I was on board Lord Nelson ship at the Seed2Sailing – the launch party for this year’s Jubilee Sailing Trust Autumn Pumpkin Festival and Scarecrow Avenue, which will take place on Saturday 8th Oct 2016.
“I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;”
Sea Fever by John Masefield
[Read more…] about Life aboard a Tall Ship: Jubilee Sailing Trust’s Ship Lord Nelson
I went to see The Pocket Dream, written by Elly Brewer and Sandi Toksvig, on 30th April 2016 at The Chameleon Theatre Group based at the Ritchie Memorial Hall in Hursley Road.
Despite living in Chandler’s Ford for over 20 years, this was the first time I had managed to get to one of the Chameleons’ productions. Many thanks to Lionel Elliot for supplying director’s notes, the cast list and some of the images of the show (which were taken by Dave Wilkins). [Read more…] about Review: The Pocket Dream by Chameleon Theatre Company
You may have noticed that Britain’s Got Talent is back on our screens.
I’ll admit to having an ambivalent attitude to the programme. It’s not something I go out of my way to watch but when I do I find it generally entertaining. [Read more…] about Not Britain’s Got Talent
Music. Food. Ponies. Dogs. Games. Stalls. Friends. Queen.
Fryern Funtasia this afternoon on the Fryern Recreation Ground was enjoyable.
It’s the 5th Fryern Funtasia event in Chandler’s Ford. The Fryern Funtasia is a community event organised by local volunteers and businesses, with the help of the Chandler’s Ford Parish Council. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Fryern Funtasia 2016
World Book Night is on 23rd April each year, this being the date of William Shakespeare’s birth and his death.
World Book Night also links to the day of the death of Cervantes (author of Don Quixote), Spain’s literary hero, St. George’s Day and UNESCO’s Day of the Book (which I think is a fantastic title). [Read more…] about World Book Night 2016 and the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare
This post is about Chandler’s Ford St. George’s Day Parade last Sunday (24th April 2016).
The parade was led by “The Spitfires” – the brilliant 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford St. George’s Day Parade 2016
The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band (better known as The Spitfires) returned to Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church last weekend for a St George’s Day concert in aid of One Community.
As we have come to expect from a band of such high calibre, the concert showcased the musician’s skills and wide repertoire. We were also treated to a display by the band’s Corps of Drums, who had been busy with other scouting activities at the October concert.
[Read more…] about Review: The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band St. George’s Day Concert 2016
This morning there were a few surprises at the local Handmade Craft Market at Chandler’s Ford Age Concern Centre.
It was a delight to meet a popular local non-fiction and military writer Penny Legg, based in Southampton. [Read more…] about Not Just Crafts: Chandler’s Ford Craft Market – Crafters, Author, Cartoonist
I had the great joy last week of going to see An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley with a friend at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton.
My friend had seen the film which was why she was keen to see the play version. I love detective fiction and thought seeing one in a play format would be interesting. I was right – it was!
[Read more…] about Watching the Detectives
Last Thursday, my mum and I watched an intriguing drama Sudden Death at Thornbury Manor, performed by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players, at the Methodist Church Hall.
The play is about a rich and unpleasant nobleman (played by Lester Parry) [Read more…] about Review: Sudden Death at Thornbury Manor by Chandler’s Ford MDG Players
Are you aware there is a Produce and Craft Market in Chandler’s Ford?
It’s held at the Age Concern Centre on Brownhill Road (to be precise – just next to the Co-op and the Fryern Arcade).
Yes – the market is where you get to buy special gifts from crafters who make the gifts themselves, and buy fresh fruits and vegetables without the plastic packaging.
[Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market for the Community
I had the great joy of going to see As You Like It on Thursday, 25th February 2016 at Thornden Hall.
Having experienced the wonders of Shakespeare’s best known tragedy, Hamlet, late in 2015, I was curious to find out how I was going to get on with one of the Bard of Avon’s comedies. [Read more…] about As You Like It… and I Did!
Tomorrow the air will be filled with pride and excitement. March 5th 2016 marks the 80th anniversary of the first flight of the Spitfire.
The Supermarine Spitfire prototype Spitfire K5054 first took to the skies in 1936 from Southampton Airport.
Want to know where you could see the Spitfire 80th anniversary flight on Saturday? Read on. [Read more…] about Celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Spitfire
I love history. Always have done. Always will do. I suppose this is because history is another form of storytelling. It tells the story of where we come from.
I believe there is a great deal of truth in the saying that a nation which forgets its history is destined to relive it.
Stories can be told in many ways to reach differing audiences and this is true for history too. I’ve recently heard of a new comic book (Blood and Valour) and play (The Legends of Sir Bevis) about local mythical medieval hero, Sir Bevis of Hampton. [Read more…] about Producing a Local Legend: Sir Bevis of Hampton
In recent months it has been a great joy to watch three National Theatre Live productions at Thornden Hall – The Importance of Being Earnest with David Suchet as Lady Bracknell, Hamlet with Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role, and Shakespeare’s glorious comedy As You Like It, which we just watched last night.
I’m glad to report there is not one but three nearby venues in Eastleigh borough which show National Theatre Live productions – Thornden Hall, The Point, Eastleigh and, a little further out at Hedge End, The Berry Theatre. [Read more…] about National Theatre Live in Chandler’s Ford and Eastleigh Areas
This year’s Thornden School GCSE production was The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, performed at Thornden Hall last week.
As expected from these talented pupils, it was a delight to watch and stretched the talents of the GCSE students – for both the Drama Acting and Drama Design and Technical courses. [Read more…] about Review: Thornden School: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The natural follow up to my recent post about favourite forms of writing is about my favourite forms of reading in all its forms – non-fiction, fiction, poetry, books, magazines, e-books, newspapers.
It also takes a brief look at reading habits given it is not just a question of print media any more for sources of reading material. [Read more…] about How Have Your Reading Habits Changed?
My husband and I went to see Aladdin, by Nigel Holmes, performed by the Chameleon Theatre Company at Ritchie Memorial Hall last Saturday.
I bumped into my neighbours at the hall. “How many are you here?” I asked.
“15!” [Read more…] about Review of Aladdin by Chameleon Theatre Company
I went to see the National Theatre’s production of Hamlet at Thornden Hall in October 2015 with Janet Williams and her son Ben.
Benedict Cumberbatch was superb in the title role.
I love the idea of being able to watch West End productions without having the hassle of going there. I’ve never been to a West End production and if I had the time to go there, possibly with an overnight stay, I should imagine that would be a wonderful experience. [Read more…] about Shakespeare Inspirations – Hamlet at Thornden Hall
Tropical diseases? Not your problem? Oh yes they are and not just because of the need for anti-malarials when you go on holiday.
I heard about some of the problems and successes at the first International Meeting on Tropical Medicine to be held in the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka. I went along and learned a few thing of general interest. [Read more…] about Tropical Diseases – What You Need to Know
