From Hampshire Constabulary – Efit released after indecent exposure in Chandler’s Ford
We have released an efit image of a man we would like to speak to in connection with an indecent exposure in Chandler’s Ford on Thursday, February 23.
[Read more…] about Hampshire Constabulary: Efit Released after Indecent Exposure in Chandler’s Ford
In October 2015, I wrote this article 1 hour? 3 hours? Parking Rules at Co-operative Food and Fryern Arcade in Chandler’s Ford.
Today I’m going to talk about parking in Hiltingbury.
We visited the bakery in Hiltingbury on Hiltingbury Road two days ago and saw these signs: [Read more…] about Parking in Hiltingbury
Spring is here. Do check our Upcoming Events Chandler’s Ford page to find out more about local events. If you would like your events included, please send your posters and details to Chandler’s Ford Today via email or Twitter.
(We’ll do our best to include events, but unfortunately we can’t promise we’ll be able to publish everything you send due to our workload.) [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford: Spring and Summer Events 2017
I am thrilled to announce my debut flash fiction collection, From Light to Dark and Back Again, has now been published by Chapeltown Books. It is available in paperback and in Kindle format via Amazon and, of course, directly from me but more on that later.
The stories range from 100 words tales to 500 words to 750 and there are one or two which just creep in as flash fiction, being just under the 1000 words limit. This is generally recognized as the cutting off point between flash and standard short story lengths. [Read more…] about Published – My Debut Flash Fiction Collection
About 14 years ago, at about the time I retired and began to withdraw from some of my commitments, I wrote down a list of some of the things I would like to see happen during the remainder of my life.
Recently, I found the notes I had written. Here they are, verbatim.
I hoped for: [Read more…] about Agenda of Hopes Dashed
January 2017
The new Eastleigh Household Waste Recycling Centre
Address: Stoney Croft Rise, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh SO53 3YU
Phone: 023 8064 2764
Hantsweb: Eastleigh
[Read more…] about The New Eastleigh Household Waste Recycling Centre
Henry Ford came up with what, for me, is one of the most annoying and untrue statements of all time when he claimed that “history is bunk”. Err… definitely not.
(And while I know he was focusing on what mattered to him, the there and then as he had obvious reasons for wanting to focus on the progress his cars were making, I still think this statement is rubbish, as recalling history should never mean not making progress. I really can’t fathom his reasoning here.). History is far too important to just be dismissed. [Read more…] about Vital History by Allison Symes
JANE AUSTEN FESTIVAL AND THE SARAH SIDDONS FAN CLUB
One of my favourite authors is going to have a Festival in Southampton in 2017 thanks to the Sarah Siddons Fan Club winning a Heritage Lottery Grant to co-ordinate such an event. [Read more…] about In the Footsteps of Jane Austen and Sarah Siddons by Allison Symes
I love Kahuti and I would like old Streetlife friends to join Kahuti to make it stronger and better. You may find Kahuti builds the same strong community like Streetlife, and Kahuti has the potential to make it better, and make it work for us. [Read more…] about Nextdoor (US Neighbours’ Network) buys UK’s Streetlife
I went to see the Chameleons’ production of the pantomime, Robin Hood, on Thursday January 26th. The production was excellent and the pantomime had all the key ingredients you’d expect.
Humour, topical jokes (at the expense of D.J. Trump Esq), songs (sung with gusto and great enjoyment) and a wonderful story. There was the “oh no we won’t” moment from the audience and the usual dressing up of women as men (though not the other way round as well here). Robin was actually a man in this production! (And played by the excellent Paul Jones who got into the traditional thigh slapping with considerable enthusiasm). [Read more…] about Robin Hood and the Chameleons – Review by Allison Symes
My post last week was all about Classic Books but the problem with this topic is it will be inevitably biased towards fiction. Tonight’s post will redress the balance.
I look at why reading non-fiction widely is vital for fiction writers (as well as being a great thing to do given it widens your reading “diet” and general knowledge). [Read more…] about Fiction -v- Non-Fiction? No Contest!
Because of my passion for history I’m a sucker for old books and some years ago I was delighted to find ‘Highways & Byways in Hampshire’ by D. H. Moutray Read, first published in 1908. My copy, soft brown leather with a gold embossed title, is an updated version published in 1923. [Read more…] about Old Chandler’s Ford and Victorian Dentistry
Out in Sri Lanka there is an interesting group of people, the ex-pats. These people have decided to make their lives on the tropical island for a number of reasons. None of them is quite sure where home is, here, there, or somewhere else. Perhaps home is a different concept for them, home is where they happen to be today. Here are the stories of some of them. [Read more…] about Ex-Pats Lives; Where is Home?
The new Footbridge at the level crossing by Sutherlands Way in Chandler’s Ford has now opened to the public.
I walked on the footbridge yesterday with my son and marvelled at the beauty of this architecture. The footbridge was open to the public last Friday.
(My son insisted this event in Chandler’s Ford was more important than what happened in the USA on that day.) [Read more…] about New Footbridge: Chandler’s Ford to Valley Park
Yesterday afternoon I happened to be in Southampton, and was surprised there was an anti-Trump march at the Bargate.
There were tens of men, women, and a few small children. [Read more…] about Anti-Trump March in Southampton
Name a classic book from any genre, any period, any author. I’m willing to bet certain names and stories cropped up in your thoughts immediately. If there was an all-time list, entries would include Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen, Bronte, and Hardy. I’d be surprised if many, if not all of these authors, were not on your bookshelves somewhere. [Read more…] about What Makes a Classic Book
This is a free service to residents of Chandler’s Ford and the surrounding areas.
Do you know anyone who needs help getting their library books/audio books?
The Home Library Service is for people who find it difficult to get to their nearest library due to ill health, disability or caring responsibilities. [Read more…] about Hampshire Home Library Service
Who could tell me what has happened to the trees by Monks Brook in Valley Park?
In our walk yesterday afternoon we saw many trees had been cut down. [Read more…] about What has happened to the trees by Monks Brook in Valley Park?
Have you seen the new footbridge at the level crossing by Sutherlands Way in Chandler’s Ford yet?
You can’t use it just yet, but it looks like this:
(Update 24 Jan 2017: you can now walk on the bridge: New Footbridge: Chandler’s Ford to Valley Park) [Read more…] about New Footbridge at the Level Crossing by Sutherlands Way in Chandler’s Ford
One of the great joys of writing for Chandler’s Ford Today (and in reading it too) continues to be the wide variety of topics it covers. It’s only due to CFT that I found out about the Road to Agincourt Project and, due to my love of history, started writing about it.
I’ve particularly liked The Story Shuffle Project and the Sir Bevis of Hampton posts as the first is a phenomenally good idea to get kids involved in creative writing and a local legend. The second post was, of course, all about that local legend. [Read more…] about Introducing Guy Stauber – Marvel at Sir Bevis Comic
