, transforms into a quivering wreck, who snaps, snarls and once drew actual blood when I tried to fish her out of the tumble drier where she had retreated among the yet-to-be sorted bed sheets. Studies suggest that almost half of dogs show signs of fear when they hear fireworks. Tess is at the extreme end of the scale and action was clearly required. There are a few simple things we can do to help a pet deal with fireworks. Some basic preparation will make Bonfire night a less stressful experience for everyone.
cutting it for Tess who wanted a proper bolthole, so the following firework season I cleared out a space among the shoes in the little cupboard under the stairs and added blankets and chew toys. She dived in headfirst, and we didn't see her till the following morning, when she re-appeared as though nothing was out of the ordinary! Cats also need hiding places too, though they are pretty good at finding their own! Try to bring cats inside, even if they normally go out at night, because they can become stressed and disorientated if they're caught outside during a fireworks display.
For dogs, walk them earlier in the day to avoid times when fireworks are likely to be set off. Close windows and curtains at night so loud bangs are muffled, and play music or put the TV on to further mask firework sounds
If you have small animals, covering outside cages and pens with blankets so an area is soundproofed and hidden is a good idea. And provide bedding they can burrow into. If you have a cool room where they can be undisturbed it can be good to move the hutch or cage temporarily inside.
Make a doggy den. This is a quiet space where a dog can feel in control. My dogs are crate-trained but the crate wasn't
And remember that all pets should be microchipped in case they panic and escape outside.
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Prices at Lancer House currently start from £349,500 for a two bedroom apartment. Rental and Part Buy Part Rent options are also available to make moving even easier. More than nine out of 10 customers would recommend McCarthy Stone to a friend, ensuring it has received the full Five Star award for customer satisfaction from the Home Builders Federation for 16 years’ running. McCarthy Stone is the only UK housebuilder of any size or type to achieve this accolade for 16 consecutive years, which is every year the awards have been run. McCarthy Stone also received the Housebuilder Special Recognition Award 2020 for working hard to protect its customers – Covid-19 infection rates among homeowners are significantly below the national rate of infection across all age groups – and for innovation in the retirement sector. For more information on Retirement Plus Living in Essex, please call 0800 201 4743 or visit www.mccarthystone.co.uk.
Cure, restore (4) Despite, notwithstanding (8) Theft, burglary (7) Lizard with sticky feet! (5) Fall heavily (coll.) (4,1,7) Bulging belly (6) Crackpot, oddball (6) Fungal disease of the toes (8,4) Hard outer layer (5) Unblemished (7) Discuss yet again (8) Cut (4)
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Printout (4,4) Scrapbook particularly for photos (5) Tiers (6) Intense strain or tension (4-8) Hazy (7) An owl's cry (4) Does the sums again (12) Pace, stride (8) Lie (7) Necessary, basic (6) Large body of water (5) Defect, disfigurement (4)
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Boost Your Immune System
Gone Fishin'
Getting started with fishing My son loves to be outdoors spending time in the countryside. I told him how my dad and I used to have fantastic fun on our fishing trips to the various rivers and lakes around the area where we lived. This caught his interest and he asked if we could go fishing. Sounded great me! Luckily we have a small angling-supply shop in our village, so we popped in to look around and get some advice. As the flu season rolls around again, and we are now dealing with the additional threat of COVID-19, we need to take care of our immune systems.
not everybody produces the same immune response so is there anything else we can do to pep up our beleaguered immune system at this time of year?
There are two main parts to the immune system: the innate immune system is the one you are born with, and it is the body's rapid response system, working to attack antigens or invaders, while the adaptive or acquired immune system builds antibodies to protect your body from certain microbes, or germs, it encounters in the environment. Our immune system keeps track of every germ it has ever defeated, so it’s primed to be more effective if it encounters the same one again.
Yes, you can support and improve the effectiveness of your immune system by eating healthily, staying hydrated, exercising regularly, keeping alcohol intake moderate, and getting adequate sleep.
Vaccines are great at priming the immune system giving our bodies a head start when it comes to fighting certain diseases, so if you are able to receive the flu or COVID vaccines it’s a no-brainer. But even if you can have the vaccine, puzzle solutions:
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Some vitamins and supplements are particularly useful additions at this time of year. Elderberry - Sambucus nigra consists of many vitamins and minerals which boost immune health. Vitamin C - Vitamin C is required for white-cell production. The body can’t make vitamin C, so a supplement is very useful. Zinc – Helps produce new immune system cells in your body. Vitamin D - Helps to regulate the immune system.
The staff were very knowledgeable and talked us through the equipment choice for a good quality, but reasonably priced starter set. This consisted of a nice rod suitable for float fishing and spinning, a good quality reel to go with it (don't forget to get some fishing line and ask if the staff can fit it for you!), some floats and hooks for maggot fishing and some lures for going after pike and perch. A few other bits and bobs and we were ready to catch our first whoppers for under £100. By this time the staff knew we were novices, so they weren't surprised when we answered their, "Have you got your licences?" question with a puzzled look. It turns out there are a number of rules and regulations you need to obey if you want to go fishing and stay on the right side of the law. In England and Wales anyone aged over 13 needs a rod fishing licence. It's free if you're 16 or under and about £30 per year for an adult. In Scotland you just need permission for the place you want to fish from the landowner or angling
club. In Northern Ireland you'll need a licence and a permit for the stretch of water. In Scotland and Northern Ireland some rivers and lakes are controlled by angling clubs, so you'll need to check before you head off to the river. It's also turns out that you can't just fish whenever you want. Rivers in England and Wales have a close season from 15th March to 15th June. Scotland and Ireland also have close seasons with most being controlled by the angling clubs that own the fishing rights, so again make sure you check with them. Some rules do get a bit complicated with different fish having close seasons, and certain types of bait being allowed only in certain locations and at certain times, but don’t be discouraged. Check out the gov.uk website or have a chat with your local angling club. They will be more than happy to help. If you're fishing for pleasure you'll most likely put any fish you catch back into the water - obviously taking loads of photos before you do! But if you do plan on keeping some fish for eating there are a number of regulations on your catch sizes. These cover both the minimum size of the fish and the number. It varies from region to region so make sure you check out the rules for the place you want to fish. With a little research you can feel reassured that your fishing trip won’t end in a fine. As for our first trip out; no luck with the bigger pike and perch but some great fun with the smaller fish using a float and maggot. Not exactly whoppers, but we can always try again next time.
Our number one priority is to fulfil our customers satisfaction to the highest standard At RB Installations, we specialise in the supply and installation of all windows and doors, including bi-fold & patios At competitive prices. We also install roofline and cladding. We install superb products across areas across Essex and Suffolk and beyond, from a range of top manufacturers. All of our windows are A-rated as standard and our products covered by solid guarantees which are insurance backed.
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Garden View By October the garden can look a little tired: perennials collapse, leaves die back, and there’s debris everywhere. It can only mean one thing, clean up time. Cut Peonies, Leucanthemum, Nepeta, Delphiniums, Hardy Geraniums, and Phlox back to ground level, but leave anything with ornamental seed heads such as poppies, Alliums, and grasses. When the first frosts hit these plants will gain a new lease of life and add some sparkly architectural beauty to the garden. Leave more delicate perennials such as Penstemons with the top growth in place to provide some winter protection. You can cut them back in the spring just before new growth occurs. Herbaceous perennials can be divided now and moved around to fill gaps in the border. Perennials can become congested and tired, and flower less as they age. Dig up the clump and break it up with a sharp spade, selecting the best, newer chunks from the outside to replant. The dying centre of the plant can be composted. Most plants
need to be divided every three to five years but some more vigorous varieties like Achillea require it more often and others. The exception is Peonies, which hate any kind of disturbance. Leave them alone. Once the borders are cleared and plants have been relocated, it’s time to get rid of any weeds, which have flourished in the autumn sunshine. Then you can mulch using compost or leaf mould. Mulching helps to protect the more tender plants while improving the structure of the soil and generally making things look neater. Make a layer around 3-4cms deep but don’t cover the centre crown of any plants. Types of organic mulch Compost Bark Grass cuttings Composted manure Newspaper Shredded Leaves Straw
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Pumpkin Pie The perfect Halloween treat...with no tricks Preparation time: 40 minutes
1 tbsp icing sugar
Cooking time: 1 hour 40 minutes + chilling time
Method Place the chopped pumpkin into a large saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and simmer for 15 mins or until tender. Drain and allow to cool. The final colour of your pumpkin filling will depend on the colour of the squash you choose. Some have a more yellow flesh, like butternut squash and others like the winter squash have a much more orange flesh. They will both taste equally good!
Serves: 8 Ingredients 750g pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled, deseeded, and cut into chunks 350g sweet shortcrust pastry (make your own or buy readymade) 140g caster sugar ½ tsp salt
Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use it to line a 22cm loose-bottomed flan tin. Chill for 15 mins. Line the pastry with baking parchment and baking beans, then bake for 15 mins. Remove the beans
½ tsp fresh nutmeg, grated 1 tsp cinnamon 2 eggs, beaten 25g butter, melted 175ml milk
and parchment, then bake for a further 10 mins until the base is pale golden and biscuity. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Increase oven temperature to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Push the cooled pumpkin through a sieve into a large bowl to make a puree. In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, salt, nutmeg and half the cinnamon. Lightly beat together the eggs, melted butter and milk, then add to the pumpkin purée
and mix well. Pour the mixture into the tart shell and bake for 10 minutes, Reduce the temperature to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and continue to bake for 35-40 mins until the filling has just set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before removing the pie from the tin. You can Mix the remaining cinnamon with the icing sugar and dust over the pie or decorate in a suitably spooky style.
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Get ready for a week of treats with Colchester Castle! Head to Colchester Castle from the 23-30 October and get ready for buckets of treats and spooky family fun. Knightzzz at the Castle Knightzzz at the Castle returns by popular demand on Saturday 23 October. Ever wondered what Colchester Castle is like after dark? Join us and get ready for an overnight adventure like no other. Suitable for the whole family, take part in activities, meet historical characters, enjoy a tour of the Castle (with some spooky tales thrown in!) and bed down for the night in THE most amazing venue after your late-night hot chocolate treat. All you need to do is bring your sleeping bags and get ready for a most unusual camping experience. £35 per person. Spooky Storytelling Drop in and listen to our special spooky storytelling sessions! Learn more about the Castle’s
historic past and the characters that would have been around hundreds of years ago. These sessions are free after Castle admission, running regularly throughout the day. Ask at the front desk when you arrive what time they will be running during your visit. Settle down and get ready for tales from the past!
magic thrown in. At the end why not treat yourself to something to remember the day in our gift shop.
Taking place Monday 25 October, Wednesday 27 October and Friday 29 October
Keep the glue and glitter out of your house and join us for some creepy craft sessions. No need to book, simply head to the Castle and get ready for some messy play! Take your creepy creations home and gift to loved ones.
Kids Castle Tours Join us for a special half term treat and travel back over 2000 years on a trip into the hidden spaces of Colchester Castle on a specially adapted tour, just for kids. Descend into the Roman Vaults underneath the Castle and climb the biggest Norman spiral staircase in England. Hear tales of victory, defeat and the hard-fought battles that have made Colchester the town it is today, with a little Halloween
Tours will be running on Tuesday 26th October and Thursday 28 October and will be £3 per person after Castle admission. Creepy Crafts
Creepy crafts will be running on Monday 25 October, Wednesday 27 October and Friday 29 October and will be £5 per person after Castle admission. An Evening of Halloween Fun! Celebrate all things spooky with an evening of Halloween themed
activities on Saturday 30 October. Take part in a trick or treat trail, create creepy crafts, enjoy some spooky storytelling and get involved with some fun ghoulish games! Take it easy, sip a mocktail and at the end of the evening take home a goody bag full of treats! £15 per person Councillor Darius Laws, Portfolio Holder for Economy, Business and Heritage, said: “With more than 2,000 years of history to explore, Colchester Castle is a must this Halloween. All our activities have a low scare level, to ensure they are suitable for the whole family. Are you brave enough to spend the night at the Castle, take on our trick or treat trail or take a spooky tour? Whatever you fancy, the friendly team at the Castle are ready to help your family enjoy the half term holidays.” Head to www.colchester. cimuseums.org.uk/events for more details and how to book.
Could YOU be a Bloodrunner?
The Essex Voluntary Blood Service – or Essex Bloodrunners for short, is a charity providing medical courier services to the NHS and our local Air Ambulances. We are one of 30 such organisations in the UK. From the NHS Blood Bank at Basildon, our unpaid volunteers deliver blood and blood products to A&E Hospitals in Essex and East London; deliver samples for analysis to a NHS Lab in North London, and via Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, supply blood to the Air Ambulances at Earls Colne and North Weald every night. Amongst many other tasks we also courier breast milk from donors to the Hearts Milk Bank and Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
We operate every weekday night, and day and night shifts at weekends and Bank Holidays. Our enhanced support to Hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic has also introduced a weekday daytime shift. We now need more members. You choose in advance the days and shifts you work. We are looking for reliable and responsible men and women from all backgrounds, employed or retired, with a motorcycle, car or van, a mobile phone and internet access. You will receive training, documentation, full support and a hi-viz uniform jacket. You will work alone on a delivery run with a typical round-trip distance from home of between 60 and possibly over 120 miles, and be the face
of Essex Bloodrunners to the public and NHS staff. The work is not glamorous; can be tiring; you may work unsocial hours in all weathers and you will add thousands of miles to your vehicle. You are unpaid and cover all your own expenses… so not much going for it really!
ordinary member of the public can help save a life.
However, rather like being a First Aider or Blood Donor, this is one of the very few ways that an
EssexVoluntaryBloodService.com
Most of you reading this piece will think “sounds good, but not for me”, which we quite understand, but just one of you may wish to enquire further. If so, see our website at: And thank you for your kind attention. 13
Bad Teacher What to do when your child has issues with their teacher Most parents worry a little at the beginning of a school year; will the new teacher be a good fit for my child? Usually things work out fine, even if there are a few rocky moments initially. But if problems persist, what is the best way to handle it? Reading emotional signals isn’t easy but as a parent its usually wise to trust your instincts. Riding out a year with a difficult teacher can help a child learn resilience and problem-solving. We can probably all remember at least one teacher with a ‘reputation’ from our own school days. It's requires careful judgement. One child might be able to rationalise (with a little parental support) that harsh criticism says more about the teacher than it does about them, while another may become anxious and stop enjoying school. You know your child best. If you feel there might be a problem try to get as much detail as possible. The idea is to get a more concrete sense of your child’s viewpoint. Probe gently and casually to avoid causing distress, do make sure that it's not an overreaction to normal teacher behaviour.
Tell your child that you're going to write down what she's saying so you can have a conversation with the teacher. Make it clear that you care about what's happening, and that their concerns are going to be heard, but that you are not going in to make trouble. If you decide to speak with the teacher, don't try to catch them at drop-off or pick-up time. Book an appointment. Approach the situation as someone seeking help in solving a problem. Use inclusive language and explain the situation using as many of your child's own words as possible. Saying, 'Can you help me understand why Kiera seems so anxious before school,' is better than 'Kiera says you're mean to her.' This will help not to escalate the situation. Teachers are human though and some are very sensitive. Do your best to reassure them that you're not blaming them. However, you are there to advocate for your child so try not to be derailed if they become defensive. Stay calm and repeat that you're simply trying to understand what's going on. Ideally, the teacher will shed light on the situation, and you can have a mutually useful conversation that will help them teach your child effectively. But at the very least you'll understand more about how the teacher
communicates. They may be taciturn, or snarky or perfectly nice but just not very genial. Then you can talk to your child about how some people are not as smiley, or patient as others but they aren't necessarily a horrible person.
teacher, or they might decide to deal with the situation in house. If nothing changes, remain calm, but be firm and make it clear you're not going away. As a last resort request a move to another class.
Of course, if the meeting doesn't go well you might have to take it higher, maybe to the head of year, or the deputy head. Explain the steps you've taken and stress that you are concerned about your child's education. You might be given the option of another meeting with the
It's upsetting as a parent to watch your child struggle. But remember, even if the outcome isn't perfect, watching how you deal with things in a calm, rational and encouraging manner will teach them a great life lesson.
Sudoku
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Clean Your Greens Food hygiene is important When we think about food poisoning, most of us think about undercooked chicken or dodgy seafood, but some of the most notable outbreaks, have been tied to vegetables like Romaine lettuce, cucumbers, and soft fruit. Public Health England advises people to remove any loose soil before storing vegetables and wash all veg and salads thoroughly that will be eaten raw unless they have been preprepared and are specifically labelled "ready to eat". It's important to bear in mind that no method of cleaning is guaranteed to remove all bacteria when it comes to raw food – but you can significantly reduce risk. So, what is the best way to wash veg? Wash your hands and clean all preparation surfaces first! . When we think about food poisoning, most of us think about undercooked chicken or dodgy seafood, but some of the most notable outbreaks, have been tied to vegetables like Romaine lettuce, cucumbers, and soft fruit. Public Health England advises people to remove any loose
soil before storing vegetables and wash all veg and salads thoroughly that will be eaten raw unless they have been preprepared and are specifically labelled "ready to eat". It's important to bear in mind that no method of cleaning is guaranteed to remove all bacteria when it comes to raw food – but you can significantly reduce risk. So, what is the best way to wash veg? Wash your hands and clean all preparation surfaces first! . Then wash produce just before you use it because dampness encourages bacteria growth Let things soak – For anything that grows in the ground, submerge it in cold water and leave it there for up to 20 minutes to let the soil particles come loose, then take it out and rinse under running water. Lettuce leaves should be broken off before washing. Chops leeks before washing, because it makes it easier for the soil particles to flush out from between the layers. Even organic food needs to be washed. Old fashioned salad spinners are
great to ‘de-soggify’ (as my teen puts it) salad leaves, but you can shake them outside and leave to dry on kitchen paper. Treat mushrooms differently – Mushrooms can be dirty, but they are like sponges and soaking will make them soggy. Brush the soil off and rinse them. If you’re sauteing them the heat will kill any bacteria. Fresh herbs – store them in a sealed plastic bag with a piece of kitchen paper to prolong their
life. It really works! Wash them before use. Pre-packed salads - These are often washed in a low-chlorine solution to kill off bacteria, so in theory they should be fine to eat straight from the bag. This comes down to personal choice. Store all salad and vegetables, and berries in a cold environment because it slows down the rate at which bacteria multiply. Many modern fridges have a super cold salad drawer.
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