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Supporting Marie Curie – Great Local Contributions

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Marie Curie is the U.K.’s leading end of life charity providing palliative care in people’s own homes through the famous Marie Curie nurses and support for all the family. This free service is for anyone with an illness of any kind that they are likely to die from.

They also provide bereavement support and financial advice, fund research into end of life care, and lead campaigns to influence government policy in this area.

Marie Curie can only continue to do all this by regular fundraising. Although a National Charity it is local people and their families who benefit. [Read more…] about Supporting Marie Curie – Great Local Contributions

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Speak Their Name Suicide Memorial Quilt – On Display at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church

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Have you heard of the Speak Their Name Suicide Memorial Quilt?

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight ‘Speak Their Name’ Suicide Memorial Quilt is a beautiful ongoing piece of art, created with love in memory of people lost to suicide by their bereaved friends and family. This project has been inspired by the quilts made in Greater Manchester and Yorkshire.

Speak their Names Quilt on Display in Chandler's Ford November 2024
Speak their Names Quilt on Display in Chandler’s Ford November 2024
[Read more…] about Speak Their Name Suicide Memorial Quilt – On Display at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church

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Marie Curie and Thornden Hall

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The Eastleigh and Chandlers Ford Fundraising Group for Marie Curie were delighted to enter a partnership with Thornden Hall last year to raise much needed funds.

Volunteers collected at Movie Nights at Thornden Hall Arts Centre at Thornden School in Chandler’s Ford raising £809.47 in the last 12 months.

Thornden Presentation photo - Marie Curie
Thornden Presentation photo – Marie Curie

Photos show Neil Daykin, Manager and Nicolette Lock for Marie Curie at a presentation of our Certificate of thanks at a recent Movie Night. [Read more…] about Marie Curie and Thornden Hall

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Apostrophe Catastrophe

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How come the little apostrophe should become a headline in the National Press? Because Councillor Bronk asked the assembled Winchester Council about a road sign in Twyford:

St Marys Terrace

or

St Mary’s Terrace?

The assembled council, bless’em, got the answer wrong. Is it a terrace belonging to St Mary or a terrace named after St Mary? That gives you the answer.

St Mary's Terrace in Twyford
St Mary’s Terrace in Twyford

It’s the same with Chandlers Ford, the name of a suburb of Eastleigh, not a ford belonging to Mr Chandler. [Read more…] about Apostrophe Catastrophe

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Chandler’s Ford – Community Food Larder is Open to All

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Did you know there is a Community Food Larder in Chandler’s Ford? It is located by the front door to the Hall of the Methodist Church facing Winchester Road. There are basic food and toiletries for anyone who just need a bit of help.

The cupboard is unlocked, and is open 24/7. If you need anything, or if you know of anyone who may need some help, please come to the larder and help yourself.

This morning I saw several church members fill up the larder, so I took a few photographs to show you what’s inside.

Food and toiletries
Food and toiletries
Chandler's Ford Community Larder - outside the Methodist Church.
Chandler’s Ford Community Larder – outside the Methodist Church.

[Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford – Community Food Larder is Open to All

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Our River, the Monks Brook

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We have two beautiful rivers in south Hampshire, the Test and the Itchen. Both chalk streams, in their upper reaches these are noted for their water quality. In fact, due to the chalk aquafer on the Itchen, which has excellent storage and filtration, we get our water supply from this river.

But here in Chandler’s Ford we know of another, less well-known river, the Monks Brook. ‘Fordians see it popping up here and there, through Hiltingbury Lakes, at the bottom of people’s gardens, under roads: sometimes pretty as in Flexford Reserve, sometimes business-like as it rushes down a manmade culvert under Hursley Road.

Monks Brook
Monks Brook

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Another Pandemic, A Long Time Ago …

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Most of us have heard of the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-20 – when ten times the number died of the virus than had been killed in the four years of the First World War. However, I confess I was a bit hazy on the details. So, with time on my hands during the lockdown, I thought I’d find out a bit more. I was quite surprised at some of the facts – but also at how many similarities there are between the earlier pandemic and the one we are currently living through.

questions image by geralt via Pixabay

First of all, some facts about that pandemic

How long did the Spanish flu pandemic last? Just over two years – February 1918 to April 1920. [Read more…] about Another Pandemic, A Long Time Ago …

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O Tidings…!

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The title for this week’s post comes from the old Christmas Carol, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen of course and the moment I hear it or sing it, I automatically think of Dickens (and from there to his wonderful story, A Christmas Carol).

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Life in a Pandemic: Who am I?

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There is a story of a pompous man pushing into the front of and airport check-in queue. The check-in girl tells him to go to the back of the queue. ‘Do you know who I am?’ asks the man. The check-in girl asks the queue, ’can anyone help? This man does not know who he is.’

I sympathise with this man, not because of pushing into a queue, but because I am not known by my name any longer. The days when I heard people say, ‘Hello, Mike, nice to see you,’ have gone because, in COVID protection mode, no one sees me.

kaboompics - man working on a computer
Image via Kabookpics

Reduced to a Binary Digit

I am known to my computer but only as a string of digits. The screen wants to know my ID number, password, authentication code, admin password, username, wireless key, PIN, account number or registration key. Then there are numbers and codes sent to my phone which last only an hour or so. If I go to a bar or restaurant, my phone communicates with a QR code. I can text my order and someone brings drinks. [Read more…] about Life in a Pandemic: Who am I?

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Prosody

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It’s not what you say, it’s the way that you say it. The panel game, Just a Minute depends on it. My granddaughter (aged 6) wrote a performance poem about the programme. I have kept the original spelling:-

This is

Cklap, cklap, cklap

A game of

Cklap, cklap, cklap

Consontrashon

Clap, clap, clap

No repeets

Clap, clap, clap

Or hesetaison

Clap, clap, clap

I’ll go first

Clap, clap, clap

And I’ll go second

Clap, clap, clap

Subject is

Clap, clap, clap

Enithing.

By GT

Jan 2020

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Music in Chandler’s Ford during Lockdown: “Love thy neighbours is so true”

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Steve Allen has shared these videos, in which he captured some happy moments in the neighbourhood of Chandler’s Ford during the lockdown. These included music on Thursday evenings, and a piper playing for a neighbour’s birthday.

With Steve’s permission, we are sharing these on Chandler’s Ford Today.

1 – Malcolm the Piper was playing for a Scottish lady on her birthday.

Malcolm and lovely neighbours in Chandler's Ford - supporting key workers and sharing community spirit.
Malcolm and lovely neighbours in Chandler’s Ford – supporting key workers and sharing community spirit.

[Read more…] about Music in Chandler’s Ford during Lockdown: “Love thy neighbours is so true”

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VE Day 75 in Chandler’s Ford – Memories of the Original VE Day

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Lakewood Road decided to have a socially separated street party yesterday for VE75. I replied to the invitation and said I was at an original VE day party. Several people expressed an interest in the comments so I thought Chandler’s Ford Today might like to see them. As it turns out, I am not the only one who attended an original party.
[Read more…] about VE Day 75 in Chandler’s Ford – Memories of the Original VE Day

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Care in a Time of COVID

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We are beginning to think of ending the lock-down. How different will it be afterwards?

That little strand of RNA wrapped up as COVID-19 has altered our behaviour. It has shut our institutions; schools, universities, travel, industries, retail and the legal system. Health, policing, food and pharmacy remain active with some local travel.

Some of us have been able to work from home and found it satisfactory. A friend is wondering why he keeps a London office; a weekly meeting in an office hired for half a day may be sufficient. Others strive to work amid the domestic activities of children and housework. The fashion for open-plan living areas in houses has not helped.

Coronavirus image by Karolina Grabowska

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M27 Closure 31 Jan – 3 Feb

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The M27 will be completely closed in both directions between junctions 3 (M271) and junction 4 (M3) this weekend – from late evening Friday 31 January to early morning 3 February.

roadworks

matrix sign

This is the third and final closure required for the replacement of the Romsey Road bridge.  More details can be found on the Highways England website. [Read more…] about M27 Closure 31 Jan – 3 Feb

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‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ by The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band “The Spitfires” and Friends

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Written by Greg Walker, Principal Director of Music, The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band.

Here’s our talented group of youngsters at The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band showing what we can do, along with a mass choir of Scout and Guide Shows from all across Hampshire, with our cover of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’... we hope you enjoy it – we had GREAT fun recording and making it.

“The Spitfires and Friends do Christmas” CD (2019)

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Fundraising for Friends of St Anne’s Hospital and Defibrillator Fund

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Did you know there was a Plants and Crafts sale at St Boniface church yesterday (Saturday 18th May 2019) from 10am to 2pm?

It was a popular community event run by Judith James, Chair of The Friends of St. Anne’s Hospital (Tanzania), with support from many members of St Boniface and St Martin’s churches. [Read more…] about Fundraising for Friends of St Anne’s Hospital and Defibrillator Fund

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Sri Lankan Bombings

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I have visited Sri Lanka over 15 times now, living there for several months every year for the last 10 years. Early visits were during the civil war and there were inconveniences such as roadblocks, curfews and limitations on travel.

On one occasion my friends arranged an escort to the airport. There were no problems with me giving lectures at the University and to audiences containing Sinhala and Tamils. [Read more…] about Sri Lankan Bombings

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An Open Letter to My Cycle Thief

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Dear cycle thief,

Hope you are enjoying my bike or parts of it that you couldn’t sell. If you’ve sold it in the nether market, the money must have bought you a few pleasures. But, I am straying from the point now, digressing, if you understand the word. That was no aspersion on your education, but just a thought that occurred to me. In your profession, you cannot afford to digress. You cannot head for the bike shed with your chain cutters and suddenly entertain an alternative thought, like “Let me check out the Magnolia tree. Its blossoms are so overwhelmingly beautiful this time of the year”. No. You will be the master of concentration, one-track minded, a Zen of bicycle thievery. [Read more…] about An Open Letter to My Cycle Thief

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Charles Baynham in Chandler’s Ford

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Last weekend I bought some minced pork and local eggs from Charles Baynham, our finest butchers in Chandler’s ford.

I used the minced pork to make some Chinese dumplings for the Chinese New Year (yes it’s the Year of the Pig, as I heard you asked!)

Charles Baynham has run this friendly, traditional butcher for 40 years in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Charles Baynham in Chandler’s Ford

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The 100th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force: Remembering the Vulcan

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Yesterday, 1st April, was the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force. Some of you may have seen More4’s screening last night of ‘Last Flight of the Vulcan Bomber’ when the daredevil mechanic Guy Martin worked at the ‘Vulcan to the Sky Trust with the team of engineers maintaining XH558 The Spirit of Great Britain, the last remaining Vulcan flying.

He learned about the rigorous servicing, he flew alongside the Vulcan in a fly-past and later experienced the incredible thrust of this brilliant aeroplane from the cockpit, accelerating up to the point of take-off (WOW!) [Read more…] about The 100th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force: Remembering the Vulcan

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