All you need to know about Christmas in Chandler's Ford and Eastleigh. Enjoy beautiful Christmas stories and memories written by friends from Chandler's Ford. Find more Chandler's Ford upcoming events here.
This is an important time of the year for everyone, not just for Christians.
Neolithic man recognised the winter solstice, the time when the sun stands still. It was a desperate time, cold, dark with food stores running low.
The sun hovers close to the southern horizon at dawn and appears to cease its daily regression towards [Read more…] about Winter Solstice
Brambridge Park Christmas 2016 update:
Below was my original post published on 20th December 2014
This morning I visited the Craft Fair again at Brambridge Park Garden Centre on Kiln Lane.
I bought a lovely crocheted blanket and mini crocheted crosses from Sue and Rachel Potter.
The theme for the blanket is a Tardis. The blanket will sit comfortable on my son’s lap when he watches Doctor Who at Christmas. [Read more…] about Shop Local: Brambridge Park Christmas Craft Fair
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
So, it’s one week till Christmas. Christmas songs are playing, lights are shining and children are anticipating a big fat man dressed in red turning up to give them presents.
I am looking forward to, in no particular order: Doctor Who, meeting the family and a long break from school. [Read more…] about Why Do People Love Christmas?
We had a fabulous event in the Asda store on Monday the 15th.
It’s the third year in a row we have had the Chandler’s Ford Churches Together choir with the Chandler’s Ford Boys’ Brigade Brass Band (@1CFBB) under the direction of bandmaster Simon Farrenden, with the Chandler’s Ford Street Pastors collecting for Christian Aid. [Read more…] about Asda Eastleigh: Chandler’s Ford Churches Together Carol Singing 2014
Lyn Rummey and her husband have been holding Pop-up Charity tea parties at their house in Peverells Wood Avenue in Chandler’s Ford all summer, raising money for charity.
Now they have created a Christmas grotto, which is a delight for the youngsters and the young at heart. [Read more…] about A Very Chandler’s Ford Christmas Grotto: No.17 Peverells Wood Avenue
It was Christmas Eve 1944; my sister and I had been packed off to bed with the warning common to all children that if we were not good Father Christmas would not visit. I remember how dark it was in the house with the blackout curtains.
Our house, in Sheffield, had a special role to play in World War II. We had a telephone. [Read more…] about Christmas 70 Years Ago
I need your help to come up with an achievable, fabulous ‘to-do’ list for the next two weeks for Christmas in Chandler’s Ford.
I’m inspired by an article “14 things to do with the kids this Christmas” by Bitterne Park. In Chandler’s Ford, let’s create our own ‘to-do’ list.
(Don’t we just love making ‘lists’?) [Read more…] about Fabulous Things To Enjoy This Christmas In 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?
Yesterday at Eastleigh Asda we took part in Save the Children UK’s Christmas Jumper Day.
Colleagues donated £2 to wear a jumper rather than uniform and took part in a competition to find the best jumper.
Here is a large group of us including most of our managers, and Margaret Hamilton and her husband (with the collection buckets), [Read more…] about Asda: Save the Children UK’s Christmas Jumper Day
The December edition of The Big Issue magazine is packed with valuable articles.
This special bumper Christmas edition costs £3.
You can buy The Big Issue from the Bosnian vendor at the Fryern Arcade in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Buy The Big Issue Bumper Edition 2014
I always start to feel that Christmas is getting near when the town centre gets dark before the shops close. So what do I remember of Christmases as a child (apart from the dark high street)?
Mum was very strict on the time when decorations could go up – not before the start of the school holidays. But my sisters and I would often (at least when we were old enough) be trusted to decorate the tree. Except [Read more…] about My Favourite Childhood Christmas Memories in a Village
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
Christmas is Creativity.
It is found in the story of the Nativity, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and film stories like The Polar Express.
It is found in poems such as A Visit from St. Nicholas (probably better known as The Night Before Christmas) by Clement Clarke Moore and In the Bleak Midwinter by Christina Rossetti. [Read more…] about What Christmas Means To Me
We published 45 posts in November this year.
Our posts in November centred on Remembrance, Christmas markets / fayres, and history (Montgomery of Alamein School in Winchester, the Hutments).
November we also carried stories of charitable work (Jubilee Sailing Trust, Kenya Project UK), theatre review (Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense), community news (road safety and burglaries in Chandler’s Ford), nature (woodpecker in Hiltingbury), and many more. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Today November 2014 Round-up
The “Precinct Pals” welcomed Christmas today with mulled wine and mince pies in Chandler’s Ford.
At the Central Precinct, Christmas celebration was done differently. There was no need for Santa Claus or a horse carriage.
Of course there was no need for road closure either.
Instead, the lights were delicately [Read more…] about Central Precinct: 2014 Christmas Lights Now Switched on
Tomorrow (Friday 5th December) between 4pm and 5pm, the Christmas tree lights at the Central Precinct of Chandler’s Ford will be turned on.
What? A Christmas tree at the Central Precinct? Where is it?
Well, you just have to walk past the gigantic recycling bins, walk straight into the courtyard, and pass two yew trees. [Read more…] about You’re Invited: Mulled Wine & Mince Pies At Central Precinct Friday 4pm – 5pm
Yesterday I left work early to attend the carol service of Age Concern Chandler’s Ford at the Methodist Church.
Thornden School Wind Band and Toynbee School Choir, with their youthful energy, enthusiasm and talents, impressed the senior members of our community, making the carol service a much cherished event. [Read more…] about Age Concern Chandler’s Ford Carol Service 2014
