A block off the A12?

Not a very pleasant thing and it could kill someone easily, and several someones with not much effort.

People have taken to throwing blocks from bridges spanning the A12 in Essex. I wonder why they actually do this? Do they hang around to see the carnage that happens? are they just kids not knowing the impact of their actions? I reminds me of the urban myth that all school kids hear about, putting a penny on a rail and the train can derail… I mean what do parents do these days with kids who ask such questions? do they ignore them? Surely some basic science would be discussed here!

The first incident on Saturday was at 6.30pm near the A12’s junction with the A130 at Howe Green. A large piece of concrete was thrown off a bridge, smashing the windscreen of a blue Ford Escort and injuring its driver, a 30-year-old man from Brentwood.

And later, at around 7.20pm, a concrete block was thrown off a bridge at junction 13 for Brentwood, causing the tyres of a grey Honda Civic to puncture.

Last Monday a motorist reported debris on A12 near Chelmsford causing vehicles to swerve, and at the same time another motorist reported that a concrete block had smashed his windscreen – covering him in glass – near the Galleywood interchange.

Earlier, on November 12, police received reports of concrete being thrown from bridges in both central and west Essex.

Traffic police have increased patrols of the area with the aim of deterring any further incidents and finding those responsible.

Anyone who sees anything suspicious around the A12 and its overhead bridges is asked to contact police immediately on 999.

Officers are also appealing for anyone who has any other information, however minor, to contact them on 0300 333 4444, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Source:  EADT

I hope the people responsible are caught quickly enough.

Sarah

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Essex Business Women

This morning I was chatting to Linda Mattacks about an event that she went to on Thursday, for entrepreneurs week.

Linda told me that one of the best speeches was given by a former Essex based business woman, Judy Piatkus, who started her business from her home (like most of us do) and built it into a great publishing house.

One of the things that Judy mentioned in her well prepared speech (us Essex Business women give a new meaning entirely to “be prepared”   ) was consultants and she spoke about how the business had invited in three consultants at various stages, and they all suggested the ‘people’ were the hardest thing about any business.

I make her and the consultants right on that!

From what Linda tells me, Judy’s speech was one of the highlights of the day which is no mean feat when Zac Goldsmith and half of Englands rugby coaches are also talking. If you get the time, it may be worth looking up Judy’s next speaking event.

Sarah

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Life, According to Angie

My dearest sister Angie has started her own blog

If it was any of my other sisters, I would possibly be slashing my wrists right now, how lucky for me it’s Angie…..

Angie

Bingo & Scary Mary

My step daughter mentioned a few weeks ago she really needed a break from the kids once a week and would I like to go Bingo. I got to admit I am virgin Bingo player so thought “Hey, why not” and off we went. I was slightly dubious as the last time we left the kids with my other half we came back to find the house completely trashed and my front door sporting a wonderful hole courtesy of my other half’s head! Nevertheless off we went and damn, I have been to a few strange places but nothing prepared me for the terror that is Bingo…

There seems to be a few unwritten rules regarding going to the Bingo for instance, you must weigh at least 20 stone and be really old. You get extra points for looking “Scary Mary” and believe me I saw some bloody horrors tonight. On the other hand I like going as there is always someone fatter/older/uglier than me and it does wonders for my self esteem! I might be taking the mickey but I was gutted tonight, I was one number off winning 20K…AHHHHHHHH! Never mind, perhaps next week eh!. Oh and if you do go to Bingo don’t make the same mistake as me and attempt to go for a fag in the smoking shelter during the break….

Angie is sure telling it like it is, fortunately we will always be friends – she knows too much not be

Sarah

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Free Ice Skating in Basildon

The temporary ice rink in Basildon, at Festival Leisure Park has been the bane of my life the last 5 years.

Jessica always wants to go, and it’s hard to take her and not the toddlers who don’t understand that they are to young (you need to be aged 8 and over) – they think they are big enough The girls loved Disney on Ice last year, but they insisted on dressing up in Disney costumes, and that added another £100 to the bill, and Jessica stropping she was far to old for Disney on Ice, then sitting utterly memorised.

This year, I may be able to take the lot of them as on Saturday 22nd November they are doing a load of stuff at the rink.

10am Ice Hockey Demonstration

10.30an Ribbon cutting ceremony

10.45 Figure Skating demonstration

11.00 Free Ice Skating for the first 380 people!

Fortunately I am a great roller skating and can hold my own fairly well on the ice, so with the figure skating demo to keep the little ‘uns happy, I will be able to skate with Jessica Normal price for Skating is £8 for adults and £6 for children.

Of course I realise that I have bigged up my skating skills… but Jessica won’t read this, so I won’t be expected to ‘perform’ on the day

Sarah

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Santa at Lakeside, Essex

Santa has arrived at Lakeside to take the Christmas letters from all the Essex girls and boys

This year the girls are old enough to go, without being scared.

Make it a magical day out with a free gift for children from Santa’s grotto.
You can book your free visit to the grotto online, or by telephoning the grotto booking line on 0870 0420985 (national rate) at least a day in advance. Lines are open 9am–6pm Monday to Saturday and 10am–5pm. You can also turn up on the day.

Kids are getting crafty at Lakeside every Saturday and Sunday from November to Christmas and the week before Christmas. Each weekend we’ll be helping kids create cards, decorations and Christmas handicrafts. Santa’s helpers will be on hand to teach seasonal skills and the kids will be able to take all their handywork home.
You’ll find us outside Primark on Level 1 and, as this isn’t a supervised activity, we’re inviting parents to stay and join in the fun. Every weekend we have a choice of Christmas card designs, wrapping accessories and gift ideas.

At Lakeside you can minimise your queuing by booking online here, handy if you don’t want to call the national rate number, and whilst you are there, make a Christmas decoration too. Shame it’s unsupervised -  I could have done some of my Christmas shopping at the same time

Sarah

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Traditional Christmas evening at Barleylands

I have decided to take the toddlers along on the Thu 20th November, 2008.

There will be a  traditional festive evening of late night Christmas shopping. Santa will be arriving, local schools will be carol singing and lots more to get you in the Christmas spirit.

There is free parking and free entry to the Craft Village. The evening also supports local charities with the proceeds from our Christmas Raffle drawn that evening and a few other side events.

More details at the Barleylands website.

Sarah

Blood curdling and toe tingling walks in Colchester

All the history of Colchester without the nice bits!! Led by Colchester Blue Badge Guides. Tour approximately 1 and half hours (may be a litte more), also venturing down into the Dungeons of the Castle!

Tuesday 18th November. Meeting point 7.00pm at the Memorial outside Colchester Castle main gates. Cost £7.00 per person. All proceeds to Breast Cancer Care and the Oncology Department, Essex County Hospital.

For further information, please call Carol on 07817 593858

Sarah

Baby Showers – East London Ex Pat style….

Well, me and Angie (better known as East Ham Hilton since she bought her Jack Russel a T shirt & we are just waiting for her to start carrying her around in her eco friendly bag for life ) were dragged to Canvey in Essex to an old acquaintances baby shower.

When we arrived the room was decorated with baby things, and balloons and the host had gone to a great effort to make things welcoming. We quickly got into the spirit of things by stuffing balls and pineapples up our tops and pretending to be pregnant… well….  we were waiting till the guest of honour arrived, we had to do SOMETHING!

In fact we started to have a real good time, we met someone whom I shall call V, we had not seen her for at least 20 years. Turns out she has a 15 year old, a 13 year old and an 11 year old, she is newly single and looking to have fun this means an instant ban for myself and Angie (who used to be babysat by V, and taken to girl guides by V), we are not allowed to take her under our wing and corrupt her shame, she would have so much fun with us.

We start talking about all the people we have in common. It’s a funny conversation…

“Do you remember so and so?”

“So and So? what happened to them?”

“Nicked.”

“Really? OMG, what for?”

“Armed Robbery. Do you recall such and such who lived in such street?”

“yes, they were brill, going to work on the stock market… what happened to them?”

“Nicked, serving a ten stretch for agravated burglary…”

“Do you remember so and so from XY, married  to YZ?”

“So and So? what happened to them?”

“Nicked.”

This went on for  at least 20 names,  about all the kids that were our age and who lived down the Roman Road in the 80’s. Then we paused for a moment, it seemed the only ones who lived down that road and who weren’t taking a holiday courtesy of Her Majesty, were actually in that room. That sobered us all up quite sharply. Then the host pointed out it was all starting to sound like a Martina Cole novel and we all smirked into our glasses. Who would admit to reading a Martina Cole novel? well none of us, that’s for sure.

The special guest called to say she couldn’t be bothered to attend, she didn’t feel well. So her mother called her and said sorry to spoil the surprise but this is your baby shower and you need to be here. Thirty minutes later, she turned up on the doorstep.

It all went down hill from there, not an ounce of gratitude that we had spent our Friday evening celebrating this newborns eminent arrival, not a murmur of thanks that we had bought gifts for her and the baby… I was tempted to say hang on a minute love, you may be from the gutter but you had manners instilled into you, where the feck are they? and the warning looks that were shot accross the room indicated that a few of us had all thought the same thing.

I would like to to say we left not long after, it was our first and last East London Ex Pats baby shower and it was really great until the guest of honour arrived, perhaps these would be better for woman who are not hormonally challenged. We didn’t even get to say Elephant a lot, which was our word for Baby shower Bingo….

Sarah

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Happy Birthday to Me :-)

And be thankful I am not singing! Top of the things I will never be good at is singing and I blessed with the fact I have no desire to sing anything other than Nickleback and Guns n Roses songs when I am driving by myself.

The children woke me up with cakes,  I smiled and thought to myself this isn’t a bad start to year 36

It’s lunch with my Mother and Grandmother, it’s not often you find 4 generations of us, all in one room but you will today. They are taking me to Aroma, the buffet chinese in Basildon and it’s a secret! shhh! I am not supposed to know…

It also means the day off from work, although I may be recording an interview for Radio Kent, which has left me in quandary – what do you wear for a radio interview????

Sarah

Baking delicious things!

As I may have mentioned, i got married 11 days ago, and one of the wedding gifts
was a breadmaker.

I have made three loaves already I have missed my vocation in life, I should have
been a baker Why the wink? because I really struggle to cook something from scratch.
I worked for a naval chef in my 20’s and I can still do all the food he taught me
from peaches in brandy to spinach, egg and stilton pie. Anything else, has been learned on the hoof so to speak.

Kev and the girls have been patient over the years, but thats where I fall down, I am
not patient at all. I want instant results! My best dishes are pasta ones as they are so fast,
and now I am learning to make bread dishes

I am looking for a bread recipe, please comment if you have one, or a link to one. I am looking  for Banana and Walnut bread that can be made in the machine.  I made this as a teen, it was simple and had banana and walnuts in it… obviously!

How does it work in the machine does the banana go in first or last? When do I add the walnuts, why can’t I add them altogether? oops getting a little impatient again!

Sarah

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