Arial view of two tree island to southend Essex

Discover Britain through walking with the Royal Geographical society with IBG

Explore the history, nature and views your Country has to offer by walking. And it couldn’t be easier since the Royal Geographical Society has done all the hard work for you – all you have to do is download all the information you need from their website http://www.discoveringbritain.org get your walking boots on, and get moving… And what better time to be thinking about walking than in February. We all need to blow the cobwebs off that the winter entangles us in, and if you, like me, need to lose a few pounds but cannot do it by dieting, then getting moving is the answer. It can also help with the lack of energy we can feel by the short days of winter and lack of sunlight that we suffer.

Not only that, these walks can be done anytime, Winter or Summer, and at your own pace. Perhaps take a friend or family and enjoy the sights together. Take a camera, send photos to magazines or your local newspaper – all good fun!

You can travel to these walks or find one near your home – and be amazed at what natural delights are on your doorstep and they are not strenuous walks, giving more people the chance to walk them from 2 mile City or Town walks, to 2-6 mile countryside or seaside walks.

The website is easy to use, and you can choose walks by region, setting or landscape. You can see route maps for the walks, with points of interest shown with photos and information, reviews from people who have tried the walk, links to relevant external websites if you would like to find out even more and a complete photo gallery. Downloads include audio commentary, a children’s activity sheet to get them involved along the walk, a complete walking route, a route script so you can read all about what you are seeing along the walk, and a walk summary.

See my local Essex walk here: http://www.discoveringbritain.org/walks/region/east-of-england/essex-estuary.html which takes you from Benfleet to Leigh on sea. I am also pleased to say that I supplied the aerial photo of Two Tree Island for this walk.

About RGS-IBG

The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) is an educational charity and the learned society and professional body for geography and geographers.

The Society was founded in 1830 and has had a long and distinguished history in scientific research and exploration and in sharing new knowledge with a wide range of audiences. Today the Society is a leading world centre for geography and geographical learning – supporting research, education, expeditions and fieldwork, public enjoyment of geography and the transfer of knowledge to policy.

Members support the Society’s work through their subscriptions, have access to a wide range of activities and receive the Geographical Magazine. Membership is open to everyone who has an interest in the world around them (www.rgs.org/joinus).

So, do something new today and get moving!

Sandra

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Colin Wyatt of Canvey Essex his JetSet books

I want to tell you about a new series of books for children created by local Canvey illustrator, Colin Wyatt – they are animated, colourful and help raise awareness of the problems faced by a selection of animals in the wild and even better, all profits will go to the animal charity, the Born Free Foundation.

A little about Colin…

Colin Wyatt has been an illustrator since 1957 where he worked for Amalgamated Press, which later became IPC magazines, on children’s comics such as Jack and Jill and playhour. But from 1970 IPC bought the Disney franchise and he began working on the prestigious job of illustrating Disney characters for annuals, monthlies and weeklies – his dream job. During those years, he was even invited out to the Disney studios in Burbank, California where he and his family were able to see films being made and animation in action.

Later turning freelance for a few years, Colin co-created the Poddington Peas in 1985. Colin worked on all the animation and Paul Needs from Hadleigh, Essex, wrote the stories. So successful were the peas, it later became a TV series.

About the books…

Now, after years of illustrating for other people, Colin has created his own set of books, illustrating and writing the stories for his series ‘The Jet Set’. Basically, these are books for 5-8 year olds, and all four books tell a tale of the adventures of a group of four superhero animals (The Jet Set) who rescue other animals around the world who are in danger. The underlying purpose and message of these books is to raise awareness of environmental and conservation issues surrounding animals in the wild, and that is why in the back of each book there is a fact file on the animal featured in the book. So, the books are educational as well as giving children wonderful stories to read.

Helping charities and the plight of animals in the wild…

The fact file was put together by Virginia McKenna of the Born Free Foundation, which is a charity the actress set up with the message that wildlife are born free and should stay free and in the wild across the world. (www.bornfree.org.uk )The profits raised will go to the Born Free foundation, which is just lovely, so there are plenty of reasons why to buy the Jet Set books.

I have read all four of the series, and they are beautifully illustrated, colourful, easy to understand, take the reader on a fun journey with the Jet Set, and yet they are also educational and help animals stay in the wild. Who could ask for more from buying a set a children’s books?

 

Getting them published…

And it isn’t just Born Free or Colin who are animal lovers involved in this project. Colin’s daughter, Debz Hobbs-Wyatt teamed up with her Dad to publish these books through her publishing company, Paws n Claws publishing, which specialises in stories about animals in the wild and supports the Born Free Foundation.

Well done Colin, Debz and Born Free – I hope you sell lots of books and keep spreading the word about the plight of animals in the wild.

www.colin-wyatt.co.uk  – Read more about the man himself and the many characters he has worked on such as the Jungle Book, Care Bears, Thomas the tank engine and very many more!

www.thejet-set.com  – Gain some more insight into the books and use the links on this website to purchase the series or a singular book

www.pawsnclawspublishing.co.uk  – Read more about the publishing company set up by Debz Hobbs-Wyatt and other books she has published to raise awareness of the problems faced by animals in the wild

www.bornfree.org.uk  – Read all about the Born Free Foundation set up by actress Virginia McKenna and find out where profits from the Jet Set books will be going.

http://debzhobbs-wyatt.co.uk  – Debz Hobbs-Wyatt is also a published author herself and offers editorial help to other writers in the form of critiques and mentoring schemes.

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I have now supplied to South Woodham Ferrers (Essex) Council for their website here: http://www.southwoodhamferrerstc.gov.uk/aerial-photograph  . Also, The Royal Geographical Society bought one for their new project ‘Discovering Britain’ which is a series of walks that will help people to explore and discover the beauty, wildlife and landscapes of Britain. I supplied to them a photo of Two tree Island, Essex.  The website is in progress so my photo and the walks are not on there yet, but do check it out soon and maybe you can discover Britain too! http://www.discoveringbritain.org

Yorkshire Life and Essex Life magazine have printed various photos and on top of that, I have sold Essex, Yorkshire and Orkney Scotland aerial photos to various private buyers, who wanted to give them as presents to loved ones. It’s a great idea as a present, birthday, Christmas or otherwise and I have supplied photos through the postal service as well as emailing j-pegs directly

I have aerial photos of many areas of Britain and my prices are well under other peoples, so if you think I might have a photo to suit, don’t hesitate to ask me.

info@notjustanessexgirl.com

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As everyone will know by now, Dougie won, so well done to him but as far as I am concerned, well done anyone who can get through that show!!!

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dale farm October 29 2011 Basildon Essex copyright Sandra M Dean

I thought I would take some aerial photos of Dale farm in Basildon, Essex now that the eviction has taken place and the council are clearing the land…

Apart from a few caravans the land has mainly been cleared.

More photos to follow…

To view, please click on the photo and use the back button in your web browser (ie Internet Explorer etc) to come back to this page…

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But, tonight we walked in without a booking and after looking at her paper reservation list, the manager, who I do not remember seeing before, told us that we could not sit in the restaurant as we requested as they were fully booked for the evening.  So, we sat in the bar area, although we did not want to.  I got chilly, as the bar area was not too warm and the door is located nearby.  We asked for sparkling water, ice and lemon and she left the unopened bottle on the table for us to pour, which is poor in a restaurant of that nature.

We ordered wine and our first two courses, which sounded lovely.  I got my camera out ready to photograph our food for a new up to date review I was going to write for the restaurant.  Then, three people walked in without a booking and asked if they could have a table.  Again, the manager looked at her reservation list and proceeded to seat them in the restaurant with a smile.

We decided to question her as to why she did not give us a table in the restaurant as we had asked and she had no answer or apology.  I found her attitude incredible since she is in customer services and bizarre that she had no reason to act in this way.  Michael challenged her again and paid for the bottle of wine which we’d barely touched.   She charged full restaurant price and walked off again with no explanation or apology.  We were very upset at this poor service.  And after giving them such lovely reviews in the past, and having been there so many times, it was an insult.  I know from my previous years in the hotel and restaurant industry that keeping customers happy is the key to getting paid and making money.

Those of you who know my site and my writing will know that I do not complain very often, but when I do feel the need I do so as I feel I should share the bad as well as the good and I dont like it when people are treated differently for no reason.  I still cannot believe Michael paid for the wine, because I would not have since it was her rudness that caused us to leave.  (we have since had feedback from a number of people and everyone bar one person would have left the restaurant, not paid for the wine and not gone back.   I have also since emailed the restaurant and they didnt even bother to reply or apologise – it says it all!)

Anyway it all ended very happily as I then suggested we go to one of our local favourites, the Roslin Hotel in Thorpe Bay, for dinner.  We had a fabulous meal – prawn cocktail and salmon fishcakes to start, whole grilled plaice and fish pie for main and profiteroles and apple and plum crumble for dessert, all washed down with a bottle of Sancerre – gorgeous!  The staff are so friendly there since they sorted out their staff issues a long time ago, so I knew that they would not let us down.  I took photos so will post a new review for them soon.  The Roslin and Harrions in Hockley are our current favourites local to Southend on sea, for that British/European style food and the Masa in Hadleigh and Saffron Lounge in Hamlet Court Road are favourites for indian.  For thai, I still like the Rak Chang and, of course, Irmas for a pizza.  I have so many more favourites, but I will not go on…  Apart from saying that the thai massage place in Leigh on sea is fabulous!  Overall favourites when looking further afield, it has to be the Ivy in London and Chapter one in Kent.  There are so many great restaurants in Britain and abroad, thankfully!

Sandra

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These travellers are Ethnic Irish travellers and have been living on the green belt site for over 10 years, knowing all the time that they were wrongfully living there.  They lost their battle a few weeks ago to stay on the site and have been refusing to go.

Many celebrities are talking about how it is right, but these people do not have to live on the doorstep of this site and the people on it.  Local people have been complaining about them, and surely they are the ones we should be listening to.  They are supposed messy and bad neighbours.

There are many activists on site who are talking about giving up their lives in support of this campaign. 

Everyone has been talking about spending the £18 million on re-homing them, but this would then be blackmail, as they would be getting free homes for their fight, whtn they dont even pay council tax or other bills.

The story goes on today…

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Southend on sea carnival on the seafront 2011

All by accident, I stumbled upon the Southend on sea carnival on Saturday night (20th August 2011).  I was having dinner overlooking Eastern Esplanade, when we heard it coming along. 

So glad we did too, as there was a huge effort clearly involved in the dress, activities, music and vehicles this year. 

From ‘Cotton eye Joe’ to dance music, the parade had something for everyone and seemed particularly lively.  I had no idea it started in Chalkwell, so it is a long parade and is on every year.  I have seen it before, but it seemed like there were many more floats this year to me. 

A great effort for everyone involved!

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Whitney goes too, to escape the clutches of Rob (Jody Latham) only to find that he has followed her there as the drama continues.  While Shirley (Linda Henry) and Heather (Cheryl Furguson) are planning to go to an eighties convention.  A fight breaks out with Rob and Ryan – very exciting!

Well, I look forward to seeing our Town on the TV, and it was a pleasure to watch them recording scenes for this weeks showing back in June 2011.  You can view the details of this, plus photos of Whitney, Fatboy, Heather and Shirley by CLICKING HERE to open up my article…

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