The Islanders Challenge

Next month the team will take on the “toughest race Britain has to offer”. Battling severe fatigue, sleep deprivation, dehydration, horrendous blisters and all the problems that four men living in a 25 foot long boat encounter.
They will attempt to row day and night non-stop around the entire circumference of England, Wales and Scotland, just over 2000 miles. 
Their aim is to break the current World Record of 26 days and 14 hours.
We wish them and their seven competitor boats all the best!!
Follow them on their journey at www.theislanderschallenge.com

Remembering the 1953 Floods

It has been 60 years since the North Sea floods claimed 307 British lives. In the Netherlands, the dead numbered more than 1,800.

A combination of a high spring tide and a severe wind over the North Sea caused a storm surge . The combination of wind and high tide had the effect that the water level exceeded 5.6 metres (18.4 ft) above mean sea level in some locations. The flood and waves overwhelmed sea defences and caused extensive flooding.

In Essex, Canvey Island was inundated with the loss of 58 lives and another 37 died when the seafront village of Jaywick near Clacton was flooded.

The Environment Agency has said that, despite major improvements to sea defences and warning systems, 1.3m people or one in 25 homes in England and Wales remained at risk of coastal flooding.

Have we done enough in Essex to ensure it will not happen again?

Mersea Orchids Spreading

Back in the 1980's when Orchid Field Court was built on The Esplanade people worried that the green winged orchids would be lost to the development. However, there are a couple of areas where they still flourish nearby in gardens and hopefully this will increase with time.
One such location is in a back garden in one of the Avenue's where currently there are 50 heads this year, a 10% increase on 2011.

If you live in the locality, in March/ April examine your lawn before cutting it and look out for a rosette of thick short leaves. From the middle of these a spike will appear late April bearing the purple flowers. 

RNLI Boxing Day Swim 2011

Crowds heading to the beach to see the swimmers at the RNLI fund raising event.

The two lifeboats in attendance.

It was so crowded the swimmers couldn't be seen !!!

But it was a lovely warm day and it made a welcome breath of fresh air, before returning home to eat another Christmas meal.

Mersea Beach Huts

Great news that Colchester Council have accepted the view of local residents by deciding not to proceed with the planning application for a further 30 "coastal cabins" on the Victoria Esplanade greensward.

Cllr Tina Dopson, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Diversity said,

"I can confirm that the planning application for 30 beach huts, at the Victoria Esplanade Car Park on West Mersea, has been withdrawn today.

Having reflected on the weight of public opinion surrounding this application this decision has been made with careful consideration."

Waverley Paddle Steamer

The World's last seagoing paddle steamer travelled up the Blackwater past Mersea on one of its excursions.


It's in the local area until mid-October so why not book a trip.

Spiders and Mists

Autumns arrived with its morning mists and active spiders.
What a lovely sight.

Mersea's Saskia Clark named for Olympic Squad

Great news that Mersea's Saskia Clark has been named along with Ben Anslie and nine others to represent Great Britain sailing at the 2012 Olympics. 

Saskia and Hannah Mills are the 470 class girls.

We send our best wishes to them all.

Beach Huts, then Coastal Cabins, more like Sheds

Colchester Borough Council will soon be making a decision, on its own Building Planning Application, to erect 30 huts forming a third line back from the beach and on valuable public open space.

They say it is for the local communities benefit. Hardly. They will restrict your view of the Blackwater.


Send your opposition to them immediately by "Commenting on the Application" on the following link:-
http://www.planning.colchester.gov.uk/WAM/findCaseFile.do;jsessionid=AEF0406D464685F9DD1C1470F4FF8C29?appNumber=111486&appType=planning&action=Search

Lions Mersea Island Athletic Races

The Mersea Lions successfully held their 10 and 5 mile races yesterday.
The races have a 20 year history with entries now received from virtually all over the U.K.They have become of great importance in the Essex athletics calendar, have generated lots of enjoyment, and over the last 5+ years have more than doubled in entries.

The results are available on the following link http://www.merseaislandraces.co.uk/index.htm

Tolleshunt D'Arcy Fete

There was a great afternoon of games, raffles, cream teas and many different stalls at the Fete last Saturday.

The features included a Dog demonstration, Tug of war, and Falconry /Owl display.

New Beach Huts Proposed by Colchester BC on Victoria Esplanade, Mersea

The new proposal by Colchester Borough Council is for thirty new beach huts to be built inside the current car park track and for three quarters of the length of the car park. It will practically take over our green space and destroy one of the prettiest spots on the Island.

The principal motive for Colchester Borough Council inflicting this undesirable proposition on us is the need for the finance generated by such a scheme to help fill their fiscal BLACK HOLE and it is unlikely that Mersea Island residents will ever see the benefit of any funds raised from such schemes. 

The only way to stop this happening is for you to register as soon as possible your opinions with:-

Mr. Adrian Pritchard

Chief Executive

Colchester Town Hall
High Street
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1PJ

Kayak Around Great Britain Set Off Today from Mersea

Today two 22year old lads, set off from Mersea Island on their adventure to circumnavigate Britain in a tandem sea kayak.

They will be relying only on natural elements to complete the challenge. Using the tides and currents as well as specially designed power kites to harness the winds power they estimate this will take three to four months.

They are doing all this to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

You can track their progress by using this link. Take a look at the Paddle Diary to stay up to date.

Good luck Russell (Scrat) and Aaron (Kiwi) . We look forward to welcoming you on your return.

Salty kisses,

Mish...xx

Vintage Mobile Cinema comes to Mersea

The Vintage Mobile Cinema

Outside the MICA Centre, West Mersea this morning there were screenings of the devastation caused by the 1953 floods that hit the east coast, in the 22 seat vintage mobile cinema which had come up from Devon.

The bus is the only surviving one of a fleet of seven that were built for the Government in 1967 to showcase modern British production techniques. Today, it has been carefully restored to its former glory and tours the country bringing a unique slice of automotive and cinema history.

Of course it was just up Charlie's and my street...! to see this old vehicle and get a front seat for the archived film.

Wouldn't it be delightful to see it here again....

Have a great weekend.

Salty kisses

Mish..x

P.S. Memberships are still available for the Mersea Island Film Society.

Clear Out Your Beach House....!

There are so many benefits of de-cluttering.

• By letting go of old stuff not only do you make lots of lovely space to roll around in - you clear stale energy and emotions. Put your gramophone on so you can sing along, its lots of fun.
• It normally takes about 20 minutes to sort through a drawer. 
• Concentrate on one room at a time, don't pull the whole house out in one go!! 
• Clothes - If your posh frock doesn't fit, throw it out. We only wear 20% of our clothes for 80% of the time! 
• My wardrobe looks very sweet. I've put all the clothes in to colours, which looks smarter!! 
• If you have shrunk a woolly jumper, then why not make a cover for a pillow with it, or I could make you a pretty corsage out of it. 
• People keep unwanted gifts for a number of reasons, sentimental value, or because one day they feel they might need them, or think they may become of some value. 
• Be ruthless. If you choose to keep, be selective, cover a beautiful box for them and put a few special pieces in! 
• Finally have three boxes and a bin liner, labelled "keep" "use" or "give away. Throw away broken or damaged, take straight away to charity, or gift to friends. 

You will find you feel just as happy as when you come back from a shopping trip, only your peggy purse will be full.

P.S. Don't forget your furniture too.... I could always give it a sparkly finish. Let me know.

Till next time....
Salty kisses
Mish xxx