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Best Friends in Fiction

January 21, 2022 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Best friends, often otherwise known as sidekicks, have an invaluable role to play in fiction. They shore up, sometimes literally, the lead character who is struggling with their task. The most famous example of this is Sam Gamgee from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings who did carry both Frodo Baggins and the Ring of Power for a while as the story progressed.

Best friends are there for moral support too and to be a sounding ground for the lead character. Well, we all need someone to sound off with at times, right? And characters in stories reflect us and our behaviour and attitudes (for good and ill), so this aspect is important.

Tags: best friends in fiction, characteristics of lead and sidekick characters, classic detective fiction, Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee, Hastings and Poirot, Holmes and Watson, Jeeves and Wooster, Morse and Lewis, P.G. Wodehouse, sidekick characters, spotting the sidekick character, The Lord of the Rings

Gnomadic Restoration

January 17, 2022 By chippy minton 9 Comments

I’ve been doing my own version of The Repair Shop this week.

Many years ago, when I was knee-high to a grasshopper, a neighbour gave us two unpainted concrete gnomes. Despite my mother’s protestations, my father cleaned them up, gave them a lick of paint, and found a home for them in the garden. They became part of the family. We even named them after the neighbours (affectionally, I hasten to add). One of the signs of spring was “the time to get the gnomes out of shed”.

two gnomes - black and white image — This is the oldest photo I have of the Chippy family gnomes. I’m not sure why it is black and white – I’m pretty sure colour film was in common use when it was taken!

So, fast forward half a century, and one of the gnomes is now in my safe keeping. The other, alas, suffered a tragic and fatal encounter with a patio several years ago.

Although my father carefully repainted them every year or two, I have never done so. The gnome was beginning to look a little shabby.

Time for some renovation.

First off, after a good clean and scrape of loose paint, a bit of skull reconstructive surgery was required.

With most of the paint removed, I had to work out what was what by the shape of the concrete. I started with the traditional red top.

It was then that I noticed the bow at the back, indicating an apron. So the blue paint came out for that.

Green trousers and a brown log to sit on followed

And finally, the face, hands and trug

He’s now ready to go back outside and protect the garden from whatever it is that gnomes protect gardens from. I think he deserves a prominent position, such as near the water butt.

Tags: arts and crafts, gardening

Animals in Fiction

January 14, 2022 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Book cover images from Chapeltown Books.

Some of my favourite childhood books involved animals. Think about Timmy from The Famous Five by Enid Blyton. I suspect he was the most intelligent of the lot of them.

I am an asthmatic, it was worse when I was a child and there was no question then of being able to have a dog of my own. But I could read about them and loved doing so. Ironically now I have no problems with having a dog as a companion and I still love reading. Neither do I mind animal characters as long as they are realistically portrayed.

[Read more…] about Animals in Fiction

Tags: Allison Symes, am reading, am writing, animals in fiction, Black Beauty, books, childhood stories, fairytales, flash fiction, Jaws, Puss in Boots, The Famous Five, The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, Tripping the Flash Fantastic, Winnie the Pooh, writing from an animal viewpoint

Brickmaking in Chandler’s Ford

January 9, 2022 By Christine Clark 3 Comments

It won’t come as a surprise to any local gardener that brickmaking was a big industry round here 100-150 years ago. Our heavy clay soil, as well as the local chalk downland, made this area an obvious site for several brickfields over the centuries. In fact, in the late nineteenth century in Hampshire there were 100-150 works producing clay products such as bricks, tiles and pipes.

Chandler's Ford Community Halls, Hursley Road. — Chandler’s Ford Community Halls, Hursley Road.

It was in around 1870 that it was discovered that our clay soil was particularly suitable for brickmaking. There were three brickfields in Chandler’s Ford. The biggest, which was also one of the largest in the country, was Bell’s, which occupied the land now taken by Chandler’s Ford industrial estate. The position of the railway no doubt helped its success as this was the main means of transporting the finished bricks. A short single-track branch line ran through the brickfield, joining the Eastleigh-Romsey line at the station near the signal box. The whole process of clay extraction, moulding to shape and firing was done on site. This last was not always popular with local residents due to the fumes emanating from the kilns. This brickfield had the honour of providing 35,000 bricks for the construction of the Royal Courts of Justice in the 1870s.

Brickmaking in Chandler's Ford — Brickmaking in Chandler’s Ford

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, Eastleigh, education, history, local history, local interest, memory, storytelling, war memorial, writing

The Itchen Navigation Allbrook to Brambridge

January 8, 2022 By Steve Allen 5 Comments

By Steve Allen and Derek Johnson

We have been walking this part of the navigation for many years and in our opinion this 30-minute stroll has capture the river and canal in it entirety.

After making your way to Twyford Road and finding the track down to the canal you turn left, which takes you down past properties on the left bank, which dip their toes into the water edge. Look out for the signs of the kingfisher as they look for food. These bird are very elusive so you must have a keen eye to catch them perched on branches as they fish. Or you may see the distinctive turquoise rear as they fly past you at great speed.

The view opens out on the right. At this stage, just pause a while to see if you can watch many spices of birds going about their daily life. Some say a small blot on the landscape is Nuttall Construction but I feel this gives a sense of what the canal was used for in years gone by.

Passing under the railway bridge you emerge to meadow land on the right. High on the first pylon it has been known to see up to seven cormorants surveying their territory. In the meadows deer and geese can be seen grazing.

Cormorant image by winterseitler via Pixabay

After crossing the road, stop a while to look at the lock, check the depth by looking at the ledge on the other bank. At this time the water is high above and we encounter flooding as we progress. As we wonder through the canopy of trees, just be aware of the river and watch for ripples on the waters edge, as this is a sure sign of the water vole as she make her way through the reed beds to her riverbank home.

New growth is starting to show along the edges of the canal; new life is about to begin.

On the left the meadow land opens out in the foreground; the reeds are growing. If you just stand awhile you may hear the distinctive sound of the reed warblers as he tries to encourage a mate to his domain. He loves to climb up the reeds to have a look at you before he flies away. Most odd.

Depending upon the rainfall, the canal can be clear as crystal. ThIs is a good time to watch the water surface as life is in great abundance on or below the surface.

Many a time I have stopped for a while to take in the peace and tranquility of the canal with its changing moods. Once you are up by the sliuce gates you will see the canal and river side by side, both trying to race one another as they make their through the Itchen Valley.

Lurking in the deep waters is a predator the river barracuda the pike – we have named her Jaws and have seen her in action taking a grayling or two. The heron and egret find this stretch of the river good hunting grounds. As we cross a wooden footbridge we come to the end of our stroll at Brambridge garden centre on the right. We can be found sitting outside under the canopy having a pot of tea and medium cappuccino and a nice ice buns.

THIS IS THE LIFE – ENJOY ONE OF GOD’S PIECE OF HEAVEN.

By Steve Allen and Derek Johnson

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Tags: adventure, days out, Eastleigh, family, health, Itchen, leisure, memories, travel, walking

J is for January

January 7, 2022 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay/Pexels photos.

Is January your favourite time of the year? It isn’t mine. If I had to choose, I would be torn between March and September as I love spring and autumn equally.

[Read more…] about J is for January

Tags: Blue Monday, creative writing, January, National Days, New Year resolutions, planning ahead, signs of spring, winter weather

January Gardening Tips by Wellie

January 6, 2022 By Wellie 2 Comments

If the weather is cold and wet, why not sit inside with a cup of tea and a slice of Christmas cake and plan what you would like to do in the garden for the rest of the year. Look at seed catalogues for ideas of what to sow. Apple and pear trees can still be pruned now, if there is no risk of frosts, by taking out any diseased, crossing or dead branches. Aim to end up with an open tree that allows light and air into it.

Prune outdoor grapevines by mid January, rising sap ‘bleeds’ from pruning cuts later in spring. Buy and start chitting early potatoes. Chitting will help to bring on a slightly earlierand heavier crop. [Read more…] about January Gardening Tips by Wellie

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, gardening, gardening tips, hobby, how-to, nature

Out with the Old?

December 31, 2021 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Image Credits:- Video and most photos created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Other photos from Pixabay/Pexels. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes. Images of Wendy H Jones and Creativity Matters: Find Your Passion for Writing kindly supplied by Wendy H Jones for an earlier CFT post.

Happy New Year!

[Read more…] about Out with the Old?

Tags: am writing, auditing your year, creative writing, embracing change, old ways of doing things, remembering the positives, reviewing, technology, The Writing and Marketing Show, the writing journey, Wendy H Jones

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 183, the last)

December 30, 2021 By Rick Goater 25 Comments

Condolences from a small great-grandson; a happy birthday and a treasured card; green-wellied Rick; farewell the Anderson Shelter; a new pond; “queer turns” and “nasty falls”; a last new bird for the garden; several new additions to the Family, and “Good night my dear. God bless you”.

It is June 30th 1991, four days after Jane’s funeral. Gran writes:

I rang Beverly to ask how she is and she said she had recovered from her exhaustion and was very touched and proud that Jane had asked her to be with her during her illness. I thanked her for being with Jane at the last and for her support for me in the Church at Jane’s Funeral Service.

The following day Gran receives a heartfelt and uplifting letter from Julian, based with the RAF in Germany, praising Jane and her “spirit, her values and her bravery”, adding, “… I’d be really proud if I were her Mum”. And with Julian’s communication is a letter from his son, Sam, saying, Gran writes, “Dear Great Gran – we were very sad too”.

Tags: Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Today, family, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Road, history, Joan Adamson, Joan Adelaide Goater, Julian Goater, local interest, memory, nature, writing

Merry Christmas!

December 24, 2021 By Allison Symes 3 Comments

Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

Have a lovely Christmas, everyone. I thought I’d share some festive flash fiction for this post.

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Tags: A Christmas Carol, am reading, am writing, books, Charles Dickens, Christmas stories, festive flash fiction, Hannah Kate, North Manchester FM, stories, Three Minute Santas flash fiction show

The Animals’ Christmas

December 18, 2021 By Christine Clark Leave a Comment

Imagine you’re a bystander, just happening to be there, watching the nativity story unfold. Not a convenient passer-by but … an animal. The Christmas story is full of animals, from donkeys and oxen to sheep and camels, so – why not?

Sarah the spider, resident of Mary’s home in Nazareth (note: Mary doesn’t sweep away Sarah’s web because it catches the flies) observes Gabriel and the Annunciation. Daniel the donkey carries Mary and Joseph to the stable in Bethlehem where he also finds rest. Obadiah the ox, who lives in this stable, grudgingly makes room for the interloper and then is present at Jesus’ birth. Lilah the lamb comes with the shepherds, having seen the angel with the amazing news, and Khalid the camel, along with his mates Kanika and Keb, are the transport for the wise men as they follow the star.

The Animals' Christmas - by Aileen Urquhart (Author), Emma Repetti (Illustrator) — The Animals’ Christmas – by Aileen Urquhart (Author), Emma Repetti (Illustrator)

Prep Work

December 17, 2021 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

There’s plenty of prep work going on I suspect by the time this post goes out. I hope your Christmas preparations are going well. (I’m in the middle of mine with my food shop due next week and baking still to be done but I’ll get there).

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Tags: blogging, creative writing, fiction, non-fiction, planning your writing, scheduling, writing tips

Celebrating with Bridge House Publishing

December 10, 2021 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Image Credits:-

**Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images.**

**Photos taken by me, Allison Symes, with one exception. A big thank you to Lynn Clement for kind permission to use the photo of her with Gill James and myself at the Bridge House Publishing event.**

**Also thanks to Gill James for the YouTube link showing what BHP have been up to this year – it is easier to see what BHP have been up to than to list it!**

It was great to be able to celebrate with Bridge House Publishing twice in one week this year.

On Thursday, 2nd December, there was a Zoom meeting for those who couldn’t get to the in-person event in London on Saturday, 4th December. There was a quiz, a look at the books published by BHP and its imprints this year (including The City of Stories by Lynn Clement, which I edited), and there were readings.

I read Breaking Out, one of my two stories in The Best of CafeLit 10, which is just one of the many books produced this year.

It was lovely to see so many on screen and I loved hearing the stories.

Tags: Allison Symes, books, Bridge House Publishing, celebration event, creative writing, in-person event, indie publishers, Lynn Clement, reading, The City of Stories, writing event, Zoom

The Reunion

December 7, 2021 By Mike Sedgwick 5 Comments

We gathered once again for the 65^th anniversary of our first meeting in the university’s Anatomy Department. Eight of us are left, but another eight are still living in the far corners of the world. We were like a copse of trees, saplings, whips and small shoots to begin with. We needed to be nurtured and trained in our respective careers.

Now, in the late Autumn, we are a dying wood. Our abilities fall away like autumn leaves; our branches crack and tumble. What remains creaks with decay and degeneration within. The killing winter frosts will soon finish us all. [Read more…] about The Reunion

Tags: communication, Friendship, history, science, storytelling, writing

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 182)

December 5, 2021 By Rick Goater Leave a Comment

A new gas supply; the “Great Gale”; worrying news of Jane; Peter Scott, George Green and “a little Pakistani newsboy”; taking a bath is risky; three additional residents at The Ridge; Frank Harding’s eyesight; a shop on fire; the last whist drive, and “the saddest Midsummer Day”.

On September 10th 1987 Gran’s gas supply is being upgraded, and she writes at the end of the day:

There was still no gas and the men dug up the top part of the drive and drilled a hole through the wall and from the cupboard under the stairs into the garage where the new meter is to be installed. The mess everywhere has to be seen to be believed… The gas was restored at 4.45 and the last man told me that men would return in a day or two to re-lay the drive and level the ground outside the gateway.

The Ridge’s drive. It was originally “crazy-paved” with large slabs of limestone, and could be very slippery.

Chandler’s Ford Produce & Craft Market is back – Saturday 4th December at Age Concern Hall, 10am to 1pm

December 3, 2021 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Chandler’s Ford Christmas Market day is tomorrow – Saturday the 4th of December, at the Age Concern Hall, next to Fryern Arcade, (behind Co-Op), from 10am to 1pm. Well done for Steve Allen for organising the local market in the past few years.

All the stallholders are ready and hand gel will be on the door. Face masks need to be worn.

Come and meet the local crafters of Chandler’s Ford and the local areas.

Chandler's Ford Produce & Craft Market - Saturday 04.12.2021 — Chandler’s Ford Produce & Craft Market – Saturday 04.12.2021

In the market in November, 135 people visited supporting our friendly stallholders.

In the market on Saturday, you’ll find many high quality items produced by the local people.

Chloe, a jewellery maker from Southamptom, makes gorgeous items. She will be at the market tomorrow as well.

Hand-made soap, jam, cards... — Hand-made soap, jam, cards…

Tags: Age Concern Centre, arts and crafts, Brownhill Road, Chandler’s Ford community, community, craft fair, crafts, event, Fryern Arcade, hobby, local businesses, local interest

Back From Brechin

December 3, 2021 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Image Credits:-

Some pictures are from Pixabay. Others are created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Many thanks to Sarah Archibald for the Festival related photos.

Many thanks to my guests from the Association of Christian Writers for supplying their fab author photos and book cover pictures. Naturally I took my own pictures (though will credit Adrian Symes for my author photo. It is tricky doing that one yourself!).

It was a pleasure to be a part of the Brechin/Angus Book Festival from 19th to 21st November 2021. The event also formed part of Book Week Scotland.

Last year, I went to the Festival thanks to Zoom but it was lovely to be there in person this time, my first “big” writing event since before lockdown.

[Read more…] about Back From Brechin

Tags: Allison Symes, am reading, am writing, Association of Christian Writers, book event, books, Brechin/Angus Book Festival, fiction, flash fiction, genre fiction, memoir, narrative non-fiction, non-fiction, talk, the writing journey, workshop

Past Hospitals in Chandler’s Ford

December 2, 2021 By Christine Clark 1 Comment

I wonder how much you know about hospitals in Chandler’s Ford past? We know of the private Nuffield Hospital in Winchester Road. Many will remember Leigh House Hospital that is gone now, to make way for housing. But there was another, long gone …

Hursley Union Workhouse / Sanitorium / Leigh House Hospital

Chandler's Ford Leigh House Hospital — Chandler’s Ford Leigh House Hospital

In 1835 the Hursley Poor Law Union was officially formed to cover the parishes of Hursley, Compton, Farley Chamberlayne, North Baddesley and Otterbourne. Ampfield and Chandler’s Ford were added to the list in 1894. By 1867 the Hursley parish workhouse, built in 1828, was criticised for its inadequate building (disgusting water closets and a cesspool under the windows of the lying-in and infectious wards, which had been unemptied for twelve years!). [Read more…] about Past Hospitals in Chandler’s Ford

Tags: community, culture, Eastleigh, education, handler’s Ford, history, local history, local interest, memory, storytelling, writing

Wellie’s Gardening Tips – December 2021

December 1, 2021 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Clematis pruning guide

Group 1 – Spring
No pruning needed except to control the size or shape of these clematis.
If necessary, lightly prune, back to a pair of healthy buds, immediately after flowering

Tip: Early flowering clematis can become overgrown as they age. A hard pruning can rejuvenate the plant but the next seasons flowers will be lost. In early spring, cut stems back to a pair of healthy buds several inches above the ground to encourage new growth

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, gardening, gardening tips, hobby, how-to, nature

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 181)

November 28, 2021 By Rick Goater 2 Comments

“Contented and at rest”; no hot water and a need for porage; a long-lasting watering can; when Katie met Harry; a natural history bonanza in Scotland; two new orchids; farewell “Granny” Pickford; exciting news from Katie; “a wonderful and never-to-be forgotten day”, and “what gems are there still to uncover?”

Book 229

January 4th 1987, Gran writes, is “a dreary and dull day starting overcast after night rain and soon pouring for the rest of the day” but we feel that after a long period of stressful and unhappy events, she has managed to regain some of her equilibrium, as she continues:

… and I have seen no-one, and the front door has not been unlocked. Yet I have been contented and at rest. A thrush was singing when I went to take the temperatures soon after eight o’clock this morning.

The middle of the month is bitterly cold and family and neighbours worry about her keeping warm enough in The Ridge, a house, like many others at that time, with no central heating or double-glazing, and just a gas fire in each of the main living rooms. Barry offers to bring a sleeping bag for his Mother to use when sitting in her chair, and recommends she buy some cling-film to rig up some primitive double-glazing on the windows.

Tags: Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Today, family, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Road, history, Joan Adamson, Joan Adelaide Goater, Julian Goater, local interest, memory, nature, writing

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Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

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Image Credits:- Video and most photos created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Other photos from Pixabay/Pexels. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes. Images of Wendy H Jones and Creativity Matters: Find Your Passion for Writing kindly supplied by Wendy H Jones for an earlier CFT post.

Happy New Year!

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Condolences from a small great-grandson; a happy birthday and a treasured card; green-wellied Rick; farewell the Anderson Shelter; a new pond; “queer turns” and “nasty falls”; a last new bird for the garden; several new additions to the Family, and “Good night my dear. God bless you”.

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Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.

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Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

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Image Credits:-

Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images.

Photos taken by me, Allison Symes, with one exception. A big thank you to Lynn Clement for kind permission to use the photo of her with Gill James and myself at the Bridge House Publishing event.

Also thanks to Gill James for the YouTube link showing what BHP have been up to this year – it is easier to see what BHP have been up to than to list it!

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A new gas supply; the “Great Gale”; worrying news of Jane; Peter Scott, George Green and “a little Pakistani newsboy”; taking a bath is risky; three additional residents at The Ridge; Frank Harding’s eyesight; a shop on fire; the last whist drive, and “the saddest Midsummer Day”.

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Image Credits:-

Some pictures are from Pixabay. Others are created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Many thanks to Sarah Archibald for the Festival related photos.

Many thanks to my guests from the Association of Christian Writers for supplying their fab author photos and book cover pictures. Naturally I took my own pictures (though will credit Adrian Symes for my author photo. It is tricky doing that one yourself!).

Share this:

Hursley Union Workhouse / Sanitorium / Leigh House Hospital

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Clematis pruning guide

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Book 229

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**Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images.**

**Photos taken by me, Allison Symes, with one exception. A big thank you to Lynn Clement for kind permission to use the photo of her with Gill James and myself at the Bridge House Publishing event.**

**Also thanks to Gill James for the YouTube link showing what BHP have been up to this year – it is easier to see what BHP have been up to than to list it!**