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How Do You Celebrate Christmas? My Christmas in Chandler’s Ford

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In the past few days I have been walking up and down a few roads (Hursley Road, Winchester Road, Hiltingbury Road, Brownhill Road…), and have noticed quite a few inflatable snowman, reindeer, an amusing upside-down Santa near the chimney, and quite a lot of flashing lights in the walls in our neighbourhood.

For those who are cynical about the trend of Christmas festive decorations, or if you are worry about your road / street has become ‘common’, please just remember that festive decoration is fun. People are happy; their kids are happy; their grandchildren are happy. So, just chillax. [Read more…] about How Do You Celebrate Christmas? My Christmas in Chandler’s Ford

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Christmas Gathering at Beacon Café, St. Boniface Church 2016

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On Tuesday morning, I went to the Beacon Café at St. Boniface Church on Hursley Road for some refreshment (ok, plus more than one piece of home-made cake).

I got there just after 11am, and saw people were happily solving Christmas quizzes, which involved identifying some very old (at least to me) British TV sitcoms. From the participants’ enthusiastic discussions and laughter, I could tell they knew most of the answers while reminiscing the good old days. [Read more…] about Christmas Gathering at Beacon Café, St. Boniface Church 2016

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Thornden Community Wind Band Christmas Concert

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“It’s beginning  to feel a lot like Christmas” – well, it certainly is for the 380 people who went to “A Swing-Along Christmas” concert presented by the Thornden Community Wind Band with their special guests The Spitfire Sisters on Friday evening. This was a wonderful concert and a fine introduction to the week before Christmas.
[Read more…] about Thornden Community Wind Band Christmas Concert

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Christmas News: Eastleigh Rotary Club with Trigger the Train in Chandler’s Ford

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While I was concentrating on some very important piece of academic writing this evening, a tweet by Sonja Davison came through.

Sonja told me: “John & I helping with Eastleigh Rotary Christmas collection in Chandler’s Ford with Trigger the Train.” [Read more…] about Christmas News: Eastleigh Rotary Club with Trigger the Train in Chandler’s Ford

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Review: Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at St. Boniface Church 2016

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I attended the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in St. Boniface (CofE) Church this evening. The church was packed. Superbly directed by Dr. Hugh Benham, the carol service certainly defines Christmas musically for Chandler’s Ford.

(If you missed the carol service this year, try not to miss it next year. Trust me, you won’t regret it.) [Read more…] about Review: Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at St. Boniface Church 2016

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Some Christmas Thoughts

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By Reverend Peter Hutchinson

So, as the old saying goes, “Christmas is upon us and the goose is getting fat” and, to stay in Dickensian vogue, “Bah, Humbug!” Sorry, but I had to get that off my chest! Seriously, I do find Christmas hugely stressful and have often wished that it would simply go away.

As a Clergyman I find that it is a time of high workload, with many additional pressures (as is also the case for so many in the retail trades). [Read more…] about Some Christmas Thoughts

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Santa and The Round Table Visiting Chandler’s Ford Area

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From Friday 15th December Santa from Romsey, Chandler’s Ford & District Round Table begins a two night run visiting: Friday 16th December in Valley Park, around Sandringham Close from 6pm; Saturday 17th Valley Park, around Skys Wood Road from 5pm. [Read more…] about Santa and The Round Table Visiting Chandler’s Ford Area

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Wooden Train Built by Eastleigh Men’s Shed Arrived at Chandler’s Ford Station

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Today Eastleigh Men’s Shed group installed a new train on the disused platform at Chandler’s Ford Station to help brighten up the area.

Eastleigh Men’s Shed is a not-for-profit group based in Hamble.

Mark Miller, Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership Officer, praised Eastleigh Men’s Shed volunteers for their dedication: “The Men’s Shed have been working on this project for some time, and we are delighted with the finished product – a wooden train planter.” [Read more…] about Wooden Train Built by Eastleigh Men’s Shed Arrived at Chandler’s Ford Station

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Chandler’s Ford Today Community Website – New Design, Great Content

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You may be surprised to find Chandler’s Ford Today website has a new design today.

The colour is now much toned down.

The improvement today has made Chandler’s Ford Today a mobile friendly website. If you read this site using mobile phones or a tablet, you may find the site is now easier to navigate and read. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Today Community Website – New Design, Great Content

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New Wooden Train Planter for Chandler’s Ford Disused Platform

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Seven volunteers spent 90 minutes cleared the disused platform at Chandler’s Ford last Sunday afternoon.

The aim is to provide a clear area on the old platform where a new wooden train planter provided by Eastleigh Men’s Shed will be placed, on Thursday 8 December 2016.

See the transformation: [Read more…] about New Wooden Train Planter for Chandler’s Ford Disused Platform

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British Etiquette: a Survivor’s Guide

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Someone intending to visit the UK for the first time asked me for some tips on British etiquette. This is what I came up with.

Dear Raj,

Robert Burns, the famous Scottish poet once wrote A Man’s a Man for a’ That. My advice to you therefore is – be yourself and you will be fine. However, since you ask, I will jot down some thoughts accumulated over a quarter of a century on this island. [Read more…] about British Etiquette: a Survivor’s Guide

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Hocombe Mead Survey: Your Help Needed

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Update 20 March 2017:


[Read more…] about Hocombe Mead Survey: Your Help Needed

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Trip of a Lifetime – My Antarctic Trip

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I have just returned from a trip of a lifetime – a visit to an Emperor Penguin colony on the frozen Weddell Sea within the Antarctica Continent.

Yes it was a bit of a hike to get there. It took me a couple of days to travel to the gathering point in Punta Arenas, Chile. [Read more…] about Trip of a Lifetime – My Antarctic Trip

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Roger Clark’s Quest to Antarctica to Photograph the Right Penguins

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We don’t normally see the name ‘Chandler’s Ford’ being mentioned in the national news (ok, the HSBC armed robbery on Bournemouth Road in September 2007 was an exception: “Two armed robbers were shot dead by police”).

However today, ‘Chandler’s Ford’ is mentioned all over the media, from The Times, Daily Telegraph, The Sun, Mirror…, and on the BBC radio programme. [Read more…] about Roger Clark’s Quest to Antarctica to Photograph the Right Penguins

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Round Table Brings Santa to Chandler’s Ford and Valley Park – 2016

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Father Christmas will be taking to the streets of Chandler’s Ford in style again this Christmas, thanks to the local Round Table travelling across the area, collecting money for local good causes.

Whilst Santa’s elves have been busy making Frozen Toys ready for the big day, Santa’s fitted a GPS tracker in his sleigh, so you’ll know exactly where he is. This means if you can’t wait for them to knock on your door, or if they are not coming to your street this year, you are welcome to see if they are nearby and come and find them. [Read more…] about Round Table Brings Santa to Chandler’s Ford and Valley Park – 2016

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Gardening Tips for December by Wellie

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Keep raking up those leaves from the lawn and borders. If it’s a mild winter, continue to cut the lawn if it’s growing, but raise the height of the mower blades.

From now until the end of March is the time to plant any bare rooted trees, shrubs and roses. Check stored fruit, throw out any that are rotten. Reduce watering on houseplants. [Read more…] about Gardening Tips for December by Wellie

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Memory: I am Sure I Knew What it Meant

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My memory is leaving me.

This morning I packed a suitcase with clothes and my Hungarian goose down pillow ready for my next business trip. The intention was to leave the suitcase in the office, so I could travel at short notice. But then I met the crossword man on the platform and started chatting to him. We were soon joined by Jan, my colleague, and the three of us talked about heirlooms and how these were more valuable than Nikon cameras and so on. Generally shooting the breeze, but enough to make me forget all about my suitcase which I had stored on the luggage rack near the doors. [Read more…] about Memory: I am Sure I Knew What it Meant

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The Race Centre Supports Children in Need

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On the 18th and 19th of November 2016 The Race Centre, in the Central Precinct of Chandler’s Ford, ran a 24 hour endurance race to raise money for Children in Need.

Ten teams of drivers competed for the trophies driving LMP2 Porsche Spyders at the classic endurance circuit of Sebring in America. [Read more…] about The Race Centre Supports Children in Need

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Review: Extravaganza of Musical Shows by Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society

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Last week’s autumn production for the Eastleigh Operatic & Musical Society gave us an Extravaganza of Musical Shows – a selection of both some of the better-known and lesser-known numbers from musical theatre.

There is a huge canon of musical shows to choose from, and the company had selected an eclectic programme to showcase the skills of the performers.  [Read more…] about Review: Extravaganza of Musical Shows by Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society

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