Stuart Roberts sent us these beautiful snow pictures from Hiltingbury.
Many children and adults were having great fun yesterday in Hiltingbury. [Read more…] about Snow Pictures from Hiltingbury
Community
Snowing in Chandler’s Ford: Skiing on Brownhill Road then on to the King Rufus for Après-ski
Today people in Chandler’s Ford are having great fun with the snow.
Sean O’Toole from Chandler’s Ford shares this video with us. Florence Jordan filmed the video and Sean’s sons Sam and Lorcan O’Toole were skiing. They went around the block and then skied to the King Rufus for apres ski! They went down Brownhill Road, Park Road, then down Lakewood quick pit stop at home to get some money and then up Merdon Avenue to get a beer! [Read more…] about Snowing in Chandler’s Ford: Skiing on Brownhill Road then on to the King Rufus for Après-ski
Snow
1947
What a difference a few years makes. Back in 1947 we had a real winter. Snow and freezing temperatures lasted for ages. Those were real austerity times, food rationing, power cuts every day to conserve coal, clothing was still rationed, nobody had central heating and most had outside lavatories, even the BBC was cut off during the afternoons to save energy. It was enormous fun. I could not wait to get out with my sledge and the chance of a snowball fight.
Part 2: 101 Things to put into Room 101
I strongly suspect George Orwell would not be entirely happy with the way his invention Big Brother has been used to create a TV show. Whether he’d be happier that the same thing has happened with Room 101, which as a show can at least make people laugh, is another matter. Still, on to Part 2 of the things I would put into the vault of doom.
Newfoundlands in the Snow
I think it is correct to say that most dogs love snow, especially the thick coated dogs that are protected from the cold. My Newfoundlands, with double coats, will roll about in the snow, eat it, and will sleep undisturbed if allowed whilst the snow covers them. [Read more…] about Newfoundlands in the Snow
Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 45)
New Forest flowers; a Conservative Club outing; the SS United States; an Avocado Pear; Gran’s formidable fitness; kindly friends; those cats again; a green budgie and tennis with the best.
On June 28th 1952, Gran makes the three-bus trip, via the Hythe Ferry to her beloved New Forest. On the way, seeing the bombed sites of Southampton, Redbridge and Millbrook, she notes:
Buddleia, now recognised as a naturalised native plant, had taken firm hold and its beautiful purple heads of bloom flowered above the golden masses of Senecio squalidus (Oxford Ragwort).
She has a botanically fabulous day, described in great detail, recording many plants, eight of which are new species for her Hampshire list, and she writes:
The afternoon was perfect and I joined the Southampton Natural History Society in a ramble round Hatchet Pond in the New Forest, a district full of interest and with a tremendous number of small but beautiful, and, in some cases, rare wild flowers…the rarest and most exciting being the tiny gentian Cicendia filiformis (Sender Cicendia), which, according to Bentham and Hooker, occurs only in the south-western counties of England. Two bedstraws, Galium debile [now G. constrictum] a rare plant closely allied to Galium palustre (Marsh Bedstraw) and which has only recently been identified as a separate species, and the Stellaria uliginosa (Bog Stitchwort) were the next new discoveries… [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 45)
The Hutments 1950s and My Family
By John Rolfe
I live in the USA, but was originally from Southampton. I have attached a photo of my mum and brother. [Read more…] about The Hutments 1950s and My Family
101 Things to Put into Room 101
George Orwell (aka Eric Blair) has contributed so much to literature and has an accolade few other writers have (though whether he would welcome it is another thing). While it is not unknown for writers to have their sayings go into popular culture over centuries (think Shakespeare especially), how many have their phrases go on to become the titles for TV programmes? Orwell achieves that with Big Brother and Room 101. [Read more…] about 101 Things to Put into Room 101
Legs
I guess most of us know of a person with one leg, an amputee, even if knowing is limited to Long John Silver from Treasure Island. There are quite a few amputees in the swashbuckling, sea-going world of fiction, Captain Ahab in Moby Disk, Captain Hook in Peter Pan, though his was a missing arm replaced by a terrifying hook. Lord Uxbridge, at the battle of Waterloo, lost a leg and many statements are attributed to him. He commented to his surgeon, in those pre-anaesthesia days, ‘the knives appear somewhat blunt.’ Oscar Pistorius, murderer and Paralympic runner is a living amputee, so is socialite Heather Mills. [Read more…] about Legs
Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 44)
Mrs Doncaster’s lovely garden; The “Voice of Michael Vane”; abundant Painted Ladies; Jock is twenty-one; a sleepy Jackdaw; exams and their results; gambolling Stoats; plenty of orchids; a drinking woodpecker; a moth in the ear, and Wimbledon again.
On May 20th 1952, Gran:
…took a friend from the Natural History Society for a walk round about this district. We went through the woodland past the lake, which is surrounded by Rhododendron bushes which today were in full bloom, reflected in the water of the still lake, the rosy-mauve in various shades making a picture of unsurpassed beauty. Unfortunately, the lake itself is overgrown with pondweed over a large extent and this detracts from its beauty because it spoils the clarity of the water.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 44)
Places Leisure Community Celebration Day
Places Leisure (the new leisure centre at Fleming Park) held a Community Celebration Day yesterday (17 February). “You’re an active sporty type of person,” the editor told me. “Go down and see what is there.”
I tried to protest that a bit of running each week doesn’t necessarily define an active sports type of person, but actually was quite looking forward to the chance to go and have a look round the facilities. [Read more…] about Places Leisure Community Celebration Day
Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 43)
The Honeymooners return; 400 Willow Warblers; Crossbills in Chandler’s Ford; three hours of devotion result in humility; the new motor museum; some athletics; Early Spider Orchid, and the Cubs’ knowledge is a bit disappointing.
It’s April 8th 1952. The rain of the last few days clears and Gran writes of Barry and her new daughter-in-law, honeymooning on the Isle of Wight:
I hope Barry and Jock have also enjoyed the same glorious day, but I would like to be the first to hear the Willow Warbler, though I know they will have much to report on their return home. I do not expect many young couples would largely spend their honeymoon watching bird-migration…
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 43)
Review: Jack and the Beanstalk by Chameleon Theatre Chandler’s Ford – January 2018
By Geoff Dodsworth
I should begin by explaining that the regular contributors who normally write these articles were unavailable on this occasion and consequently we were asked if we would write the review ourselves. I volunteered as I had had no involvement in this Pantomime, apart from watching it as a member of the Front of House Staff for the last three performances so hopefully my review will be objective. I have also attempted to follow the style of the previous articles which has been to describe rather than criticise. [Read more…] about Review: Jack and the Beanstalk by Chameleon Theatre Chandler’s Ford – January 2018
Val Penny – Her Writing Journey Part 2 – Allison Symes
Following on from Part 1 of my interview with the lovely Val Penny last week, here comes Part 2! I first met Val at the Swanwick Summer Writers’ School in 2016. I’m delighted to say since then Val has come south and discovered the joys of the Winchester Writers’ Festival, but more on that a little later. [Read more…] about Val Penny – Her Writing Journey Part 2 – Allison Symes
Literary festival – Galle
You may not think of Sri Lanka as a place for a literary festival but every year a festival of international standing is held in Galle. Galle, on the South Coast, is a fort town built initially by the Portuguese but much extended by the Dutch from 1659 onwards to protect the natural harbour. Within are traditional dwellings and public buildings, law courts, a hospital, barracks warehouses and churches all being restored to their traditional state. It is now a UN World Heritage site and attracts tourists from all continents.
We arrived at the train station, sticky, shaken, hot and dusty after a six-hour journey broken by one hour in Colombo which gave us time to dash to an hotel for a comfort break. We stayed in a small Dutch style guest house which provided a fantastic Sri Lankan breakfast of egg hoppers and curry followed by a fruit plate with eight fresh fruits; banana, pineapple, water melon, papaya, lime, mango, orange and passion fruit. [Read more…] about Literary festival – Galle
Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 42)
Spring stirs: the woodpecker drums, a lizard ventures out, Yellow Horned moths abound and Chiffchaffs sing in the woods; there’s a bit of a solar eclipse; Jane rushes between hockey and the school play, and attends a dance; Gran makes a rare visit to the cinema. Oh yes – and there is a wedding!
Gran enthuses near dawn on February 24th 1952:
I heard Barry calling urgently to me to “come quickly and see the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming in the oak tree”. I ran to call Jock and we had splendid views from a front window, watching the bird for a long time. It was drumming on a dead branch at first, moving all round it and between drumming it was pecking at the bough.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 42)
Hunting Out a Career in Crime Fiction – Allison Symes interviews Val Penny
I met Val Penny at the same Swanwick Summer Writers’ School as when I met Jennifer C Wilson, who I interviewed last year over her paranormal historic fiction.
Val saw one lost looking author (me!) wondering which way to turn out of Derby Railway Station to find the coach to go to Swanwick and promptly took me under her wing! [Read more…] about Hunting Out a Career in Crime Fiction – Allison Symes interviews Val Penny
Creativity is Good for You
It doesn’t matter what your “artistic bent” is but creativity is good for physical and mental health. There is, of course, the joy of creating something that has not existed before (whether it is a story, a new garden plot, a piece of music, a cake or a painting or what have you), and there is the enjoyment of getting to that finishing point.
Better still is the joy of going on to create another piece of work and going through the whole process again. Then comes the satisfaction of watching your work improve as you gain more experience. [Read more…] about Creativity is Good for You
Monty’s Acting Debut in Celebrity Showmance
Earlier this Summer we were invited by a ITV company to bring one of our Newfoundlands to appear in a programme which required a large dog, with sound temperament, who would work with strangers and be totally relaxed with people, crew and dogs. We chose our brown dog, Monty, who was then just over a year old and extremely friendly towards other dogs and people.
Although Monty’s father, Berkeley, has appeared in several TV shows this was Monty’s first appearance. [Read more…] about Monty’s Acting Debut in Celebrity Showmance
Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 41)
Wild geese bring pleasure; the death and funeral of a beloved King bring sadness.
Gran often mentions a flock of Golden Plover, regularly seen near Eastleigh Airport during the winter, for instance, on January 6th 1952, when she notes that Barry saw a small flock on a field of plough there:
…which he saw from the coach on his way to a cross-country race. Incidentally, as a result of his performance in this race, when he ran 10th, and was a member of the winning team, he has been selected as first reserve for the County, and is almost certain to run for Hampshire at York in a fortnight’s time.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 41)