Here we hope you get to discover Chandler's Ford, through local stories, Chandler's Ford history, events, and reflections and debates of topical issues. How has Chandler's Ford shown community spirit? How are we connected? This tag invites you to explore and develop our community together.
Lent is coming up – it’s the six (or so) weeks from Ash Wednesday (Wednesday, 18th February in 2015) to Easter Day (or, possibly Palm Sunday).
Traditionally, at least in the Catholic and Anglican churches, it’s a time when we “give things up”. But it is not about giving things up for the sake of it. It’s more about making us better people – and doing something useful with the time or money we save. [Read more…] about Lent – Give up and Take up
Books can be dangerous because they deal in ideas so I reckon the two most dangerous places in Chandler’s Ford are our wonderful library and W.H.Smith at Fryern since one lends out books and the other sells them!
It is also fantastic that, especially after the loss of The Arcade Bookshop, we have another bookseller and our library is a real asset. May both keep going from strength to strength.
[Read more…] about Book Review: The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
Just before Christmas, Yoga teacher Philip Hilton found a wallet and he handed it to the Eastleigh Police Station on Leigh Road.
Recently he received a letter of thanks with a cheque of £20.
The letter reads: [Read more…] about Acts of Kindness in Community
By Brenda Sedgwick
Will Self said, “Writing the book is the easy bit. When your writing is finished the real work starts.”
If you are publishing and marketing your book, would you like to meet with other writers in the area who are doing the same thing?
I am about to publish my book and think [Read more…] about How to Publish Your Book
I love travelling. I love seeing what’s going on around me and comparing different places with home.
But despite living near an airport, flying is the one major form of transportation I’ve never used.
I’ve travelled in many different forms, including having a donkey ride on a beach and a pony trek (when I was a child), but have yet to be above terra firma. [Read more…] about From Chandler’s Ford I Get around
Congratulations to Brandon Hulcoop in Year 8 from The Toynbee School in Chandler’s Ford.
Brandon has won a prestigious writing competition in the International Onkyo Braille Contest.
The competition was run by European Blind Union. From 62 entries in 21 countries, 12-year-old Brandon Hulcoop came first in the Junior section. [Read more…] about Congratulations to Brandon Hulcoop: Winner of Onkyo World Braille Competition
Chandler’s Ford is like a well-engineered machine. It works smoothly, runs well and does not break down.
It is serviced thoroughly by Eastleigh Borough Council; traffic flows are fluid and it has good bus services and a railway station.
The shops here are more than adequate with three supermarkets (Co-operative Food, Asda, and Waitrose), [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Guide Book Entry
This will be the last of my ramblings about what I felt on and after my various visits to Israel.
Firstly, I would like to consider my sole visit to the Upper Room, scene of the Last Supper.
This was something which I had approached with considerable anticipation. Unfortunately, I was not appreciative of what seemed more like a nondescript block of flats, with the upstairs room entered via a suspended walkway more suited to downtown New York. [Read more…] about Israel – Ancient And Modern (Part 4 of 4)
Do you remember The Precinct Gift Centre?
I miss this little gift shop very much.
The Precinct Gift Centre was loved by many. It held many local people’s childhood memories.
It was my favourite gift shop. Sadly, the shop closed in February 2006 after 16 years [Read more…] about Merry Christmas: From Good Neighbours Brian And Suzette Matthews
What I like most about Christmas Day
Is listening out for old Santa’s sleigh.
I hear the reindeer’s hoof
Land so hard on my roof.
At least that keeps the burglars at bay! [Read more…] about Limerick – Christmas
Is your house featured in this series of Chandler’s Ford’s Christmas pictures?
Eastleigh Football Club’s distinguished photographer Tony Smith has been busy lately.
Tony has captured stunning Christmas light displays in Chandler’s Ford, Hiltingbury and Valley Park for readers of Chandler’s Ford Today. [Read more…] about All Is Bright: Christmas Decorations in Chandler’s Ford 2014
This morning, my son and I attended the Christingle service at St. Boniface Church as our Christmas tradition.
It was a beautiful service led by Reverend Christine Whitehead. One hundred Christingles were given out to children and their families.
Linda Read got her daughters and a few volunteers to help prepare for Christingles, [Read more…] about Christingle Service Chandler’s Ford St. Boniface Church 2014
The Sea of Galilee – let this be the starting point for our wanderings around the land that was home to Jesus and his disciples.
Tiberias is the town from which most of today’s visitors make the start to their appreciation of the area. A short boat trip across the water to Capernaum is a high spot: half way over the skipper orders, “Stop engines.” You just drift in the intoxicating silence. [Read more…] about Israel – Ancient And Modern (Part 3 of 4)
Stand-up comedian Paul Kerensa, well-known for his scriptwriting for Miranda and Not Going Out, came to St. Martin in the Wood Church in Hiltingbury last weekend for an evening of comedy and carols.
Performing to a packed church on 13th December (Saturday), Paul and his friends, [Read more…] about Comedian Paul Kerensa Brought Comedy And Carols To Chandler’s Ford
The term ‘carol’, as generally used, includes some items that appear in hymnbooks and are sung by congregations – such as Away in a manger and Once in royal David’s city.
The term is also used sometimes for items that are not congregational hymns.
Some would not normally form part of a church service – such as We wish you a happy Christmas or Past three o’clock. [Read more…] about Christmas Carol? Christmas Hymn?
Here are a few more recollections – secular and spiritual – about the land in which Jesus lived and which is now the focus of attention for an increasing number of pilgrims.
Nearly all of them arrive at Bethlehem in coaches which park in the large central square. The name of this square? You might think it would be something like Central Square or Bethlehem Square, but it is Manger Square.
[Read more…] about Israel – Ancient And Modern (Part 2 of 4)
I was fortunate in meeting with my local Councillor recently (Valley Park ward, Test Valley Borough Council) and in the conversation we touched upon the thorny subject of housing development.
Apparently, there is a proposed new development up in front of the planning committee currently which effectively tacks on around 300 homes to the edge of the Knightwood Park development as it borders Castle Lane – [Read more…] about Land Off Castle Lane – North Baddesley – Proposed Housing Development
For me, Christmas only starts when the Christmas tree at Selwood on Bournemouth Road in Chandler’s Ford is erected.
This year, Selwood once again welcomes Christmas with a spectacular Christmas tree.
This handsome Christmas tree with a striking star not only arouses Christmas spirit, but also welcomes travellers. [Read more…] about Selwood: Spectacular Christmas Tree in Chandler’s Ford 2014
You must have lit fires when you were young and out in the country.
It’s frowned upon by adults but you have to do these things to learn.
The first lesson is that wet things do not burn. The second is that there is nothing as satisfying as something cooked on your own log fire. [Read more…] about Log Fires
The Madding Crowd is a performing group which researches and performs the church and secular music of the English village bands and choirs in the period 1660 to 1861.
The group was founded in 1975.
The Madding Crowd’s next concert is on Friday 12th December at 8 pm in Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church. [Read more…] about The Unique Madding Crowd Concerts
