Test your reaction times with this driving game from Essex County Council & DriveEssex.co.uk. The game won’t make you a better driver but you could win a driving experience with ATC which almost certainly will.

A top selling frozen meat free brand.
A recent innovation in meat substitution is now extremely popular in the UK and Ireland: Quorn can be found in supermarket and health food shops as both a cooking ingredient and pre-prepared ready meals. Recently featured on “The Today Show” as one of the forty foods with health benefits for people over forty, Quorn was the top-selling frozen meat free brand in natural food stores.

What makes Quorn so popular?
Apart from being a comparatively recent breakthrough in meat alternatives, there are many nutritional reasons why Quorn is recommended. Unlike most meat substitutes, Quorn is free of soy, a common allergen. Also, its health benefits are comparable to meat, since it contains amino acids. Plus, it has zero cholesterol and is low in fat, allowing you to feel satisfied with fewer calories.

What are Quorn products made of?
All Quorn products are made with mycoprotein, a healthy meat-free form of high quality protein, developed to prevent the world from becoming deficient in protein-rich food.

Environmentally friendly too.
Research shows that the embedded carbon in producing Quorn is at least a third less than that in best quality minced beef, although it is believed more detailed studies will evidence an even greater variance.

A great variety of meals.
There are many different dishes you can prepare using Quorn. For example, consumers’ top five favorite healthy recipes include: Quorn Spaghetti Bolognese, Quorn Cottage Pie, Chilli with Quorn, Quorn Lasagne and Quorn Sausages with Garlic Mash and Onion Gravy. Vegans and health-food proponents had never before enjoyed such a wide variety of meals.#

For more information and recipes visit  www.quorn.co.uk/recipes

Essex and Southend LINk is an organization which looks to improve health and social care in the area. The LINk gives people the chance to say what they think and to suggest ideas to help improve services. The LINk works with care professionals to make sure everyone’s views are heard. Their website is http://www.essexandsouthendlink.org.uk

The Essex and Southend LINk are carrying out some research that has been developed following concerns that following diagnosis of a long term condition, the sufferer (or someone close to them), feel that they have been given insufficient information and/or support. The project aims to identify how information should be given to enable a better understanding and management of the condition after diagnosis.

The findings of LINk’s report will be presented to the GP consortium for North East Essex (which the PCT shall become in 2011 following governmental reforms). Recommendations may be implemented based on the report results.

The research comes in the form of a questionnaire and they are inviting people in Essex to complete the questionnaire and return it by the end of February 2011.

To take part in the research:

The survey can be completed online at:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/longtermconditiondiagnosis

To download a copy of the ‘Long Term Condition Questionnaire’ go to:

http://www.essexandsouthendlink.org.uk/?p=5579

The questionnaire can be emailed back to annie.sayer@essexandsouthendlink.org.uk.

RETURNING YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE BY EMAIL:   If returning your questionnaire by email, please be aware that we cannot guarantee the security of transmitting data in this way and you are asked to take this into consideration.

The questionnaire can be printed and free- posted to:

Freepost: RSAB-CLKK-TECR, Annie Sayer, Essex and Southend LINk, CEMVO, 1 Bond Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1GD

If you would like be sent a hard copy of the Long Term Condition Questionnaire(s) or require any more information then the please contact:

Annie Sayer BSc MRes, Project Researcher (North East Locality), Essex and Southend Link , Mob: 07729 285352, 1 Bond Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1GD

Of course, the snow has caused problems, but the extent to which it has been victimised as the cause of the UK’s further  demise has been so over the top that it’s easy to forget the true beauty of it, and what positivity it can bring.

Instead of driving, employees have travelled to work on the bus. The snow has provided a wonderful topic of conversation that almost all can contribute to. As a consequence, passengers have been interacting with one another; sharing their stories and experiences. We’ve ditched the earphones and have engaged, listened and laughed.

Passing people on the pavement with big wellies on over the top of smart suits and coats has certainly been a sight to smile about. Instead of walking normally, the nation have stamped and stomped and wobbled. We’ve been aware of one another and more often than normal, smiles have been reciprocated.

The landscape itself has been made so much more interesting. Stepping through untouched snow is incredibly satisfying, although footprints have left their guilty marks down paths and front gardens. Paw prints and birds’ feet have been dotted around too- it’s not just us who have to put up with the weather, remember.

Interestingly, teamwork is at its best when the snow has fallen. We help each other sweep drives, push cars, and give advice. Essex has certainly seen its fair share of snowmen, snowballs, igloos and even Christmas puddings!

However, after all the frolics outside, there’s nothing better than to come indoors, snuggle up by the fire and enjoy a hot drink. Snow definitely makes a large hot chocolate taste even more amazing, plus it gives us an excuse to add cream and extra marshmallows…doesn’t it?

To conclude, and as we look to the week ahead, do take care in the snow and ice but remember it’s not all bad. Look past the chaos and disorder, make a snow angel and try to appreciate the beautiful scenery before it melts away and disappears.

Chilli powder is a safe and effective way of ensuring that only the intended recipients of bird seed get the food.

The RSPB is suggesting that gardeners dust a small amount of the pungent powder over seed and suet mixes in feeders and on tables as it will deter thieving squirrels whilst not affecting birds’ feeding habits.

An effective solution
Lloyd Scott, RSPB Wildlife Adviser says: “Using chilli powder to deter squirrels, is a cheap, easy and effective solution. Feeding garden birds is a popular – and vital – pastime in the UK and the RSPB gets thousands of calls each year from frustrated gardeners asking how to stop squirrels eating all their bird seed.  Squirrels can consume large amounts of peanuts and seeds and quite frequently destroy bird feeders in the process. Chilli powder will stop them helping themselves but doesn’t seem to have any effect on birds at all. This is much simpler than erecting barriers and trying to prevent access to feeders for squirrels – they are nimble, clever animals and will usually find a way in anyway!”

Recipe for success
Make sure seed mixes are thoroughly coated but not hidden in the powder. Put the powder in a bag with the seed mix and shake it up. Other kitchen deterrents include curry powder, Tabasco, peri-peri sauce, red pepper and Cayenne pepper.

Of course you can always put a separate feeder out just for the squirrels, if like us, you still like to see them in your garden.

What a splendid opportunity to help a worthwhile cause and be environmentally responsible by recycling those used postage stamps at the same time.

Please send your stamps (any amount, large or small) to:

Pat Nelson, 137 Rochford Garden Way, Rochford. Essex SS41QL
For more information about the Huntingtons Disease Association visit www.hda.org.uk
or to contact the Southend branch email terrynelson123@btinternet.com

Each year the eastern coast of England and Scotland receives a scattering of Waxwing, typically in very small numbers. Every so often however, irruptions occur, when high numbers of birds and a scarcity of food on their normal wintering grounds forces them to forage more widely, resulting in greatly increased numbers reaching the UK. It is looking like such an influx is on the cards for the winter of 2010/11.

Read what Ross Gardner has to say about the Waxwing in the Healthy Life Essex article ‘The Waxwing Cometh‘.

Let us know if/when/where you see these birds and send us your photographs – you may get them published on Healthy Life Essex.

Please support the work of Essex Wildlife Trust by giving an original gift this Christmas or New Year and at the same time help protect your Essex Wildlife for the future.

For more information see This Christmas give a gift for wildlife!, click on the image or visit the Essex Wildlife Trust Just Giving page

Seasoned walkers claimed it was more of a stroll than a walk – true really because it was less than 2 miles – but what it lacked in length it more than made up for in beauty (Autumnal colours all the way) and fun. Back at the pub we had a couple of  jolly hours tucking into lunch and the odd drink – a good time was had by all!.

Its hoped to start a small walking group in the New Year to step out a bit further and try out the other 8 walks in the book.  Get in touch with Eileen (01268 752264) if you are interested in joining in with that.

The book, priced at £3.50, is available in Thundersley village from The White Hart, Dan’s Supermarket and Village Cards, and is also available from the Book Inn, Broadway West, Leigh-on-Sea.

Or call Eileen Peck on 01268 752264. If you belong to a group and would like to ‘bulk’ buy then a small commission could be agreed.

See also www.thundersleyonfoot.co.uk