It was a rather strange day today.
We went for a walk to Hiltingbury Lakes in the afternoon, and somehow got lost. (It meant we couldn’t find the lakes; or, the lakes simply disappeared!) [Read more…] about How Do You Get to Hiltingbury Lakes (without Getting Lost)?
Did you know that every bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin is made in Hampshire?
Laverstoke, between Whitchurch and Overton, is the home to the Bombay Sapphire Distillery. [Read more…] about Days Out: Spirits from a Hampshire Village
I believe Hampshire may be unique as a county in having 3 cities within it – Southampton, Portsmouth and Winchester. As a result there are plenty of historical connections to our area, some of which make for excellent days out.
The fact we can directly access the Isle of Wight, and there are many historical connections there, gives us even more to see and do. [Read more…] about Hampshire Historical Connections
Some of the fringe benefits of owning and walking a dog include getting to discover some beautiful areas of Hampshire. Some of these are on our doorstep in Chandler’s Ford. One of those is The Monarch’s Way, which is a short drive away, and takes you into some glorious countryside.
This post shares some of my thoughts on the walking and wildlife found in and around The Monarch’s Way. [Read more…] about Hidden Hampshire: The Monarch’s Way
This weekend Winchester Cathedral celebrates Hampshire Harvest with the County’s food and farming. The first day was full of gorgeous local produce, live entertainment, and a lot of inspiration.
Don’t miss it – there’s still one more day tomorrow. [Read more…] about Winchester Cathedral Hampshire Harvest Weekend 2015
This post reviews Station Walks by Dr. Clare Diaper. I discovered this book thanks to an earlier Chandler’s Ford Today post and am glad to say it is a delight to read and a greater joy to use.
The book is supported by the Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership, My Journey and Transition Southampton. Their details are given at the front of the book. [Read more…] about Review: Station Walks Book
On one of those lovely summer days when the sky was clear blue and the air gentle and warm my wife took me to Highcliffe Castle. She showed me where she used to swim as a girl and walked me along the cliff top path through the trees with glimpses of the sparkling azure Solent lying between us and the Needles. [Read more…] about Déjà vu
We have had many reminiscences about WWII. Here is one about the end of it all. The newspaper is dated 1945. At the time I was with my family, on holiday in Filey, Yorks. Picnics and games were organised for us children on some waste ground at the rear of our lodgings. [Read more…] about VJ Day
In my 15 years of living in Hampshire (since birth), I have seen enough interesting places in this humble county in the South of the UK to call it a great place to be.
There is so much history and exotic locations, some of which are very important to the country’s history. Here are some reasons why Hampshire is an important and must see British location. [Read more…] about Why Visit Hampshire?
Update: Chandler’s Ford Itchen Walk 2016: Sunday 12th June 2016
The original post:
We went for a walk in Otterbourne along the Itchen this afternoon with some friends.
We bumped into some people doing the Chandler’s Ford Itchen Walk, organised by Rotary Club of Chandler’s Ford & Itchen Valley. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Itchen Walk 2015
I am lucky enough to have a friend who works for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), who got two free tickets to the show on Friday. So off to London I went, meeting up with my friend at Waterloo.
After a quick Tube journey to Sloane Square we emerged onto the busy London street and facing the station was a ticket tout offering Flower show tickets! [Read more…] about The Splendour of Chelsea Flower Show 2015
Excitement for the grandchildren on the day of a visit to Marwell Zoo. Parents primed, grandparents had the tickets but it was raining stair rods. So we went to the Pub for lunch. As the bill was paid, the air cleared and the sun came out.
Many people have mixed feelings about zoos and I am one of them. There is nothing to beat the thrill of seeing a wild animal in its natural surroundings even if it is only a glimpse. [Read more…] about Visit to Marwell Zoo and Animal Conservation
I visited the National Gallery again. I always feel uneasy about the place and have never worked out why. Do you have a sense of unease?
It is a national treasure and we are proud of it but it is not like Nelson’s Column and Trafalgar Square. [Read more…] about National Gallery and the Prince
Hut Wood is one of those delightful bits of countryside that is just on our doorstep, yet few people seem to know about.
Well, there is an excuse – it’s managed by the Forestry Commission, but even their website doesn’t admit to its existence.
The wood lies to the west of the road from Asda in Eastleigh to Chilworth, just before the bridge over the M27 link road. [Read more…] about Delightful Hut Wood – Have You Been Yet?
I’ve loved Doctor Who since I was a child. I was gripped by the stories, terrified by the Daleks (while at the same time enjoying every moment of being terrified!) and couldn’t wait to tune in to the following week’s edition.
As I was growing up you had one story spread over several parts and it seemed an age before I was to find out if Tom Baker, “my Doctor”, was going to pull the leads apart that would lead to the destruction of the Daleks in Genesis of the Daleks. [Read more…] about The Doctor Who Experience by Allison Symes
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Pride and Prejudice is the greatest of all Jane Austen’s works.
It is a blueprint for romantic comedy and Elizabeth Bennet remains one of my favourite literary heroines, being quick witted and intelligent at a time when that was not particularly welcomed. (It isn’t always welcomed now in some places, unfortunately). [Read more…] about Jane Austen: An Appreciation by Allison Symes
Butterflies in February? Poor things will be caught in the next frost. But not if they are in a hothouse.
For the next week or so there is a magnificent display of butterflies in the Glasshouse at the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at Wisley.
[Read more…] about Butterflies in February
For my latest suggestion of places to go for a day out I’m going to turn to what I call the New Forest’s best kept secret – mainly because I’d never heard of it until a couple of years ago.
Blashford Lakes, near Ringwood, is a set of former gravel quarries that have been flooded and turned into a nature reserve. It is run by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. [Read more…] about Days Out: Blashford Lakes
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
Here’s the first of what may become an occasional (or very occasional) series of suggestions for days out.
It’s my opportunity to recommend places that you might not otherwise hear about, or think of to visit.
My rough criteria will be that it has to be doable as a day trip, and have admission charges that won’t break the bank – [Read more…] about Days Out: Pendon Museum
