I love the word serendipity. It has a lovely meaning and a great sound.
This post, I think, can be thought of as being a case of serendipity.
I was planning a post about the joy of libraries for some time and then read Mike’s wonderful article from Sri Lanka about renovating the school library, which confirmed to me I should go ahead with this now. [Read more…] about Sharing the Joy of Libraries
In the days before Google, people used to call their librarians with questions.
“What kind of an apple did Eve eat?”
“Why do 18th century English paintings have so many squirrels in them, and how did they tame them so that they wouldn’t bite the painter?” [Read more…] about Hampshire Library Consultation: Have your Say
Claire Fuller, an author from Winchester, will be meeting book lovers at Chandler’s Ford Library on Wednesday 3rd February 2016 from 7pm to 8pm.
Claire Fuller is a novelist and an artist. She is the author of two books: Our Endless Numbered Days, and Swimming Lessons (forthcoming from Fig Tree / Penguin).
[Read more…] about Meet the Author Claire Fuller at Chandler’s Ford Library
Missed some good films last year?
Chandler’s Ford people are lucky as you can now watch great films at Thornden Hall. Each ticket is only £5.
Thornden Hall’s newest venture Movies at the Hall starts on Friday 15th January 2016. [Read more…] about Premiere of Movies at Thornden Hall – Friday 15th January 2016
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
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
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
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.
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
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?
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
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
By
“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
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
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
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
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?
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 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
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
