Chandler's Ford Today

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Chandler’s Ford Local Events

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Sharing with the community several local events and support groups.

Thornden Hall Events

The Fusion Choir 29.11.2023 at Dovetail Centre
Scratch (charity) Christmas Toys Collection
Chandler’s Ford Community Market on Saturday 09.12.2023 at Brownhill Centre
Show Off at Christmas 25.11.2023 at Dovetail Centre
Otterbourne Choir Club Love Actuallly 10.12.2023
Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society (EOMS) Musical Winter Wonderland
The Sleeping Beauty Chameleon Theatre Company at Ritchie Memorial Hall 20-27 Jan 2024
Wessex Cancer Trust
Chandler’s Ford Cancer Support
Chandler’s Ford u3a

For more events, see the events page.

Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society (EOMS) Musical Winter Wonderland
Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society (EOMS) Musical Winter Wonderland
The Fusion Choir 29.11.2023
The Fusion Choir 29.11.2023
Scratch Christmas Toys Collection
Scratch Christmas Toys Collection
Supporting Charity Scratch
Supporting Charity Scratch

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Triggering Writing Ideas

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Image Credits:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. One image directly from Pixabay.

As I write a lot of flash fiction and short stories, as well as posts like this, I always need to find ways of coming up with ideas. It is also sensible to have a variety of methods to find ideas because (a) it keeps things interesting for you as the writer and (b) you don’t run the risk of becoming stale.

Why the latter? If you only use one or two methods to trigger ideas, at some point you will find the well you draw from dries up! Your wells of inspiration need to be topped up continually and using different ways to come up with ideas helps with that. Also this approach gives you spare wells! That to my mind is always a good idea in itself. It also keeps you on your creative toes, which is another good thing.

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Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 12th November 2023

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The service for Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford was lead by Rev Penny Thatcher. The Mayor’s representative was Counceller Bruce Tennent.

Debbie Pearce from Debbie Pearce Photography has kindly shared some photographs of the Remembrance Service at the Chandler’s Ford War Memorial with the community. She has captured pictures of the parade on Hursley Road and the service at St. Boniface Church. Thank you Debbie.

Remembrance Sunday - at St Boniface Church
Remembrance Sunday – at St Boniface Church
Chandler's Ford War Memorial
Chandler’s Ford War Memorial
Chandler's Ford War Memorial
Chandler’s Ford War Memorial

Credit: All photos Debbie Pearce Photography.

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Lest We Forget

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Lest we forget.

You may have seen these beautiful crochet and knitted postbox toppers for Remembrance commemorations. They are on Ashdown Road and Bournemouth Road in Chandler’s Ford.

Thank you for those who made these. People have been talking about them and admiring them.

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Stories Based On Stories

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Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. Images of book covers from Bridge House Publishing. Many thanks to Dawn Kentish Knox and Paula R C Readman for their images of me at previous Bridge House Publishing Celebration events. Am looking forward to trying to get some more photos – the event is a great way to celebrate books out.

I was sorry to hear The Chameleon Theatre Group had to cancel their production of Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters (based on the play written by Stephen Briggs who wrote the Discworld plays with Terry Pratchett’s blessing).

As well as looking forward to seeing my first Discworld play, I was especially looking forward to this story as it is a strong one and a classic example of a wonderful tale based on another one. Wyrd Sisters is based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth but with the Discworld version, it is the witches (Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick) who are the heroines.

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Chandler’s Ford Community Produce & Craft Market – Saturday 4th November 2023

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Chandler’s Ford Community Produce & Craft Market is back.

This Saturday – 4th November 2023 10am to 1 pm
At the Brownhill Community Centre (Age Concern Hall) behind the Co-op, Fryern Arcade

Free entry.

Local handmade crafts

Preserves, local honey, chutneys, jams and marmalades

Dog accessories

Cards

Jewellery

Flowers

Knitted goods

Local Authors…

Come and buy early Christmas presents made by fantastic people.

Chandler's Ford Market - Saturday 4th November
Chandler’s Ford Market – Saturday 4th November

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Scene Setting

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Image Credits: Most images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Northumberland photo taken by me, Allison Symes. Images of my book covers from Chapeltown Books.

Scene setting is one of the invisible “tools” a writer uses to make a convincing story though it can apply to non-fiction work too. What it involves is working out what a reader needs to know and then figuring out the best way of getting that across.

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Author Interview: Jennifer C Wilson – The Joy of Writing Groups and Workshops

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Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Jennifer C Wilson for author/book/writing circle pictures. Other images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Screenshots and images from The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick taken by me, Allison Symes.

It is with great pleasure I welcome back Jennifer C Wilson to Chandler’s Ford Today. Jennifer is the writer of the Kindred Spirits series which crosses history with ghost stories. She also writes historical and romantic fiction (The Warrior’s Prize, The Last Plantagenet amongst others) and has written non-fiction book too (A Novel Approach). She has also contributed to many anthologies.

Jennifer also runs a writing group – the North Tyneside Writers’ Circle (NTWC) – so for this post, we will look at the joys and hard work behind doing that and why groups can be so beneficial to writers, regardless of where they are “at” in their writing journey. There is also a National Association of Writers’ Groups – individuals as well as groups can join. I share the link further down.

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Author Interview: Val Penny – Hunter’s Secret, Advice on Writing a Series, and Blog Tours

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Image Credits:- Some images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Many thanks to Val Penny for supplying book and author photos and some fabulous shots of Edinburgh. Photos of The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick were taken by me, Allison Symes.

It is always a joy to welcome authors to Chandler’s Ford Today and it is especially lovely to welcome back Scottish crime writer, Val Penny. I interviewed Val in June. She is a busy soul with a new book out and a new role at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick as well.

She also has huge experience of blog tours which form a major marketing “foundation” for many authors when it comes to launching new books. More on that shortly. Val’s latest book is Hunter’s Secret, the latest in her fabulous DCI Hunter Wilson series (also known as the Edinburgh Crime Mysteries so no prizes for guessing where the setting is!).

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Fungus Forage at IVCP

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Itchen Valley Country Park held a Fungus Foraging event this week.  I saw the advertisement for the event at about the same time as I saw this news story  and thought I would go along to make sure I knew what I was eating.

BBC News article about an alleged fungus poisoning in Australia

The forage was led by John Wright, who is an expert on all things mycological.  Anyone who watched the original series of River Cottage may remember him from that.  He was very interesting and entertaining, and gave a lot of insights into the recognition of different fungi, and their life patterns.  There are over 15,000 different species of fungi in the UK – that compares to about 3,500 plants. [Read more…] about Fungus Forage at IVCP

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Chandler’s Ford Community Produce & Craft Market – Saturday 7th October 2023

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Chandler’s Ford Community Produce & Craft Market is back.

Saturday 7th October 2023 10am to 1 pm
At the Brownhill Community Centre (Age Concern Hall) behind the Co-op, Fryern Arcade

Free entry.

Come and drop in and see your local crafters and producers.

Chandler's Ford craft and produce market
Chandler’s Ford craft and produce market
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The Writing Community

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Image Credits:-
Most images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Many thanks to Julia Pattison for taking the image of me at my editing workshop at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick. Many thanks to Wendy H Jones for supplying the Writers’ Narrative image (which I’ve added text to). Screenshot taken by me, Allison Symes.

One of the joys of the writing community is it is supportive. Given most of the time you are at your desk, writing alone, having your fair share of rejections or not hearing back on competition entries and so on, that support is wonderful and vital. We all need a lift at times.

As well as writing events and conferences, which are fabulous ways to get to know other writers, there are a number of writing communities online. There are monthly groups which meet up in person such as the Hampshire Writers’ Society, which meets in Winchester.

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Quizzing Your Characters

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Image Credits:-
Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Screenshot re Hannah Kate’s Hannah’s Bookshelf show on North Manchester FM was taken by me, Allison Symes.

I can guess what you’re thinking. How can you quiz characters, which are literally figments of my imagination?

Fair point but I find it a useful way to work out what my characters are made of before I put them into a story. I need to know who they are before I work out what they’re going to be getting up to in my flash fiction or short stories.

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Favourite Supporting Characters

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Image Credit:   Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. One image directly from Pixabay.

Supporting characters in stories have much the same role as supporting actors do. Without them, the story is incomplete. They add richness and depth to a story too, especially if they are involved in the sub-plots in novellas and novels. But their task is to either help or hinder the lead characters in their task. They don’t overshadow the leading character either.

For a villainous character, their supporting character can help increase the difficulties faced by the hero/heroine. That in turn increases the tension in the story and the risks of failure for the hero/heroine. For a more noble character, their supporting characters can help them achieve their objective quicker and limit the risks faced by the lead and increase their chances of success.

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Getting Lines Right

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Image Credit:   Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

Writers are often advised, rightly so, to study renowned books with famous opening lines. The idea is to demonstrate an excellent opening line which will hook the reader with an intriguing premise, an interesting character and/or setting, and so the reader will read on to find out what happens.

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The Benefits of Creativity

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There are so many benefits to creativity, regardless of which type you enjoy. I admire those who can knit, crochet, draw etc as I can not do those things myself and there are so many beautiful examples of each. I admire the skill and the resulting works.

I appreciate music, especially classical, while not playing it. I also believe there is a form of creativity for everyone. It is a question of finding the one (or more if you are lucky) which suits you. In my case that is creative writing.

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Autumnal Joys

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Image Credits: Many images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Photos from my church harvest display and from the wildflower meadow taken by me, Allison Symes. Real joy to take them too! Photography is a wonderful thing.

I am fond of the autumn season. Crisp air, the changing colours of the leaves (including on the Virginia Creeper which I see a lot of on my walks), the joy of coming in from a brisk walk with the dog to enjoy a hot chocolate while she tucks into a dog biscuit or two. It is the simple pleasures after all.

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Writing Exercises

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Image Credit:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.

I set writing exercises for a flash fiction group I lead online for the Association of Christian Writers. I base these on topic. For example, I have led a session on titles so the exercises there were to brainstorm title ideas, following tips I shared on how to do that.

I am often set writing exercises in workshops I go to as a delegate.

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Hampshire Open Studios 2023

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Hampshire Open Studios have started, running from 19th – 28th August this year. It is an annual art trail where the visiting public can meet artists in their homes, studios and galleries free of charge. There are over 250 venues open, in the ten days leading up to bank holiday Monday August. You can get the opportunity to meet the makers direct and learn more about the work.

There are a wide variety of venues to see along with every type of art and craft on offer in the region, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, glass, furniture, jewellery and many more.


In Chandler’s Ford, there are several open studios, incuding members from CHANDLERS FORD ART GROUP (CFAG) holding an event in the larger meeting room by the Dovetail Cafe, at the Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church.

From Saturday 19 Aug – Monday 28 Aug – 10am-4pm Daily

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Twin Oaks Water Garden – Open one more day on Sunday 20 August

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Twin Oaks Water Garden (as seen on BBC Gardeners World) is open on Saturday and Sunday 19/20 August for the last time this year.

This is part of the National Garden Scheme. Why not go and enjoy Syd and Sue Hutchinson’s garden and relax with a cup of tea and Sue’s home-baked cake? They also have the end of season plant sale where almost every plant is half price. And all money goes to charity.

Venue – 13 Oakwood Road, Chandler’s Ford, SO53 1LW. Open from 1pm to 5pm.

Images by Jill Mayes

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