R.Kelly’s Back Making Music

AFTER three long years since his last album, R.Kelly is back with his new album, Black Panties.

This album has 17 tracks on the deluxe version and features superstars Ludacris, Kelly Rowland, 2 Chainz, Future, Juicy J and more.

The 46-year-old offers something different with each track, but it all fits together into one flowing masterpiece.  His vocal range is amazing and he isn’t afraid to flaunt his talent in each song.

There is so much passion with he sings and even though the lyrics aren’t romantic or personal, the melody of every song is so catchy.

This album has a sound that really fits into the music industry at the moment, but his style is very unique. It is fresh and each track is unpredictable.

R.Kelly's new album Black Panties

It is certainly an album that offers something different with every track. There is a mixture of R&B, Soul, Pop and Ballads and his voice suits each one of these music styles.

He is that much of a superstar he has brought out a new sound from Kelly Rowland in the All the Way track. She sings in falsetto which she rarely sings in and it really compliments R.Kelly’s voice. Rather than having someone feature just to give the song more credibility, all of the features on this album have an equal amount to sing so it is more like a duet. This is very rare to come across.

This album is very chilled out. It’s great to listen to for background music. It would have been nice to have one or two songs that have a little more bass and a faster tempo, but I guess R.Kelly is known for his slower tempo R&B songs. Despite that, it is certainly a must buy at £10.99 for the deluxe edition.

Preview it on iTunes here: 

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/black-panties-deluxe-version/id742663988

Chester Intelligencer reporter, Amy Poole

Leona Lewis Gets Christmassy

LEONA LEWIS’ voice is pretty much perfect and her album Christmas, With Love, a cover album of Christmas tracks, puts the original singers of these songs to shame.

This album has all the Christmas classics, including Winter Wonderland, Silent Night and I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday.

She sings each one beautifully and this album is very festive. She has a wide vocal range and great control over her voice. She’s really pleasant to listen to because she doesn’t over-do her singing.

Each track is very similar to the original to make this album great for all ages.

Her young voice has really brought the old classics to life, but it would have been nice to have heard something different from these tracks. It feels like she has brought out this album for no real purpose. She hasn’t been around for a long time, so it could be a way to get back into the public eye and singing Christmas songs is an easy way of doing this.

Although this album isn’t a disappointment for Christmas addicts, it is disappointing for music lovers. There are so many artists who have brought out a Christmas cover album, so this one doesn’t really offer anything different. If Leona had have played around with the melodies and gave each song a unique sound, it would have been a more satisfying buy.

This album is similar to Mariah Carey’s Christmas album, which was on sale nearly ten years ago. Sorry Leona, but Mariah did it better. Not because she is a better singer, because they both have tremendous talent, but because when Mariah’s album was released, it was different to any other singers who sang the songs.

Listen to a preview of Christmas, With Love here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXAyf0FUk7U

To purchase Christmas, With Love, visit iTunes here: 

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/christmas-with-love/id731437243

Chester Intelligencer reporter, Amy Poole

Leona's new Christmas album,
taken from http://www.rickey.org/leona-lewis-christmas-love-mp3-album-sampler/

Review: 18th century Chester physician display

THE WORK of a pioneering 18^th century Chester physician was displayed at Cheshire Records Office this weekend as part of a nationwide celebration of historical figures in healthcare.

Cheshire Records Office. Photo: Liam Cookson

A recreation of Dr John Haygarth’s work was on display in conjunction with the national Explore Your Archive day on Saturday November 16.

A medical chest filled with copies of Haygarth’s original journals, patient records and photographs was on a special display for one day only. Although a very small display, the cabinet has drawers that can be opened and explored, and the contents rifled through.

Particularly striking and poignant are the patient records, which list if a patient 'recovered', 'died', or is 'incurable'. The recreation of Haygarth’s patient books showed a decrease of patients dying and notable increase in recoveries as his career progressed.

The display was well organised and held many photographs and other visual aids which made the subject much more interesting. A real snapshot into the life of the physician was successfully presented, and the ability to physically interact with everything on show made the display much more fun.

But why did the Records Office choose Haygarth as their subject? Paul Newman, of Cheshire Records Office said: “Using the general theme of ‘health’ it was obvious we should display Haygarth’s work.”

The Explore Your Archive campaign was a successful nationwide event, which encouraged local residents to visit their local archives and record offices to discover the history of the city they live in.

Haygarth’s innovative ideas were ground breaking at the time and were used first hand in Chester Infirmary, where he was a part of the staff.

His straightforward beliefs, such as regularly changing bed sheets and opening windows to let in fresh air helped countless patients recover from their diseases.

The physician’s work most notably helped Chester stay Typhus free for over 36 years whilst he was stationed at Chester Infirmary.

The inaugural Haygarth Lecture, an annual talk on important health issues was hosted in memorial of the doctor took place on Monday November 18 at the University of Chester.

If any readers are interested in this subject, the University of Chester's Faculty of Health and Social Care museum at the Riverside campus is a year-round display of medical curiosities, mostly taken from Chester Infirmary.

Sandiway's Round Tower rebuild: still awaiting a decision

AROUND 10.30pm on November 14 a Red Corsa veered into and destroyed a 200 year old Cheshire landmark.

The remains of the tower being removed. Photo: Michael Howroyd

Within the few seconds of the crash, the tower was damaged severely. The following morning, Cheshire West and Chester Council decided to take apart the whole structure.

The driver of the car, who was said to be a 50-year-old woman, was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries. Although an unfortunate incident, no one was seriously hurt.

The tower, beloved by the residents of Sandiway and the surrounding Cheshire area, was built in the 1800s, and has a local newsletter named after it. Far from being a building of great historical significance or use, the grade II listed monument is well known has nonetheless become a topic of heated debate.

In a bid to aid public safety, the remainder of the tower was totally deconstructed after the accident by the council and the sandstone bricks put in storage. The morning after the incident, the council posted this tweet:

@Go_CheshireWest Our teams are already planning reconstruction of the tower on the A556 and we always pursue costs from drivers' insurance companies.

Soon after, anger and disappointment spread throughout the surrounding area. Immediately, members of the public came forward through social media and tried to make their voice heard:  “the Round Tower should be rebuilt.”

The council have been discussing the options of rebuilding, and plan to submit an application in February 2014. The public want answers now.

Countless tweets and posts later, an ambitious Facebook group was created: ‘Rebuild the Round Tower’. It gleaned over 1,000 participants in under 24 hours, and now it’s set to break the 2,000 mark. This group represents a fraction of the public as a whole.

Offline, the public have been showing their support for the cause. Owner of Beeston Reclamation Yard, John Newton, has offered a supply of his own sandstone bricks in order for the tower to be reconstructed as quickly as possible.

Is this a decision that Cheshire West and Chester council can even make? English Heritage have been contacted and are currently in discussions with the council on what the best plan of action will be.

And yet, no ultimate decision can be made yet. A public forum meeting is to be held on Monday 16^th of December, which is sure to reflect the anxieties and wishes of the social media campaign, and through them, the general public. Hopefully their voice will be heard: “the Round Tower should be rebuilt”. And quick.

Best Accounts to Follow on Twitter in the Run-up to Christmas

[caption id="attachment_1204" align="alignnone" width="300"] [http://webdesignfan.com][/caption]In the anticipating run up to Christmas what better way to get into the festive spirit than to follow an array of Twitter accounts to make your timeline Christmas crazy!

Here are some of the best festive accounts to follow at this time of year:

@ ChristmasCount – This account is perfect fun for the Christmas season and is sure to bring some festive cheer whilst your scrolling through your usual timeline. Its bio reads: “Twitter's Christmas Countdown! Follow us for Christmas updates, trivia, announcements and holiday fun all year!

Example:

https://twitter.com/ChristmasCount/status/410575140549062656

 

@SantaBanter_ - This one’s for the adults. A comedic and hilarious Santa parody that combines crude humour with Christmas countdown tweets.

Example:

https://twitter.com/SantaBanter_/status/410455765896687616

 

@ Buddy_Teh_Elf – This is a wonderful account filled with humorous quotes from the movie ‘Elf’. The bio of this account reads: “SANTA! OH MY GOD! SANTA'S COMING! I KNOW HIM! I KNOW HIM! I'm Buddy The Elf, Christmas is my favourite!

Example:

https://twitter.com/Buddy_Teh_Elf/status/410263832540364801

 

All of these account combine humour with all the fun of the run up to Christmas day and are a great way to keep you smiling as you scroll through your timeline on Twitter.

Christleton celebrates local resident's 100th birthday party in style

The village of Christleton celebrated Janette Shaw's 100th birthday yesterday afternoon with a large group of local guests and old friends in Waverton at the Evangelical Fellowship centre.

The party began with a warm-hearted speech on ‘meeting the great mile stone’, which gave everyone a true reflection on all of the evolvements in science, technology and transport which Janette has seen throughout her lifetime.

Janette’s history began when she was born in Manchester on the rather special date of the 11th day of the 12th month of the 13th year and a century later has been lucky enough to celebrate this day again.

In her early life Janette worked as a typist for the civil service during the Second World War. A few years after the war she met her husband, Police Officer, Jack Shaw who she moved around Cheshire with until they decided to settle in the village of Christleton in the year 1969 and start a family.

Until recently Janette was one of the talented six ladies who made tapestries in the Women’s Institution. She says, “I have always been a fond knitter and when I was younger I was a dress maker”. An event Janette still enjoys taking part in are the local quizzes and where she is still sharper than most of the younger ones there.

Keeping up appearances is something Janette takes great pride of, as she enjoys wearing a spot of makeup and even wore a stylish pastel pink river island shirt for the birthday party.

The event was organised by volunteers from the Waverton Day Care Centre where Janette has been a member of since 2009 who did a brilliant job with deocations and refreshments.

Today, Janette and her loved ones are looking forwards to receiving her telegram from the Queen at her second party this afternoon.

[caption id="attachment_1201" align="alignleft" width="225"] Janette Shaw, at her 100th Birthday. Image by Rebecca Jones [/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1202" align="alignnone" width="300"] Friends and family of Janette. Image by Rebecca Jones[/caption]

Movember madness

IN November 2003, Australian friends went a whole month without shaving their moustaches to raise money for charity.

Now, ten years later, Movember has become a recognised part of the calender with 1.1 million people registering as 'Mo's.' Supporting over 560 men's health charities the annual event has raised £94 million and now takes place in 21 countries.

The main focus in the past few years has been men's mental health charities but money raised also goes towards prostate and testicular cancer charities.

Adam Garone, Movember co-founder and CEO said: "Whilst the quantum funds is truly impressive, what is equally important are the conversations and awareness about men's health."

There are hundreds of different forms of mental illness that effect both men and women, but, in the UK young males have higher levels of suicide than any other social group. Jonathan Phillips, 21, suffers from mild

[caption id="attachment_1192" align="alignright" width="168"] Movember is a light hearted way to raise money for an excellent cause.[/caption]

depression and raises money every year for the cause, he said: "I do Movemeber every year with three other friends. It's important for people to realise that mental illness can effect anyone and sufferers might be unaware they have it or be too embarrassed to go a get help." He added: "Its a great light hearted way to raise money and awareness for a serious cause but also to help remove the stigma attached to mental heath issues."

Chester joined in the fundraising this year once again with those young and old from schools to offices and nightclubs donning either a real or drawn on beard to promote the cause.

Related articles

• Grow a Mo' for Movember (getyouseen.wordpress.com)


• Movember (thesocaleediary.wordpress.com)

Beating the winter blues this Christmas

THE WINTER IS the season that gets darker, colder and for some gets depressing. For some the thought of cuddling up on the couch listening to the rainfall becomes a dampening habit rather than a cosy night in. People who can notice an emotional difference due to the changes of season may have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) also known as ‘winter depression’. SAD is a classified type of depression that occurs during certain types of the year affecting millions of people in the UK.

There are a number of symptoms which when combined, can be helpful in diagnosing the disorder. They include; feeling lethargic and unproductive, feeling pains in your joints, feeling depressed or irritable and finding it difficult to concentrate. If you are someone that is struggling with these symptoms, there are a variety of ways to over come the winter blues and enjoy the festive season.

Firstly, eating the right types of food can have an amazing effect on your body and mind as getting the correct vitamins and proteins can do the world of good. One main vitamin we need is the ‘sunshine vitamin’, better known as vitamin D which is naturally produced when the sunlight hits the skin. But in the winter months, where there is little natural sunlight, you are more likely to run a deficit.

Vitamin D is important for maintaining a healthy immune system, cell growth, and bone remodelling so getting the right amount each day will help ensure that you feel as your best and decrease the severity of SAD. As vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium eating beef, cheese and eggs are a brilliant way to help you from the inside out.

Once you have got eating healthy, another great way of overcoming the winter sadness is by finding workouts that you enjoy. When you feel low, you may want to curl up in a ball in your bed watching episodes of Friends but exercising can be one of the best ways to combat depression.

Having a regular exercise program, no matter how ambitious or small can boost your well being by causing a flood of feel-good endorphins rush around your body. For SAD sufferers, doing enjoyable workouts such as dancing, yoga or swimming are great and leave you feeling sustained and less anxious.

Maintaining a good sleeping pattern is important to do over the winter months. As the winter days are short it is best to wake up as early as possible to enjoy the best of the sunlight hours and get outside as much as you can. To get the best out of your sleeping hours, try going to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning. This will help you feel energised and refreshed, ready for the day.

Another way of feeling brighter this winter is by trying light therapy. Light therapy is useful for people who lack vitamin D and works by purchasing a ‘light box’. A ‘light box’ is a very bright lamp (3,000-10,000 lux) that helps your body create natural vitamin D. They may not work for everyone and can cause headaches so it is best to consult a specialist on how they work.

Mind-set is a powerful thing so try and teach yourself to enjoy the winter perks! Take advantage of the nights in to relax and enjoy watching films. Learn a winter hobby, like skiing or do an indoor sport such as badminton or squash. Don’t put your life on pause over the months that can be just as enjoyable as the spring and summer, just understand the reasons why before things can change.


[caption id="attachment_1161" align="alignnone" width="199"] Learn to overcome SAD and enjoy the winter again. Image by Rebecca Jones[/caption]

Beating the winter blues this Christmas

THE WINTER IS the season that gets darker, colder and for some gets depressing. For some the thought of  cuddling up on the couch listening to the rainfall becomes a dampening habit rather than a cosy night in. People who can notice an emotional difference due to the changes of season may have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) also known as ‘winter depression’. SAD is a classified type of depression that occurs during certain types of the year affecting millions of people in the UK.

There are a number of symptoms which when combined, can be helpful in diagnosing the disorder. They include; feeling lethargic and unproductive, feeling pains in your joints, feeling depressed or irritable and finding it difficult to concentrate. If you are someone that is struggling with these symptoms, there are a variety of ways to over come the winter blues and enjoy the festive season.

Firstly, eating the right types of food can have an amazing effect on your body and mind as getting the correct vitamins and proteins can do the world of good. One main vitamin we need is the ‘sunshine vitamin’, better known as vitamin D which is naturally produced when the sunlight hits the skin. But in the winter months, where there is little natural sunlight, you are more likely to run a deficit.

Vitamin D is important for maintaining a healthy immune system, cell growth, and bone remodelling so getting the right amount each day will help ensure that you feel as your best and decrease the severity of SAD. As vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium eating beef, cheese and eggs are a brilliant way to help you from the inside out.

Once you have got eating healthy, another great way of overcoming the winter sadness is by finding workouts that you enjoy. When you feel low, you may want to curl up in a ball in your bed watching episodes of Friends but exercising can be one of the best ways to combat depression.

Having a regular exercise program, no matter how ambitious or small can boost your well being by causing a flood of feel-good endorphins rush around your body. For SAD sufferers, doing enjoyable workouts such as dancing, yoga or swimming are great and leave you feeling sustained and less anxious.

Maintaining a good sleeping pattern is important to do over the winter months. As the winter days are short it is best to wake up as early as possible to enjoy the best of the sunlight hours and get outside as much as you can.  To get the best out of your sleeping hours, try going to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning. This will help you feel energised and refreshed, ready for the day.

Another way of feeling brighter this winter is by trying light therapy. Light therapy is useful for people who lack vitamin D and works by purchasing a ‘light box’. A ‘light box’ is a very bright lamp (3,000-10,000 lux) that helps your body create natural vitamin D. They may not work for everyone and can cause headaches so it is best to consult a specialist on how they work.

Mind-set is a powerful thing so try and teach yourself to enjoy the winter perks! Take advantage of the nights in to relax and enjoy watching films. Learn a winter hobby, like skiing or do an indoor sport such as badminton or squash. Don’t put your life on pause over the months that can be just as enjoyable as the spring and summer, just understand the reasons why before things can change.

[caption id="attachment_1161" align="alignleft" width="199"] Learn to overcome SAD and enjoy the winter again[/caption]

Thousands Gather to see the Coca Cola Christmas Truck in Chester

The iconic truck rolled into Broughton Retail Park on 28^th November and parked up where people were able to get their picture taken  and were offered free cans of coca cola.

The event was all free of charge and a professional photographer was on hand to ensure the magical moment was captured on film. The pictures were later uploaded on the Coke Zone website where attendees could download their special moment at no cost.

A speaker warmed up the crowd of hundreds that queued up to get their picture taken and a speaker on the truck played Christmas music out loud including the ‘holidays are coming’ song that the truck is known for.

The truck is planned to make 52 stops up until 23^rd December and is sure to bring Christmas cheer all over the country.

Beating the winter blues this Christmas

THE WINTER IS the season that becomes darker, colder and for some gets depressing. For some the thought of cuddling up on the couch listening to the rain becomes a dampening habit rather than a cosy night in. People who can notice an emotional difference due to the change of season may have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) also known as ‘winter depression’. SAD is a classified type of depression that occurs during certain types of the year affecting millions of people across the UK.

There are a number of symptoms which when combined, can be helpful in diagnosing the disorder. They include; feeling lethargic and unproductive, feeling pains in your joints, feeling depressed or irritable and finding it difficult to concentrate. If you are someone that is struggling with any of these symptoms, there are a variety of ways to over come the winter blues and enjoy the festive season.

Firstly, eating the right types of food can have an amazing effect on your body and mind, as getting the correct vitamins and proteins can do the world of good. One main vitamin we need is the ‘sunshine vitamin’, better known as vitamin D which is naturally produced when the sunlight hits the skin. But in the winter months, where there is little natural sunlight, you are more likely to run a deficit.

Vitamin D is important for maintaining a healthy immune system, cell growth, and bone remodelling so getting the right amount each day will help ensure that you feel as your best and decrease the severity of SAD. As vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium eating beef, cheese and eggs are a brilliant way to help you from the inside out.

Once you have got eating healthy, another great way of overcoming the winter sadness is by finding workouts that you enjoy. When you feel low, you may want to curl up in a ball in your bed watching episodes of Friends but exercising can be one of the best ways to combat depression.

Having a regular exercise program, no matter how ambitious or small can boost your well being by causing a flood of feel-good endorphins rush around your body. For SAD sufferers, doing enjoyable workouts such as dancing, yoga or swimming are great and leave you feeling sustained and less anxious.

Maintaining a good sleeping pattern is important to do over the winter months. As the winter days are short it is best to wake up as early as possible to enjoy the best of the sunlight hours and get outside as much as you can.  To get the best out of your sleeping hours, try going to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning. This will help you feel energised and refreshed, ready for the day.

Another way of feeling brighter this winter is by trying light therapy. Light therapy is useful for people who lack vitamin D and works by purchasing a ‘light box’. A ‘light box’ is a very bright lamp (3,000-10,000 lux) that helps your body create natural vitamin D. They may not work for everyone and can cause headaches so it is best to consult a specialist on how they work.

Mind-set is a powerful thing so try and teach yourself to enjoy the winter perks! Take advantage of the nights in to relax and enjoy watching films. Learn a winter hobby, like skiing or do an indoor sport such as badminton or squash. Don’t put your life on pause over the months that can be just as enjoyable as the spring and summer, just understand the reasons why before things can change.

 

[caption id="attachment_1161" align="alignleft" width="199"] Learn to overcome SAD and enjoy the winter months[/caption]

Review: Gate of India Restaurant

The Gate of India Restaurant, situated on City Road is arguably one of Chester’s hidden gems, that is, if you are a curry lover.

I have been visiting this restaurant for a few years now and have never been disappointed with the meal or the experience.

If you are looking for a mild and creamy korma or a spicy vindaloo, the Gate of India really is the place to go. Mostly used by people who have had a few drinks in town and want to finish it with a nice meal, you would think the place was in danger of being to chaotic but the atmosphere is fun and friendly.

The staff in here are also excellent and very attuned to the customer’s needs. If you are with another person and you have ordered different curries and you happen to have each other’s plates in front of you, the staff are quick to correct it even if the curry’s look the same and you wouldn’t have noticed the difference!

This particular time, me and the person I was dining with ordered poppadum’s, chutney’s and onion bhaji to start. Then followed by a chicken Dupiaza, with rice and a naan for the main.

Even if you order two poppadum’s, there will always be more in the basket free of charge. There is a big variety of chutney’s also, just be careful of the lime pickle it does have a kick! We were shocked when the onion bhaji’s arrived as they were triple the size that I have ever seen.

The curry was absolutely gorgeous, just hot enough so that it didn’t burn your mouth.

I would definitely recommend this curry house to anyone who is looking for a nice, relaxed meal on the outskirts of town, before or after a drink. The restaurant stays open till 1am most weekend nights. The price of the meal, £25, was also very reasonable.

Chester Intelligencer Reporter, Amy Holland

Rugby match report: Chester 31 – 13 Harrogate

On Saturday Chester Rugby Union Football Club played the Harrogate Team at home. It was a cold, crisp day and both teams ran onto the pitch revved up and ready to play.

Chester kicked off the match but unfortunately didn’t retain possession of the ball for the first twenty minutes and it looked like Harrogate had the upper-hand although Chester defended well. Sledging

Ten minutes in Sean Green injured his wrist and had to be taken off the pitch to be treated by medics which hindered Chester even more. Harrogate then scored a try which was converted by Joe Rowntree.

A few nasty tackles and a few scuffles were seen as tensions increasingly rose with lots of penalties being awarded to Harrogate, resulting in a 10-0 lead to Harrogate sixteen minutes in. Not long after, they scored another try.

But with the shouts from Chester fans in the crowd they picked up the pace towards the end of the first half and thirty-four minutes in scored their first try and converted it to make it 7-13 to Harrogate.

The second-half was a blur of Chester repeatedly scoring and converting and resulted with Chester winning 31-13.

Chester had a good start to the season with a month of wins, then a bad run with a month of losses. But they seem to have regained their confidence and have started to win again so this match will be a much needed morale boost.

The next home match is on 21st December when Chester will play Caldy. Kick off is 3pm.

Chester Intelligencer Reporter, Amy Holland

Review: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at The Forum Studio Theatre

 

[caption id="attachment_140" align="alignright" width="224"] Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (pic : Amy Holland)[/caption]

This year Tip Top Productions returned with another magical Christmas pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, directed by Rob Stevens.

Waiting upstairs in the foyer, all that could be heard was the laughter and screaming of children excitedly waiting to go downstairs to see Snow White. Brownie groups, Rainbow groups and lots of families had all come to watch one of the most well-known children’s stories acted out in panto form.

Once seated, the lights dimmed and the stage filled with smoke and then the Fairy played by Fiona MacSween / Annie Howarth (depending on which night) appeared singing a song to introduce the play. Then, queue tons of fun, fast-paced singing and dancing from the whole cast and the pace never let up! Add a few ‘he’s behind you’s!’ and you have a classic Christmas panto.

I have to give special credit to Simple Simon, played by Dan Ellis. He really made the audience comfortable and was absolutely hilarious. Whenever he ran onto the stage I could hear fits of giggles from all the children.

Also, Nurse Kitty Litter played by Phil Edwards was hilarious with his innuendo jokes and crazy dress changes! The audience couldn’t stop laughing when a video of him seeing all of the sights in Chester was projected onto the set.

The main character of Snow White played by Rebecca Roberts, reminded me of the actual Disney character. She was sweet and princess-like just like Snow White should be. George, the servant boy, played by Kathryn Wilson brought many sing-along anthems to the play and really picked up the tempo.

As in all panto’s, you have to have a villain and she came in the form of the Evil Queen played by Pippa Redmayne. She made sure the audience really booed her by saying in her first few lines, ‘I HATE little boys and I HATE little girls!’ and it was fantastic to watch all the children getting up off their seats to boo her! Also, her costume was very evil-looking but very good.

The Seven Dwarfs, played by various different children on different nights, were very adorable as they walked onto the stage singing ‘Hi-ho, hi-ho’. In particular the girl who played ‘Jolly’ was fantastic and acted very well for her age.

Samantha Wilkinson came to see the play with her husband and two young children, she said: “The kids loved it as you’d expect! To be honest I wasn’t really ecstatic to be seeing something that’s for kids but the Nurse really made me laugh! I’ll be coming back next year to watch the next panto, think it’s Alladin!”

Getting the audience to sing along to ‘The Fox’ by Ylvis near the end of the panto was very funny and references to Twitter and well-known celebrities also brought the it up-to date.

This year’s pantomime was truly well thought-out and the cast really made it a special play to watch. Looking around at the children’s faces afterwards showed that it was a complete success!

Chester Intelligencer Reporter, Amy Holland

Top presents for pets this Christmas

[gallery type="slideshow" ids="1140,1141,1142,1143,1144,1145,1146,1147"]



Everyone who owns a cat or a dog knows that they're not just a pet but a member of the family. So your pet deserves a lovely present under the tree. I scoured the high-street for the best, low-price gifts for your moggies and mutts this Christmas.

'I'm dreaming of a ... Christmas Dog Stocking' by Good Boy at Wilko - £3.00

With Turkey and Cranberry Flavour Bones , Chocolate Drops and a squeaky toy your dog will be happy and preoccupied all day long while you eat your Christmas dinner.

Dog/Cat Beds at Why Pay More (Chester Forum) - ranging from £5.00 to £12.00

Why Pay More have a huge selection of beds for dog's and cats in every colour you can think of. The small ones are £5.00, medium £8.00 and large are £12.00. Imagine how content your pet will be on Christmas Day when it lounges on one of these next to the fire.

'Christmas Pet Tux' and 'Christmas Fleece Jacket' by Primark - £1.50 and £3.00

If you love dressing up your pet and want to keep it warm this winter, why not try a tux or jacket from Primark? They're very easy to put on your pet and are light enough for them to not really notice it. The colours are very eye-catching too.

'I'm dreaming of a... choc biscuit box' by Wilko - £2.75

This biscuit box includes chocolate biscuit bones, crunchy snowballs and choc marrowbone and will be a great treat for your pooch. This present is only suitable for dogs.

'Christmas Large Cracker' by Wilko - £2.50

A rawhide treat for dogs only. This Christmas Cracker includes four munchy treats inside to surprise your pet just like a real cracker!

'Cat Stocking' at Poundland - £1.00

A perfect way to stash all your cat's treats till Christmas day! Eye-catching and very Christmassy, make sure your cat doesn't feel left out and get her a stocking!

'Christmas Dental Dog Stocking' by Wilko - £3.50

This stocking includes dental chews, a minty cotton knot, 2 rawhide treats and a munchy flat. This will keep your dog busy and he won't feel left out when your eating all of your human food. With the added bonus of keeping your dogs teeth healthy, this really is a good treat.

'Christmas Dog Toy'  at Poundland - £1.00

This toy is probably the best bargain I've found. It's for dog's but my cat actually played with it too. Will keep your pets entertained for at least an hour!

Chester Intelligencer, Amy Holland

Review – Disney’s 'Frozen'

[caption id="attachment_1138" align="alignnone" width="300"] Disney's 'Frozen' is currently showing in all major cinema chains[/caption]

Everything in this movie is beautiful from the intricate detail, the fascinating 3D to the whimsical characters and the strikingly stunning setting.

The story follows two Princesses Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell), one of which had shut herself down from society in fear of unleashing her dangerous icy powers and when her powers can no longer be contained; her fear traps the kingdom in an eternal winter.

The magical tale follows the two princesses on their quest to melt away the winter and bring back the summer.

On their journey, the princesses meet a jolly talking snowman named Olaf whose comedic antics are a joy for children and adults alike.

This wonderful tale runs for almost 2 hours and is aimed mainly at young girls but is a delight for all.

Carols for missing people this Christmas

HAVING  a family member go missing is heartbreaking all year round but the pain becomes even more raw during family - based periods such as Christmas.

Every five minutes, a child in the UK goes missing. In a year, up to 275,000 people disappear.

The effect for family members are devastating and any support becomes a lifeline. That's where charities such as 'Missing People' come in.

[caption id="attachment_1134" align="alignright" width="300"] Carol services are being held throughout the country.
Picture by: eventbrite.co.uk[/caption]

This year there are five carol services being held in memory of those who are missing and their families in support for the Home for Christmas Appeal. The closest service to Chester is being held in Manchester at 6.30 pm on December, 14. Others will be in London, Colchester, Cardiff and York.

After last year's service, Kate McCann, mother of missing toddler Madeline McCann said: "Thank you to the charity Missing People for making the void in our family this Christmas that little bit smaller."

To find out how to register for a carol service, or for more information about Missing People's work over Christmas and the rest of the year, visit:
https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/missing-people/donate/our-carol-services-2013

1,500-home plan approved for Ellesmere Port

PLANNING permission was granted on Thursday for a ‘Port Sunlight inspired’ 1,500-home village to be built in Ellesmere Port.

Ellesmere Port countryside. Photo: Terry Kearney, Flickr.

The ‘garden village’ will be built on previously safeguarded farmland in Little Sutton, and will take 18 years to complete. 200 construction jobs will be created and a mixture of affordable two and three storey homes plan to be made. The village, which will be built in the image of model village Port Sunlight, will have a primary school, community building and shop.Spokesperson for Redrow Homes, David O’Reily, said the project will have “extensive community benefits” , including 375 affordable homes and a total of 1,570.

Plans have previously been met with mixed reviews and Councillor Gareth Anderson disagreed with the project. He said: “There was a huge variety of concerns expressed to this committee back in June and today about the loss of high quality farm land, the major detrimental impact that traffic will have on the area, the prematurity of this plan, sustainability, flooding.”

‘Every single one of these is still a concern and not one of them has been resolved satisfactorily.”

The plan was decided after a vote of five in favour, two against and two abstentions.

Sandiway Tower May Rise Again

[caption id="attachment_1129" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Round Tower at Sandiway before it was destroyed. [Ken Hewitt - Picture taken from chesterchronicle.co.uk][/caption]The historic tower located on the A556 was demolished by a car that drove directly into it on November 14th.

There are already talks of a new structure being built in its place to resemble the old demolished structure and surveyors have already been on site to observe and plan for a new build.

[caption id="attachment_1130" align="alignright" width="300"] The scene of the crash at the Round Tower in Sandiway [Taken from chesterchronicle.co.uk][/caption]The round tower was a listed building that was built in the 1800’s. The tower was all that survived of a gate lodge to the house of Vale Royal Abbey.

The 50-year-old woman driving the Vauxhall Corsa that struck the tower was taken to Leighton hospital and treated for minor injuries.

Nearby Hartford resident Andy Jones said: “It’s a sad shame. The tower is greatly missed by many. I’m hoping a new tower can be built in its place.”

Review - The Croods Blu-Ray & DVD Release

DREAMWORKS brings together this witty comedy about a cave family who, after their home is destroyed, embark on an incredible journey through a world they have never seen before.

Grug, the father of the family has set a series of rules that the family have followed since they can remember. This includes staying in their cave after dark and staying away from anything new or out of the routine.  Despite this, rebellious teenage daughter Eep breaks her father’s rules which results in a chance meeting with interesting teenage boy Guy, who warns her that the end of the world is coming. When the Croods family cave is destroyed, they embark upon a journey through a formerly unknown world.

The Croods follows the standard heroic journey theme, but it's elevated by the writing and direction of Kirk DeMicco and How to Train Your Dragon's Chris Sanders. The Croods focusses on family dynamics and embraces humour to enlighten the message within.

As is always expected from Dreamworks, the animation is spectacular. Attention to detail is evident throughout and the graphics are stunning. The animation flows from one scene to the next in a fluid motion and with ease.

This movie has a great voicing cast who do a great job and really suit the role they are playing. Eep voiced by Emma Stone is a particularly suiting voice role. Other voiced parts include Nicholas Cage and Ryan Reynolds.

Although the Croods isn’t DreamWorks’ biggest blockbuster hit, the movie includes humour and a heart-warming story that will appeal to children and adults alike.

The new DVD and Blu-ray bonus content include Belt’s cave journal, lost scenes and the World of DreamWorks Animation and previews. The Croods on DVD and Blu-Ray was released in the UK December 9^th.

Watch the official trailer for The Croods here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fVCKy69zUY

Make Your Own Mince Pies This Christmas

Follow this easy step-by-step guide on making your own easy yet wonderfully tasty mince pies in preparation for the fast approaching holiday.

 Ingredients:

For the pastry

• 375g/13oz plain flour


• 250g/9oz soft butter


• 125g/4oz caster sugar, plus a little extra for sprinkling


• 1 medium egg

For the filling

• 800g mincemeat


• 2 tangerines grated and chopped


• 1 diced apple

When you have collected all relevant ingredients you will need to follow these five easy steps to back the perfect mince pies.

1. Preheat the oven to 200C. To make the pastry, rub the flour, sugar, butter and egg together with a splash of cold water until it forms a kind of doughy texture. Wrap the pastry up in cling film and set it aside whilst you make the fillings.


2. To make the filling, pour the mincemeat out into a bowl, grate the skin of the tangerines into the mincemeat, then peel and chop the segments. Peel and dice the apple and then put all of the fruity pieces into the mincemeat mixture and mix them all up.


3. Roll out the pastry to a 3mm thickness. With a round pastry cutter, cut out 6 x 9cm discs of pastry. Press the pastry into cake cases in a cake baking tray and fill each one with some of the mincemeat mixture, so that it reaches three-quarters of the way up the inside of the pastry cases.


4. You will then need to cut out 6 x 8cm pastry circles for the lids. These will need to be slightly bigger than the top of the pastry cases to ensure the filling doesn’t leak upon baking. Place a lid on top of each pie and gently push down until the lid stays attached. Sprinkle the lids with caster sugar.


5. You no need to bake for 20 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool. Dust the lids with icing sugar. Your scrumptious mince pies can now be served either warm or cold.

Small Business Saturday UK 'flop' in Chester?

CHRISTMAS is a notoriously expensive time of the year so, this year, American Express decided to lend a helping hand in the hope that small businesses would get their fair share of profits. 

Last year it was estimated that, on average, consumers spent £445 on the big day with children receiving an average of £132 worth of presents. The majority of this sum is spent in chain giants like Next, Marks & Spencer's and John Lewis and small, local business' are often ignored during the festive period.

In 2010 the US held the first 'Small Business Saturday' and, on December, 7, the UK joined in and participated in a day that's boosted US small business economy by £3.5 billion. Backed by American Express and held on the busiest shopping day of the year, the scheme looked set to be a success.

With its Twitter page generating over 9,500 followers, even the Prime Minister's official twitter channel tweeted 'small businesses are the lifeblood of our country - I'm backing @smallBizSatUK and hope others do to.'

Advertising began on November, 11, with TV and radio adverts calling for people to "support the heroes of our high street" and "think big, shop small."

[caption id="attachment_1110" align="alignright" width="300"] Local MP, Stephen Mosley was "delighted" with the day.
Picture by: chestermp.com[/caption]

One of Chester's many small business owners, Malcolm Lamb said: "Anyone who watches TV or listens to Smooth radio will have heard about it." Despite this, Mr Lamb said the event didn't go well for him or other traders, he added: "I had posters up and everything but not one customer had an American Express card. It was very disappointing."

Many other traders were unaware of the entire scheme. Jon Clements, owner of 'The Rather Tasty Tea People' said: "I own three small businesses and didn't even know this was going on until someone else mentioned it." He said that Saturday tends to be the busiest day of the week anyway but claimed he'd had about four more customers on the 7th as he'd had the weekend before. Mr Clements added: "Do I think it was a big money making success? No, not at all."

Local MP and Small Business Ambassador, Stephen Mosley was heavily involved in the campaign. He states on his webpage that over 400 small local business took part and that said: "I am delighted with what we were able to achieve."

A spokesperson for Mr Mosley stated: "Obviously this was our first year so our main aim was to get people into small local shops. We have had lots of positive feedback but plan on doing the event again next year so will take any criticism on board."

Review: James Blunt - Moon Landing

James Blunt is back with a new album, and a new haircut.

[caption id="attachment_1107" align="alignright" width="199"] James Blunt (pic: Focka)[/caption]

Currently 22 in the Official UK Album Chart, Blunt has had a few harsh critics throughout his career even though he has sold 20 million albums worldwide. It would also be fair to say that his fan base has probably moved from thirty-something women, who thought the song ‘Your Beautiful’ was about them, to women probably in their 40’s plus.

However, I think Blunt should have a fair trial with this new album. Starting with the album cover, it’s clear to see he has rethought his image and has returned as an edgier, more clean-cut version of himself although his eyes are quite eerie.

The album, which is out now, has 11 tracks and if you can’t get enough of him, the Deluxe album has three bonus tracks added to it. One of the tracks, "Bonfire Heart" debuted at number 6 before reaching number two in the UK Singles Chart the following week, but the hype has now seemed to die down.

I found the album very relaxing to listen to with its very distinctive folk-pop sound. Blunt seems to have took a light-hearted approach to this album which makes him and the songs more likeable. “Sun on Sunday” is a very chilled out song and his distinctive vocals are extremely melodic.

My favourite song on the album is “Always Hate Me”, an alternative love-song that shows Blunt maybe isn’t always a hit with the ladies. The chorus is catchy and somber.

In conclusion, I think this is a very good come-back album from James Blunt. He is trying to show a different side to his song-style whilst staying true to his love-song background. His vocals fit perfectly with this sort of style and I think it’s a definite must-by  for Christmas for a girlfriend or Mum!

Chester Intelligencer Reporter, Amy Holland

Game Review: Stocking Stuffer Showdown - Battlefield 4 vs Call of Duty: Ghosts

ANOTHER Christmas, another round of video games vying to be number one on the lists of both children and adults across the country.

The two titles facing down this year are Battlefield 4, the latest instalment in the franchise from EA Games, and the annual instalment into the massively successful, and popular, Call of Duty franchise, produced by Infinity Ward and Activision.

Call of Duty has always been the favourite, with each instalment topping the previous year by tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars on day one release, culminating in last year’s boasting of $500million worth of sales on day one for its previous title, Black Ops 2, however this year reported sales are significantly lower, around the 50 per cent mark.

And playing the game, it’s not really a mystery as to why. Although Call of Duty is a hugely recognised brand, with a massive online community, many sceptics have always seen each release as just ‘more of the same’, and this year it seems fans are catching on. Although the graphics look pretty, the storyline is dramatic and somewhat interesting, playing out a fictional war between a South American superpower known as the ‘Federation’, and the United States as the member of an elite unit known as ‘Ghosts’, it’s also incredibly short, clocking in at around 6 hours of gameplay on normal difficulty.

This has always been one gripe with the franchise, as the ‘Campaigns’ seem to get shorter and more simple, fans aren’t really getting anything more than a glorified online shooter for their £44.99, and even that’s becoming played out.

[caption id="attachment_1103" align="alignright" width="300"] Call Of Cutie - a canine companion brings a little something different to Ghosts.[/caption]

So with this popular franchise showing signs of slowing down, what will be rushing in to take it’s place?

The Battlefield franchise was re-launched on current generation consoles a few years ago with the Bad Company series which, although popular, didn’t have the same appeal as Call of Duty, taking a more arcade-based and at times comical take on the first person shooter genre, they launched their flagship title, Battlefield, onto consoles with the release of Battlefield 3 in 2011 which became an instant contender alongside the Medal of Honor re-boot and Call of Duty.

Battlefield 4 steps the game up once again, with a fantastic storyline where you play out a fictional war in China, as, you guessed it, an elite unit. Whilst the story line lacks the drama of Ghosts, it’s much more intense and realistic, the graphic and sound quality is higher by a longshot.

[caption id="attachment_1104" align="alignright" width="300"] Scenes from the Battlefield - with both games boasting an intense multiplayer experience, which will reign supreme?[/caption]

Although sales are down in the Battlefield camp by around 69 per cent compared to Battlefield 3, it’s clear they’ve spent the past two years perfecting a game that puts gameplay and experience above what is essentially an interactive Hollywood-movie, and online team death matches.

So if you want an intense, action packed, destructive shooter that uses consoles, both current and next-gen, to the best of their abilities this Christmas, set your sights on Battlefield 4. For a casual, movie-like experience and tried-and-tested online system, you’ll be happy with Ghosts. 

Police tackle anti-social noise in Garden Quarter

[caption id="attachment_1096" align="alignright" width="300"] Garden Lane, Chester (pic: Nigel Mykura)[/caption]

Anti-social behaviour from Chester students have prompted police to take action.

Sarl Williams Court, Homedee House and various other houses on Garden Lane have all been victim to students' drunken antics in the early hours of the morning.

Police have placed CCTV close to the locations in order to monitor the students.

Extra patrols are also in place on Monday and Wednesday nights to try to keep the noise at a low level.

This area of Chester has been a place of tension between residents and students for a long time mainly due to the behaviour of students as they walk home from a night out.

In an update to the situation on the Cheshire Constabulary website it is stated, "Priority Type: To minimise and prevent noise related problems. Description: Complaints over noise in the area causing distress to local residents. Police and partner agencies are working closely to minimise and prevent noise at reported times by extra visibility patrols."

Chester Intelligencer Reporter, Amy Holland

'Tis The Season To Go Shopping

Chester Intelligencer Reporter James Walker has the top tips to beat the Christmas shopping rush.

AS CHRISTMAS draws closer, the rush to get shopping done becomes more and more hectic.

[caption id="attachment_1015" align="alignright" width="300"] Christmas shoppers. Photo credit: Tabatha Lewis[/caption]

To make matters worse, retailers offering flash sales are becoming commonplace in the wake of the current recession, meaning stock often runs low causing even more of a rush amongst shoppers to buy the perfect gift in time for Christmas and before it sells out.

But what can you do to make sure you beat the crowds this season?

In a perfect world, we’d all have a weekday free where the high streets are usually quieter, but unfortunately that’s never the case, and weekends are most people’s only time where they can shop without time restrictions.

The first tip, and probably the most important, is to get started early. Shops generally open around 9am or 9.30am at weekends, some open as early as 8.30, whereas others won’t be open until 10.30am or even 11am, but making sure you’re on the high street for around 9 should pit you at an advantage. This is a great tactic for two reasons – one, if you’re driving you can find the perfect place close to the centre, or if you’re relying on public transport then it’s usually quieter earlier on, and will be quieter on the way out as you’ll (hopefully!) be finished by the time most people are making their journeys in, and two, you can get into the flash sales before anyone else and pick up some great bargains.

Secondly, plan in advance what you want to buy, and more importantly, where you’re going to buy it. Although this isn’t always possible, having a basic plan of action and an idea of which shops you want to visit can save a lot of time and having an idea what you’re going to buy and how much you want to spend is a great way to keep your shop to a budget and prevent impulse buying.

If you can, make trips back to your car to drop bags off, especially if you’re doing a big shop. Negotiating busy shops and streets is hard enough as it is without adding tons of bags to your worries. Failing that, make an effort to use as few bags as possible – not only will it make it easier to manoeuvre but you’ll be less likely to put something down and forget about it. Taking strong bags or a rucksack is also advisable.

Try and take breaks and stay hydrated, shopping might seem like an easy task but it’s easy to become dehydrated and tired carrying bags of shopping around a busy city centre all day. Even sitting down for just five minutes and keeping a bottle of water to hand is a good way to stay fully-charged.

Spatial awareness, although somewhat common sense, is key, and is often overlooked by a lot of shoppers. Remember that the weekend means that families will be shopping together, which means small children. It’s easy to bash a child with a heavy bag and although it probably won’t do any lasting damage, it can be quite a shock to them and be a bit embarrassing when you have to stop and apologise profusely to the parents!

If you’re a smoker, make an effort to find a quiet nook where you can stop if you feel the need for a cigarette break, speaking from experience, there’s nothing worse than trying to walk down a busy high street behind a smoker, not only do the people behind you get your second hand smoke but you could easily burn someone.

But most importantly, enjoy the season. There are always Christmas markets to explore, buskers playing Christmas songs and carollers. Take your time, even if it means another trip the following week, Christmas is about relaxing and having fun, not stressing yourself out making sure Uncle Joe has the right brand of whiskey!

For more information on shopping in Chester, click through to the Visit Chester website, and the Grosvenor Shopping Centre.

Noise and anti-social behaviour in Garden Quarter is still prominent

[caption id="attachment_1096" align="alignright" width="300"] Garden Lane, Chester (pic: Nigel Mykura)[/caption]

Recent noise and anti-social behaviour in the Garden Quarter, mainly from students at Chester University, has prompted Cheshire Police to say they have put extra patrols in place to tackle the problem. We speak to a 20- year old resident of Garden Lane (part of the Garden Quarter) who prefers not to be named. She is still experiencing problems and noise in the area.

What problems have you had with the university students?

Basically, all they ever do is knock on all the doors all through the night, screaming and shouting. They’ve even walked into my house on one occasion, a big gang of them and then ran back out leaving the door open. I have dogs and cats that could have escaped and a little brother who got really scared.”

They sellotape things to our door and windows like bin lids, they put tape over the spyhole, stick bottles to the drain pipe using sellotape, things like that. They smash things all the time down the street, kick all the bins over. This is what we have to put up with.

What do you think should happen to the students who are doing this?

I think the University should warn them. They should put up notices all around the uni, saying that if you are responsible then stop or they’ll be consequences. It’s fine to go out and have a drink but why wake everyone up and terrorise people on your way home? What’s the point?

Cheshire Police have stated that they have put more patrols up in your area. Do you think this is helping?

Honestly, there doesn’t seem to be any more police on the street at all. It’s still happening all the time, especially on student nights and weekends. Something needs to be done.

Chester Intelligencer Reporter, Amy Holland

Is the problem of unemployment really being tackled in Chester?

 

[caption id="attachment_1089" align="alignright" width="211"] Job Centre Plus (pic: Amy Holland)[/caption]

Recent figures for Chester have shown that unemployment has decreased from 3.5% in 2010 to 2.7%. But people that are still unemployed may hold a different side to the story. We speak to one man aged 29 from Chester, who prefers to remain anonymous. He believes the problem is still very prominent.

Firstly, tell us how long you have been unemployed for?

Well, over the past two years, I’ve spent nineteen months unemployed, gapping for seasonal contract work, which were all under twenty hours a week.

How hard is it being unemployed? What is life like day to day?

On a day to day basis, obviously you’re spending a lot of time job hunting, but you have this abundance of free time and no money. You’re treated like a second-rate citizen, spoken too like a child when attending job meetings and when you tell a potential employer your on job seekers they look at you differently. You never want to tell an employer you’re on job seeker’s. There’s a stigma attached to it.

What plan does the Job Centre currently have you on to find work?

Well I have to apply to at least fourteen jobs a week. But the Job Centre aren’t there to help you find a permanent job to keep you off the doll and put you on decent money. They’re obviously working to a figure sheet because they’ll get you to apply for anything and everything. For example, job’s that are only contracted to ten hours a week, jobs that are thirty miles away even if you don’t drive.

How do you feel you are treated when you go to the Job Centre?

It all depends on who you see. If I see my regular person I see, everything’s alright and he helps me out. I’m in and out quite fast. But then sometimes you will get someone else who knows nothing about your situation or current plan. They’ll have expected you to have applied for a completely different number of jobs that was on your plan and that you had arranged with your normal mentor. They then try to stop your money for up to thirteen weeks and you have to sit there for hours trying to sort it out.

What do you think they could change about the system?

Well for a start, it’s called the Job Centre so it should be a centre where there are a lot more jobs and opportunities on offer. Maybe change the plans for the people that always do their job seeking effectively. Take for example myself, I always fulfil my job hunting quota, so instead of meeting with them every two weeks, I think it should be every month as it is quite demeaning going there. They should also step up the help for alcohol and drug addicts that are on job seekers. I always see them arguing with the staff in there.

Finally, do you think you have been let down by the current system of finding work as you have been unemployed for nearly two years?

I wouldn’t say I was let down by the system but I’d say I’m a product of the system, just simply because every job that they’ve had on their system and that I’ve applied to has never got back in touch with me, or anybody else who goes to the Job Centre for that matter. I’ve never had a call back, never had an interview in the whole two years. It can get really depressing and I think the Job Centre needs to recognise that.

Chester Intelligencer Reporter, Amy Holland

Man Lost £10,000 From Internet Scam

A RESIDENT had thousands of pounds stolen from his bank account after he transferred money to a seller who emailed him a fake eBay link.

65-year-old Cyd Poole from Chester, found a Volkswagen Transporter on Auto Trader four days ago, and contacted the seller, who identified himself as Evelyn Hale. Cyd received the link the seller claimed was to eBay, so he could make a quick sale. He immediately purchased the £10,000 van via bank transfer.

After waiting for two days to hear back from the seller, who had normally replied straight away to his emails, Cyd contacted eBay and was told was no record of this purchase.

“It was horrifying,” Mr Poole said. “I called eBay because I hadn’t heard anything about my purchase. I never expected to be told I had been scammed,” he added.

He was told the seller illegally created a website that looked like eBay with only the intention to take his money.

“I rang my bank immediately, but they said there was nothing they could do,” said Cyd.

The money was Cyd’s investment he had saved for over one year to buy a new van.

“I am so upset that there is nothing that can be done. The Police are aware of what has happened to me, but at the moment I have lost £10,000,” he said.

Chris, a Customer Service Advisor for eBay, advises everyone to be suspicious of any links that look like eBay, especially at this time of the year when online crime is at its highest.

“It’s quite common for people to call and say they have been in this situation,” Chris said.

EBay never send attachments in their emails, and it is always important to check the website. Anything that looks unusual should raise alarm bells.

PayPal is the safest payment method as they will generally cover any fraudulent activity.

Diana, who works at Currys, recommends an Internet Security software like Norton, which automatically detects any suspicious behaviour to prevent this type of crime happening.

Chester Intelligencer reporter, Amy Poole

Leona Lewis Gets Christmassy

[caption id="attachment_1177" align="alignright" width="300"] Leona's 2013 Christmas album taken from DigitalSpy.co.uk[/caption]

LEONA LEWIS’ voice is pretty much perfect and her album Christmas, With Love, a cover album of Christmas tracks, puts the original singers of these songs to shame.

This album has all the Christmas classics, including Winter Wonderland, Silent Night and I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday.

She sings each one beautifully and this album is very festive. She has a wide vocal range and great control over her voice. She’s really pleasant to listen to because she doesn’t over-do her singing.

Each track is very similar to the original to make this album great for all ages.

Her young voice has really brought the old classics to life, but it would have been nice to have heard something different from these tracks. It feels like she has brought out this album for no real purpose. She hasn’t been around for a long time, so it could be a way to get back into the public eye and singing Christmas songs is an easy way of doing this.

Although this album isn’t a disappointment for Christmas addicts, it is disappointing for music lovers. There are so many artists who have brought out a Christmas cover album, so this one doesn’t really offer anything different. If Leona had have played around with the melodies and gave each song a unique sound, it would have been a more satisfying buy.

This album is similar to Mariah Carey’s Christmas album, which was on sale nearly ten years ago. Sorry Leona, but Mariah did it better. Not because she is a better singer, because they both have tremendous talent, but because when Mariah’s album was released, it was different to any other singers who sang the songs.

To preview Leona’s Christmas album listen here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/christmas-with-love/id731437243

Chester Intelligencer reporter, Amy Poole

Alexander’s: One of Chester’s best kept secrets

[caption id="attachment_982" align="alignright" width="300"] Alexander's; the longest running comedy club outside London (Pic: West Photo, Flickr)
[/caption]

SET in the centre of the small city of Chester, Alexander’s bar is famous for being the longest running comedy club outside London, and we can see why. Since 1991 Alexander’s has offered a friendly welcome for those looking for a bite or beverage, as well as combining a wide range of entertainment.

The leading North West venue that’s tucked away in a small courtyard nestled inside the city walls creates atmosphere with the joy of being close to the performance. Holding a capacity of 150 the jazz bar can put on an amazing range of music with something to suite everyone including blues, jazz, soul, roots, drama and its well- known alternative comedy nights every Saturday.

The jazz bar was kept alive by the ‘Unplugged’ open mic night that was created ten years ago hosted by Root Chords. It gives the opportunity for unsigned acts to perform in front of an audience to gain real life experience and to get noticed. Talent found on the stage is incredible and there is not a seat left not sat on.

Alexander’s popularity is increasing significantly with people of all ages travelling from all regions to visit. The bar has something to offer most nights, from jazz and comedy to tapas nights as well as live music on a Sunday to unwind and relax. Private weddings and functions have also increased in numbers.

The Manager at Alexander’s believes the bar is not just any old bar, they said:” There is a vibe about this place that’s inviting. We are the longest running comedy club because of our consistency with hosting every Saturday night as well as offering great value for money with regards to a meal and show, not to mention the comedians are as funny as ever.

“When I think of Alexander’s I think of warm sunny days in our beer garden, dancing to the live bands we have on the stage outside, I think of mulled wine in the winter while sitting under the heaters outside admiring the giant Christmas tree.”

Abigail Briggs, a student at the University of Chester said: “I love going to Alexander’s on the weekend after a long week at University. It’s a great place to relax during the day, especially in the summer with the beer garden outside. The evening entertainment is brilliant creating a lively ambiance and tickets are cheap which is a bonus for students like me.”

Because of its location Alexander’s is one of Chester’s best kept secrets.

Chester Intelligencer reporter, Lisa Jones

R.Kelly's Back

[caption id="attachment_1188" align="alignright" width="300"] R. Kelly's new album, taken from hiphop-n-more.com[/caption]

AFTER three long years since his last album, R.Kelly is back with his new album, Black Panties.

This album has 17 tracks on the deluxe version and features superstars Ludacris, Kelly Rowland, 2 Chainz, Future, Juicy J and more.

The 46-year-old offers something different with each track, but it all fits together into one flowing masterpiece.  His vocal range is amazing and he isn’t afraid to flaunt his talent in each song.

There is so much passion with he sings and even though the lyrics aren’t romantic or personal, the melody of every song is so catchy.

This album has a sound that really fits into the music industry at the moment, but his style is very unique. It is fresh and each track is unpredictable.

It is certainly an album that offers something different with every track. There is a mixture of R&B, Soul, Pop and Ballads and his voice suits each one of these music styles.

He is that much of a superstar he has brought out a new sound from Kelly Rowland in the All the Way track. She sings in falsetto which she rarely sings in and it really compliments R.Kelly’s voice. Rather than having someone feature just to give the song more credibility, all of the features on this album have an equal amount to sing so it is more like a duet. This is very rare to come across.

This album is very chilled out. It’s great to listen to for background music. It would have been nice to have one or two songs that have a little more bass and a faster tempo, but I guess R.Kelly is known for his slower tempo R&B songs. Despite that, it is certainly a must buy at £10.99 for the deluxe edition.

Preview it on iTunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/black-panties-deluxe-version/id742663988

Chester Intelligencer reporter, Amy Poole

Review: The Lock Keeper

 

CHESTER is a city that provides us with a variety of places to eat. Picking a restaurant can be a difficult decision with so many to choose from.

The newly refurbished ‘Lock Keeper’ restaurant is where I escaped to after a long morning Christmas shopping in the hectic city centre on Saturday. Located just outside the cities shopping area, a quick to 2 minute walk seemed perfect to get away from the mad rush of shoppers in town.

The establishment has recently undergone major refurbishment, decorated in a modern style with sophisticated booth seating and settees alongside soft wooden furniture and beams creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere when you arrive.

As it was only lunchtime I wasn't expecting to order a big meal but that soon changed when I started to read the enticing menu and the list of daily specials on the chalk board. I couldn't resist, I had to order a starter as well as a main meal.

[caption id="attachment_1028" align="alignright" width="300"] The lock keeper, situated over the stunning views of the canal (Pic: Lock Keeper)[/caption]

For starters I ordered the rack of ribs, this did not disappoint. The meat melted off the bone and the BBQ sauce complemented it so well. The description on the menu stated ‘half rack of ribs’, and still I did not expect the large portion I got. For a starter this portion was far too much for me to finish and didn't leave me with much room for my main.

My mum who ordered the ‘crispy crumb mushrooms’ was extremely pleased with her choice, the mushrooms were crispy and not at all greasy, which they can often be. The portion size was also just right.

My main dish was much more than I imagined. I ordered the ‘fish finger open sandwich.’ A couple of fish fingers placed between two slices of bread is what I had in mind, I was proved wrong. The fish fingers weren’t fish fingers at all, not like the ones a make at home anyway. I was presented with a small breaded fish on a bed of lettuce and tartar sauce placed between light fluffy bread. I thoroughly enjoyed it – highly recommended.

My mum was also very satisfied with her dish of ‘pan fried steak sandwich.’ Although she did mention that she would have liked it cooked a little longer as she likes her steak well-done but still managed to enjoy the food.

As appealing as the deserts looked, I was far too full after a very satisfying meal.

The lock keeper had more to offer than delicious food. It has the largest outside area in Chester city centre providing customers with raised decking and outside seating over- looking the stunning view of the canal. Due to the weather in the UK this time of year I was unable to experience this, but during the summer I couldn’t think of anywhere better to go.

The service they provided was excellent and the food quality was more than I expected for a lunch time meal. I will look forward to another visit to see what an evening meal has to offer.

Keep your children safe this Christmas

This week saw the preliminary hearing of 78 year old Ramsey Ramsey who is charged with 21 sex offences against young girls in the late 80's and early 90's. The former curry house worker appeared at Chester Crown Court to hear the next stages of the case against him. His plea is expected on February, 3, 2014 and, until that date conditions of his bail mean he is to have no unsupervised contact with any person under the age of 16.

The victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons were between the ages of 12 and 15 at the time of the alleged offences.

In light of the infamous Jimmy Savile investigation there has been a huge increase in reports of historic sexual offence cases. Parents are being encouraged to be more vigilant in teaching their children what is inappropriate behaviour from adults but some are still unsure the best ways to keep their children safe.

It is estimated that one in five children will be victim of sexual abuse or violence. The NSPCC has teamed with

[caption id="attachment_1005" align="alignright" width="301"] Teach your child the Underwear Rule.
Picture by: childine.org.uk[/caption]

the Council of Europe to create a new scheme called 'The Underwear Rule.' The principle is simple; it's not ok for anyone to touch me underneath my underwear, my body is my own.
Alongside this the scheme enhances the importance of communication between parent and child, whatever age the child is as abuse can happen at any stage in a child's life.

Julie Lappin, 53, is a former police woman who worked on a Child Protection Unit, she said: "What people tend to forget is that 70-90 percent of sex offences committed against children are by someone they know." She added "Stranger Danger and the idea that offenders are men with long black coats in is not an appropriate reflection. Parents need to be telling their children that no matter how well they know the adult, it isn't ok for them to touch them or make them feel uncomfortable."

Operation Yewtree was set up during the aftermath of disgraced TV presenter Jimmy Savile's death. The presenter of the popular family show 'Jim'll fix it' is thought to have committed in excess of 300 sex offences against children, mainly girls, between 1959 and 1980's.
The investigation, run by the Metropolitan Police has seen the arrests of several other well known faces such as Rolf Harris, comedian Jimmy Tarbuck and Coronation Street actor Bill Roache.

Chester based mother of two, Sarah Willis said: "It's quite scary really, I have a four year old and a newborn and obviously I want to keep them safe. I have actually taught my little boy the underwear rule and his school have talked to them about it as well." She added "I was shocked to hear the percentage of children who were abused by people they know."

Over the festive build up many parents will be taking their children to visit Santa in his grotto. As a general rule, this is a harmless and enjoyable for children and it is important not to become over scared or over protective of children as this can lead to them having confidence issues, however, there are a few subtle things parents can do to ensure their children are safe this time of year. Firstly, make sure you stay in the room whilst your child talks to Santa,  most grotto's encourage this anyway. Secondly, if your child becomes scared or upset, don't force them to sit with or talk to Santa, it is supposed to be fun.
It is also important not to forget simple parenting tips, don't let young children attend carol services, pantomimes or other events alone.

Christmas is a busy time for parents and can get stressful but children's safety has to come first. The NSPCC believe the most vital tool between parent and child is communication, if a child feels they can talk to their parents they will feel safer and confident discussing issues and this can help keep them safe from sexual or other abuse.

For more information on the underwear rule and how to talk to your child about abuse, visit:
http://www.coe.int/t/dg3/children/underwearrule/default_en.asp

Safety Concerns over cyclists in the UK

A BRUTAL season for cyclist has raised concerns all over the UK for the safety of bike riders on roads and in busy city centres like Chester.

The number of cyclists travelling on roads has risen 1.2 percent in the last year which has considerably increased serious accidents involving cyclists and other vehicles.

Chester West and Chester Council (CWAC) have outlined a new cycling strategy to make it easier, safer, cheaper and more convenient for people of Chester to get around the city. They aim to have the best cycling environment in the Country.

[caption id="attachment_731" align="alignright" width="300"] Cyclists must obey rules to stay safe on busy roads and in city centres (Pic: Andy Paisley)[/caption]

Several aims are to be applied for the strategy to succeed.  CWAC have plans to build new and improve infrastructure to develop facilities for cyclists, create marketing campaigns to raise awareness and to encourage cycle friendly and provide training to improve cycle safety.

Although there's been a decrease of accidents with other modes of transport, statistics from the department of transport show the number of cyclist killed in an accident has increased 10 percent in the last year from 107 to 118 people and the number of injured cyclist has increased 4 percent from 3,085 to 3,222 people.

Focusing of Chester city centre alone, statistics show 28 collisions involving pedal bicycles in the last three years, only four of these being serious incidents. Majority of the events happened between 8.00pm and 9.00pm  suggesting that cyclists may not have the correct lighting on their bikes for night riding.

Andy Paisey, President at the University of Chester Cycling Club is pleased with the significant increase in numbers at the society, however states: “People aren’t addressing the circumstances involved with taking up a new sport which may not be necessarily very road safe as riders are causing more accidents.

“I've been cycling since I was a child and taking road safety tests, however if people have gone several years without cycling or not taken up road cycling before, they may be unsafe to drive on roads.

“Taking courses in road safety, knowing one’s own limits and making sure your bike it road safe will help cyclists to stay safe.

“In my opinion it’s more often the cyclist’s fault than the vehicles.”

“Although roads are relatively nice in Chester, there are areas that need to be re- surfaced, cut ups in the road make it very unpleasant at times.”

PC David Murray, head of transport at Cheshire Constabulary thinks a combination of things will help cyclist avoid collisions, he said: “Obviously the circumstances of each collision varies hugely.  I believe more and more people are taking to the roads on cycles and they are perfectly entitled to use the roads and have every right to expect that usage to be safe and incident free.

“Cycles have many advantages over vehicular traffic but to help stay safe, observing road traffic law, and junction and lane discipline would definitely help as cyclists don't have the protection of a metal cage surrounding them like drivers do, so any incident that leads to them falling off can lead to significant injury.

“Being aware of the traffic around you is essential. I often see cyclists of all ages riding on the road and can see that they have earphones in, presumably listening to music.

“I always encourage cyclists to wear a well-fitting protective helmet and high visibility clothing.  This will undoubtedly help motorists see them, especially throughout the darker winter months when poorer weather conditions or the low sun can affect visibility.”

“It is also essential and a legal requirement that they have well maintained and effective lighting, not only to help them see the road ahead, but also to ensure that other motorists can see them well in advance.”

Cheshire Police encourage cyclists to be legal and safe and have issued some safety requirements to follow. To view please visit http://www.cheshire.police.uk/advice--information/bicycle-safety-and-security.aspx

Related Articles:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-annual-report-2012

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Roadsafety/Pages/Cyclists.aspx

Chester Intelligencer reporter, Lisa Jones