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ISSUE18
10/5/13
2:18 pm
Page 2
issue 18 may 2015
ESSEXLIFESTYLE
FREE
I I I I I I I I I
kick-start your summer with essex lifestyle
www.essexlifestyle.co.uk - 01787 473120
ISSUE18
10/5/13
2:18 pm
Page 3
At Essex Lifestyle we are
always striving to bring you
Vegetarian Chili Tacos
more; If you are a reader or
A tasty alternative to meat
In this issue
an advertiser.
In this issue we have given
ESSEX LIFESTYLE a facelift.
This was prompted by our
change of distribution
Summer beauty tips
which reflects the foyer
advertising in Sainsbury’s,
Tesco and COOP.
We hope you enjoy the
ESSEX LIFESTYLE. Please call
us and let us know your
thoughts and ideas for any
Some surprises at
Braintree Museum
future articles.
Tacos with a spicy bean filling and all the
trimmings. The veggie bean filling can be made
in advance and will keep in the freezer for 2
months, so whenever you fancy a veggie taco
you can whip one up in minutes.
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
Don’t forget that if you have
anything interesting to say,
1 onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove
please email us and we’ll be
3 celery stalks, finely chopped
happy to publish:
200g/7oz portobello/shiitake mushrooms,
chopped
Landline: 01787 473120
2 green chillies, chopped
[email protected]
100g/3oz tomato purée
Ads - Charles: 07949 654427
Admin - David: 07710 110572
200ml/7fl oz plain yoghurt
Preparation method
1. Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium
heat. Fry the onion, garlic and celery until soft.
2. Add the mushrooms and chillies and cook for
one minute.Add the tomato purée and cook for a
further 2-3 minutes. When the mushrooms are
soft, add the cocoa powder (if using) and stock
and bring to the boil.
150ml/5fl oz vegetable stock
2 x 400g tinned kidney beans, or mixed beans,
rinsed and drained
4. To serve, place 2-3 tablespoonfuls of the bean
chilli in each taco shell. Top with the grated
cheese, chopped coriander (if using), and a
spoon of yoghurt and put on plates.
salt and freshly ground black pepper
www.essexlifestyle.co.uk
To serve
Nature’s Pest controllers
3. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes,
then add the beans and cook for a further 10-12
minutes, or until the sauce has reduced and the
beans are all heated through.
18
1 tsp cocoa powder (optional)
Design - John: 07505 231501
2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander (optional)
Win a Hotel in Harwich!
12 ready-made taco shells, warmed
If this is the first time you’ve seen
Essex Lifestyle you can always pick
up a copy from Sainsbury's, Tesco
and COOP in Braintree and
Halstead.
Cover photograph subject:
Reading’s Fruit and Veg Braintree
Any views or opinions presented in this
publication do not necessarily represent
those of the company. The company will not
accept any liability in respect of such
opinions or views.
150g/5oz Monterey Jack (or mild cheddar) cheese,
grated
Essex Lifestyle is also available from the following quality outlets:
EXTRAS . .
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RAF GOSFIELD
BRAINTREE’S FOUNTAIN
AUSTRALIAN ARTIST
DOGS AND HOT CARS
BADGERS - THE CULL
VE DAY
FUN PAGE AND JOKES
AND MORE . . .
ISSUE18
10/5/13
2:18 pm
Page 4
Springtime
selection
for when the weather is fine...
town!
Bonmarché
Topshop
Quiz
Wallis
And the best
of fashion in
Brands include
Bonmarché • Brantano • Klass
Miss Selfridge • Quiz • Roman
Tigi • Topshop • Viz-a-Viz • Wallis
All images shown for illustration purposes only.
George Yard, 9/15 Rayne Road, Braintree
01376 321303
/chelmsfordstarcoop
@CStarCoop
www.chelmsfordstar.coop
ISSUE18
10/5/13
2:18 pm
Page 5
Fossils at Braintree
Museum
Ichythosaurus - a large marine reptile that lived during the Mesozoic period (252-66 million years ago)
Open 10am-4pm Tuesday-Saturday
Adults £3; Concessions £1.50; Under 16s free
Braintree museum has a collection of
fossils ranging from specimens that are
450 million to 1 million years old and from
sea to land creatures, and a geological
collection that includes shells and mineral
specimens.
around 1 million years ago. Other fossils
include many different species of sea
urchins, squids and bivalves.
Highlights of the fossil collection include
part of a jaw and fossilised teeth of an
ichythosaurus, a large marine reptile that
lived during the Mesozoic period (252-66
million years ago), and a lower jaw
section and two lower molars of a woolly
mammoth, which were found locally on
the site of the Courtauld factory in
Bocking in 1956. This mammoth lived
The museum is currently expanding its
fossil handling collection which has
already proved popular with children and
adults. This collection includes a 450
million year old Trilobite (one of the first
creatures to live in the Earth’s oceans) a
55 million year old fossilised fish, and a
fossilised crab found in High Ongar in
Essex.
This mammoth jaw section from Bocking
is on permanent display in the museum’s
Main Gallery.
The fossil collection at Braintree District
Museum is particularly significant in
relation to local natural historian John Ray
(1627-1705). As well as laying the
foundations for the scientific study of
plants, animals, bird, fish, reptiles and
insects, Ray was also the first person in
England to suggest that fossils were the
remains of actual creatures, some of
which must therefore now be extinct. Ray
lived in a period when most people
thought fossils were just ‘plastic models’
made by nature, not the remains of real,
living organisms. The common belief at
the time was that any species created by
God could not become extinct, nor could
the potential age of the fossils fit with
Biblical interpretations of the age of the
earth current in the 17th Century. Ray was
therefore a very perceptive scientist
willing to challenge the beliefs and
interpretations of his day, whilst staying
true both to his religion and to his
insistence on scientific approaches and
methodologies when studying the natural
world. To find out more visit our John Ray
webpages at:
http://www.braintreemuseum.co.uk/john
-ray/ and visit our John Ray Natural
History Gallery which is open during
normal museum opening hours.
Braintree Museum
Manor Street, Braintree CM7 3HW
T: 01376 328 868
E: [email protected]
www.braintreemuseum.co.uk
get yourself into Essex Lifestyle . . it’s in Sainsbury’s Tesco, Co-op . . .
DYING MATTERS AWARENESS WEEK 18 /24 MAY
A Funeral Plan gives
you complete peace of
mind for the future...
Dedicated to ‘The
Stig” 2005 - 2015
Like most things, funeral costs are rising all the time,
but with our Funeral Plan options you pay for your
funeral at today’s prices, with nothing more to pay regardless of when the funeral takes place.
Forget pesticides - a lily grower in the
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For an information pack call us free on
0800 028 4808
The feathered fowl happily gobble up
snails, slugs, aphids and moth larva, and
even get rid of greenhouse weeds.
Alternatively, pop into one of our branches
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who will be happy to help you.
It means the flower farmer needs to
spray crops less manual weeding. Jan
Koomen, technical manager at Superflora
Exclusive offer
£75off
receive
Any new
Funeral Plan purchased
Offer available for a limited time only
Quote ‘ELS Funeral Plan Offer’ 05/15. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.
6 Clare Road Braintree
01376 551951
White Hart Way
Great Dunmow
01371 875542
Chickens:
nature’s pest
controllers
To find out more about our services
www.chelmsfordstarfunerals.co.uk
in Honsersdijk,
near The Hague said: “This is not
common practice, and I doubt that any
other farms are doing it this way. The
chickens leave the crop untouched and
do not destroy the soil structure.
Besides that, by watching where the
chickens like to eat , you can identify
which areas might be affected by slugs,
snails and aphids”.
ISSUE18
10/5/13
2:18 pm
Page 6
It’s time to
play
at...
Intex Swim Centre
Paradise Swimming Pool
£18.99
Intex
Sea Turtle Shaded
Baby Swimming
Pool
...Th e best
£6.99
selection o
f toys
Braintree
Tobar Rock N Hopper
£11.99
Nerf
Double Drench Super
Soaker Water Gun
Was £24.99
in
£12.99
écoiffier
Toy Lawn Mower
£5.99
and more!
All prices stated correct at time of going to press
George Yard, 9/15 Rayne Road, Braintree
01376 321303
/chelmsfordstarcoop
@CStarCoop
www.chelmsfordstar.coop
ISSUE18
10/5/13
2:18 pm
Page 7
Chelmsford Star Co-op
Essex Producer Summit.
Local co-operative, Chelmsford Star held an
evening meeting for its Essex producers
currently supplying its 39 stores across the
region. The inaugural event was held in the
quadrant, Chelmsford on 29th April.
Titled ‘ideas and inspiration’, the Society
asked its 40 producers to supply the top
three most pressing issues they have in their
business, and then has brought captains of
industry together to help address these
problems.
Some of the issues included funding,
accessing new markets, logistics, marketing
on small budgets and auto enrolment.
Society Food Trading Manager, Stewart
Linehan said;
“Our local suppliers are every important to
us and if we can act as a catalyst to help
them in their business then everyone
benefits.”
The Essex Chamber of Commerce brought a
contingent to the meeting and the Society
asked its other Essex suppliers such as
printers and artwork agencies to also assist
with useful offers.
It is hoped that the event offered value and
that in time it can become a more regular
feature.
Manufacturers are struggling to
keep up with the resurgence in
vinyl records
The crackle of a vinyl revival has been getting
louder this year as dropping the needle on a
record becomes ever more in vogue. But what
has been championed as a victory for music
purists is putting a strain on a creaking industry.
buying physical music do not intend to listen to
it, but only collect it. The 12in and 7in slabs of
music are back in mainstream fashion, making a
beat-up Dansette player as trendy as craft beer
and a beard.
Pressing plants are struggling to meet the
increased demand for records. The cost of
building new record-pressing machinery is
prohibitively expensive, so greater volumes are
being pumped through ageing machines in the
few plants left.
"People are dusting down their turntables from
the shed or the attic and their kids are
interested in owning something tangible," says
Adam Teskey, manufacturing director at the
Vinyl Factory, over the hum of pressing
machines at its plant in Hayes, Middlesex.
"Vinyl sales have some room to grow yet," adds
the Vinyl Factory's creative director, Sean
Bidder. "A huge swathe of teenagers have fallen
in love with vinyl, despite the fact that this is a
demographic that have grown up only knowing
digital music."
Lead times for pressing records have been
pushed back from a month to three in the past
two years as orders stack up globally,
frustrating labels, artists and fans. The world's
largest vinyl producer, GZ in the Czech Republic,
reported its busiest-ever day this year, pressing
42,000 in a day in February. The company has
recently bought six ageing machines in an
attempt to increase production, but is
reportedly unlikely to get more than half
working.
And there appears little sign of vinyl's reborn
star waning. The frisson of excitement that
rippled across the internet was palpable last
week when the reclusive electronica artist and
nerds' favourite Aphex Twin revealed that a
ballot will run on 200 copies of his long-awaited
new album on triple vinyl.
Record sales were up 40 per cent in the first half
of the year, according to SoundScan research,
even disregarding records sold directly from
music labels. Findings by ICM Research earlier
this year showed that 15 per cent of those
But the labels are facing a constant conundrum.
“Do they press more than they originally need
as it would take time to get a second run,” asks
Record Store Day organiser Spencer Hickman.
“Or risk it selling out, waiting two months for
more and the interest waning? If you’re sending
a band out on tour, timings are crucial.
“The problem is everyone wants colour, picture
or splatter vinyl and it’s very time consuming to
make."
Vinyl has defied the odds once to return to
prominence, but with production close to
snapping, fears are growing that prices could
spiral and the expense could edge out the
newly indoctrinated. For now, however, musos
are enjoying giving their records another spin.
Mr Bojangles
Records, CD’s DVD’s
Vinyls, Rock, Pop, Jazz,
Easy, Soundtracks,
Albums, Promo’s, just
about everything
Open Weekends
10-4pm
Gosfield Shopping Village, Petersfield
Lane, Gosfield, Halstead,
Essex C09 1PU
ISSUE18
10/5/13
2:18 pm
Page 8
DICKENS
HALSTEAD
food
art....
01787 273080
20%
OFF
A la carte menu
FILL IN DETAILS BELOW TO QUALIFY FOR YOUR 20% OFF
Name: ............................................. Email:.............................................................................
TOWNSFORD MILL, THE CAUSEWAY, HALSTEAD, ESSEX CO9 1ET - 01787 273080
[email protected] - www.dickensrestaurant.com
Australian artist explores the
different representations and
perceptions of women in
Essex through history
The first UK solo exhibition by
the Australian artist Renee
Vaughan Sutherland – which will
be close to the heart of all
Essex women, and men – is
being held at a Southend
gallery now.
the first female on English
record to be tried and executed
for being a witch in Hatfield
Peverel, about 25 miles from
Southend. She was the first of
many women accused of being
a witch within the Essex area.
Titled Waterhouse, the show
explores the different
representations and perceptions
of women in Essex through
history, with a particular focus
on the practices of witches
during the 17th Century.
The performance part of the
exhibition involves the artist
using her own body as a
screen, to illustrate the violence
of witch hunts of the 1600s and
also how derivative “Essex girl”
jokes project onto the body and
regulate behaviour of women
from our county.
It is on at the Tap gallery in
North Road, Westcliff, until June
7.
It’s the first time Renee has had
a solo exhibition in a public
gallery in the UK. She conceived
and developed the idea during
her residency at Metal, in
Chalkwell Park, and the result is
a multi-film installation,
incorporating live performance.
Warren Harper, spokesman for
Tap gallery, described the
exhibition as being “largely
concerned with the female body
in landscape and context”.
The name Waterhouse is
attributed to Agnes Waterhouse,
Renee Vaughan Sutherland will
perform live in the space once
on each Saturday for the
duration of the exhibition.
For more details,
email [email protected]
TEMPORARY ARTS PROJECT
THE OLD WATERWORKS
NORTH ROAD
SOUTHEND ON SEA
SS0 7AB
ISSUE18
10/5/13
2:18 pm
Page 9
Epic Historical Failures
Apparently all of mankind is
good at one thing, and that is
failing.
Hitler thought he could do better
than Napoleon
Filling the Hindenburg with
hydrogen.
The Persians thought it would be
a great idea to send Genghis
Khan’s ambassador back to
Genghis Kahn without his head
bringing the wrath of Mongolia
down on themselves.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s driver
making a wrong turn that led
right to the feet of his assassin,
Gavrilo Princip. Two world wars
that could have at least been
postponed.
NASA loses a Mars orbiter
because part of the team used
metric units and the other half
used imperial.
The 12 book publishers that
rejected Harry Potter
Russia Selling Alaska to the
United States for 2 cents an acre.
In 1788 the Austrian army
accidentally attacked itself and in
doing so lost 10,000 men.
It took 177 years to build the
Tower at Pisa ...and only 10 years
for it to start leaning.
Decca Records turned down the
Beatles because they weren’t
‘sellable”.
ESSEXLIFESTYLECROSSWORD
Napoleon thought he could
invade Russia in winter . .
The Dutch discovering Australia
100 years before the British but
ignoring it because they thought
it was all useless desert
ISSUE18
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Page 10
Wholesale and Trade offers on fresh fruit
& veg in Braintree
When he started his Greengrocery business
aged 19, Daniel Reading had just two
customers and a fridge in the Garage.
Having working on a market stall he
decided that the Wholesale route was the
way to go.
Now 30, its safe to say the need for
supplying good quality, ‘five-a-day produce’
was in his blood. Daniel’s Grandfather, John
Henry Reading was the original Greengrocer
back in the 1960’s in Braintree’s Fairfield
Road and although Daniel has started his
business from scratch again, the Reading’s
name has certainly stood him in great
stead.
This family business now includes brother
Stuart Reading as Company Director and
mum Jackie on hand to ensure the admin
side of the business runs smoothly, and has
expanded to employ a further three staff.
Having opened our first shop at Humphreys
Butchers, Ranks Green back in 2012 we
realised that Braintree was in dire need of a
local greengrocers and soon after found that
we were outgrowing the premises.
In April 2014, a new wholesale warehouse
and Retail Trade Counter was opened at 24
Springwood Drive, Braintree which can now
cater for both sides of the business on one
site. Here we now have a large walk in
fridge to stock all fresh produce from fruit
and vegetables to fruit juices and dairy on a
much greater scale than ever before.
Reading’s
We have had excellent feedback, not only
verbally but on our Facebook page also
(search: “Readings Greengrocers”) and many
customers who use us now return on a
weekly basis.
Reading’s now has over 100 wholesale
customers on its books including many
pubs, hotels, cafes and Essex County
Council Schools in the district.
HIGH CLASS GREENGROCERS
Trade & Public
Fruit - Vegetables - Salad - Dairy - Juices - Logs - Kindling
We use local growers when possible and
have gained a reputation for quality, of
which ours is second to none. Our
cauliflowers may be the same price as
supermarkets but they’re twice the size!
The Retail Counter is open to Trade and
Public alike on weekdays from 9am till 4pm
and Saturdays from 8am till 2pm. We are
closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Try our baskets of fruit, veg and salad a
great nutritious purchase for just £4.75!
Get your veg, fruit or salad basket for just £4.75
To celebrate our first year trading at the Sales Counter, we would
like to offer you 10% discount on production of this advert
24 Springwood Drive, Braintree, Essex CM7 2YN
Tel: 01376 349041
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01376 349041
Email: [email protected]
Riverside Spice in Earls Colne, “the one and only”
A W A R D
W I N N I N G
I N D I A N
R E S T A U R A N T
Riverside Spice
Restaurant in Earls
Colne were recently
awarded the ‘Best
South Asian
Restaurant (East of
England) at the
Asian Curry Awards
2014
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK INCLUDING BANK HOLIDAYS - 12 NOON TILL 2.30pm and 5.30pm TILL 11.30pm - FULLY LICENSED AND AIR CONDITIONED
LIVE MUSIC
ends
eg
17th June - L vailability
ited A
Book now, Lim
221 979
7
8
7
1
0
r
o
8
2
01787 2217
If you haven’t been to Riverside Spice
recently, book a table for family or
friends and come along and enjoy the
authentic taste of Indian cuisine in the
new and attractive surroundings.
Riverside Spice also has live music once
a month, call to find out details.
If you just feel like a take-away, you will
also enjoy a 10% discount on all orders
over £10.00.
All take-away’s include two
complimentary papadoms, onion salad
and mint sauce.
We look forward to seeing
you at our Award Winning
Restaurant!
44 Lower Holt Street - Earls Colne - Colchester - Essex CO6 2PH -
Tel: 01787 221 728 or 01787 221 979
ISSUE18
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2:18 pm
Page 11
MAY Garden Jobs . .
It should be getting warmer!
There's always something to be doing in
the garden, whether it's pruning, tidying
or sowing, so we've put together our
top gardening tasks for May.
• Thin out drifts of hardy annuals.
• Harden off half-hardy plants by
leaving them outside during the day
and bringing back under cover at
night for 7 to 10 days before planting
outdoors.
• Harden off dahlias and tender exotics
such as Canna for planting as soon as
the risk of frost has passed.
• You can still divide herbaceous
perennials now to improve their
vigour and create new plants.
• Divide Hostas as they come into
growth.
• Trim back spreading plants such as
aubrieta, alyssum and candytuft after
they have flowered to encourage fresh
new growth and more flowers.
• Don't be tempted to cut down or tie
up the foliage of spring-flowering
bulbs, let them die down naturally.
• To reduce the spread of forget-menot, lift the plants now to prevent
Dutch Nursery
heavy self-seeding.
• Prune your Penstemons now - cut all
the old shoots back to the base
provided there is new growth at the
bottom of the plant. If there are no
new shoots at the base, cut just
above the lowest set of leaves.
• Take cuttings of tender perennials
such as Fuchsia, Argyranthemum and
Pelargoniums (geraniums). The new
shoots of hardy perennials can also
be used for cuttings.
• Take softwood cuttings of shrubby
herbs (such as sage and lemon
verbena)
• Prune out overcrowded and dead
stems of early-flowering clematis (C.
alpina, C. cirrhosa, C. macropetala, C.
armandii and their cultivars) after
flowering.
• Tie in climbing and rambling roses.
Laying the stems horizontally will help
to produce more flowers.
• Tie in your sweet peas with plant
support rings to encourage them to
climb.
Garden Centre, Coggeshall
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Bedding Plants
Vegetable Plants & Seeds
Hanging Baskets
Garden Tools
Plants and Trees
Weber Barbecues
Garden Furniture
Compost
Clothing
Café - Restaurant
Children’s Meals
Children’s Play Area
Stone Ornaments
Ponyland - (ask about our children’s parties)
Gifts
Pots
Paving / Landscapes
• Prune spring-flowering shrubs after
flowering.
Dutch Nursery
West Street Coggeshall,
Essex, CO6 1NT (just off A120)
www.coggeshallgardencentre.co.uk
then in the afternoon . . . . . .
9am - 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and 10am
to 4pm Sundays
10am - 3.30pm Sundays (restaurant)
For more detailed planting advice go to Dutch
Nursery in Coggeshall.
Tel: 01376 561287
Timbers Restaurant
Blake House Craft Centre, Blake
End, Rayne, Braintree,
Essex CM77 6RA -
Restaurant & Bar
Tel: 01376 552553
2015 Events for your Diary
The Original Great Maze
July - Sept
Bundle O’ Dubz (Volkswagen enthusiasts)
11th July 12noon to 12th July 4pm
Tractor and Country Show
18th & 19th July 10.30am to 5pm
Queen of Hearts Party
15th August
Hog Roast & Torchlight Maze
Sat 5th Sept
Essex Heats of Lawnmower Racing
Association Championships
12th & 13th Sept
Harry Potter Wizards Hunt
19th Sept
Halloween
30th & 31st October
Welcome to Timbers Restaurant
We are set in a renovated 17th century
timbered barn that was originally part of the
old working farm. Licensed for up to 100
guests we cater as a private hire venue;
weddings, birthdays, buffets, 2 and 3 course
meals for any occasion. Along with our fully
licenced bar and dance floor we are the
perfect venue for your event.Throughout the
year we run a series of exiting Tribute
evenings.
Check our website to view our diary of
tribute nights.
www.timbersrestaurant.co.uk
We are open
Monday - Tuesday
9.30am - 5.00pm
Wednesday - Saturday
9.30am - 8.30pm
Sunday
9.30 - 5.00pm
Late Night Christmas Shopping
23rd Nov. 6 - 10pm
Boot Fairs
Every Sat & Bank Holiday Mon
May to Sept
Blake House Craft Centre
01376 344123
ISSUE18
10/5/13
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Page 12
New names at
Dutch Nursery
Dutch Nursery have two new retailers on board. Lifestyle tableware offering
high quality tableware at low low prices and the Wool Shop formerly at Bay
Tree Garden Centre. They now have more space for more products.
The Wool Shop: 07803 044543 - [email protected]
Lifestyle Tableware: 07572 459 850 - www.lifestyletableware.co.uk
TABLEWARE
INCREDIBLE 5 BELLS ‘OFFER’
DURING MAY AND JUNE 2015
%
20OFF
(food only) using this voucher code EL2015 - OFFER LIMITED TO MAY AND JUNE 2015
This offer is not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.
To take advantage of this offer please complete name and working email
Name............................................... Email:...........................................................................
Serving the community for over 800 years!
7 Mill Lane, Colne Engaine, CO6 2HY
Tel: 01787 224166
www.fivebells.net - [email protected]