March 2020

As the Wanstead Winter Night Shelter project comes to an end, Revd Canon Ann Clarke reflects on 13 weeks of community generosity, local business support and numerous grateful guests

The Wanstead Winter Night Shelter closed its doors at the end of March after a successful inaugural season. This is down to the excellent organisation and experience of the Forest Churches Emergency Night Shelter (FCENS) model, and the wonderful number of local volunteers who ran the shelter each week.

The volunteers came from many different backgrounds, some of faith and some of none.The amazingly generous donations, both financial and in kind, made it possible to give the very best we could to our guests.

We gave a warm welcome, food, shelter, clothing and toiletries to up to 30 guests each week (mostly men, but a few women). We have also discovered that Jenga, Connect 4 and chess were very popular with our guests!

Local support has been exceptional; businesses turned up with bread, pastries, savouries, even complete meals for 30. Among those who have donated are Horizon Patisserie, Leytonstone; The Duke, Wanstead; La Bakerie, Wanstead; The Rotisserie Company; and Luppolo, Wanstead. When we had excess, guests were able to take ‘packed lunches’ with them on the Wednesday morning.

Donations of clothing enabled us to offer coats and other items; our guests were able to take away with them brand new hats, gloves, scarves, socks and underpants. A special mention to both John at Petty Son and Prestwich and Lizzie at The Cuckfield for gathering items for us. The Cuckfield has done the laundry every week, which has been a great saving; we cannot thank them enough.

Although we do not look for thanks and gratitude, our guests were, without exception, very grateful for the amazing generosity shown to them. Every person’s story was different. Some of our guests work, but the wage is so low they cannot afford the market rates for accommodation. The age range was 18 to mid-60s. Listening to their stories gave us a glimpse into how easy it would be for anyone of us to be in their shoes.

FCENS project worker, Tunde, is an amazing guy who knew every guest individually and worked with them to find employment and accommodation, and to sort out their often complex issues. He will continue to do this through the spring and summer when the season ends. Mention should also be made of Anthony, who, with a volunteer, covers the night shift at every shelter, every night from November to April. This is a ‘staying awake’ shift!

FCENS is a wonderful project and it has been an amazing privilege to be part of it. A huge thank you to all of you who supported us and made this happen. We look forward to being part of the scheme next year.

Paul Kaufman, Chair of East London Humanists, introduces Leo Barasi, the speaker who was scheduled for the group’s April event and who would have been explaining why climate change apathy matters, and how it can be beaten

Leo Barasi is a leading thinker, speaker and writer on climate change, politics and public opinion. Broadcast appearances include Radio 4’s The Moral Maze and World Tonight, Radio 5 Live, Channel 4 and Sky. His acclaimed book, The Climate Majority: Apathy and Action in an Age of Nationalism, addresses one of the greatest challenges we face today.

Writing in The Guardian last October, Leo paid tribute to Extinction Rebellion for succeeding in using protest earlier in the year to transform public debate. But he predicted challenges for the next round of mass protest about to take place that month. The novelty of such actions would have worn off and the police would move more decisively.

Perhaps the biggest challenge Leo identified is the public attention span. He points out that the overwhelming majority do now support the aim of zero net emissions. Many believe the argument is won and that blocking the streets serves little purpose. But few pay attention to policy detail or punish politicians who don’t have an effective plan. There’s little incentive for politicians to go beyond simply pledging to tackle the climate crisis with ambitious-sounding targets.

Leo’s book is the first to study climate apathy. One of the questions it poses is: ‘How can we talk about climate change in a way that will provoke action?’ Leo describes how apathy prevents action and shows how it can be beaten with an approach developed for political campaigns, drawing on opinion polls, psychological research and examples of successful campaigns from across the globe.

Much has changed even in the short time since the book was published. The horrific fires in Australia and the horrendous floods in the UK are just two examples that drive home the immediacy of the emergency. We also have a new government with a comfortable majority, which is likely to remain in power until 2024. Although its manifesto committed to action on climate change, the March budget was striking for its failure to put green promises into practice.

Coronavirus prompts many questions about how governments and people deal with a crisis that affects everyone. The virus crisis, dreadful though it is, will subside naturally in due course. But tackling the climate emergency will continue to be critical, and the task of building a majority to back the urgent measures required will be more important than ever.

The meeting may be subject to last-minute cancellation due to the virus crisis, so please check the East London Humanist website for up-to-date details.

A local children’s hospice has launched an emergency appeal and is bracing itself for a decline in income as it postpones or cancels its fundraising events in line with social distancing guidelines.

“This is an unprecedented time for Haven House and we need the support of our local community now more than ever… We rely on our community to help us raise 81% of our funds,” said Mike Palfreman, Chief Executive at Haven House Children’s Hospice in Woodford Green.

The hospice expects to lose more than £500,000 in the next three months alone.

The hospice’s annual Sparkle Walk – which begins and ends in Wanstead and was scheduled for May 2020 – has been cancelled.

Visit wnstd.com/hhemergency

Residents are invited to take part in the Aldersbrook and Lakehouse Jumble Trail 2020.

All money raised from stall fees will go directly to Aldersbrook Primary School. “Taking place on 6 June (subject to change), this event will allow you to connect with your community whilst selling unwanted items – plants, toys, clothes or cakes, whatever you like! Find us on Facebook to pay for a stall (£5) and secure your place on the map,” said a spokesperson for the PTA, which is organising the event.

Visit wnstd.com/aljt

John Cryer MP has advised of a temporary closure of Wanstead station.

In a Twitter post on the evening of 27 March, the Member of Parliament for Leyton and Wanstead said “I have just been told by TfL that Wanstead Tube station is closing tonight due to lack of staff and could remain closed until March 31st.”

Redbridge Council is interested in hearing from residents who would like to be part of a new customer feedback group, to share their experiences of dealing with the council with a view to improving its services.

“We are reviewing new digital processes and those who join the group will be helping to shape the way we deal with the public,” said Sue Austin, Head of Customer Service.

The group will meet quarterly, with the first meeting to be scheduled in May.

Email sue.austin@redbridge.gov.uk

As of Friday 27 March, Redbridge Council will be suspending kerbside recycling collections and will now be collecting residents’ rubbish and recycling together.

“We’ve had to make the difficult decision to stop collecting recycling separately and concentrate on household waste, simply because we don’t have enough drivers and staff available to carry out all the rubbish and recycling collections safely.  Sadly, many of our staff are having to self-isolate due to the COVID-19 national guidance,” said a council spokesperson.

The council is also asking residents to reduce household waste items where possible.

“In practical terms, this just means that people need to leave their household rubbish and recycling out together. I would also ask residents to ensure that all bags are closed firmly and not split,” added the Leader of Redbridge Council, Councillor Jas Athwal.

While these changes are in place, residents must bag up their recycling with their rubbish in black sacks.

If you’re part of the wheelie bin, the council will collect additional rubbish if you place it a black sack next to your bin.

The council has published an FAQ page on their waste and recycling changes.

Local resident Rachel Jarvis is a business coach for ActionCOACH and is keen to make Wanstead’s business owners aware of the support available to them during the current crisis

As you know, the UK is in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak and many small and medium-sized businesses are already feeling the effects. I encourage all business owners to read HMRC’s guidance for employers and business owners, which can found at gov.uk.

Some of my clients have already contacted HMRC, who have been very understanding and have offered to defer all tax payments (including VAT) for two months. In effect, this is free credit to help with potential cash flow issues. Many businesses are following suit, and I would encourage others to do the same. The simple principle here is: once you’ve paid it, you won’t get it back! HMRC are likely to have to give further concessions if the effect of coronavirus is as severe as expected.

Banks are also said to be increasing credit lines and overdrafts, and in some cases, they may even offer repayment holidays on loans. And many of my clients are contacting all of their suppliers to ask about relaxing payments.

The government has launched a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, which will provide lenders with a guarantee of 80% on each loan (subject to a per-lender cap on claims) to give lenders further confidence in continuing to provide finance to SMEs. The government will not charge businesses or banks for this guarantee, and the scheme will support loans of up to £5m in value. Companies can access the first six months of that finance interest-free.

For businesses with fewer than 250 employees, the cost of providing 14 days of statutory sick pay per employee will be refunded by the government in full. This will provide two million businesses with up to £2bn to cover the costs of large-scale sick leave. Coronavirus statutory sick pay is expected to be in the form of a refund.

For the self-employed not eligible for statutory sick pay, contributory Employment and Support Allowance will be payable, at a rate of £73.10 a week if you are over 25, for eligible people affected by coronavirus.

There are also cash grants of up to £10,000 for our smallest businesses, which will be delivered by local authorities. The council will have further information on this as the scheme is rolled out.

And a business rates holiday has been introduced for 2020–21 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with a rateable value of over £51,000. A £25,000 grant will be provided to businesses in this sector operating from smaller premises, with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000. This will also be implemented through your local council.

A wild flower planting session took place on Christ Church Green earlier this month as part of the Wild Wanstead initiative, which is hoping to improve biodiversity in the area.

“We know insects, pollinators and birds are vital to our ecosystem, but are under threat from urban living and use of pesticides. So schemes like this are crucial to provide much-needed habitats and will also enhance the beauty of our area. We look forward to seeing the wild flowers in bloom,” said Councillor Jo Blackman, who took part in the event.

Marie Curie volunteers are keen to thank local residents for their support following this month’s High Street collection for the Great Daffodil Appeal.

“People were extremely generous and a total £1,171.86 was raised during the day. Shoppers on South Woodford’s George Lane were also generous, but many collectors had to drop out from this location, so the day was much shorter. However, a total of £310.74 was raised there… It is good to see so many people still wearing their daffodil pins to show support,” said Jill Playford.

In the ninth of a series of articles looking at the work of Age UK Redbridge, Barking and Havering, Janet West summarises the impact of coronavirus on their services and explains what they can still offer

Due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, here at Age UK Redbridge, Barking and Havering we are busy adapting our services so we can continue supporting older people in the three boroughs we serve.

Whilst some services will continue as near to normal as possible for the time being, some will inevitably be more affected as we strive to follow the government’s advice to help keep people safe.

Unfortunately, this means that since 17 March, we have had to close the Allan Burgess Centre – our activity hub in Wanstead – to comply with the current guidelines, meaning we cannot provide lunch or activities for the foreseeable future.

The activities carried out at the Cherry Tree Cafe (Zumba and art classes) will also cease as the centre has to close its doors as well. We will be offering telephone communication to service users affected if they would like it, so we can at least give them someone to talk to and offer advice if they need it.

The situation is changing all the time, so we will be updating our website as the weeks progress, or people can phone the office for more information.

Here at our offices in Ilford, we will still be running a limited advice and information service, and our telephone befriending service, with some changes to how these are delivered as more staff and volunteers need to work from home.

Social activities make up a lot of our services, allowing people to socialise together in groups. With current advice, we can sadly no longer organise these gatherings until further notice.

On the bright side, we are receiving many kind offers from the public who want to help and we are looking at ways we can use this extra resource whilst being mindful of our duty to safeguard older people.

In the meantime, we would like to encourage older people to ask for help if they need it, firstly turning to their families, friends or neighbours, but if they don’t have any support networks, then do contact us and we will try to help where we can.

Please be aware, during this difficult time, there will be delays in answering calls.

The installation of new nets at Wanstead and Snaresbrook Cricket Club has been completed.

“We are now the proud owners of a four-lane, state-of-the-art training facility at Overton Drive. We are absolutely delighted… The nets will be locked and unavailable until a suitable time in April when the ground, hopefully, is drier, but they will be available for use in time for the start of what promises to be a very exciting 2020 season,” said a club chairman Martin Pluck.

The work follows a £75k fundraising drive launched in February 2019.

Volunteers across Wanstead have been delivering leaflets to their neighbours, offering help and support during the uncertain times ahead. Charlie Renwick explains why she got involved. Pictured here is fellow volunteer Mei Moore (Charlie was self-isolating and unable to be photographed at the time of writing). Photo by Andy Nutter

By mid-March, I started to feel anxious about coronavirus; initially what it would mean for my family and me, but more importantly, what would happen to those older people who don’t have a support network in place.

I knew other people must be feeling the same way, so I turned to Facebook and within minutes found the Redbridge COVID-19 Mutual Aid group, an organisation set up by three others to connect us all at this time.

At the time of writing, the group has over 1,500 members and is growing daily. It offers clear information on Redbridge wards (areas within the borough) and recommendations on how we can all get involved in supporting our local community.

I live in Wanstead Village, where we now have a WhatsApp group with 135 members and counting. Our priority to date has been reaching out to the elderly and those considered to be at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus, to ensure everyone has someone to turn to if they need to self-isolate.

A leaflet template was created, volunteers selected their local streets and printed copies. Our aim was to post one through all letterboxes in the area so everyone has contact details for their local volunteers.

The response has been incredible, from people joining the group as volunteers to messages thanking us for reaching out to them. Another Wanstead volunteer shared a messaged she received from an elderly neighbour: “I just wanted to thank you and Tasha for your lovely offer in my letterbox today. I am 81 but fairly fit, and just now have all that I need. But it is so reassuring to know you are there. I am so grateful for your kindness.”

For me, this is what it’s all about, knowing everyone feels they have someone to turn to during these difficult times.

Our objective is to create a web of support for the village, whether that means a grocery shop, a prescription collection or a chat on the phone to brighten up a lonely day. No request is too small! I’m here, and so is our ever-growing volunteer network.

So, pick up the phone and let’s support each other.

Plans for the construction of a new public swimming pool at Wanstead High School are progressing.

“Works are currently underway at Wanstead High to deliver temporary school accommodation and on-going access to the Multi-User Games Areas during the main school works. Once these current works have been completed, the school will decant into the new accommodation, allowing access to the main works contractor to undertake the programming for the demolition works. A preferred contractor has been identified for the main work, and we are currently concluding contracts. The contractor will be obliged, among other things, to meet a set of agreed ‘social value’ targets, which should include apprenticeship opportunities and construction vacancies for local people. There will be regular contact with residents in the immediate surrounding area throughout the project,” said Councillor Sheila Bain.

Redbridge Council has published it’s waste and recycling arrangements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We are doing our best to maintain a weekly bin collection service. However, in order to do this, some other waste and recycling services have changed. Over the coming weeks our waste collections teams may have to operate a reduced service, as some key workers become ill or have to self-isolate,” said a council spokesperson.

The council have also warned they may be unable to keep household waste and recycling separate during these difficult times.

Key changes:

• Collections will begin at the earlier time of 5am
• Recycling services may change
• Garden and bulky waste collections will be on-hold with immediate effect
• Bin and blue box deliveries for recycling, including collection from car parks, will stop
• If your rubbish collection is missed, it will be taken away on your next scheduled collection day

All changes to council services because of coronavirus can be found here.

Redbridge Council has received ‘largely positive’ feedback from residents currently trialling wheelie bins for their household rubbish collection.

“There are 1,530 properties taking part in the pilot in Wanstead. There is no specified length of time for the pilot while we monitor how it’s working, and resolve any issues,” said a spokesperson. The trial began in February and has seen 7,000 households across the borough receive a new 180-litre grey bin.

“Wheelie bins will prevent animals from accessing waste and deters fly-tipping.”

London City Airport has dropped plans to end its 24-hour weekend break (currently no aircraft take off or land between 12.30pm Saturday to 12.30pm Sunday).

The airport has also abandoned plans to operate more early morning and late evening flights, as was proposed in its draft Master Plan. “I want to thank all of you who put so much time, effort and indeed money into campaigning against the expansion proposals,” said John Stewart of HACAN East.

A review into the airport’s controversial flight paths – which include the airspace over Wanstead – continues.

Residents are urged to continue supporting Redbridge Foodbank, which has seen donations decline in the wake of coronavirus.

“We are seeing much-needed donations fall dramatically as people start to stockpile. This is hitting vulnerable members of our community hard. Please do keep on giving – your support is really needed and makes a huge difference,” said Rev Dr Jack Dunn. In Wanstead, collection points are located at Christ Church, St Mary’s (Saturday mornings), Petty Son and Prestwich and the Co-op.

Visit wnstd.com/foodbank

WhatsApp groups have been established for Wanstead Village and Wanstead Park ward residents who wish to help their neighbours during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I set up the Redbridge Covid-19 Mutual Aid Facebook group – from which the WhatsApp groups have spawned – after hearing about other borough’s coming together to support their residents. I am not very good at sitting around and worrying and I enjoy helping people, so I thought this would be a great initiative,” said Tanya Salinder.

Visit wnstd.com/help

Like so many up and down the country, our community can be proud of how it is responding the coronavirus pandemic. These are extraordinary times, but we can all be thankful we are part of a community that cares.

People you can phone:

Redbridge Council Wellbeing Service, open seven days a week, 8am to 8pm 020 8708 5555
Redbridge CVS, an umbrella body for local charities and community groups 020 8553 1004
Talking Therapies, helping those feeling distressed 0300 300 1554
The Samaritans, for people who need someone to listen 116 123
Citizens Advice Redbridge, for free, confidential and impartial advice 0300 330 9063
Age UK Redbridge, Barking & Havering, for advice or information 020 8220 6000

Facebook Groups

Redbridge Joins Together 
Redbridge Covid-19 Mutual Aid
Wanstead Community Hub
Woodford, South Woodford and Wanstead Parents 
Wanstead Community Forum

WhatsApp Groups

Churchfields ward
South Woodford ward
Wanstead Village ward
Wanstead Park ward
List of groups across Redbridge

Like so many other businesses that are impacted by the increasing restrictions designed to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, we must also make changes to how we operate.

For the first time since March 2006 – when the first issue of the Wanstead Village Directory was published – our magazine will cease to be delivered door to door until further notice. All 6,500 copies of our April 2020 issue will be printed as normal, but instead of delivering 5,500 of them to homes in the area as we normally do, we will be distributing them all via our display stands instead.

The reasons for doing this are twofold. Most importantly, we all have a responsibility to adhere to social distancing guidelines, so I believe it would be wrong to ask my delivery team to walk the streets of Wanstead and risk interacting with others. In addition to this, a recent study by the US National Institutes of Health (as reported by the BBC here) has found the virus can survive on cardboard for up to 24 hours. So I can’t, in all good conscience, allow our magazines to be posted through letterboxes on a mass scale when there is a potential risk that this may be contributing to the spread of the virus. Instead, we will allow those who wish to pick up a copy to do so from our stands (by virtue of our normal processes, a period of at least 24 hours will elapse between our magazines being packed at the printers and placed in our stands).

A decision on the publication of future issues will be taken in the coming weeks.

Classically trained soprano Nicola Cain is leader of the Wanstead and Woodford Rock Choir. With scientific proof singing makes you happier, is it time to open your mind – and vocal cords – to the power of music?

Rock Choir has over 30,000 members participating in approximately 400 local communities. We offer all ages an alternative experience to the traditional classical or community choir, introducing members to feel-good pop, rock and contemporary chart songs. 

Rock Choir has an uplifting ethos of fun, and friendship and community spirit is a huge part of our attraction, with members enjoying a dynamic and busy new social life whilst connecting with their community. At an individual level, it helps improve people’s wellbeing by building their self-confidence, self-esteem and, in turn, improving their mental and general health.

This was scientifically proven in 2018 when the BBC programme Trust Me I’m a Doctor used members of Rock Choir for an experiment to find out if singing, cycling and dancing boosted our levels of endocannabinoids – neurotransmitters thought to be the cause of the ‘natural high’. These chemicals are similar in structure to the chemicals found in the cannabis plant. As well as giving a ‘buzz’, they are also linked to improving mood and reducing anxiety and stress. Under the direction of physiologist Dr Saoirse O’Sullivan, the group of Rock Choir members were tested in each activity over four days with interviews and blood taken to monitor their levels of endocannabinoids. The end result was extremely exciting. Whilst dancing and cycling raised their happiness levels by 20%, singing raised them by an extraordinary 40%, a discovery that could help enormously with our approach to mental health.

“Rock Choir has made a huge impact on the wellbeing of its members… I’ve seen first-hand how being part of Rock Choir has improved lives; some of our members have reported that they’ve come off anti-depressants, found new confidence in themselves and found pure happiness again. Their wellbeing has impacted their relationships around them too, their family, friends and colleagues, and they will continue to feel better and stronger the longer they sing!” said Rock Choir founder Caroline Redman Lusher.

The Rock Choir team consists of over 140 individuals, including 80 professional musicians and performers, The Leaders, who deliver weekly rehearsals in their communities.

Leading the Wanstead and Woodford Rock Choir is a privilege – the choirs become an extension of our families and I am proud of how much the members have bonded. We are always looking for new members and we hope to welcome some new faces – and voices – this year.

Conveyancing is a vital part of the process of buying or selling a property. Here, Debra Rose from Wiseman Lee Solicitors explains the steps and why it is important to choose a professional to do the job

Conveyancing refers to the legal work that is carried out when ownership of a property is transferred. Most conveyancing is carried out professionally, but sometimes, buyers and sellers ask whether it is possible to do it themselves.

Conveyancing without the use of professional help is risky because you may not be protected in the event you miss something which could have been revealed by conveyancers, meaning your property is not worth the purchase price. The other party to the transaction may demand you use a professional for the transfer of funds to ensure the appropriate money laundering checks are carried out and they have the protection afforded by the Law Society’s Completion Code. Additionally, many mortgage lenders will require you use a conveyancer to protect their investment.

Once you decide you want to buy or sell, you will need to instruct a conveyancer. The estate agent will prepare a memorandum confirming the terms of the sale, which will be sent to the person representing you. This includes the party’s details, the price and any special conditions, such as other items being included in the price. The sale is not legally binding until the contracts are formally exchanged.

The seller’s representative sends the contract pack to the buyer. This contains copies of the title to the property, questionnaires completed by the sellers about the property and the contract itself. Upon receipt of the contract pack, your conveyancer will then undertake a series of searches with the local authority and other agencies to find out if there are any issues that could affect the property. Searches such as planning, environmental and drainage and water are carried out in almost all transactions.  Depending on where your property is located, it may also be necessary to conduct other searches. If you are happy to proceed, contracts are exchanged and the completion date is fixed. At this stage, the sale is legally binding to complete on the agreed date.

Your conveyancer undertakes the post-exchange work in anticipation of completion, which involves reporting to your lender to ensure mortgage funds are available for completion. Conveyancers on both sides produce completion statements which show all payments made and received and request any further monies required for the purchase to complete. The conveyancer will undertake final searches and on the day of completion sends the purchase money to the seller.

Once the seller’s conveyancer receives the funds, they will confirm completion and the agent will release the keys to you. Your conveyancer will then deal with the registration formalities and you will be sent a copy of the Land Registry entries that confirm your ownership.

In the second of a series of articles documenting the thoughts of local anti-bullying ambassador Elsa Arnold, the founder of the Spreading Kindness Through E11 initiative explains how dance has helped her

I battled with myself for a long time after being knocked down by bullying and I didn’t see myself getting back up again. Bullying knocked my confidence and made me feel worthless. I honestly didn’t see a very bright future for myself. But something changed for me.

I have always loved to dance, starting ballet and tap at the age of three and dreaming of being a ballerina. But this was always just a childhood dream. I never thought after losing my passion for years that I would find it again during the most difficult time of my life. I never liked dance from Year 7 to 9 (we studied it at school as a compulsory lesson), and I couldn’t wait to get rid of it. When I started secondary school, it was a lot easier to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others and I always feared being judged. But at the end of Year 9, I decided to join our school’s dance club and ended up taking it at GCSE, which was definitely the best decision I made.

Going into GCSEs was a difficult transition for me and coming out of a difficult year made it even harder. Year 10 wasn’t much easier, but I started therapy after things became too much and I was struggling with everyday life. My motivation dropped a lot and my world continued to get darker. But having dance classes to go to every day gave me something to focus on. It was a place where I could let go and express myself. My love of dance only grew throughout Years 10 and 11, helping me through the stress of exams and overcoming battles with myself. I suddenly felt in control of my feelings and finally felt like I had some sort of connection with myself in the dance studio.

I would encourage anyone with a mental health illness to find something they can do that they enjoy and can express themselves through. Sometimes, talking can be really hard, and it’s such a difficult first step to take. But I know that dance helped me feel more able to communicate with others about how I was feeling and accept help rather than resist it. It changed my whole perspective of life and allowed me to reach a brighter future, which I am thoroughly enjoying.

Creativity isn’t limited and creative subjects like the performing arts really do have an enormous amount of power to help us change our perspective on life.

You can overcome any mental health illness, but please don’t put pressure on yourself if you’re struggling to express yourself through words. There are so many things that can help you overcome difficulties in your life. This passion might be clear for some people and more hidden for others, but it is there. The words will come… you just have to give them time.