• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Chandler's Ford Today

  • Home
  • About
    • About Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research
  • Blog
    • Blogging Tips
  • Event
    • Upcoming Events
  • Community
    • Groups
    • Churches
    • Schools
    • GP Surgeries
    • Leisure
    • Library
    • Charities
      • Eastleigh Basics Bank
      • Cat & Kitten Rescue in Chandler’s Ford
    • Fair Trade
      • Traidcraft stalls in Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford Parish Council
  • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Site Policies
  • Site Archive
    • Site Archive 2018
    • Site Archive 2017
    • Site Archive 2016
    • Site Archive 2015

humour

A Quiz from Local Walks in Chandler’s Ford

January 12, 2021 By SO53 News 4 Comments

Pooh's sticks in Chandler's Ford

If you have been doing your socially distanced walk locally, you might have discovered some new things. Today we have 3 questions for you:

  1. Where can this milestone be found n Chandler’s Ford?

Where can you find this milestone in Chandler's Ford?
Where can you find this milestone in Chandler’s Ford?

2. Where can you find these pooh sticks in Chandler’s Ford?

Pooh sticks in Chandler's Ford
Pooh sticks in Chandler’s Ford

[Read more…] about A Quiz from Local Walks in Chandler’s Ford

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, guessing game, humour

Keeping us Cheerful – the Windmills of my Mind

January 2, 2021 By Robbie Sprague 7 Comments

Little windmills in the front garden

On April Fools’ Day 2019, I had the following letter published in the Daily Telegraph:

Sir,

Every lawn in my road has been devastated by crows frantically digging for chafer grubs. The day they started on my lawn I ordered two hundred and fifty children’s windmills and placed them over the entire grassed area of my front garden. That was five months ago and not one crow has ventured into our garden and our grass has flourished. These colourful windmills are a great source of entertainment for families walking up and down the street – one or two have even spread into neighbouring gardens.

Having had success, I decided to harness the potential of each windmill by modifying them to become miniature wind turbines, interconnecting them and linking them to the National Grid. The power that is generated reduces the cost of my electricity bill by approximately 25%.

In these challenging Brexit times when we all have to become more self- sufficient, I offer this simple, yet effective scheme to save your readers money – and to fend off crows.

Sincerely,

We have given away literally hundreds of windmills to little – and not so little – children.
“I ordered two hundred and fifty children’s windmills and placed them over the entire grassed area of my front garden.”

[Read more…] about Keeping us Cheerful – the Windmills of my Mind

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: Chandler's Ford, coronavirus, Covid-19, family memories, good neighbours, Hiltingbury, humour, lockdown, publication, science, storytelling, writing

A Romantic Romp through the NATO Phonetic Alphabet

September 20, 2020 By Christine Clark 6 Comments

NATO phonetic alphabet, codes and signals.

In this bit of nonsense, I have included each of the NATO Phonetic Alphabet codewords …

Last November, alpha male Mike and his Zulu boyfriend Charlie took a holiday at the famous golf hotel in Lima. Wanting a break from the game, they took a drive through the delta, up into the sierra, where they heard the famous echo. In the evening they were joined by their yankee soldier friend Victor (who was in uniform) and his Papa.

They all went to the theatre where they saw Romeo and Juliet (it was an Oscar-winning performance – ‘Bravo’, they cried) and then went dancing, first the foxtrot then the tango. [Read more…] about A Romantic Romp through the NATO Phonetic Alphabet

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: creative writing, humour, storytelling

Part 2 – The Writing Game – and What to Watch For

July 31, 2020 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Welcome to Part 2 of my new series. You can find the link to Part 1 here. Writing colleagues and I share tips we hope will be useful ranging from contracts to marketing to even handling professional jealousy. There is much to learn from here!

Any industry attracts charlatans. Writing isn’t exempt. From copyright infringements to piracy, it pays to be aware of what can happen and where to go for advice. It is also useful to know what to avoid.

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

[Read more…] about Part 2 – The Writing Game – and What to Watch For

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: advice, Allison Symes, Amanda Baber, Bridge House Publishing, Cafelit, Chapeltown Books, creative writing, Dawn Kentish Knox, fantasy, flash fiction, Gill James, hints, humour, Paula C Readman, publishing, scams, short stories, tips

Fun With Words by Allison Symes

April 24, 2020 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Most writers, certainly the ones I know, love word games. These can range from good old Scrabble to the Times crossword. I fall into the former camp! It is a very good day when I get a cryptic crossword clue right but never mind!

I am also fond of fun, pun games which are the ultimate form of word play as far as I’m concerned. You’re taking the language and “mucking about” with it. What’s not to like about that? It is how so much comedy is generated. It does wonders for your vocabulary too given you have to know the various meanings for any pun to work.

Word games are huge fun - Pixabay
Word games are huge fun – Pixabay

Radio shows such as Just a Minute, The Unbelievable Truth, and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue are all dependent on word play. I was sorry to hear of the death of Nicholas Parsons and hope that Just a Minute does not die with him. I am convinced he would not have wanted that and it is a marvellous show. Working with words gives endless permutations so I see no reason why it couldn’t go on.

The traditional board game of Scrabble - PIxabay
The traditional board game of Scrabble though I’d love to know why someone’s got 8 tiles here!- PIxabay

[Read more…] about Fun With Words by Allison Symes

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: fun with words, humour, silly book titles, word play

Murphy’s Law For Readers

April 10, 2020 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Feature Image - Murphy's Law for Readers

I thought a lighthearted piece would probably be timely. Last year, I wrote a piece about Murphy’s Law for Writers so I thought I would take the topic again and look at it from a reader’s viewpoint.

So how could Murphy’s Law apply to readers then? As follows, I think, but send in your suggestions via the comments box. Some of what follows will be for when we resume normal life again but the general principles apply.

So how could Murphy’s Law affect readers? Pixabay

[Read more…] about Murphy’s Law For Readers

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: books, bookshops, entertainment, humour, libraries, Murphy's Law, readers, stories

Review: Chameleon Theatre Group – Atlantis – The Panto

January 31, 2020 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Feature Image - Atlantis - The Panto. Programme cover photo taken by Allison Symes-1

Image Credit:  A big thank you to The Chameleon Theatre Group for kind permission to use their excellent photos. The images of the programme cover and the cast (from the pantomime programme) were taken by Allison Symes.

Feature Image - Atlantis - The Panto.
Feature Image – Atlantis – The Panto. Programme cover photo taken by Allison Symes-1

What do Camille Saint-Saens, Eddie Cochran, Queen, Bob Marley, and Sir Elton John have in common?

Not an awful lot, you may be thinking, but they did all have their music included in Atlantis – The Panto, which was recently staged by the ever excellent Chameleon Theatre Group.

I’ll share a song list later but the answer to my question tells you the music for the show was an eclectic mix, as it should be. There should be something for everyone to enjoy in a panto musically as well as in the jokes and storyline.

Well done to all in the chorus, you were excellent
Well done to all in the chorus, you were excellent

Atlantis – The Panto was written by Paul Reakes. It ran at the Ritchie Hall from Friday 17th – Saturday 25th January 2020, and was directed by Sheila Hardiman.

Janet and I went on Thursday, 24th January and a great time was had by all, one of many signs of a wonderful panto. I’ll share a few more signs later.

[Read more…] about Review: Chameleon Theatre Group – Atlantis – The Panto

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: acting, amateur theatre, Atlantis-The Panto. entertainment, Chameleon Theatre Group, humour, music, pantomime, Ritchie Hall

Review: Chandler’s Ford MDG Players: ‘Welcome to our village, please invade carefully’

December 2, 2019 By Ben Williams 3 Comments

MDG Players next production is *‘Welcome to our village, please invade carefully’* by Eddie Robson on Thursday 28^th – Saturday 30^th November in the Dovetail Centre Café at 7.30pm.

This year’s performance by the MDG Players is a pastiche of sci-fi storytelling that lampoons radio plays and the stories of Stephen King and John Wyndham. Presented as a radio play, Welcome to Our Village, Please Invade Carefully is filled with clever humour and wit that results in a very original, fun way to spend an evening.

Mike Standing (A Minion), Lester Parry (Gryvook), and Mike Slatcher (Uljabaan)
Mike Standing (A Minion), Lester Parry (Gryvook), and Mike Slatcher (Uljabaan)

The plot is simple – the village of Cresdon Green, Buckinghamshire, is a normal English town that has just happened to be slowly invaded by aliens. It starts with a dome being placed over the village and then Uljabaan, an alien trying desperately hard to impress his superiors, attempting to blend in with the villagers. Whilst some embrace the aliens, others, led by the rebellious Katrina Lyons, want to see the aliens gone. Hilarity ensues. [Read more…] about Review: Chandler’s Ford MDG Players: ‘Welcome to our village, please invade carefully’

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: acting, arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, community, Dovetail Centre, drama, entertainment, event, fiction, humour, local interest, MDG Players, Methodist Church, review, social, theatre, Winchester Road

The Chameleon Theatre Group: My Husband’s Nuts – Review

November 1, 2019 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Chameleons - My Husband's Nuts - Review

Image Credit: A big thank you as ever to Stuart Wineberg and The Chameleons for the images.

The play’s title indicated there would be play on words (in every sense) running through the latest production from The Chameleon Theatre Group. With a title like this, it can hardly be avoided! Still it does tie in with my post last week on Meanings!

Feature Image - Chameleons - My Husband's Nuts - Review
Feature Image – Chameleons – My Husband’s Nuts – Review. Image taken by Allison Symes

[Read more…] about The Chameleon Theatre Group: My Husband’s Nuts – Review

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: drama, farce, humour, My Husband's Nuts, plays, review, Ritchie Hall, The Chameleon Theatre Group

Rules That Need to Exist

September 13, 2019 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

Feature Image - Ideas for Rules that Should Exist - Pixabay-1

I know we can all be fed up with petty rules which seem to serve no purpose other than to irritate us but there are rules which need to exist. [Read more…] about Rules That Need to Exist

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: humour, rules that need to exist

Chameleon Theatre Company – Review: They Came From Mars…

August 2, 2019 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Chameleons - They Came From Mars

Apologies but the title of this spoof is so long for the boxes CFT has for its posts, I thought it best to truncate it. Truncate or not to truncate, that is the question… (oh and apologies to Shakespeare too).

Image Credit: As ever a huge thank you to Lionel Elliott, Mike Morris, and all of The Chameleons for the pictures.

I discussed titles in last week’s post and the latest production from The Chameleon Theatre Company has one which is a humdinger! They Came From Mars and Landed Outside the Farndale Avenue Church Hall in time for the Townswomen’s Coffee Morning doesn’t trip off the tongue but is a classic example of a title showing clearly what the story is – a spoof! [Read more…] about Chameleon Theatre Company – Review: They Came From Mars…

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: amateur theatre, Chameleon Theatre Group, comedy, entertainment, humour, plays, sci-fi, spoof, theatre

Murphy’s Law

July 19, 2019 By Allison Symes 3 Comments

Feature Image - Murphy's Law

I’m a great believer in Murphy’s Law. “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong”. Why? Because humans have such a wonderful creative capacity and, simultaneously, an equally wonderful capacity to muck things up. (It’s just wonderful in a different direction, that’s all!). [Read more…] about Murphy’s Law

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: creative writing, entertainment, humour, Murphy's Law, writers

An Open Letter to My Cycle Thief

March 20, 2019 By Gopi Chandroth 8 Comments

Dear cycle thief,

Hope you are enjoying my bike or parts of it that you couldn’t sell. If you’ve sold it in the nether market, the money must have bought you a few pleasures. But, I am straying from the point now, digressing, if you understand the word. That was no aspersion on your education, but just a thought that occurred to me. In your profession, you cannot afford to digress. You cannot head for the bike shed with your chain cutters and suddenly entertain an alternative thought, like “Let me check out the Magnolia tree. Its blossoms are so overwhelmingly beautiful this time of the year”. No. You will be the master of concentration, one-track minded, a Zen of bicycle thievery. [Read more…] about An Open Letter to My Cycle Thief

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: Chandler's Ford, Chandler’s Ford community, crime, Eastleigh Police, humour, news, police, writing

Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (27)

March 16, 2019 By SO53 News 10 Comments

1) Our favourite shop Mibi has got some news to the community. Do you know what’s happening?

[Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (27)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, guessing game, humour

Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (26)

March 2, 2019 By SO53 News 3 Comments

1) Great news! This shop will open late on Pancake Day! Where is it?

[Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (26)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, guessing game, humour

Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (25)

February 23, 2019 By SO53 News 15 Comments

1) Where can you find this building in Chandler’s Ford? What are your memories about this area? Do you like the changes in this area?

Image credit: Stuart Roberts [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (25)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, guessing game, humour

Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (24)

February 16, 2019 By SO53 News 10 Comments

1) Whereabouts in Chandler’s Ford can you find these flags in? Which renowned business is it in Chandler’s Ford? Have you visited this venue before?

[Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (24)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, guessing game, humour

Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (23)

December 22, 2018 By SO53 News 9 Comments

1 – Where can you find these lovely knitting around Chandler’s Ford? So festive.

Image credit: Jill Mayes [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (23)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, guessing game, humour

Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (22)

December 15, 2018 By SO53 News 18 Comments

Today’s guessing game we would love to hear about your Christmas memories.

1 – Selwood’s Christmas trees have been around in Chandler’s Ford for decades. How does it make you feel seeing their magnificent Christmas tree each year?

[Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (22)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, guessing game, humour

Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (21)

December 9, 2018 By SO53 News 14 Comments

(Sorry for being one day late this week of this popular Saturday Guessing Game series. It takes a lot of time to obtain photos from various sources, while also trying to untangle Christmas lights, get a friend to jump start our car – thank you chippy minton for your help, and send out Christmas cards that sort of thing. We hope you enjoy the photos today.)

Our loyal reader Mary Peterson sent us these images which she took in September 1984. Thank you Mary for these great photos. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Saturday Guessing Game (21)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email
Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, guessing game, humour
Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Search

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to Chandler's Ford Today blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Archives

Top Posts & Pages

999, 111, 101, 112? Emergency Numbers You Must Know
101 Things to Put into Room 101
101 Things to Put into Room 101 - Part 7 - The Final Leg
Richard Hardie, Authors Reach, and Lockdown
The Chandler's Ford Brick Industry
Cat & Kitten Rescue in Chandler's Ford
A Daily Visit by Royalty - and a Sumptuous Meal for a King
Peculiar British House Numbering System
Home
Lockdown Afternoon Tea

Categories

Tags

arts and crafts books Chandler's Ford Chandler's Ford Today Chandler’s Ford community charity Christianity Christmas church community creative writing culture Eastleigh Eastleigh Borough Council education entertainment event family fundraising gardening good neighbours Hiltingbury Hiltingbury Road history hobby how-to interview Joan Adamson Joan Adelaide Goater local businesses local interest memory Methodist Church music nature news reading religion review social storytelling theatre travel Winchester Road writing

Recent Comments

  • Allison Symes on Richard Hardie, Authors Reach, and Lockdown
  • Teresa Stepping on Richard Hardie, Authors Reach, and Lockdown
  • John on A Quiz from Local Walks in Chandler’s Ford
  • Brian Glanville on Peter Hammerton: My Family, My Life Living in Chandler’s Ford – Part 3
  • Roger White on A Quiz from Local Walks in Chandler’s Ford
  • Janet Williams on A Quiz from Local Walks in Chandler’s Ford

Regular Writers and Contributors

Janet Williams Allison Symes Mike Sedgwick Rick Goater Doug Clews chippy minton Martin Napier Roger White Andy Vining Gopi Chandroth Nicola Slade Wellie Roger Clark Ray Fishman Hazel Bateman SO53 News

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

Reviews of local performances and places

Reviews of local performances and places

Copyright © 2021 Chandler's Ford Today. WordPress. Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.