OVER EDGE the
ISSUE NO: 27
“The Ghosts & Ghouls of Halloween Edition”
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” l a i r o t i d E y “The Edg Happy October everyone
The September magazine, aptly named, as it turns out, “The Green Green Grass of September”, went down well and we are pleased to report we had minimal returns, which means all of our magazines are being picked up. Good for our advertisers and good for us not having to lug them back to OTE HQ for recycling. We only mention this because we had more than usual returned in August (still only a few hundred out of 10,000, so not bad), but we concluded that this was because our readers go on holiday in August. This would also explain more Global Reach photos during the summer, of course! See page 34 for this month’s photos from the Caribbean to Italy with a stopover in Little Waltham. Keep those coming; we love sharing them. Send your photos of the magazine in far-away and exotic locations to graham@ overtheedgemag.co.uk and we will publish them. This month’s magazine is packed with top-quality articles from our talented columnists for your enjoyment, adverts from our regular advertisers,
for which we are enormously grateful; they ensure this magazine is printed every month after all, and they are joined by regular seasonal advertisers that return every year, such as our front page advertiser Firework Crazy.
They all make this magazine possible, so thank you. We should just mention that we put 2,000 copies of the magazine through letterboxes and it’s not like they get a choice, is it? The Condron family put out these magazines for us in Beaulieu, Channels and other locations and we are very grateful for their dedication. If you receive the magazine and do not want it every month, please say so, and we will happily remove you from the distribution list without question. Thank you for picking up this month’s Over the Edge and thank you for all your kind feedback. Enjoy the month of October; Christmas will be here soon. Yikes!!
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The Literary Corner by Kat de Naoum It’s October already. Although, to be completely honest with you, it’s still September as I’m writing this, and I’m currently overwhelmed by all the back-to-school sh...tuff that comes with trying to stay organised and not be That Mum running into the school office with her child’s lunch/glasses/guitar/school bag because her child forgot it and I forgot to remind her not to forget it. I am, naturally, failing spectacularly. Writing this for October’s edition is also reminding me that I need to put my Halloween hat on very soon. The child is already dictating her demands, which include a projector that will transform the front of the house into a laughing stock festive spectacle, octopus tentacles to accompany her Uma from Descendants costume, which I will somehow have to make from scratch because Amazon does not appear to sell said tentacles, and an actual cauldron, complete with a glowing and steaming green concoction. All of this is to say that while my reading game remains, as ever, on point, I think some lighter reads are in order for anyone feeling just as frazzled as I am. Luckily, I’ve got two of the best for you.
Book of the Month — October 2026
Oldie but Goodie
Book Lovers (2022) Emily Henry
A Long Way Down (2005) Nick Hornby
I really did try. I resisted getting on the Emily Henry train for as long as possible,
Did I say lighter reads? Okay, I do understand that “lighter read” and “a book
and I’m not entirely sure why. I think it had something to do with the overexposure and everybody trying to shove her books down my throat when all I wanted was to
about four people who meet on top of a tall building because they all intend to jump off it” may not exactly go hand in hand, but hear me out. On New Year’s
be left alone with my Dostoevsky in peace. It may also have been the cheesy titles: Beach Read, You and Me on Vacation,
Eve, disgraced television presenter Martin Sharp heads to the roof of London’s Toppers’ House, only to find that he isn’t the
Happy Place. I mean, come on. But what Emily Henry does extremely well is lean into the cheese and make fun of it. One of my favourite lines in Book Lovers is: “Tropes come from somewhere.” And she’s right. Most of us have lived through a
only one with the same plan. There he meets Maureen, an exhausted single mother, Jess, an infuriating teenager, and JJ, an American musician. After the world’s most awkward encounter, the four form an unlikely little group and agree to
trope or two. That’s just life. The novel follows Nora, a ruthless literary agent who knows she’s the career-obsessed city girlfriend men abandon for wholesome small-town women. When her sister persuades her to spend a month in the picture-perfect town of Sunshine Falls, Nora repeatedly runs into Charlie, an editor she already knows and dislikes. You can probably guess where this is going. So can they, which is half the fun. This book literally had my head on fire during some of its
keep one another alive. And somehow, the book is an absolute hoot. Hornby does what he does best, mixing genuine LOLs with serious subject matter without diminishing either. I loved all four characters. Sure, Jess was incredibly annoying at times, but she still made me laugh, while Martin, despite having gone to
saucier moments (IYKYK), but it also delivers the warm-andfuzzy factor beautifully. It’s a funny, easy read that goes down like a smooth brandy. Listen, when I was 18, I read Lisa Jewell’s Thirtynothing. This was back when she was a “chick-lit” author, which is what they called women who wrote books revolving around relationships. Oddly, nobody ever called D.H. Lawrence a chick-lit writer. Come to think of it, I don’t think anyone has ever said it about Nick Hornby either. Funny, that. Anyhoo, I won’t go there for now. Thirtynothing was one of the funniest, fuzziest books I had ever read, so I’m certainly not averse to a bit of romantic comedy. I think Emily Henry has simply reminded me of that. So I’m officially a fan. And now I’m going to have to read all of them, aren’t I? Sigh. PSA: Both this month’s books are available at your local Essex library and on the BorrowBox app. For free.
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prison for doing something genuinely appalling, was maddeningly the comic standout for me. It’s an easy read that still gets you thinking and, despite its premise, leaves you feeling unexpectedly warm and fuzzy. Then again, I do love me a bit of Nick Hornby. I have a collection of all his first-edition hardbacks because... well, why not? My favourite is the autobiographical Fever Pitch, which is perfection. High Fidelity is obviously a classic, although I really did want to punch its insufferable protagonist, Rob Fleming, repeatedly, which I’m sure was Hornby’s intended effect. I also thoroughly enjoyed his most recent novel, Just Like You.
About Kat Kat de Naoum (BA (Hons) Eng Lit & Phil, MA Creative Writing) is a writer/author, editor, mother, and avid reader. Since starting out as a staff writer at a local London paper in 1999, Kat has written for many print and online publications. When not writing or parenting, her head’s in a book (or plugged into an audiobook).
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WON'T PASS THIS WAY AGAIN
TORONTO hat comes to mind when anyone mentions Canada? An enormous country with vast expanses of lakes and mountains, a national obsession with ice hockey (hockey), red-uniformed Mounted Police, maple syrup and an unfailingly courteous population, right? But of late, it's established itself as the plucky northern neighbour of the US that's got the balls to stick up to Trump and go toe to toe in a proper tear-up over his tariffs.
W
The delayed kick-off due to thunderstorms, Bellingham's first-half brace, Quansah's red card, the host nation pulling it back to 2-3, yet England somehow managing to prevail in the rarified atmosphere of the Azteca - all combined to deliver one of the most exciting England performances of recent years. The emotions of that roller coaster match will live long in my memory, far longer than the hangover from the beers and wine we consumed with our dear friends.
I'd yearned for many years to visit Canada, to get in amongst the lakes and mountains of Alberta and British Columbia, but we chose Toronto as our entry point, flying in from New York during an early July heatwave.
Civility and a warm welcome were again displayed on a Saturday morning when we arrived at Budapest Park to participate in one of the city's parkrun events. Running through that parkland on the shores of Lake Ontario with a couple of hundred friendly locals was something of a tonic to counter a holiday's excess of Canadian craft beer, with the ensuing thunderstorm only enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment.
Toronto is huge – fourth-largest city in North America by population within its municipal boundaries, behind Mexico City, New York and Los Angeles - but the downtown district is very walkable and infinitely interesting. I was struck by just how cosmopolitan and multicultural the city is, a fact backed up by the statistic that almost half of Toronto's 2.8 million residents were born outside Canada. Its population encompasses people originating from an extraordinary range of countries and cultural backgrounds. The city itself describes Toronto as one of the world's most multicultural cities, and the diversity isn't confined to a handful of immigrant enclaves; there are countless neighbourhoods boasting remarkably mixed cultural communities. We caught up with some old friends, Jasmina and Goran from Bosnia - Canadian citizens for the last twenty-plus years - who live in a very stylish waterfront apartment overlooking Toronto Island, Lake Ontario (recently and rather bizarrely renamed ‘Lake America’ following an executive order signed by the puerile, petulant POTUS – a name change that I somehow sense is unlikely to be embraced by the Canadians!). With Canada one of the host nations, the FIFA World Cup was a constant backdrop to our adventure. Jasmina and Goran were already consumed by World Cup fever and had walked the mile or so to the BMO Field (temporarily renamed to "Toronto Stadium" for the World Cup) to watch Bosnia-Herzegovina draw 1-1 with Canada. Sadly, their birth nation failed to advance beyond the group stages, and their adopted home nation faltered in the round of 16, losing 3-0 to Morocco. No matter, being consummate hosts, they graciously embraced England as their third team and laid on a splendid dinner and drinks party for us to watch the Mexico v England fixture.
One day of our stay was taken up with a visit to nearby Niagara Falls, our friends kindly driving us the 80 miles south-east through the beautiful Niagara Peninsula wine region. Many readers will undoubtedly have visited the falls and will concur that it certainly doesn't disappoint; the sheer scale and power of the cascading waters genuinely instils a sense of awe that will always remain with me. On the return journey, we paused in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a beautifully preserved 19th-century historic town located where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario. The old town's public gardens, in full bloom alongside tree-lined streets and manicured lawns, showcased its 19th-century British-influenced colonial architecture. One such building is home to The Prince of Wales Hotel, where we stepped back in time and took an elegant afternoon tea in the Drawing Room. Back in Toronto, what we really found so appealing was the variety. Quiet, leafy residential neighbourhoods, city skyscrapers, trendy areas with an extraordinary range of bars and restaurants, a stylish waterfront and, above all, the extraordinary mix of people. With so much to explore in Toronto, a four-day stay proved pitifully inadequate, but we chose not to overly stress about what we were missing out on. Instead, we ambled and we chilled, stopping for coffee, eats and drinks at our leisure while taking in the vibe of the Distillery District, St Lawrence Market, the Harbourfront and Toronto Island. But it was when we took in the views atop the CN Tower that the true scale of the city was revealed to us. Would I recommend a visit? Most definitely yes.
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WON'T PASS THIS WAY AGAIN
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CITY CENTRE UPDATES FROM SARA TUPPER AND YOUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, CHELMSFORD FOR YOU
October is here, pumpkin spice EVERYTHING is back in and spooky! Chelmsford is getting ready to embrace all things spook ky!! W e have have so so much much going on this month, kicking off with the Autumn Edition Cocktail We Weekend 2-4th… 2-4 4th… and if you’re wondering how to keep the kids entertained this half term Weekend (how quickly have the school holidays come back round by the way??!), our Witches of Chelmsford event is back in the city centre in partnership with Essex Witch Museum and the Chelmsford Science Festival! We’ve got activities taking place all over the city, including trails, tarot, workshops and exhibitions, with fun for all ages! The full programme is available on our website chelmsfordforyou.co.uk and across our socials @chelmsfordforyou.
CHELMSFORD COCKTAIL COCKTA T IL TA WEEKEND
WITCHES OF CHELMSFORD ESSEX WITCHES MUSEUM
WITCHES OF CHELMSFORD FREE ACTIVITIES
WITCHES OF CHELMSFORD CITY CENTRE TRAIL
It’s also been a busy time in the city with the opening of the new H & M store inside High Chelmer! We went along to the opening and were not disappointed - I hope they enjoy their new home inside the shopping centre. We are also very excited to be announcing some more new businesses coming into the city centre very soon so keep those eyes peeled! October is always one of my favourite times in the city. There’s something about autumn, half term and Halloween that gives us an excuse to have a bit more fun and that’s exactly what the Chelmsford For You team are bringing…so, wrap up, head into Chelmsford, do a bit of shopping, grab something to o eat and see what’s going on! Get in touch with me: Instagram @_saratupper_ Website: www.chelmsfordforyou.co.uk Page 8
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ADVERTISING FEATURE
Stephen Pitcher
Draw up your retirement game plan Retirement isn’t what it used to be. We’re working longer, living longer and have so many different ways to use our pension pot. All the more reason to get the experts involved. These days there’s so much flexibility around retirement. You can choose to stay invested in your pension, decide your own level of income, or even withdraw the entire pot. Buying an annuity is now another choice, rather than being non-negotiable. Meanwhile, as always, greater freedom brings greater responsibility. You’ve got to make sure those retirement savings last. It’s a thorny business full of tough decisions, made even trickier by the number of options available.
Expert advice is key – your retirement could last 30 years or more, so you’ll need to make important short- and long-term decisions Let’s look at retirement age to begin with. The cliff-edge idea of stopping work at 60 or 65 and ‘being retired’ is history. Today a phased approach is much more likely, transitioning gradually from working and saving towards leisure and spending. Most of us can do this on our terms, according to our own life plans, rather than being restricted by a pension scheme or an employer.
Visualise your retirement Ask yourself what your retirement looks like. Then how can you make it a reality? If you’re retired already, is it as you imagined? Being ‘in retirement’ is much more than simply drawing an income. It’s also about running an efficient home, managing your tax-free cash and building a sustainable income that will last your lifetime. Although there’s no set retirement age these days, you can start drawing your workplace and private pensions from the age of 55 (increasing to 57 from 6 April 2028). Add to this the pressures of supporting both older and
Stephen Pitcher MSc(Finance) BA(Hons) DipPFS
Senior Partner
younger generations, and it’s clear a rethink is needed on how best to use your savings. To adapt to changing needs, you might need to consider other assets and income sources alongside your pension. So what you have is a situation that’s both flexible and heavy on risk, whether you choose to dip into your pension pot or remain invested. Either way, you’ll need help and expertise to face the challenges. In retirement you’re also likely to encounter a new set of risks. For example, if you get off to a poor start when you begin drawing your income, with markets falling and returns negative, your investments will have to work much harder from the outset to maintain your desired income. Another layer of complexity in your retirement strategy is underestimating how long your money needs to last. The 100-year life is fast becoming normal, with more of us living much longer, more active lives than ever before. We’re here to help you navigate these obstacles. We believe the value of advice comes from building a strong relationship over time and understanding the needs of both you and your family. We’re experts in the intricacies of modern retirement. So you can worry less and focus on the important things in life. The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select, and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested. The levels and basis of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time and are dependent on individual circumstances.
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Stephen Pitcher is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.
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Inspiration for the Population
Design
The offi fficce has competi titi tio on | Giving people a reason. The comparison is no longer simply between one office and another. For many of us, the alternative is home. That has changed what we expect from a workplace. If much of an individual working day can be achieved remotely, travelling somewhere to work needs to offer something different: interaction, energy, facilities, collaboration and the simple pleasure of being around other people. This is where workplace design becomes more than appearance. Different settings allow us to move between focused work, meetings, conversations and informal collaboration throughout the day. Perhaps the question is no longer simply…. How many desks can we fit in? Perhaps it should be... What makes this somewhere people want to be?
Workplace Envy | Why other offices make us rethink our own. The comparison has already started | What else is out there?
Somewhere nearby, a business has recently invested in its workplace. New furniture, better meeting spaces, places to collaborate, somewhere to step away from the desk, perhaps simply an environment that feels considered. And people notice. ..…a successful workplace gives us something difficult to recreate elsewhere. We experience other workplaces constantly. We visit clients, meet suppliers, attend meetings, see photographs online and hear friends and coltio on | Making it your own. leagues talking about where they work. Without necessarily realising it, we From envy to inspirati make comparisons. Seeing a great workplace does not mean somebody else's ideas should simply be copied. Quite the opposite. Some places feel exciting. Others feel comfortable or welcoming. And occasionally we walk into a workplace and think, I'd quite like to work here. The strongest workplaces reflect the organisations occupying them. A technology company, professional practice, university and creative studio Seeing something better inevitably makes us look differently at what we may need very different environments because their people, culture and already have. ways of working are different. At Workplace Designs (WDL), the starting point should never simply be what is fashionable or what somebody else has done. It should be understanding what a particular workplace needs to achieve. Furniture, space planning and design then become tools for creating something appropriate to the people using it. Workplace envy is not really about wanting somebody else's office. It is about seeing what is possible and beginning to question what could be better in our own.
...…seeing another workplace can completely change how we view our own.
Why some places stay with us | More than just good looks. The workplaces we remember are not necessarily the most expensive or dramatic. Often, it is something much simpler. A great place to meet, somewhere comfortable to sit, clever use of space, interesting furniture or an atmosphere that simply feels right. These experiences gradually change our expectations. We begin noticing things in our own workplace that previously went unquestioned….
Why is that meeting room always difficult to use? Why is there nowhere for an informal conversation? Why does everyone congregate in the same corner? Workplace envy is rarely about wanting everything somebody else has. Sometimes it is simply about discovering that there might be a better way.
....inspiration, not imitation. Great workplaces have their own identity.
What matt tte ers most | We all notice the spaces around us, even when we are not consciously looking. Sometimes it takes visiting another workplace to make us see our own differently. A clever idea, a better way of working or simply a space that feels good can make us question what we have become accustomed to. Perhaps a little workplace envy is not such a bad thing. Sometimes it is exactly where the next good idea begins. Thanks for reading :)
| Design Dude | Inspiration for the Population | Email: DesignDude.20@gmail.com ...…sometimes the simplest workplace ideas are the ones we remember.
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CarFest 2026
S
ome phrases sound lovely when you say them out loud… “Let’s take the kids to a festival or “Let’s make a weekend of it. It’ll be like a little family holiday.” All technically true. What wasn’t accounted for is that by 7pm on Friday evening, you may find yourself standing somewhere in Northamptonshire, having already experienced a journey involving a ball becoming lodged above a wheel, a sentence I still don’t particularly understand despite actually being there and seeing it with my own eyes, looking across another two enormous fields towards your final destination and deciding that £60 for a man with a golf cart to drive you for 4 minutes is not extortion, it is humanitarian aid.
Welcome to CarFest 2026. This year CarFest moved to Silverstone for the first time, taking over the home of British motorsport for August Bank Holiday weekend and bringing cars, music, food, famous faces, children’s entertainment and around 30,000 people a day together in one enormous celebration. It sounded exactly like my sort of weekend, so naturally we packed three children, my partner, Dad and my step-mum and headed off for what we had confidently described to the kids as “a holiday”. This was our first mistake. Our second was letting the children pack for it themselves. My instructions had been wonderfully relaxed and, I thought, fool-proof: “We’re going on holiday for the weekend. Pack your bags.” And pack they did. I’m not entirely sure where they thought we were going, but judging by the contents of their bags when we woke up on Saturday morning to rain, wind and that infamous grey British sky, apparently they had booked themselves seven nights in Marbella. Shorts. Little tops. Summer dresses. Enough swimwear to charter a yacht. What
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they had not packed were jumpers, coats, trousers or apparently any acknowledgement whatsoever that we live in England. Saturday morning was the discovery that all three children were dressed for passport control at Stansted while Silverstone entered a minor Ice Age. Cue an emergency shopping expedition to buy an entire winter wardrobe for an entire family at festival prices, a financial transaction which almost involved selling one of my kidneys. I won’t say exactly how much we spent because my dad might read this and I’d quite like him to continue respecting me, but somewhere in Northamptonshire there is now a retailer whose third-quarter profits can be attributed almost entirely to three children not understanding weather. Still, newly clothed and financially defeated, we were ready for CarFest and actually, what a festival it is. This isn’t really just a music festival with some cars parked around the edges; CarFest manages to throw everything into one weekend, from KidsFest and FoodFest to celebrity appearances, cookery, entertainment and, crucially, a lot of very fast, very loud machinery tearing around Silverstone, which feels particularly special when you remember you’re standing at the home of British motorsport.
The cars were incredible. The drag racing, in particular, was completely ridiculous in the best possible way, the type of noise that doesn’t so much enter through your ears as rearrange several internal organs, and the children absolutely loved it. At the time of writing this, our ears are still ringing, but we’ve just about stopped asking “WHAT?” every time somebody speaks to us. Food, meanwhile, became less of a culinary experience. Despite CarFest literally having an entire FoodFest packed with chefs and cooking demonstrations, we somehow spent
the weekend living almost exclusively on gas-BBQ bacon, instant hot chocolate and Pot Noodles. Nutritionists, look away now. The children, naturally, were thriving. Then, as evening arrived, came the music. Sir Tom Jones took to the main stage on Saturday and, listen, the man is a legend. An actual legend. His career has lasted more than six decades, the songs are woven into British pop culture and simply seeing Tom Jones on a stage is one of those things on many people’s bucket list. However. You know that expression about ageing like a fine wine? It turns out not everything does. Including, perhaps, vocal cords. There were flashes of Tom, there were songs that transported the crowd back through decades, and there was still plenty of charisma there, but there were also parts where the crowd were doing enough of the heavy lifting that we perhaps deserved a small appearance fee. Still, it’s Tom Jones. We’ll forgive him. Tom gave us nostalgia; Gabrielle gave us a full-blown resurrection. Where has she been hiding? Gabrielle walked onto that stage and produced what can only be described as the strongest comeback since Lewis Capaldi appeared back at Glastonbury, sounding fantastic, looking fabulous and reminding an entire field that we knew considerably more Gabrielle songs than we thought we did. Our brains had retained every single word while simultaneously forgetting where you put your car keys that morning. Then came Rick Astley. I would like to formally apologise for ever allowing the internet to reduce this man to a meme because Rick Astley was BRILLIANT. Children, parents, grandparents, people who were there the first time around and people who know him primarily because somebody once sent them a dodgy YouTube, all had a brilliant time. And yes, he did it. He
never gave us up. He never let us down. He certainly didn’t run around and desert us. What a show. Underneath the comedy of arriving late, the £60 golf-cart rescue mission, the Marbella wardrobes, the emergency purchase of half the autumn/winter collection and a diet that would make the NHS launch an intervention, we had one of those weekends that somehow works precisely because it isn’t polished. Three generations of one family, in a field, watching ridiculously fast cars, listening to music we all knew for completely different reasons, eating bacon at inappropriate times of day and laughing about things that were absolutely not funny when they first happened. CarFest calls itself a festival that brings families together and, irritatingly for the cynical among us, it really does. It also raises millions for children’s charities, which means even the spending feels slightly more virtuous, although I’m certain the emergency winter wardrobe did not count as a charitable donation.
Would we do it again? Absolutely. Would we pack differently? Also absolutely. Next year the children will receive a detailed packing list, photographic evidence of the British weather forecast and possibly a small written examination before being allowed to zip their bags shut. We’ll take more bacon. More hot chocolate. Ear defenders. An emergency jumper for every conceivable meteorological event. And somewhere, tucked safely into my purse, I’ll be keeping £60 because sometimes the most luxurious experience at a festival isn’t VIP access, champagne or backstage passes; sometimes it’s a man in a golf cart saying “Hop in.”
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Essex Food Review
Smith’s The Maldon Ongar Smokehouse Maldon Maldon
For my birthday dinner this year, we went to Smith’s Restaurant in Ongar, (15 minute drive from central Chelmsford) somewhere I’ve been coming to for special occasions for years and it never This place has been on my radar for a disappoints. It’s definitely more of a while now and since there was a break in special occasion restaurant, with a plush the heat wave we decided now was the setting, great ambience and consistently time to go! It was a Sunday afternoon, good food and service. We were given after arriving in Maldon, we drove down their delicious bread and house churned a little road towards the river and butter when we arrived, and throughout reached this place. A quirky, rustic but the meal the service was brilliant. welcoming little restaurant sat right on Nothing felt like too much trouble and the waters edge awaited us. *PS, there is we were regularly checked on. a brilliant antiques shop next door filled with vintage pinball machines and restored jukeboxes!
The menu is seafood focused, with a huge selection of both hot and cold starters, as well as plenty of fish and shellfish for mains. There are also some non fish options if you’re dining with someone who isn’t a big Luckily, we managed to get the last seafood fan. table next to the water and ordered To start, I went for the tempura monkfish in quickly. There are a selection of bench a tikka masala sauce with onion bhaji, which tables outside, plus some lounge chairs was something a little different and and also seating inside. The menu is absolutely delicious. My partner prefers a quite small but the main idea is to get plainer option and went for the cod their sharing board and try their in house goujons, which were also good. For my smoked food. They do have a couple of main, I decided to go for the Smith’s Hot dishes, a beef and veggie lasagna for Shellfish Selection, which comes with half a those who don’t eat fish. lobster, jumbo tiger prawn and king We had calamari and halloumi to start scallops in garlic and herb butter. At £64, accompanied by the house Sauvignon. it’s not a cheap dish, but it was a proper For mains, we had the Mixed Deli Board. treat and exactly what I wanted for a This was huge, and at £55, we shared birthday dinner. between 3 of us with a side of fries. Page 18
By this point we were both very full, so just had some ice cream to cleanse the palate. There is a really good selection of desserts though if you have room! If you’re looking for something a little more affordable, they also have an evening set menu from Tuesday to There waswith smoked duck, for ham, smoked Thursday, 2 courses £39 or 3 cheeses,for an£44. assortment of seafood, courses olives, and a bagI’dofkeep all types It’s onepickles of those places for of bread. The crevettes and salmon pate when you have something to celebrate were particular highlights. The fries and want to go somewhere a little more were also a wonderful, special. It’sdelicious. definitely Itanwas expensive meal, chilled by theofriver Blackwater but for afternoon me, the quality the food, with great wine anditcompany setting andfood, service make worth and we thoroughly Book first considering for recommend. those occasions. to avoid disappointment!
Two besties dishing up Two bestieson dishing up the details Essex’s the details on Essex’s best restaurants cafes, best restaurants cafes, pubs and pop-ups. pubs and pop-ups.
Best friends Hannah and Issy, both born and raised in Chelmsford Best friends Hannah and Issy, both decided to turn their love for food born and raised in Chelmsford and eating out into Instagram decided to turn theiran love for food page dedicated to reviewing and and eating out into an Instagram recommending eateries across page dedicated to reviewing and Essex, alongside helping food recommending eaterieslocal across businesses and events Essex, alongside helpingwith localtheir food marketingand andevents social with media. businesses their Getand in touch: marketing social media. @essexfoodreview Get in touch:
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Award winning care homes
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“The team help me to live independently.” John, care home resident
At Care UK’s Manor Lodge in Chelmsford, every resident is supported to live their life the way they choose. Our experienced team takes pride in offering quality residential, nursing, dementia and respite care. says. “You’ve got to keep going and keep your mind active.” With the team’s reassurance, he does just that, and despite challenges with his eyesight, he joins in with quizzes, crosswords and even Italian lessons. “The team are very good indeed.”
John, a Care UK care home resident, shares how the support and reassurance of the team help him to live more comfortably and independently. ‘I am happy with the team supporting’ Living in a Care UK care home means John has access to support 24 hours a day, and while he can still do many things himself, carers make daily life a little easier. “I shower and the team wash my back. They make my bed and take my washing,” John says. The friendly team do all they can to help John live comfortably and independently. “If I can’t do it, I say so,” he says. “I am happy with the team supporting.” By knowing each resident well, team members provide care that’s personalised to their needs. John, for example, has deteriorating eyesight, so they help him to read signs and menus using his magnifying glasses. “The team changed the batteries on my hearing aid because I couldn’t see the small parts. It’s helpful for the little day-to-day things,” he says. “I’m quite content.” https://www.overtheedgemag.co.uk
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Plan’ environment. So, are we now facing a backward step? The office community have always been quite precious about who they sit with and it seems that more and more companies are bringing back offices, which I do not agree with – this is a movement away from collaboration in the workplace. Good day everyone and thanks for reading my column this month. Firstly, I would like to say congrats to Deaks for all of the great work over the last 3 months, pulling together some amazing features. This month’s interview with the legendary Joe Cole on page 26 is amazing. What a sublime piece of fortune, to be able to interview such a star of WHUFC.
The office environment is a simple one but complicated by so many people having a different view, which is good, but as a Designer, it can be frustrating. Of course, nobody wants to be told what to do or to be dictated to, but imagine if we had spaces which were so disjointed that an eclectic felt dizzy!
Office environments are certainly becoming more ‘homely’ and comfortable. The placement of Boxed-In elegant leather sofas, comfy armchairs I suppose all of my columns to date and footstools etc help this along. are focussed on the new norm since However, the introduction of PODs, the pandemic. More and more people if used as they should, and NOT are working from home with ‘Agile’ as makeshift individual offices will and ‘Hybrid’ solutions popping up certainly work and adds further everywhere. interest. If the whole community could see these as another space Interestingly, over the last 5 years, to enjoy when they want to ‘focus’ or furniture manufacturers have really Call 01245 478111 07710 358347 take some time to work remotely it pushed the concept of smaller VisitPODs lkgdaughers.co.uk would be great. Last month, I spoke individual onto the design about having our place of work for industry for placement into commercial everyone, not7SY just the chosen few and space. On the flip-side, Designers, West Hanningfield Road,as Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 the introduction of PODs means that we have spent 20 years working towards a more collaborative ‘Open anyone could have their ‘15 minutes’.
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Some can be elegant, whereas some are downright ugly. What are the criteria for having the right POD? For those of you that are not familiar, I have shown an image of something which we are installing into our projects currently. Many designers in the industry will take Style over Substance, but there is a balance, each requiring compromise.
Many managers were losing their offices and were being allocated a desk in the open plan with their teams. One of my rebellious customers showed great creativity to build his own pre-millennium POD using cardboard. So, on the Monday morning after the move into the new facility, there he was with 2m high cardboard walls surrounding his desk, he had even constructed a cardboard roof with a sliding cardboard door which he taped shut! I think if we had smartphones back then, it would have gone viral – it FUSEBOARD CHANGES OR UPGRADES was amazing!
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23 Over the Edge 07803Page 422808
The Toxic Friendship Nobody Warns You About: How To Spot The Friend Who Drains You
Did you enjoy this article? Scan to join my book waitlist.
There’s no shouting, no insult you could repeat later, just a particular kind of tired after every coffee. Life coach Jennifer Davy decodes the toxic friendship nobody warns you about, and how to trust the radar that’s been telling you the truth all along.
T
here’s a particular kind of tired that has nothing to do with sleep.
You feel it in the car on the way home from coffee with her. Nothing happened, nobody said anything you could point to; on paper it was a perfectly nice afternoon, yet you’re sitting at a red light wondering why you feel worse than you did walking in. We have endless language for toxic relationships. We can spot a controlling partner a mile off; we’ve read the articles, we’ve listened to the true crime podcast and watched the Netflix specials. We know the red flags by heart. Nobody hands us the language for the friend who leaves us feeling worse every single time without ever raising her voice. I’ve spent the best part of twenty years working with women, capable women, successful women, the ones everyone else leans on, and I see this pattern more than almost any other. She feels the relationship draining her long before she can put words to it. I’m probably being too sensitive. She means well. Sure, we’ve been friends for twenty years. The thing is, you are not too sensitive. You are, in fact, insanely good at reading a situation. You could read a room before you could read a book, and that unsettled feeling after you see her is not you being dramatic; it’s your radar doing exactly what it was built to do.
How To Recognise It Toxic friendships are rarely obvious. There’s generally no shouting, no insult you could repeat to your husband later, nothing that would sound like anything if you said it out loud.
It looks like the friend who responds to your good news by changing the subject as fast as she can. The colleague who laughs at the thing you were nervous about, and you can’t quite tell if she’s laughing with you or at you (those are two very different things). The woman who can make you feel like sh*t on a stick in thirty seconds flat, no matter how much work you’ve done on yourself. None of it is serious enough to name at the time, which is exactly why it goes ignored for years. The most capable women are usually the last to trust what their intuition is telling them. Not because they can’t feel it; they’re painfully aware of it, but because they’ve spent a lifetime being trained to be nice. Give her the benefit of the doubt. Don’t be making a fuss. Don’t be getting notions about yourself. That was simply how things were in our world; nobody meant any harm by it, yet it taught a whole generation of women to doubt the very thing that was trying to protect them.
How To Recognise What’s Happening You can’t deal with something you can’t see, so let’s identify it. There are three patterns I see over and over, and once you spot them, you can’t unsee them.
The Deflection You share something good, a promotion, a holiday, a small win you’re proud of, and the conversation somehow moves on within seconds. You leave feeling like you did something wrong by mentioning it at all.
The Minimising You finally say something that bothered you, and you’re told it was only a joke,
that you’re very sensitive, that she doesn’t even remember saying it. This is the one that does the real damage; it rewrites the situation so you doubt your own memory of what happened. If it happens often enough, you stop trusting your own account of your own life.
The Concerned Friend This one arrives dressed as love. “I’m only looking out for you.” “I just don’t want you getting hurt.” “Are you sure you’re able for all that?” Genuine concern leaves you feeling supported. This leaves you feeling doubted or that you’re wrong for feeling like you could do this, and there’s your answer. If you want one simple test, it’s this. Stop analysing what she says and start practising how you feel an hour after you’ve left her. When you’re with her, your feelings of discomfort are easy to explain away. Afterwards, the thoughts that follow don’t lie. You see, that coffee didn’t happen to you; it happened to you, and now you’re feeling the aftermath, and it is not nice at all.
How To Deal With It Here’s what I’m not going to tell you to do. I’m not going to tell you to sit her down for a big confrontation, because you already know how that ends. And I am certainly not going to say just ‘let her’ ok because that is rubbish advice and completely misses the whole discomfort around that situation. The minimiser minimises, the deflector deflects, and you drive home replaying the whole scenario in your head, doubting yourself all over again, except now you feel guilty as well. Instead, do this. Stop handing over the
Jennifer Davy LIFE COACH
Page 24
SPEAKER
AUTHOR
emotional stuff first because that is data for them, and they LOVE that stuff. The news you’re nervous about, the dream you’ve only half admitted to yourself, the thing you’re proud of. That information is precious, so give it first to people who have proven they can support you and celebrate with you. Watch what happens when she no longer gets first access to it. Stop explaining yourself. You don’t need a speech to say no to a coffee catch-up, party invitation or conversation thread. “I can’t make it this time” is a complete sentence, no explanation needed. Then gather your evidence. For one month, notice how you feel after every interaction, with her and with the friends who genuinely love you. Your nervous system will show you a comparison chart more honest than anything I could write here. This isn’t about villains. Most of these women aren’t sitting at home plotting; they’re running old patterns of their own: comparison, fear, scarcity. It’s not your job to diagnose them, and it’s also not your job to manage, fix, or tolerate them. It is your job to notice what the friendship costs you, and to stop it. You are allowed to trust yourself on this because that feeling you’ve been talking yourself out of for years was never oversensitivity; it was your own inner knowing doing its job. You’ve spent your whole life recognising it without having the language for it. Now you have both, so it might be time to start listening to her.
Jennifer Davy is a neuroscience-backed, award-nominated Life Coach who is on a mission to break down the BS that women need to be anything other than their true selves.
www.wellbeingwarrior.ie Article originally published at highflyingdesign.com
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Coffee at the Mill hosted The Friendly Pace Run Club (FPRC), the only womenonly run club in Brentwood. The girls and ladies are from all different backgrounds, with different abilities, experiences and running paces, but none of that matters at FPRC. They come together every Saturday morning to chat, laugh and run their way through a 5K followed by a spot of socialising over a coffee and a good old chinwag. For many women who are just starting out running, their ability isn’t actually the thing holding them back; it’s a lack of confidence. The fear of being too slow, not being “good enough”, or just not feeling that they belong. That is never the case at FPRC. The ladies are genuinely some of the
September marks a special milestone for the Walk & Talk Club as their Tuesday morning walk celebrates its first anniversary. For the past year, every Tuesday at 9:30am, people from across the local community have met at Coffee at the Mill, inside Moulsham Mill, ready to walk, talk and start the day with some fresh air and good company. Walk & Talk Club was created around a simple idea: bringing people together to move, connect and enjoy being outdoors. most supportive people you could meet. Everyone wants to see others succeed; there are no egos, no judgement and no animosity. It’s simply about coming together as a community, moving the body and making new friends. If you are local to Brentwood, please do not hesitate to join the girls, you won’t regret it.
Good people. Great Coffee. Stronger together.
Starting from Coffee at the Mill, they head across the fields before joining the river for a beautiful loop walk exploring the open spaces with stretches alongside the river and with plenty of opportunity to chat. It is a lovely reminder of the scenery we have right on our doorstep in Chelmsford. The route takes them over the lock before looping back towards Moulsham Mill because the walking is only part of the Tuesday morning. The walks are free to attend. Staying for coffee is completely optional, with everyone purchasing their own drinks or treats if they choose to. Do you fancy joining Walk & Talk? Just turn up for 9.30am on any Tuesday at the Walk & Talk group at Coffee at the Mill, Moulsham Mill CM2 7PX.
Coffee at the Mill
Moulsham Mill, Chelmsford CM2 7PX
Please follow our little independent coffee shop! Follow us on @coffeeatthemill or scan the QR Code
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Page 25
OONNLLYY JJOOKKIINNGG!!
Three conspiracy theorists walk into a bar. Don’t tell me that’s a coincidence.
I got fired from my job because I kept asking my I always thought that orthopaedic were overrated. customers whether they wouldshoes prefer ‘smoking’ or ‘non-smoking’. I stand corrected. Apparently, the correct terms are cremation or burial. I’ve got a date with a lady who identifies as a wheelie Husband: “When I get cross with you, you never argue bin. back. How do you control your her anger?” I just can’t remember if I’m taking out on Tuesday or Wife: “I clean the toilet.” Wednesday. Husband: “How does that help?” Wife: “I use your toothbrush.” There’s been an accident on the motorway. A whole lorrypulled load ofme snooker equipment gone A copper over for speedinghas and saidover. to There in both me,are “If cues you can givedirecti me aons. reasonable excuse I’ve never heard before, l’ll let you go.” I said, “Several ago, my husband ranrepair. off with Three weeks ago I years sent my hearing aid off for secretary. I thought I’vehis heard nothing since. you were trying to bring him back to me.” The copper replied. down a bit and have a How many roses should“Just I giveslow my girlfriend? nice day madam.” 6, 12, 24 or the whole tin? Before my Grandfather died, he told me that he got Farmer: love my job” to see“Ithe Titanic and that from the very beginning, Wife: “Butthem all you is round upshouldn’t cows!” get on board he told thedopassengers Farmer: “What?” because he knew it was going to sink. But nobody Wife: “You herd!” listened, and he repeatedly told them right up to the minute they kicked him out of the cinema. The teacher asks her kindergarten class what their Dads barber just got arrested for selling drugs. doMy for alocal living. I’ve been customer for 6 ayears, and I had no idea Suzy steps uphis saying, “My Dad’s policeman, he keeps he was a barber. people safe.” Mary stands up saying, “My Dad’s an actor, he’s in A man takes his dog to the circus and tells the EastEnders.” ringmaster that his dog can speak English and that he “What about you, saysringmaster the teacher, “What does should be in theJohnny?” circus. The says, “That’s your Dad do?” rubbish. Prove it.” “HeThe used to says, be a stripper at aand gayhe bar, buthis now man “Ok, I will’ asks doghe’s three dead,” came the reply. questions: “What is on top of a house?” The dog replies, “Roof”
“Good boy!” and then he asks, “What is the opposite of smooth?” Dog replies, “Rough” “That’s my boy!” the guy says and pats him on the head. “Who was the best Scotland goalkeeper of all time?” “Rough” barks the dog. The ringmaster says, “Get out of here and stop wasting my time!” and pushes them out of his office and slams the door. Whilst walking back to the car, the dog looks up at his master and says, “Do you think The teacher said, “I’mI sorry” and quickly changed the should have said Jim subject. Leighton?” At breaktime, the teacher corners Johnny, saying, “I’m terribly sorry about that. Is your Dad really dead?” A man been shot “No, he’shas a defender for West Ham, but I was too with a starting pistol embarrassed to say that!” and then beaten with a relay baton. Police How many politibe cians believe it may a does it take to change a lightbulb? I’m glad you asked that, but first, there is a fundamental race-related attack. issue that I would like to address. My therapist said I How many does it takeanimal. to change should getpsychiatrists an emotional support So, lagot a chicken. Deep fried. It came with a chocolate lightbulb? milkshake. better already. Just the one,I feel but it’s really got to want to change! I wasagetting out of the shower when my girlfriend What shitty day. said,my “You’re getting fat, just at thatminutes belly. When First boyfriend lectures melook for twenty was the last time you saw your pecker?” I replied, about how I can’t be trusted anymore … “It’s been a long time to be fair.” She said, “Why Then hubby“Why, gives me thecolour same damn don’tI get youhome, diet?”and I replied, what is it sob story! now?” I Imet at The Ship. wasaatgirl a funeral yesterday when I asked the vicar for I the asked, a drink?”“Please, have some WiFi“May codeI buy and you he shouted, respect the but deceased,” I replied, “Is that all in She said, for “Okay, it won’t and do you any good” case, Ivicar?” Alower little later, asked her again, “May I buy you another drink?” If you buy are me attracted todrink, both but women andget men, “Okay, another it won’t youbut neither of them are attracted to you, that means you anywhere,” she said. are bi-yourself. At closing time, I invited her up to my flat for coffee, and
I told my wife the Amazon driver claims to have slept with every woman in our street except one! My wife said, “It’s probably that stuck-up bitch at No.14.”
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A husband died, and a few years later the wife died. When she got to heaven, she saw her husband and ran up to him with tears in her eyes. “Darling, oh how I’ve missed you,” she says. The husband extends his arms, stopping her from embracing him, “Steady there woman, the contract was until death.” When I was born, I was so ugly the doctor slapped my mother. Can someone please tell me what LGBTQ+ stands for? Nobody is giving me a straight answer.
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she said, “Okay, but just so you know, it’ll not do you any good.” When we arrived at the apartment, I turned and said, vi it ohad the “You are the most beautiful woman I’vesever ur b r nd new pleasure of meeting. I want you for myawife.” w e bsher “Oh,” she replied, “That’s different, it in … and wwsend w.ovee @ shut the door on your way out.”
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The Robot Olympics I recently stumbled across a video of what can only be described as the Robot Olympics. It turns out this is actually a thing. The World Humanoid Robot Games took place in Beijing in August, bringing together robots to compete in everything from running and boxing to gymnastics and practical challenges. And it was brilliant. The kids and I watched robots sprinting at ridiculous speeds, boxing each other with varying degrees of success and performing gymnastics. There were even little robot cheerleaders. The running was probably my favourite. Some of them are now astonishingly fast. The only slight problem is that apparently nobody has quite mastered the stopping bit yet, so after crossing the finish line they occasionally continue straight into enormous padded walls. The boxing wasn’t much more graceful. Punches missed, robots fell over, and one appeared to make an unscheduled departure through the ropes. It was hilarious. But underneath all the comedy, I found it slightly mind-blowing. We naturally compare these machines with humans, so when one falls over we laugh. But take a moment to consider what engineers have actually achieved. They’ve built machines that can balance on two legs, run, jump, fight and make decisions while interacting with the physical world around them. Suddenly, the robot crashing into a wall seems rather more impressive. We’re already seeing robots performing basic jobs in factories, hotels and other workplaces. It doesn’t seem completely
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ridiculous anymore to imagine humanoid robots eventually helping around our homes. Whether that’s exciting or absolutely terrifying, I’m still undecided. For now, though, I’m enjoying this slightly awkward stage of the robot revolution, where our future overlords can run faster than us but haven’t quite worked out how to stop. Let’s hope nobody fixes that bit too quickly.
Can You Hear Me Now? I can’t be the only person who finds mobile phone coverage around Chelmsford absolutely infuriating. We’re not exactly living in the Outer Hebrides. Chelmsford is a major commuter city, around 30 miles from London, with decent roads, rail links and thousands of people travelling in and out every day. So why, in 2026, does my phone occasionally become about as useful as a calculator? I live on the Danbury side of Chelmsford, and there’s a particular point, around where the Army & Navy used to be, where my mobile signal seems to enter some kind of nuclear exclusion zone. One minute you’re happily making a call or listening to something online. Then you reach Chelmsford, and everything dies. No internet. No phone call. Nothing. You find yourself walking around holding your phone hopefully towards the sun as though moving it six inches closer to the sky might somehow establish contact with a satellite. What amazes me is how irritating it feels when you’ve become so used to everything simply working. We use our phones for directions, music, messages, banking, parking, emails and probably
another twenty things I’ve forgotten. Take away the internet connection and suddenly your £1,000 smartphone is basically an expensive camera with a clock on it. I’m sure there are complicated technical reasons for poor coverage. Masts, planning restrictions, network capacity, geography. I don’t pretend to understand any of it. I just know that Chelmsford is a growing commuter city in one of the most populated parts of the country and I’d quite like to be able to make a telephone call in it. We’ve found money for cycle lanes, redesigned junctions and even hamburger roundabouts. Perhaps next we could try something really ambitious. A phone signal.
An Italian… For a Sunday Roast? I don’t normally use this column to review restaurants or recommend particular businesses. There are plenty of people on the internet already doing that, normally accompanied by seventeen photographs of their dinner. But occasionally somewhere deserves a special mention. Luigi’s at The Griffin in Danbury is one of our family’s regular favourites. It’s a proper family-run Italian restaurant, and we’ve been there countless times. The food is excellent, the service is always friendly and, particularly when the weather behaves itself, sitting outside in the garden with some good Italian food and a glass of something cold is difficult to beat. But strangely, the best thing I’ve eaten there might not be Italian at all. One Sunday, almost on a whim, I took my
BILLY HINKEN daughter there for a roast dinner. Now, going to an Italian restaurant for a Sunday roast feels slightly wrong. It’s a bit like going to an Indian restaurant and ordering fish and chips. But my God, it was good. I’d go as far as saying it’s one of the best Sunday roasts I’ve had in a restaurant. It’s around £25, so it’s certainly not the cheapest Sunday lunch you’ll ever eat, but by today’s standards it’s hardly outrageous either. More importantly, it’s worth every penny. The portions are enormous, probably enough for two normal human beings, but the quality doesn’t suffer because of it. Properly cooked meat, crispy roast potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and rich gravy. Everything tasted as if somebody had actually cared about putting it on the plate. Despite repeatedly telling myself there was far too much food, somehow I managed to finish virtually everything. Funny that.
Page 27
s k l o f o l Hel October is here!! October is comfortably my favourite month. Always has been and always will be. I love how it is still shorts and t-shirt weather, but only just. I’m stubborn. I refuse to wear long trousers until I absolutely must, and I’ll probably stay in shorts until November if I can. I owned a second home in Portugal for 16 years, and October was the best month to visit, and I duly did so every year. The Portuguese heat of the summer would be accompanied by a lovely Atlantic breeze. Perfect daytime weather and the cooler nights were an added bonus. Funnily enough, what I am describing above is the “new” British October weather thanks to global warming, isn’t it? Obviously, you won’t hear me complain!! I miss Portugal, and every day I regret my decision to sell up a few years ago. Maybe it’s time to buy again! I have a funny story to share with you. In the August edition of the magazine, we featured a reader who wishes to remain anonymous (although, if you know, then you know) reading the magazine in a bathtub on a boat coming into Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. A great addition to our Global Reach collection where we feature the magazine popping up all over the world. Send your photo to me, and I’ll feature it next month. Anyhow, I was showing my grandson Lachlan this photo in the magazine while we enjoyed lunch at The White Hart in Little Waltham, as I wanted to feature him in this Simply scan the QR code to sign up or head over to overtheedgemag.co.uk/subscribe IT’S TOTALLY FREE! r
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month’s magazine (see page 34 to see the handsome little fella) and as he studied the photo he asked “Papa, how did you get into the lady’s bathroom?” Now I love how inquisitive children are. My grandchildren and I often have deep and meaningful discussions that leave me spellbound, given that they are all under seven years old, but it’s alarming that Lachlan’s first thought was how I broke into “bathtub lady’s” bathroom and took a photo of her!! I mean, seriously, who told him about my past? God knows I’ve tried to move on from that! I have included the photo of “bathtub lady” enjoying the magazine again. Anyhow, swiftly changing the subject. The world and closer to home, this country, is such a screwed-up place at the moment; we do hope that this magazine brings a little cheer into everyone’s life. Judging by the mailbox at OTE HQ and the many people that we meet when we distribute the magazine, we do seem to be hitting the right note. I spoke to a lovely lady at the Sainsbury’s Boreham dispenser, and I said to her I had thought about giving the magazine up as the rewards do not justify the effort if I’m honest. She told me that I must never do that and that she has
vis websit our www ite @ edgem.overthe ag.co .uk been reading the magazine for more than 25 years. Oh, the weight of responsibility on my shoulders! I have mentioned previously that my pal Fugsy (see page 14) is working on an AI-generated platform that will make my job easier and will save money also. Hopefully the effort/reward ratio will improve and Over the Edge will go long into the future. I shall be looking for a successor, mind you! Well, I think that’s a wrap for the October edition. I hope you enjoy the month as much as I do and that it’s warm at least until November so that my long trousers can stay in the wardrobe just a little longer. TTFN Deaks Over the Edge graham@overtheedgemag.co.uk Over the Edge 07803 422808
Vic on on the Vic theTelly Telly
dragons, caused by a lie, two comedy in it too and it made me It is a Belfast based police else? Heofis The drawn into investi gating city hairdresser to the stars who remember First Class had the game As youthat might have read in the last Targaryens edition Edge, me and think about other TV trivia game drama is set after the siblings lead two relocates to a quirky village called tourists’ deaths. He is helped by Paperboy (do any of our readers the Mrs changed ourhad tv package from Virgin Media TV. The shows. There was one a few troubles. Both series 6takes opposing armies.to Now Blossom Vale in the 70’s. Lily the near-always-smiling Rosa, a remember that?). Neighbours was Now TV package also had Sky Atlantic included, a channel I have years ago called Paul Sinha’s episodes had One brother shouldbarmaid. rightly be over a smalleach. villageBoth salonseries and helps true crime-obsessed It’son a very diff erent in the early days as it admired afar. TV Showdown - Paul Sinha of an arc of from otherIt’s stuff. It has the throne butbeat, is not; his brother solve murders. a cosy crimebeen familiar genre a lighter Death was getting established. Chase fame. It wasn’t very good. reviewed a great show which having been mistakenly put show that’sas light-hearted escapism in Paradise crossed with the sitcom My column for Over the Edge will talking andHer reviewing television and films. It will include It had a celebrity panel too. I agree with. There will be many there. It’s a little slower and has for abe cynical world. sidekick and Benidorm. It’s a fun, undemanding Bluewatchable. Lights It will be called morevicontvandfilms. series as the BBC believes anything Since watching television and films has fantastic scenery. fellow hairdresser is Clary Coombs, 40-minute light-hearted crime INCOME TV Showdown brought back in this series. It is worth aIt’s watch changed over the years, willby be included. played Charlott e Jordan. a First up is Blue Lights. First streaming drama. PROTECTION memories of Telly Addicts. I was and you can see if youIt’s like it. on quick 45-minute drama. now shown on the BBC and still Up next is The Chase Around the a 10 year old kid when it first BBC iPlayer aft er it was shown on The first to be reviewed is a controversial one, The Tattooist of Auschwitz. I had seen it available on series BBC iPlayer. Me World. Another spin-off from The started and was near abouts House ofsummer. Dragon BBCwe One over the andadvertised my Mrs saw end of the onthe television and when changed provider I was able Chase. to seeWe’ve it. It will not be everyone’s already had Beat the my 20’s when it ended. My firstcup series in Manchester last have Now BUY Nexton for me to review is House of tea. ATO lotLET of people asked how can you make a drama out of the holocaust? They did! to Benidorm is Murder, Chasers as a spin-off. This one is knowledge of TV back then was year. I thought no more of it till of theisDragon. I saw thatMy5. Series which on Channel 5 and This called ‘Around the World’ but has not that great, but it has grown. earlier this year when I came 2 was advertised to start in June. This series was based on Heather of the It’sdone brutal, disturbing and oneMorris’s stars Johnbook Hannah as a same retiredname.only Western Europe. The This mostly had the general across it again and watched I watched Game ofplays Thrones police detecti ve. He Dennis,and Gita devastating. It covers theit relationship between Lala Sololov concentration camp lattin er the name probably wouldn’t have public as contestants with the FIRSTfrom the beginning. before on DVD as I did not have whoinruns bar in NO Benidorm; where CHARGE OR OBLIGATION FOR YOUR INITIALcelebrity. ENQUIRY seemed as impressive ‘World’. theatelevision drama, switches between now and as the time in occasional It was TIME of Auschwitz. Lala, the protagonist Listening to the intro music Sky Atlantic.with historical inaccuracies. The premise isis that 6 teams of the camp. Like all programmes it is littered I think it worth a watch, I hosted by Noel Edmonds. BUYERS brought back memories of Game contestants travel across Europe binged it in two weeks. of Thrones. I missed the first series of House solving quizzes and taking part in of the Dragon but will try and acti vities to help solve clues and find EQUITY set I have watched is True Detective. I watched the first series find a way to see Another it. I have series seen boxBradley. Smart TVto lately The last one find him has RELEASE and of the fourth series the programme Night Country. Season one was the best of the the whole of Series 2. all House a quiz-off with a Chaser. It’s slower The third called television twoprequel in my opinion. FromThe the haunting song at the beginning “Far from any road” by of the Dragon is the to than review is Chase. Rob Beckett’s Smart the Handsome Family, series one had the back of the two mainis Game of Thrones, set some 200 This month, let’s start with Ally TV, a game show based on TV and forth Lasttimelines to be reviewed this month I was told reallyHart old episodes years prior. It’s notcharacters as shocking Rusty Cohle andthe Marty who were played by Matthew McConaughey knowledge. Legends on Netf lix. Legends is a Ross whose recent column in the of Neighbours wereTwo on TV. I found as Game of Thrones was andwhich Woody Harrelson respectively. polar opposites workingBriti together tothriller. solve It’s a six-episode sh crime Sun featured a centrepiece about them on U&Drama, and it is also a groundbreaker and featured very gruesome murder and other crimes. This season had two male main characters. The format is two teams of three a bit of a true story but dramati sed the crime dramas, The Hairdresser streamed on U now too. When it beheadings, molten gold celebrities with in one them ases, a with names changed for television Mysteries and Benidorm Is Murder. was first shown theofmid-Eighti crowns, crushed heads etc. seasonpermanent captain, these The fourth female detectives disappearance of 90s, a set of purposes. It’s set in the and ithas wastwo on the BBC. When it fibeing rst solving the I was intrigued, so I decided to The main storylinescientists of Seriesfrom 2 a research andonly Joshflashbacks Alison Hammond centre. The areshhow things This Briti customs arehappened. losing the war came on, I was disappointed as watch them both. I have now watched series one was the warring factions of thecharacters Widdecombe. drug smuggling, recruit one’s main are Liz Danvers and EvangelineonNavarro played so bythey Jodie Foster it took the place of a show I had andup two iPlayer. Targaryens, the First wasonThe Hairdresser and send them and Kali Reis respectively. I have been a Class, fan ofaFosterordinary since I people was little. been watching called First There may be a third series next greens and the blacks. The it says, is Rob Mysteries. It starred Sally Phillips undercover. Tom Burke plays star videohost, gameasshow in which schools year. Readying for the war of the Beckett. has elements of I as Lily Petal, an upmarket big competedIt against each other. pupil Guy.
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OVERtheLINE LOCAL SPORT UPDATES
former South Africa Test captain has called time on an extremely decorated career.
Although Cook didn’t play in the series, Cox played in the first two Tests in which he scored a total of 139 runs at an average of 46.33, including two half-centuries and a high score of 73.
Lissy Macleod Retires from Professional Cricket Essex Women’s batter Lissy Macleod announced her retirement from professional cricket.
ESSEX CRICKET
Jodi Grewcock Agrees New Contract Essex Cricket are delighted to announce that Essex Women’s allrounder Jodi Grewcock has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep her at Essex until the end of the 2028 season. The 21-year-old has established herself as a key member of the side with both bat and ball, with her domestic performances earning international recognition and England call-ups.
Dean Elgar Retires from Professional Cricket A true great of the modern game, Dean Elgar, will retire from professional cricket following the conclusion of the 2026 season. The 39-year-old hangs up his gloves after 21 years in the professional game, bringing the curtain down on a phenomenal career. With more than 500 appearances across his career, including 86 Test matches, the
The 32-year-old has been a regular fixture at the top of the order for Essex Women since signing for the Club in January 2025. She went on to make 34 appearances for Essex in all competitions with a high score of 59 against Warwickshire Bears in this year’s Vitality T20 Blast competition.
He said: “I feel it’s the right time for me now. I’m not getting any younger, 39 years old, and I’ve got a lot of things going on back home with regards to a young but growing-up-very-quickly family. It’s the right time for me now to be present at home and be there for my partner and my kids.”
Charlie Allison Signs New Contract Essex Cricket are thrilled to announce that Essex Men’s batter Charlie Allison has signed a twoyear extension with the Club.
CHELMSFORD CITY FOOTBALL CLUB YOUR CITY NEEDS YOU!
We’re back at home on 24 October as the Clarets take on Tonbridge Angels, with kick-off at 3pm – and we want to see you there! Claim your FREE TICKET (100 available) using code OTE100 when booking online.
Colchester-born Allison has committed his next two seasons with his boyhood county after already representing the Club in 22 first-class matches at the age of just 21.
Cox and Cook Named in England Test Match Squad Essex Men’s Jordan Cox and Sam Cook were once again named amongst a 15-player England Men’s squad to feature against Pakistan for the third Test match of the series.
Get behind the Clarets. Fill the stands. Be there.
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came back to check on them on that day hey!
I recently went to see a certain, fairly well-known food critic on his road show promoting his new book about dining out and his favourite recipes. Without giving it away, his first name begins with J, he’s got shaggy hair, he appears on MasterChef as a judge, and he’s renowned for being a bit of a hard person to please. He’s a Marmite judge, and he doesn’t care if he’s liked or not. I can’t say I went as a fan, but I know who he is, and my mum invited me to go with her because who doesn’t like a night out at the theatre? And seeing as we’re foodie people, why not? However, I came out feeling disgruntled. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that the show was for entertainment value more than anything, and he was a good speaker. He held the room well and delivered some funny, on-the-spot jokes, but what struck me is that this man makes a living from reviewing restaurants in a way that is rather old-fashioned. Remember when we all used to laugh at the terrible terrible
singer on X Factor being ripped into by a rude Simon Cowell. That was funny in 2007; now it’s just distasteful. These restaurant reviews are much the same. They, unlike Simon Cowell, haven’t evolved with the times as much. Jay Rayner, (oops) admitted himself during his show that his writing is for entertainment purposes as much as it is informative, and what sat uncomfortably with me is that he writes sometimes horrible reviews that are reputation-destroying for the restaurant without any thought about who is behind that business or the hours, maybe even years of work that have gone into something that he thinks is rubbish. He does write both positive and negative reviews (I guess his column needs some balance, and it would become boring if his witty one-liners about greasy Chinese food were all his column was ever about); however, I was saddened that a nearly full theatre on a Thursday evening
found comments about your waiter being your modern-day servant so funny. Distasteful if you ask me.
I sit here now acknowledging what you’re thinking; a 32-year-old restaurant owner isn’t his target audience, I know, I know. I’m just using my column to air my bottledup annoyance about this know-it-all food critic’s foodie road show. For my last comment, during the show Jay Rayner’s laptop that was displaying his PowerPoint presentation went wrong and turned off. A first show mishap; he fumbled around for three or four minutes fixing the laptop whilst delivering some great ‘fill the silence’ jokes which made the audience laugh, and the issue passed quickly; however, you could see the hot-under-the-collar pressure quickly descend over him. I couldn’t help thinking that this ‘hot under the collar’ pressure is what many waiters/ chefs will endure every day, especially when faced with a scary restaurant critic. Fine, that’s part of the job, but why does Jay Rayner think it’s okay to turn these stressful moments into ridiculing and sometimes toe-curling comments for his readers to enjoy?
He shared some of his pet peeves about front of house service too; one being that he hates it when his wine glass is topped up by the waiter (I thought that would be one of the top jobs for his modern-day servants to complete, but he’s obviously not keen on that one. No thought there that if you’re drinking wine, the restaurant might want you to purchase another bottle and therefore the waiter topping up your glass has another purpose too, but anyway…). He also had a sketch about when a waiter comes to ask if your food is okay. He hates being interrupted, but I’m sure he would be the first one to complain if he wasn’t satisfied with his food and no one came to check… oh wait, he answered an audience member’s question a little later about when he last sent back food - which he said was the week before - good job the waiter
It’s a good job there’s not a ‘Food Road Show’ reviewer that decided to purely focus on the laptop going wrong, write a ridiculing review and ignore all the other good bits… that just wouldn’t be fair.
MEETING
ESSEX CHRISTIAN
HEALING TRUST SPEAKER:
REV KATY HACKER HUGHES
PRIEST PASTOR, ST MARYLEBONE PARISH CHURCH
SATURDAY 31ST OCTOBER 2026 MULBERRY HOUSE CHELMSFORD ROAD, HIGH ONGAR CM5 9NL
“ FrComOGMENMEOSNISWORSHIP ” g - The Long View to
alin
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9.15AM ONWARDS TO LUNCH AND TIME AFTER AS REQUIRED
COST - £30 INCLUDING LUNCH BOOKING REQUIRED AS NUMBERS ARE LIMITED
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Collect your copy of
at any of the following locations: The White Hart, Little Waltham - The Galvin Green Man, Howe Street - Little Channels Bistro - Bang & Olufsen Channels Restaurant - Channels Café - Nationwide Building Soc - Rayleigh Hi-Fi - Park & Ride (Chelmer Valley & Sandon) - Moulsham News - Costa Coffee (Beaulieu, Riverside, Essex Regiment Way) - Coffee Squared, Beaulieu - Bond Street car park - Fête, Grays Yard - Mercedes, BMW/Mini, Land Rover & Audi showrooms - The Lion Inn, Boreham - Sainsbury’s Boreham - Longacres Garden Centre - NISA Sandford Rd - Tesco, Princes Rd - Miller & Carter - Fox & Raven - Co-Op, Bridge St, Writtle - 2MT Café, Roxwell Rd - The Ship - China City, Broomfield Parade Claremont Garden Centre & The Tin Roof Café, Woodham Mortimer - The Royal Steamer - Jamaica Blue, Bond St ACanteen, New London Rd - Mr Cavendish, Rainsford Rd Meadow Croft Garden Centre, Battlesbridge - Toast - The Cricketers - Sandwich Plus, New St - Little Waltham Social Club & Doctors Surgery - The Hub Café, Warners Farm The Rose of India, Rainsford Rd - Pontlands Park Hotel, Gt Baddow - The White Hart, Margaretting Tye - The Royal Tiger, Rettendon - The Vape Store, Broomfield Parade Tesco, Gt Notley Braintree - ASDA, Chelmer Village - The Riverside Inn - The Two Brewers - The Wheatsheaf - The Woolpack - O’Connor’s - United Brethren - The Orange Tree - The Queen’s Head - The Nags Head - The Railway Tavern - Morrisons, Maldon - Sainsbury’s, Chipping Ongar
It’s all about the Sourdough – It’s everywhere Have you noticed that when you go to your local bakers or supermarket, it seems that sourdough bread is all around you: rolls, loaves large and small and baguette style. Simply put, sourdough bread comes in all shapes and styles, and yes, it’s everywhere. Since the COVID pandemic, the sales and popularity of this type of bread have grown massively. Before COVID, sourdough bread accounted for less than 1% of all bread sales in the UK, and was mainly sold by so-called ‘artisan bakeries’. However, since 2021, the availability and sales of sourdough bread have grown exponentially, and now account for nearly 8% of all types of bread sold. That varies by type of outlet, with local and ‘artisan’ bakeries whose sales of sourdough account for more than 75% of their bread sales, to supermarkets, where only one in 13 of their loaves sold is now a sourdough loaf. But there has certainly been a spectacular increase in demand for sourdough bread, and supermarkets are now reporting an annual rise in sales of sourdough bread of around 40%. So why? Well, simply put, it’s tastier, it’s healthier, and the loaves look so much more attractive. One of its main constituent ingredients is the live ‘wild’ yeast culture, which ferments the grains, breaks down gluten, and helps promote better digestion and absorption. Now, as we are all aware, we are currently in the midst of a ‘diabetic crisis’ with nearly 5 million adult diabetics currently being diagnosed and treated, and a further 6 million increasingly at risk through lifestyle choices. Amazingly, sourdough bread has the additional ability to not only decrease blood sugar levels, but also prevent the rise in
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Old Grey Silver Surfer sugar levels, which always follows a meal – so yes, it’s good, and yes, it’s healthy. So where did it come from? Well, it all started in Ancient Egypt some 3,500 years ago when the Egyptians were well known for their bread and beer-making abilities – yup, it’s all there in the ancient manuscripts and carvings. More by chance, they incorporated live wild yeast cultures into their bread mixture, and so sourdough was born. From there it spread to Ancient Greece, then to Imperial Rome and then throughout Europe. There are recipes that are recorded as dating from mid-17th-century France, and it is said that French bakers took these ‘sourdough’ recipes to California during the 1848 California gold rush. Bakers in San Francisco now claim they are still using the original live wild yeast cultures that date back to the California gold rush, and if you are in San Francisco and buy the clam chowder in its original sourdough bread bowl, that’s what you’ll be getting: a bread made from a live wild yeast culture with direct links to the original 1848 California gold rush sourdough bread. Correctly made, sourdough bread contains little or no additives, and with its natural acidity it can fight off mould and other types of bacteria, and therefore stays fresher and keeps longer. However, whilst sourdough is healthier, and it’s now everywhere, I still think you can’t beat a bacon sarnie made with regular old-fashioned plain white bread!
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for a very long time and, as it turned out, had forgotten quite a lot. Costner’s charm oozes off the big screen, as does Alan Rickman’s best villainous performance as the Sheriff of Nottingham (it’s definitely on par with his uber villain, Hans Gruber in Die Hard). Both leading men and their co-stars really do make this an enjoyable romp. It was so refreshing watching a story ‘from old’ being told in such a simple way, with no unnecessary padding out of the running time or bloatedness from being too overstylised with a director’s ego (for which The Odyssey springs to mind). The two hours flew by, and the finale still had me punching the air when the bad guys got their comeuppance.
A MONTH OF MOVIES September was not only a busy month for birthdays and anniversaries in the Ginger Polak household, it was also a month for quite a few visits to the cinema to get in some big-screen action.
Yes, some of the “British” accents were below average at the best of times, but just like when it first came out, it never takes away from being an entertaining event, just as it was back in the day. Plus, having the longestrunning number one single at the time playing in the credits as its love theme didn’t do it any harm either.
The month started and finished with a chance to watch films I didn’t see in movie theatres in my youth, and I got a few more retro movie boxes ticked off the list too.
This was followed up with the 45th anniversary of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones first outing on screen. As with Robin Hood, there was so much we had forgotten about this film, and we even noticed little details that had bypassed us previously.
First up was the cracking 35th anniversary of Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. It was so good to see this at the Odeon in Chelmsford as we hadn’t watched it
A moment that had Mrs Polak and me in stitches was when one of the main German villains, the one who looks like he is straight out of the TV series, ‘Allo ‘allo!, walks into the tent where
Marian is being held captive and pulls out what can only be described as looking like some sort of torture tool, only for it to end up being a coat hanger for his very long black leather jacket. Superb direction in turning a dramatic moment into one of humour without a word needing to be spoken. Another reminder when watching these classic films is what a difference practical effects make compared to most modern-day blockbusters that purely rely on, and often overdo, CGI and other computer-generated special effects. Practical effects always make the scene feel more real and far more engaging, gripping and at times super tense. The opening act with the boulder coming at pace as our hero tries to escape after obtaining (then subsequently losing) an artefact he was after, is the perfect example of this. Absolutely brilliant. Lastly, the one film I had been waiting to see at the cinema since I was ten years old, which ruined the lives of so many kids who did watch it, was the 1986 cartoon feature, The Transformers: The Movie. Back in 1984, after collecting the toys and comics for two years and recording all the TV cartoon episodes in their 5-minute segments on TV-am, it all led to the big-screen release of Transformers: Robots in Disguise. But sadly, due to the short time it got at the flicks, I was unable to see it and had to wait for the VHS version to come out and see what Santa would bring me. As I mentioned above, this film scarred many youngsters due to the
death of Autobot leader Optimus Prime so early in the film. For many, this was their first real experience of losing a hero and realising that things we love can die, resulting in some parents leaving the film early due to their children’s tears. The re-release of this film, celebrating its 40th anniversary, was even called The Apology Tour on its cinematic return, because of the damage it had caused to so many young hearts and souls. Looking back at it, I remember feeling sad and gutted, but it also taught me in life that bad things can happen to good people and that we aren’t invincible, so what we do whilst we are here for ourselves and others really matters. Making the film’s re-release even more poignant was the sad news that the voice actor Peter Cullen, who played Optimus Prime in the cartoons, the animated movie and more recently the Michael Bay live-action films, sadly passed away on the 26th of August (26/08) a few weeks before the animated movie appeared on the screens again. Spookily though, in the film Optimus passes away, and the lights go out in his eyes at 26 minutes and 08 seconds… Finally, check out Michael Mann’s classic film and Hannibal Lecter’s first appearance on screen, in Manhunter on the 2nd of October at Cineworld. You won’t be disappointed Till next time The Polak xx
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Centre in Southend. “I’m a Warrior is about finding the strength to keep going, even when you feel you’ve lost yourself,” Lisa said. “It’s written from Mordred’s perspective, but I hope anyone facing addiction, mental health struggles or life’s challenges can relate to its message.”
Hold my Beer I’m a Warrior
All proceeds from the single will be donated to WithYou, a UK charity that provides free support to people experiencing issues with drugs, alcohol and mental health. The release is also being supported by Music Support, a charity that helps people working throughout the UK music industry access support for mental health, addiction and wellbeing. Lisa hopes the song will not only raise money, but also encourage conversations around addiction and reduce the stigma that can prevent people from seeking help. “I’m passionate about showing that addiction doesn’t define a person. There is a story behind every struggle,” she said. “Recovery is possible, and everyone deserves hope.” I’m a Warrior is now available on all major streaming platforms under the artist’s name, Emisa Wakes, through Ten Ton Beats. You can donate your own amount at: https://www.justgiving.com/team/ima-warrior
A Colchester author and musician has released a powerful new charity single inspired by the struggles of a fictional character she created for her latest novel. Lisa Wakely has teamed up with producer Owen Louis (Project Lando) of Ten Ton Beats to release I’m a Warrior, a song written from the perspective of her character, Mordred. The collaboration began while writing her novel-in-progress. Lisa contacted Owen for help writing rap lyrics for the fictional band in her novel. What started as a conversation about lyrics soon developed into an exciting musical partnership. Together they released their first track, AlgoRhythm. Now Owen has released I’m a Warrior, as well as a remixed version, through his record label, Ten Ton Beats. The original version of I’m a Warrior was recorded at SNAP Studios in London after studio owner Mark Thompson invited Lisa to record the song to help bring her fictional character’s story to life. The song explores addiction, recovery and resilience through the eyes of Mordred, a talented young frontman whose life is torn apart by drug addiction before he begins the difficult journey towards recovery. Although the story is fictional, Lisa spent months researching addiction and speaking with people who have experienced it first-hand to ensure the novel and song portrayed the realities of addiction with honesty and compassion. She also works beside people affected by addiction through her role at St Vincent’s Page 34
h c a e R l a b lo G e Over the Edg Keep them coming, folks. This month we have an impressive global range from the Caribbean all the way to Italy with a short stopover in Little Waltham, UK. Send your photos of readers in exotic locations to graham@ overtheedgemag.co.uk Photo 1 - We have Nick and Russ catching up on the jokes page in sunny St Vincent. We sincerely hope the boys didn’t suffer too many laughter lines. Photo 2 - It’s Deaks’ good-looking grandson Lachlan enjoying the magazine over lunch with his Papa at The White Hart in Little Waltham. Photo 3 - The lovely Sara taking a break from serving tables in San Severino Marche in Italy. I will see that she gets a copy of this magazine, of course!
that has acquired somewhat legendary status.
CHELMSFORD’S GHOST PUBS - The Dolphin If you would care to accompany me this month for our regular historic pint or two, I suggest we travel back some 60 years to the mid-1960s. We’ll meet in Half Moon Square before strolling up Tindal Street, where on the left at number 14, we’ll find The Dolphin, an Ind Coope house. Let’s step inside to contemplate the provenance of our surrounds over a pint of Double Diamond. The pub is a timber-framed building reputedly constructed from old ship’s timbers- a rather intriguing claim, because tales of ancient Essex pubs being built from the timbers of wrecked vessels are surprisingly common. Many of these stories, however, likely owe more to folklore than fact. Genuine examples are rare, although the practice of salvaging timber from redundant or wrecked ships certainly did occur. But, in the Dolphin’s case, the description of its construction is recorded in local historical sources, making it one of the more credible examples of a practice
The Dolphin certainly has a long history, first being mentioned in the 16th century and appearing on a local map in 1591. It sits alongside other original buildings, some dating back to the 1380s. Tindal Street, also known as Back Street and later Conduit Street, was a thriving thoroughfare with numerous public houses located along its sides. All of the inn’s neighbouring buildings on the west side of the street had, at some time in their history, been public houses. Apparently, by the late 17th century, Tindal Street accommodated eleven pubs. Imagine, you’d barely have opportunity to draw breath between establishments on a Tindal Street pub crawl in the 1600s! The Dolphin and its neighbouring inns defined the character of Tindal Street, but sadly the final pint was pulled there in 1969 when one Ron Noise was said to be the publican. The pub was then demolished, along with all the buildings on the west side of the street, to make way for the
construction of High Chelmer in the early 1970s. This characterful street is widely lamented by ‘more mature’ generations of Chelmsford folk, a sentiment not without merit, but equally it should be recognised that many of these ancient buildings had unfortunately fallen into varying stages of dilapidation. What is beyond dispute is that the centre of Chelmsford, like so many of the country’s towns and cities, lost many historic buildings in the name of ‘progress’ only to be replaced by the featureless grey concrete that had become de rigueur in town planning at the time. Let us have your suggestions for next month’s Lost Inn Time. Which historic hostelries haunt you? wontpassthiswayagain@gmail.com Over the Edge 07803 422808
All set for the Shire
Art Exhibition and sale of art from Saturday, October 10th to 17th
L
ast month, I wrote about Chelmsford Art Society’s 75th anniversary and the people who make it such a welcoming part of our city’s creative life. Now, with our exhibition at the Shire Hall soon upon us, there is another piece of news to share.
“Partnering
with Farleigh Hospice gives our exhibition a wider purpose, connecting our love of art with caring for people in Essex.
”
Broughty Ferry Castle, Dundee by Nigel Barrick
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The Society has partnered with Farleigh Hospice, bringing a further community connection to this anniversary year. It feels a fitting development for a society whose greatest strength has always been its people. Farleigh Hospice is a charity that provides compassionate care and specialist support to adults living with life-limiting illnesses in mid Essex, and their families and carers. At any one time, its doctors, nurses, counsellors and therapists take care of the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of over 500 people in the local community. Farleigh Hospice makes no charge for any of these services. This is only possible thanks to the kind support of the mid Essex community, who help fund this care through donations, and Chelmsford Art Society is proud to be supporting Farleigh Hospice through the exhibition, helping to raise vital funds for the charity and the important work it does in our local community.
landscape and coastline of Essex and Suffolk. He is inspired by the effect of light and colour in the landscape, and also by the effects of shadows and reflections. And Vincent paints expressive contemporary impressionist scenes inspired by Essex’s landscapes, estuaries and architecture. My own contribution comes from a digital perspective. Exploring my inner thoughts, the voices in our heads and the resilience we find when life gets difficult. Through colour, texture and imagery, I try to give those feelings a visible form, perhaps helping someone recognise something of themselves in the work. Seeing these approaches together is what makes a group exhibition worth visiting. You might arrive knowing what sort of art you enjoy, then find yourself drawn to something unexpected. A familiar landscape, a particular colour or an unusual detail can be enough to make you stop and take another look. Come along, bring a friend and see what catches your eye. There will also be live painting, so you can watch artists at work and perhaps pick up a few ideas. With such an eclectic range of art you might just feel like having a go yourself.
Last month I talked about some of the artists, so this month it’s the turn of a few more: Nigel Barrick, Paul Franks, and Vincent Dawson. Having worked in Asia and lived in Hong Kong, Nigel draws on those experiences when painting different environments.
After 75 years, there is still plenty to discover about Chelmsford Art Society. This October offers a chance to celebrate its artists, enjoy their different ways of seeing and welcome a new partnership with Farleigh Hospice.
Paul works in a realist style, and his subjects are mainly drawn from the
See you at the Shire Hall, 10th to 17th October. Alistair.
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A couple of years ago, I dedicated a page of reviews to modern shark attack movies, most of which lacked bite. Now, ‘just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water’, the sharks are back in town, and this time they’ve brought some animal friends along for the hunt, as we take a look at the ever-popular subgenre that is ‘natural’ horror for this Halloween special.
viewer to the next. There is a laughable scene where they bob around on an inflatable pizza slice, as if that somehow protects them from this giant and deadly predator.
Scream queen Kathryn Newton (Freaky, Abigail, Lisa Frankenstein) injects some star quality into this very silly but entertaining shark survival horror.
Drivel then, its one plus point being newcomer Mel Jarnson as Trish, who adds some vibrant energy, and whose star is surely about to rise with her role as fan favourite Cammy in the upcoming Street Fighter movie.
The Devil’s Mouth
Whilst on vacation in Thailand, college girl Sara (Newton) gets tangled up in a bloom of stingy jellyfish in a wince-inducing opening. As all besties would do, her college friends then book a trip to the Devil’s Mouth, a group of hazardous submerged caves for them to explore, and, inevitably, get lost in. Only, they are not alone in these caves. A particularly aggressive bull shark is also lost in there, and college kids are on the menu. There is nothing original here story-wise, but it moves along swiftly and has some fun set pieces. The underwater caves add a level of claustrophobic tension and, as always, Kathryn Newton makes a likeable final girl. Just make sure you watch it with the lights off, as it’s often so dark in the cave scenes that you won’t have a clue what you are looking at. The Devil’s Mouth is streaming on Amazon Prime
Killer Whale In case you hadn’t guessed, this swaps sharks for a rogue orca whale. This isn’t the first killer whale film, as after the success of Jaws, many inferior imitations came along, including 1977’s fishy tale Orca, with Richard Harris and Charlotte Rampling.
Actor Virginia Gardner, who was last seen stuck up a 2,000ft tower for days in breakout horror hit Fall, now finds herself stuck on a rock in the ocean for days whilst being stalked by a five-tonne orca with an attitude. Maybe she needs to find herself a new agent. After experiencing a personal tragedy, fast-food waitress Maddie (Gardner) heads off to Thailand for a much-needed break. But after an excursion on a jet ski goes awry, she finds herself marooned on a rock with her best pal Trish, who harbours a dark secret. Now, in terms of entertainment, how much mileage you can get from watching two attractive women in tiny swimsuits sit on a rock for the best part of an hour will vary considerably from one Page 36
But then, none of the events before their predicament make much sense either. The orca is captive in a run-down theme park and sometimes kills unfortunate staff members who fall into its pool. Despite this clear health and safety breach, it isn’t really mentioned. And then, for some reason, it’s now free out in the ocean, holding a grudge against humans it blames for keeping her captive, which is a fair point, I suppose.
Killer Whale is streaming on Amazon Prime
Hungry
Hippos are considered the deadliest large land animal, killing approximately 500 people each year in Africa. So, it’s surprising there hasn’t been a deadly hippo film before. Hungry, whose name plays on Hungry Hungry Hippos but is not affiliated with the classic kids’ game, is basically Jaws in the Louisiana swamplands. And yes, despite being native to Africa, there is a hippo on the loose in America. A group of tourists take a trek out on a small boat, hoping to see some crocodiles. Instead, they come across a giant hippopotamus that seemingly kills for fun. And there are plenty of hapless victims to choose from.
Deep Water
You have to feel sorry for the passengers on the flight from LA to Shanghai in director Renny Harlin’s Deep Water. Not only does their plane crash in spectacular fashion into the ocean, within minutes they are being nibbled on by a shiver of predatory Mako sharks who can’t believe their luck that dinner has literally dropped from the sky.
There’s a gruff Portuguese hunter who is basically Jaws’s Quint, who gives us all the exposition we need on how dangerous hippos are.
I recently criticised Renny Harlin for subjecting audiences to his risible The Strangers trilogy. But here he finds some of the fun artistic energy that gave us Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger, with a thrillingly visceral plane crash sequence where surely most of the film’s modest budget went.
A businesswoman who seems to be squeezing the trip in between Teams calls and never takes her suit jacket off, despite the oppressive heat and dire situation.
Although the CGI plane is a bit ropey, the actors are put through the wringer, clearly strapped into some kind of giant rotating set with gallons of water being thrown at them.
A family in peril who are out for some generational bonding time, and our obligatory final girl, Sistine, who has recently lost her job and is worrying about how to pay for her mother’s healthcare.
Aaron Eckhart, who was once at the top echelons of Hollywood after The Dark Knight, seems to have been stuck in straight-to-digital purgatory for the last ten years or so of his career. Nevertheless, he gives a committed performance here as co-pilot Ben, playing it completely straight as a man hiding from his personal problems whilst beating off sharks (ooh, err, missus) with a plastic oar.
The hippo cares for none of this and dispatches with our protagonists with ruthless efficiency. The most fun to be had is in guessing who will be next, as nobody is safe in this movie. The hippo effects are pretty good for a relatively low-budget affair, and it clocks in at just 90 minutes, which feels right. It’s just a shame it takes itself a bit too seriously and has a ludicrous ending that you can’t help but laugh at.
Even Sir Ben Kingsley (who, to be honest, will do anything for a pay cheque these days) isn’t terrible as the captain, despite a painfully off-tune karaoke performance at the start.
Spoiler alert… the hippo is just pissed off because its baby is trapped under a fence, and when they help free the calf, the hippo just wanders off with a nod and a wink. Never mind that it just killed a bunch of innocent people. At least the baby hippo is safe!
Deep Water had a limited release in cinemas across the pond but has been dumped straight to digital in the UK, which never bodes well. But this isn’t half bad. Yes, it’s really stupid. But it has that great plane sequence and a shark leaping out of the water to take down a helicopter. What more could you ask for?
Hungry is showing on Sky Movies / Now TV
Deep Water is available to rent or buy on digital Over the Edge 07803 422808
and simple. Much of my collection would be sniffed at by so-called “vinyl collectors”, those who started collecting a few years back after seeing the light and ditching Apple et al. I have never left the cause and have been collecting since the late 1960’s. But it’s pop music, pure and simple; people try to overanalyse it rather than just enjoy it. The genre doesn’t set out to change minds, other than getting you to buy it; it’s just three minutes or so of nonsense. It does, however, also provide you with a tangible record (no pun intended, but take it if you want) of events, be they good, bad, sad or indifferent. We all have a favourite song that captures the heartbreak of a breakup or the madness of a spontaneous night out that went from out to out out! These songs provide instant recall to those events, with the words often sung out loud. Two of my children and their group of friends have Mr Brightside as their ‘anthem’, and it carries a whole host of good times on its shoulders, but it obviously does for many if you recall its mention a few articles back.
of some great singer-songwriters. The Tin Pan Alley composers were in a factory environment churning out popular music for sheet music publishers, stage and theatre and of course films. Once pop music emerged as a genre, these places were true song factories.
The Edge 320 new_The Edge 172.qxd 17/02/2025 18:46 Page 29
pham ‘Man on the..C..la Omnibus... .still’
Waxing Lyrical The title of this piece sort of ties in with its subject matter; it seemed a nice catchy hook for the topic. It’s an old English term that means “speaking or writing about something with great enthusiasm, interest, or excitement, often in a poetic or expressive way.” Now, I leave it to you as to whether I ever achieve that, but let’s crack on. This is a big task to cover in just a thousand or so words.
There is an ongoing debate between me and Mrs Mott, normally about the Proclaimers, the Scottish singing twins. I love them; she is warming after twenty-five years of relentless ear-bending from me. I love their stuff; some of their records relate to a particularly good time in my younger days at work, but I insist that they write fantastic lyrics too. The lyrics tell great stories with heart, hope, romanticism, truth and often sadness. That doesn’t cut the mustard with Mrs M as she rates it all on the tune. I have asked friends, and they say similar conversations are had in their households with different sides being taken to my own. I ask you to have a think as to where you stand on this: are lyrics important or is it all about the “the choone”? Now, as you may remember from Edge’s passim, I have a substantial vinyl collection of mainly 7” singles. I love pop music, pure https://www.overtheedgemag.co.uk
But now we get to the lyrics and the impact a decent set of words has on a great tune. How did some poor soul manage to capture your emotions, sentiments, feelings, etc so well just at the time you needed to hear those words? Were they just writing for you in your moment of sadness and grief, or as a group needing some kind of chorus you could all join in together with? There is a band called The Mavericks, great combos of lyrics and tunes, who had a song on an album released around the same time my dad died suddenly and without warning. That track spoke to ME and only me; it felt as though they knew I needed it. Thirty years on, I can’t listen to that track without my eyes welling up.
Right, let’s do the history, and as always, the past has the answers. Lyrics trace back to ancient Greek lyric poetry, where poets like Sappho and Pindar composed verses meant to be sung with a lyre or other instruments, emphasising personal expression, emotion, and musicality rather than narrative storytelling. The term “lyric” itself derives from the Greek lyrikós, meaning “of the lyre,” highlighting the close connection between words and music. Early lyric poetry often explored themes of love, nature, and human experience, so we haven’t really taken it forward in any real way after a respectable period of years! The brain processes lyrics and melodies differently, making lyrics more memorable. Emotional lyrics trigger hormone releases, and music aids memory, highlighting the impact of lyrics on our brains and emotions. So, there you have it: you are programmed naturally to receive the messages in the lyrics. I can’t do this subject justice; there is so much to say, but I urge you to have a proper listen to the words as well as the beat. I heard Bye Bye Baby (Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons) as a very small boy in the 60’s as part of a big family where the eldest were teenagers. I heard it again in the 1970’s (Bay City Rollers) as a long-haired, spotty teenager at school, where I met my wife of 44 years. Both stir strong positive memories. Although there were some baddies in there... my school hymn at Graybridge “my school, my school how bravely she stands”. I can hear the unbelieving mumbles in assembly still!
The lyricist is an interesting creature, tortured, often solo, angry and pretesting, in a pair and writing happy nonsensical stuff. In popular culture, you often hear about “Tin Pan Alley”, a collection of music publishers and There are the odd rogues in the lyricist camp songwriters in New York City that dominated though; somebody actually put words to the the popular music of the United States in the EastEnders theme tune. Unforgivable, just as The Edge 320 new_The Edge 172.qxd 17/02/2025 18:46 Page 29 late 19th and early 20th centuries. Originally, the One Show theme tune is; let’s face it, the it referred to a specific location on West 28th lyricists didn’t overstretch themselves there! Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in the Flower District of Manhattan. It became a Yours aye, generic term, and the Soho district in London had its own Tin Pan Alley. In the early days, it was like most things: a male-dominated task right up until the 1960’s with the emergence
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the racecourse doing the weather forecast. Remember them? Standing there frantically waving their arms and hands around, communicating the betting odds across the track.
Place your bets! Rain at 2/1! Sunshine drifting to 5/1! Gale-force winds shortening rapidly! Snow in Basildon the 100/1 outsider! Get your bets on before Michael Fish changes his mind! You could have Ladbrokes running the Met Office. At least we might get a free bet if the barbecue gets rained off. Because despite billions of pounds worth of satellites floating around above us, we’re still basically trying to predict what a cloud is going to do, and it’s in the lap of the Gods. The Vikings prayed to Thor for wind to carry them across the waters. We just pray our wheelie bins stay in place.
Do you like piña coladas and being caught in the rain? What an amazing summer it has been, full of sunshine, and whilst it’s given us something to be cheerful about, at times we’ve been hotter than Europe. Every morning I looked at the weather forecast on my phone and often felt like I should be standing at Cheltenham with a rolled-up copy of Sporting Life under my arm, instead of in my dressing room trying to decide what to pick out to wear for the day. Heels or snow boots? Jimmy Choo slingbacks or Ralph Lauren wellies? Or should I just cancel the whole day and stay in bed? The word “forecast” itself is marvellous, isn’t it? It sounds terribly scientific. But in fact, it’s some forecaster with a big map, pointing a stick and saying things like, “possibly rain,” or, “a strong chance of gusts,” followed by lots of percentages — 20% this and 30% of that. I love it when they say there is a 50% chance of rain because, where I come from and doing the old-school maths, 50% means it might rain or it might not. Who knows?
That isn’t a forecast. That’s an each-way bet. At least the bookies have the decency to take your money before getting it wrong. And don’t get me started on the hourly forecasts. At 11am, 40% chance of rain. At 1pm, 20% chance of snow. By three o’clock, there’s a 7% chance of sunshine, a 12% chance of hail. We’ve covered all bases. How are we supposed to live like that? We are Brits. We are used to rain. We just haven’t evolved webbed feet yet. I want those old-fashioned tic-tac men from Page 38
My Nan had a far more sophisticated system. She had a wooden barometer in the ‘all way. Every house seemed to have one. A beautiful wooden thing with a little brass dial. Nan would walk past, give it a tap with one finger and announce: “Rain later.” How did it work? Nobody knew. She didn’t have satellites. She didn’t have radar. She didn’t have a £1,000 smartphone receiving information from outer space. She had a bit of wood screwed to the wall. And somehow Nan was right more often than my iPhone. And the barometer never needed charging, updating or accepting 47 pages of terms and conditions before telling you it was going to chuck it down. If you were away from home, we had the emergency meteorological system. You stood outside. Looked at the sky. Licked your finger. Held it up. “Wind’s getting up.” That was our weather station. A wet finger. Centuries of human civilisation, Galileo looking at the heavens, scientists inventing thermometers and barometers — and Grandad was standing in the garden with his index finger in the air. “Coming from the east.” “How do you know?” “Can feel it.” Case closed. Today the forecasters remind me of Mystic Meg. They stand in front of swirling graphics looking terribly serious. “I can see unsettled conditions moving towards us…” So could Mystic Meg, mate. “I sense something wet approaching from the west…” Is it rain? Or a dog relieving itself? Then we had the drought. Weeks of warnings. Reservoir levels falling. Lawns going brown. The country was apparently turning into the Sahara. And then came the announcement: HOSEPIPE BAN. My neighbour texted me at midnight to say, “I’ve just watered my garden. If you want to do yours, I won’t snitch on you.” Two o’clock in the morning and I’m lying there thinking, Should I? Forget cloud seeding — apparently all you need to end a British drought is a hosepipe ban. But there is a serious point to all this. The weather controls so much now and affects businesses; people call off trips, barbecues and parties because the forecast says it might rain. The British weather has always been bonkers. That’s why our ancestors didn’t cancel things because an app showed a tiny cloud. They
just went. A day at the seaside involved swimming costumes, jumpers, plastic rainmacs, sandwiches, a flask of tea and a windbreak strong enough to withstand an artillery attack. You’d arrive in blazing sunshine. By lunchtime you were sheltering from horizontal rain. At two the sun came back, and everyone stripped off. At three somebody was heading towards France on an inflatable lilo and the coastguard had been called out. The odds were always roughly the same: 2/1 rain before lunch, 4/1 Dad would refuse to leave, evens somebody would lose a flip-flop and odds-on Mum would eventually shout: “I TOLD YOU TO BRING A JUMPER!” And Dad would sit there, coat zipped up to his chin, sand embedded in his cheese sandwich, announcing: “Lovely day it’s been.”
We didn’t care. Today we look at Saturday’s forecast on Monday. “Forty per cent chance of rain.” Cancel everything! Why? That also means there’s a 60% chance it won’t rain. Back the favourite! We’ve had holes in the ozone layer, acid rain, melting polar caps and climate change, but perhaps the greatest casualty has been our willingness to simply look out of the window and take a chance. And maybe that’s what we’re lacking — the willingness to take chances on life and just say: “Let’s do it.” Days out in the rain can be just as much fun as waiting for the perfect day, and let’s face it, life isn’t perfect either. Because there is one forecast I can make with absolute confidence, I will never stop taking chances and living in the moment – we only get one chance at it, so make every day count. And if I’m wrong? I’ll simply do what the weather forecasters do. Come back tomorrow and have another go.
The last word goes to Jasmin Albon............ A big thank you to the beautiful and talented Jasmin Albon, a fellow columnist who used her magical powers to get some of us VIP tickets to the Chelmsford Summer Series in Central Park for the opening night. And what a night it was - Mel C on the decks blew us all away with her set; her energy was out of the box. Jodie Harsh too. The rain came, we stopped for a bit, then all carried on. Annie Mac and the Sugababes closed the show. The whole event was so well managed; a big up to the security team for how well they kept everyone smiling – they were all so professional but still joined in. It’s definitely my favourite festival, and we loved it - met so many amazing people there and our thanks to Jasmin for making it happen. My amazing friend Sally, a wizz with her camera, captured this iconic image of Mel C whilst holding a Margarita in each hand – she never spilt a drop.
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