How much would you pay for policing?
Hampshire and Isle of Wight residents can have your say now in this Police Funding Consultation Survey. [Read more…] about Have Your Say: Police Funding Consultation Survey
community
News from Eastleigh parkrun
There were extra opportunities for a parkrun over the Christmas period in Eastleigh.
As well as the standard Saturday morning events, runs were also organised for Christmas and New Year’s Day mornings. In addition, the New Year’s Day events in Winchester and Southampton started 90 minutes later.
This gave the truly dedicated a total of five parkruns in nine days. I managed three of the five – so I must be semi-dedicated. [Read more…] about News from Eastleigh parkrun
Ignite Your 2016 with the Best of Chandler’s Ford Today 2015
Year 2015 has just flown by.
In the past year, we produced 320 posts, sharing local stories, news, and events with the community.
This ‘community’ is not restricted to Chandler’s Ford. We have readers and writers from Australia. [Read more…] about Ignite Your 2016 with the Best of Chandler’s Ford Today 2015
10 Wishes for Chandler’s Ford for 2016
I’m not a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions. They usually mean giving up alcohol, which is not a huge problem for me as I don’t drink much, or chocolate and that is where I do run into difficulties!
However, I thought I would list some things I would love to see in 2016, all of which would benefit Chandler’s Ford and its residents.
A Year of Chandler’s Ford Today Posts 2015
Chandler’s Ford Today received 121,887 views from January to December in 2015.
Visitors numbers were 66,478.
319 posts were published in 2015. [Read more…] about A Year of Chandler’s Ford Today Posts 2015
Read Bill Bryson’s Portrayal of Eastleigh Town. Do You Agree?
This Christmas I spent an enormous amount of time doing something rather strange.
I found myself ‘defending Eastleigh’ a lot to my family.
The problem was that I started reading Bill Bryson’s new book, The Road to Little Dribbling, on Christmas day, after gift-giving, and before mother-in-law’s turkey was ready. This book has now topped the UK hardback charts for the third week. [Read more…] about Read Bill Bryson’s Portrayal of Eastleigh Town. Do You Agree?
Merry Christmas from Chandler’s Ford Today
Here in Chandler’s Ford (in England) it is Christmas Eve so we’re winding down for a couple of peaceful days.
I wish you all a blessed, peaceful and happy Christmas, and the most wonderful New Year.
I also want to wish my writers and contributors special wishes. Thank you for working so hard this year to produce the best community site that we can. [Read more…] about Merry Christmas from Chandler’s Ford Today
Christmas Stories, Limericks and Traditions
Just for fun, I thought I would share a few Christmas linked short stories (the famous 100 worders) and limericks.
I also share a couple of my family traditions at Christmastime. [Read more…] about Christmas Stories, Limericks and Traditions
An Unusual Carol Concert in Sri Lanka
A choir of girls was scheduled to sing carols in the foyer of a new five-star hotel here in Kandy. As some of the girls attended the school where my wife Brenda has worked, we went along.
I expected to see a crush of proud parents but there were none. [Read more…] about An Unusual Carol Concert in Sri Lanka
Christmas Unwrapped – Christmas Message from Churches Together in Chandler’s Ford
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“She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger.” Luke 2 v 7
Last year, for the first time in nearly 25 years, we did not have the joy of watching a family dog open his Christmas present.
Our retrievers were clumsy animals, but [Read more…] about Christmas Unwrapped – Christmas Message from Churches Together in Chandler’s Ford
Christmas Then and Now
As a child in Chandler’s Ford, Christmas was a special time for my family and me, albeit mostly during WW2, as I was 5½ at the outbreak.
I was, to all intents and purposes, an only child (my sister, Jean, died from Scarlet Fever aged 7, 4 years before I was born), so, I guess, understandably, I was ‘spoilt’ (so I was often told). [Read more…] about Christmas Then and Now
Oh Happy Days! Fond Christmas Memories in Chandler’s Ford 1950s – 1960s
Reading Andy Vining’s recent article, Farming in the Winter and Christmas at Hiltonbury Farm, sends me back to the 1950s and 60s, when my step-mother, Dad and I lived in the bungalows in the fourth service road (nowadays the third one!), on Hursley Road.
We looked from our back garden across the field to Hiltonbury Farmhouse where, in the 1960s, Andy was milking the cows and delivering milk. [Read more…] about Oh Happy Days! Fond Christmas Memories in Chandler’s Ford 1950s – 1960s
Farming in the Winter and Christmas at Hiltonbury Farm
I am now going back to the 1962/3 before I was married, it was often very cold at this time of year. I used to get up at around 5.00 am to get the cows in for milking as we had yet to build the Cubicle House to keep the cows inside.
Sometimes when it was particularly cold and wet we kept the cows overnight in the cowshed but there was only room for thirty six of them in the cowshed so some had to stay under the lean-too to keep out of the weather, usually about 10 to twelve were the unlucky ones, usually the ones giving the least milk! [Read more…] about Farming in the Winter and Christmas at Hiltonbury Farm
Christmas Carol Quiz: How Much Do You Know about Carols?
At the Christmas Beacon Café at St. Boniface Church on Tuesday, Judith Bird set an interesting Christmas Carol Quiz.
It was great fun for many.
I’ve got a copy of the Christmas Carol Quiz from Judith. Why don’t you have a go too? [Read more…] about Christmas Carol Quiz: How Much Do You Know about Carols?
Feeling Lonely? Welcome to Beacon Café at St. Boniface Church
I popped into Beacon Café on Hursley Road on Tuesday morning and was surprised to see the Christmas Café was in full swing!
Beacon Café at St. Boniface Church (SO53 2FT) runs on the first and the third Tuesday of every month, from 10am to 12pm.
Judith Bird from the Parish Church of Chandler’s Ford started Beacon Café in April this year. [Read more…] about Feeling Lonely? Welcome to Beacon Café at St. Boniface Church
Christmas in Sri Lanka: 9 Things in England I’ll Miss This Christmas
Yes, I know that when it comes to Christmas, I am a miserable old fart.
This year I will be 7,000 miles from Chandler’s Ford; will I be unhappy because…? [Read more…] about Christmas in Sri Lanka: 9 Things in England I’ll Miss This Christmas
Christmas Charity Concert with Eastleigh Fusion Choir at United Reformed Church
Eastleigh Fusion Choir will be performing this Saturday on 19th December 2015 from 7.30pm at the United Reformed Church on Kings Road.
The full Christmas Charity Concert by Eastleigh Fusion Choir will be raising money for Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people, and the Kenya Project. [Read more…] about Christmas Charity Concert with Eastleigh Fusion Choir at United Reformed Church
Christmas at Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market 2015
Christmas came early at Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market, held at Age Concern Centre on Brownhill Road last weekend.
It was the third Produce and Craft Market in Chandler’s Ford since October, with over 100 visitors. [Read more…] about Christmas at Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market 2015
Little Ranch Farm Christmas Trees at Fryern Arcade 2015
If you haven’t got your Christmas tree yet (or if the one at home is simply not enough), you could pop down to the Fryern Arcade and get one.
Jimmy Peters, who grows and sells Christmas trees, is now busy selling Christmas trees at the Fryern Arcade in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Little Ranch Farm Christmas Trees at Fryern Arcade 2015
When a Curtain Closes Another One Opens
Thank you to all of those who came last night to see Far from the Madding Crowd at The Hilt. A good ol’ romantic to finish the season. Yes, I did notice the afterglow as you exited :-).
We have really had some good Movies this year with an average audience of about 80. The Imitation Game was the most highly attended with 124. [Read more…] about When a Curtain Closes Another One Opens