(Editor’s note: Welcome to our new gardening series written by Wellie. Her gardening tips will appear monthly on Chandler’s Ford Today.)
Jobs to do as winter approaches and the garden quietens. [Read more…] about Gardening Tips for November from Wellie
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
Some of the great joys of writing for Chandler’s Ford Today are in meeting new people and going to events that are new to me.
The recent Hiltingbury Extrav was the first I’d visited despite living in Chandler’s Ford for over 25 years. So I thought I would look back at it as we leave the summer season with its shows and fetes behind. (If anyone is in any doubt we are in autumn now, the recent wild weather should dispel that!). [Read more…] about High Jinks at the Hiltingbury Extravaganza 2015
I went to Hiltingbury Recreation Ground at 3pm yesterday with my son, and local writer Allison Symes.
The Hiltingbury Extrav 2015 was in full swing. The event took place from 12.00 noon till 5.00pm.
We were first attracted by some classic cars. We spotted Chandler’s Ford Today writer Mike Sedgwick there admiring the vehicles (and checking the engine stuff). [Read more…] about The Hiltingbury Extrav 2015
We have a friend, let’s call her Betty, who is fit but cannot use her legs so she lives her life in a wheelchair. Many people treat her in a “does she take sugar?” fashion. She can answer for herself, she has a PhD, but she has to put up with being treated as an idiot. [Read more…] about Life in a Wheelchair
For three seasons of the year we have a stream running through the garden. It is dry in summer so it is really a bourne. The water authority have upgraded it to the status of ‘river’. This gives them control over what we do with it in case we want to dam it, change its course or make a culvert. [Read more…] about A Bridge in the Garden
Herewith another saga……
While I was attending North End Secondary School, I became interested in cycling, not just as a means of transport, but as a sport and pastime.
I was pretty useless at conventional sports like football and cricket, so a chance discussion with another paper boy, introduced me to the Southampton group of the Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC). This was and still is, a National & International club, with local “Sections” based around the country. [Read more…] about Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s: Bicycle, Bicycle! (Part 5)
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?
Our gliding flights in the Pyrenees were going well. A friendly rivalry arose with the two pilots of another glider and we were determined to outdo one another.
Today was my turn as pilot in command of our 2 seater, Whisky Bravo. The tug plane took us from Santa Cilia airfield on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees towards the local hill where there was some rising air. [Read more…] about Forced Landing
Have you heard of the Society of Authors?
Congratulations to local writer and regular contributor to Chandler’s Ford Today, Allison Symes, who has been elected to become a Full Member of the Society of Authors.
Did you know that Eastleigh held its 250th parkrun last weekend?
We’re a quarter of the way through the year. How are you getting on with that New Year resolution to take more exercise? You didn’t make such a resolution? No, neither did I, but let’s just pretend that we did.
If, like me, you are not a runner, [Read more…] about Eastleigh: 250th parkrun
Chandler’s Ford Library provides us with books, music, and films, and yesterday, the library also brought us the most talented artists from The Sorting Office Studios in Eastleigh.
I’ve been following the artists around Eastleigh since last year and it was very lovely to see some of them again in Chandler’s Ford Library.
Residents of the Sorting Office Studios met the public [Read more…] about Inspiring Artists from the Sorting Office Studios Eastleigh
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
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
The most difficult job in television must be producing an advert that people will watch.
When the adverts come on, most people get up to make a cup of tea or visit the loo or maybe start to argue about what to watch next.
There have been some notable adverts worth watching. The first UK commercial TV advert was for SR toothpaste [Read more…] about The Voice And A Raven
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
In the last post, Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes shared her passion with writing. She has taken us into her Fairy Kingdom.
Allison writes on her websites, Fairytales with Bite and This World and Others.
Today, Allison shares with us her publishing journey, and gives us some publishing tips. [Read more…] about Interview Chandler’s Ford Writer Allison Symes: Part 2
I have had the pleasure of interviewing Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes.
Allison Symes loves reading and writing fairytales.
Novels are her first love, though she also flirts with short stories, occasionally has a fling with poems and now writes radio scripts.
[Read more…] about Interview Chandler’s Ford Writer Allison Symes
Have you had to learn new things because of your children or grandchildren?
Horses have never featured much in my life. Not since, as a boy, I was put on one and sent off onto the beach at Cleethorpes. The horse ambled into the middle of a tidal puddle and sat down. I fell off into the cold water and the horse ran away. [Read more…] about Learning From Children – Horse Play
The Central Precinct of Chandler’s Ford is a paradise for snooker players. Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club is located at the back of the Central Precinct, facing Ahmad Tea company.
It is the last remaining snooker club in Winchester, Chandler’s Ford and Eastleigh.
The family run club has ten well-maintained tables and is open seven days a week to members and non-members. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club and Central Precinct
