After the extremely dry summer last year and the very cold temperatures we experienced back in December many plants are looking a little (perhaps an understatement for some plants!) dead. Plants I have noticed that have suffered are Pittosporum, hebes, Penstamon,Salvias, Rosemary, Bay and Choisya.
It was lovely to join Janet at Ritchie Hall to see Spring Trio, the latest production from The Chameleon Theatre Group, on 27th April. (This ran until 29th April). Spring Trio lives up to its name as the audience was presented with three plays, one of which was written by Matthew Meehan from the Chameleons. The plays were a mixture of comedy and drama. There were interesting twists too. All three plays made great use of simple sets and props.
[Read more…] about Review: Spring Trio – The Chameleon Theatre Group
Have you been to Fryern Funtasia today? I hope you have enjoyed this event. This morning I went to Fryern Recreation Ground for a quick visit and this place has brought back some very fond memories. I used to go there with some of my friends and our children, but now our children have left home and my friends were elsewhere, so it did feel quite different and I even felt a tiny bit meloncholic. However it was wonderful to see some friendly faces, beutiful owls, really fluffy dogs, and lots of happy children. It was very lovely to see many local groups such as Scouts, Girlguiding, Boys’ Brigade, Lions Club, Stroke support group, Churches Together….. local businesses such as Peter Green and Gair Gas and many others.
I mentioned briefly in my Book Recommendations post last week I have used how-to-write guides (and still turn to them for reference when needed). I adore Stephen King’s On Writing, which is a great mix of memoir and writing advice. Many writers speak highly of it.
The Coronation of King Charles III is fast approaching. Are you getting ready yet? Any street parties, tea parties… in Chandler’s Ford?
We have found these pretty knitted dolls on Bournemouth Road.
[Read more…] about Getting Ready for the Coronation of King Charles III?
Do you recommend books to others? I do sometimes, usually when chatting with other writers at an event over a cup of tea, and they recommend books to me. This is why all writers everywhere have an enormous To Be Read pile. They have an even bigger To Get Around to Reading at Some Stage pile. Don’t even ask what I’ve got waiting for me on my Kindle. Am just go glad electronic book shelves can’t collapse under the strain!
I blog once a week for Goodreads, the book website, and recommendations crop up all the time on there.
After COVID, cancer, the cold and a few other obstacles, we have found our way back to Kandy. We spent a few days sofa-surfing, including a few days in the Hanthana Hills at Jungle Tide, a lovely place to stay. The track up to a lovely traditional house was interesting; see the picture. The views across the valley to the opposite Knuckles range of mountains are fantastic. Eventually, we found a spacious apartment beside the Mahawali River. I told my friend where we were. His response was, ‘We’ll come over for dinner tonight. The whole family.’
I’ve often used time in fiction. I’ve sometimes used Time as a character. I sometimes have a story where a character has a certain amount of time in which to achieve their objective. I’ve also written from the viewpoint of time travelling aliens (as you do!). I’ve written the odd story as a diary format and even timed the entries written by the narrator. I’ve also written historical flash fiction where the setting is back in time. All great fun to do.
This year Winchester Cathedral hosted the Church Times Festival of Faith and Literature (subtitled as a three-day literary festival with a theological slant). Some of our parish went along to see what was on offer.
One of us volunteered as a steward at the West Downs campus for the Saturday. She says, “I had a very interesting day. As a steward I had the opportunity to attend a number of seminars. My day began with hearing from Brian Draper on the subject of Soulfulness, followed by Rowan Williams speaking on Christian Ethics and Solidarity. I then listened to Catherine Fox and Francis Spufford as authors in conversation together on faith in fiction, and rounded it all off with a discussion between Rachel Mann and Jay Hulme as poets, on (un)holy desire with a trans perspective – a fascinating and eclectic day by anyone's standards, with much to reflect on! (And so much more I didn’t get to hear!)”
As you may know, I like a challenge (at least I do when it is attainable). I particularly enjoy the Treasure-Hunt challenges that add variety to an outdoor activity – or just a reason for an outdoor activity. So when this one came up on a friend’s social media news feed, I had to give it a go. The original challenge was to find these on a run, but I see no reason why it shouldn’t be a walk or a cycle ride – I myself did it on a cycle ride, over the course of about seven miles.
Find, and photograph, each of the following Easter-related items:
Following my recent discovery of Lordswood Lane and Chilworth Drove – bridleways that used to be more important routes – I had a look at a map and found that there are more of these than you might think. Or more than I thought.
For example, White Lane runs from Twyford in the vague direction of St Catherine’s Hill, and Silkstead Lane and Shepherd’s Lane can be found near Compton and Otterbourne. Even the pathways that lead through Boyatt Wood may follow routes that predate the houses. The footbridge over the railway at the end of Archers Road may even be a legacy of an access route that is older than the railway.
The weather can be very changeable, it can be warm and sunny during the day, but the temperatures can still really drop over night.
Plant out second early potatoes in the first two weeks and main crops in last two weeks of April. Carry on sowing vegetables directly into prepared soil including carrots, turnip, peas, broadbeans, spinach and lettuce. Sow tender courgettes, cucumbers and pumpkins indoors. [Read more…] about April Gardening Tips by Wellie
It is with great pleasure I welcome Gill James, publisher and author, back to Chandler’s Ford Today. Gill wears many hats. She is a multi-published writer and is the driving force behind Bridge House Publishing, CafeLit, and Chapeltown Books amongst other imprints.
For more information check out the following sites.
Gill James website: http://www.gilljameswriter.com/
Bridge House Publishing: https://www.bridgehousepublishing.co.uk/
CafeLit: https://cafelit.co.uk/index.php/submission-guidelines-2
Chapeltown Publishing: http://www.chapeltownpublishing.uk/
Bridgetown Cafe Bookshop/Buy Link: http://www.thebridgetowncafebooksshop.co.uk/2021/07/build-book-workshop.html
[Read more…] about Author Interview: Gill James – Build A Book Workshop
Twyford Waterworks, in Hazeley Road, was an Edwardian steam pumping station built to extract water from underground boreholes. Water is still pumped from those same boreholes today – though now using electrical power, and in a non-publicly accessible area of the site. The rest of the site, however, is a scheduled ancient monument under the care of the Twyford Waterworks Trust. During the summer months they hold regular open days to allow the public a fascinating glimpse into this section of our industrial history. [Read more…] about Twyford Pumping Station Open Days
I’ve had the privilege and joy of being published in various anthologies over many years, mainly published by Bridge House Publishing.
What are the advantages to writing for anthologies? I thought I’d take a look at this and give some tips on working out ways of using any set theme wisely.
It is lovely when themes flow well together! Purposes of Reading was a natural follow on topic from Purposes of Creative Writing last week.
What would you say were the purposes of creative writing?
[Read more…] about Purposes of Creative Writing by Allison Symes
‘I see you are eating the meat of a pig,’ an American sharing my table in the hotel eyed my delicious crispy bacon. ‘Disgusting animals, they eat worms and roots from the ground. They roll around in mud and their own excrement.’
‘You must be a vegetarian,’ I suggested as he was eating a bowl of gravel-like cereal.
‘Vegan,’ he said. ‘Cooked meats contain secondary amines, and they are carcinogenic.’
‘So that is not milk on your cereal but some vegetable juice that lacks calcium. You must be taking supplementary vitamins to stay healthy.’ I glanced under the table to see whether he was wearing leather shoes, but his feet were tucked under his chair. He was not used to being challenged by a committed omnivore. Perhaps I should pay attention to a healthier lifestyle.
Coffee comes in for most comments. In the popular press, it is shown to be harmful, cancer-causing, and to be avoided. The following week’s newspaper will hail coffee as the drink to improve your intellect and prevent dementia, not to mention physical prowess. [Read more…] about Healthy Living?
It has been a brisk start to the first quarter of 2023 for me, I’m glad to say.
[Read more…] about Catching Up – Local Author News – Allison Symes
One of the joys of cycling is the ability it gives to explore an area in more detail than by car, but more quickly than by walking. On a bicycle, you travel at a pace fast enough to make progress, yet slow enough to stop and look at anything interesting along the way.
When I go for a bike ride, I usually have a destination in mind, but am more than happy to venture off-piste if an interesting-looking path crops up. Even more exciting if I don’t consult a map, and so have no idea where I am going – a proper mystery tour. After all, isn’t it more rewarding to travel than to arrive, and doesn’t every path lead somewhere? Even if “somewhere” turns out to be unknown and/or where you don’t want to be and/or back where you started. [Read more…] about Magical Mystery Tour
