I thoroughly enjoyed the comedies I watched last Thursday, performed by Chameleon Theatre Company at Ritchie Memorial Hall in Chandler’s Ford. In this post, I will focus on one of the comedies, The House of Fog, by Peter Brammer.
The play The House of Fog was a really funny mockery of a horror movie, with an extra layer of comedy added due to the fourth wall aspect.
[Read more…] about Review: The House of Fog by Chameleon Theatre Company
What a glorious day today.
Chandler’s Ford Scout District St. George’s Day Parade and Service took place this afternoon.
Many Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorer Scouts, leaders and adult supporters all attended and it was a happy occasion in the community.
Here are some photographs of the day. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Scout District St. George’s Day Parade and Service 2017
We’re at the time of year when the evenings are light enough for a short walk after work or after dinner. But where to go? Somewhere that’s not too far away, doesn’t need a map to navigate around, and is more interesting than wandering round a housing estate.
How about Fleming Park?
Fleming Park? Really?
To many people, Fleming Park is synonymous with the sports centre; it’s where you go to swim, play badminton or squash [Read more…] about A Walk in the Park
Dad appears to be developing a network of entomological friends as Gran sometimes mentions that moths or larvae have been sent to him by post. For instance, on the 22nd March:
An Engrailed moth emerged in one of Barry’s breeding cages early tonight but up to the time of writing the wings had not expanded. The chrysalis was sent, among others, by an entomologist friend in the north.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 14)
More work in the Sparrow’s Hedge garden next day, March 3rd 1948, when Gran is:
…setting out Early Midlothian potatoes for sprouting, sitting alone in the sunshine with only the sound of hens scratching round me…”
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 13)
I loved the cyber launch for From Light To Dark and Back Again held at the beginning of the month. Thanks again to Chapeltown Books and Cafelit for hosting the event. I was co-host. This post looks at how I prepared for the event and what I learned from it. I hope it will be of use to other writers. The images used in the post were those I used during the launch itself.
[Read more…] about Cyberlaunch Lessons by Allison Symes
By Reverend Christine Whitehead
In a few days Christians all over the world will celebrate Easter. Already the shops are full of a variety of Easter cards, many of which are decorated with beautiful pictures of eggs, bunnies, churches and spring flowers. I offer you instead this lovely photograph of St Martin in the Woods with its lovely Daffodils in the church garden. [Read more…] about Easter Message 2017 by Reverend Christine Whitehead
After the success of last year’s event, Hampshire Music Festival are running their World Music Festival again on Sunday 14th May. The event consists of a number of workshops to experience drumming from around the world. It is open to the public and suitable for all ages (from seven years old) and abilities. [Read more…] about Hampshire World Music Festival 2017
Would you fall in love at first sight – with a house?
When my second Harriet Quigley mystery was published, blogger Geranium Cat said, in what is still my favourite review:
Not listed in the Dramatis Personae at the start of A Crowded Coffin is the Attlin family’s farmhouse, although you feel it should be there; once known as the Angel House, Locksley Farm Place dates back centuries, perhaps to a Roman villa on the same site. The author conveys the sense of the house’s age and antiquity seamlessly… and the reader is left with an impression of great solidity and warmth which permeates the whole book…’
This afternoon [February 15th 1948] saw me away to the daffodil wood at Chilworth but unfortunately several others had reached the spot also. I really only went to see how they were progressing but the place is getting so well-known that I realised if I wanted any I must pick them today in bud. They open very successfully in water but I wanted to see them open in the woods. By that time I’m afraid there will be none left so I picked a few for myself and some to send to Kingston.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 12)
I’m delighted to report there will be a Storytelling Festival between 10th and 22nd April 2017. The Festival will be marking the first year of the Write Now development programme at The Berry Theatre, designed to encourage writers. [Read more…] about The Storytelling Festival – Allison Symes
In my review of the Thornden Community Wind Band’s Christmas concert, I mentioned that their next concert would be with the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band (The Spitfires). Ruby Barefoot commented that he would add the date to his diary. Well, Ruby, I hope you managed to get tickets because this was a concert not to be missed. [Read more…] about Thornden Community Wind Band and The Spitfires in Concert
Editor’s note: This post was sent to Chandler’s Ford Today by Liz Stothard (re: Dee). She grew up at the Hutments.
Could someone help Liz find out some links about her past in Chandler’s Ford please? Below is her article.
By Liz Stothard (re: Dee):
I was born in Winchester 1950 lived at the Hutments. And also I see from looking that my late Father is mentioned…he worked for Vickers and then ATC! [Read more…] about The Hutments: Could You Help Find Old Neighbours in Chandler’s Ford?
Gran writes on January 7th 1948 that a Fox had been busy in the neighbourhood:
…and last night a local smallholder was robbed of nine laying ducks. Proof of the identity of the thief lay in the discovery of three bodies with their heads bitten off.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 11)
A cyber launch is basically a Facebook online party celebrating the publication of your book and promoting it. There are usually quizzes with prizes, giveaways, special offers and so on. The only requirement is to be logged on to Facebook at the time of the event. [Read more…] about What is a Cyber Launch? by Allison Symes
Last Friday I watched three short comedy performances at the Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church performed by the MDG Players and their friends from Romsey. Unlike the previous performances I’ve seen, this was a variety of plays with different characters and plots, with different styles of comedy. [Read more…] about Review: An Evening of Entertainment with Chandler’s Ford MDG Players and Friends from Romsey
Inside the front cover: “Semper Fidelis. Remembering always, Adrian, my friend”. On November 19th Gran writes:
I went to Ampfield just after dusk for a glimpse of Princess Elizabeth as she passed through on her way to Broadlands Park, and was surprised to hear a blackbird in full song.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 10)
On October 7th 1947 Gran copies four pages of Ruskin’s positive views on the human character of the love of nature. She follows this with: [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 9)
The United Kingdom is a fusion of four old countries that have fought wars together and with others. It has had kings, princes, invaders, usurpers, pretenders, bishops, priests and parliamentarians who have fought among themselves. Going back into archaeological time and pre-history and even in legend there have been conflicts of people and ideas of which we know little. No wonder that the country is littered with old castles, battlefields, abbeys, forts and earthworks. [Read more…] about Ruins, what to Do with ’em?
On the 21st, there is a description of the autumnal bird movements and also of the colourful shrubs around Hursley at that time of year. Spindle is Gran’s favourite shrub, the fruits “just becoming that lovely shade of rose”. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 8)
