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Spring is here, spring is here. Life is skittles and life is Beer

March 20, 2022 By chippy minton 4 Comments

The spring is sprung, the grass is riz

I wonder where the birdy is

The bird is on the wing

Don’t be absurd

Everyone knows the wing is on the bird

We’ve been in meteorological spring since the beginning of the month and today, 20^th March, is pretty close to non-meteorological spring (which probably has a better name). And the weekend’s weather has also been spring-like too, for the first time this year.

What better time to visit Hillier Gardens at Ampfield and see the flowers starting to emerge from their winter’s sleep.

Here are a few photos from today’s wander. I’m not a botanist so some of my descriptions may be a little haphazard. Sorry, Wellie. [Read more…] about Spring is here, spring is here. Life is skittles and life is Beer

Tags: days out, gardens, Hampshire, history, nature, recommendations, review, Romsey, signs of spring, spring, travel, walking

In Praise of Royal Victoria and Itchen Valley Country Parks

September 4, 2016 By chippy minton 8 Comments

A few weeks ago, faced with a small clutch of younglings (and two grandparents) to entertain, we visited two of our local county parks – Hampshire County Council’s Royal Victoria and Eastleigh Borough Council’s Itchen Valley.

These proved to be outstanding choices. I’ve visited both parks before, but being accompanied by such a range of ages helped me to appreciate what marvellous leisure assets these places are. [Read more…] about In Praise of Royal Victoria and Itchen Valley Country Parks

Tags: days out, Hampshire, history, nature, recommendations, review, travel, wildlife

Highbridge Community Farm: Grow and Enjoy Fresh Local Produce

June 21, 2016 By Janet Williams 1 Comment

Highbridge Community Farm had an open day last weekend, and we went there to find out a little about the project.

Last year the group shared with us their work and fresh vegetables at the Hiltingbury Extrav 2015.

Henry Russell, Highbridge Farm, offered a 1.7 acre field for this worthwhile project. The farm is located just north of Eastleigh and is near the River Itchen. [Read more…] about Highbridge Community Farm: Grow and Enjoy Fresh Local Produce

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, Eastleigh, gardening, gardening tips, good neighbours, local interest, recommendations

How to Spot a Real Writing Competition

May 20, 2016 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

I thought a post about writing competitions could fit well with my recent mini-series about scams. Much of what follows will apply to non-writing competitions too.

Every industry/profession has its charlatans. Sadly even the Church hasn’t been exempt. Neither is publishing/creative writing. And while we remain fallible human beings, this will remain the case. There will always be the artist. There will always be the con artist too. [Read more…] about How to Spot a Real Writing Competition

Tags: advice, Information, publishing, reading, recommendations, writing

Not Britain’s Got Talent

May 3, 2016 By chippy minton 3 Comments

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

Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler’s Ford community, community, education, entertainment, event, local interest, recommendations, social, The Point, theatre, Thornden Hall, Thornden School, Winchester Road

Walk on the Isle of Wight

April 15, 2016 By Mike Sedgwick Leave a Comment

We were fortunate to pick two sunny days for a trip to the Isle of Wight.

During the trip down Southampton water we saw the Ovation of the Seas, a new 168,000 ton diesel-electric driven cruise liner She is undergoing inauguration event prior to her maiden cruise to China. She will operate between china and Australia. [Read more…] about Walk on the Isle of Wight

Tags: gardening, Isle of Wight, memory, nature, recommendations, review, Southampton, storytelling, travel

My Favourite Short Walk – Itchen Navigation from Bishopstoke to Allbrook

March 12, 2016 By chippy minton 8 Comments

One of my favourite short local walks is the stretch of the Itchen Navigation from Bishopstoke to Allbrook.

It is a rural idyll, yet never more than a few hundred yards from the built-up area and/or railway yard. [Read more…] about My Favourite Short Walk – Itchen Navigation from Bishopstoke to Allbrook

Tags: community, days out, Eastleigh, local interest, nature, recommendations, review, Southampton, travel, walking, wildlife, Winchester, writing

Days Out: Spirits from a Hampshire Village

December 11, 2015 By chippy minton 5 Comments

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

Tags: days out, Hampshire, history, nature, recommendations, review, travel

Hampshire Historical Connections

November 6, 2015 By Allison Symes 8 Comments

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

Tags: Chandler's Ford, days out, Hampshire, history, local interest, museum, recommendations, Southampton, travel, Winchester, Winchester Cathedral

Hidden Hampshire: The Monarch’s Way

October 30, 2015 By Allison Symes 5 Comments

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

Tags: adventure, Chandler's Ford, days out, dog, Hampshire, history, hobby, Hursley, nature, recommendations, review, travel, walking, wildlife

Review: Station Walks Book

September 18, 2015 By Allison Symes 7 Comments

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

Tags: books, Chandler’s Ford community, charity, community, days out, Eastleigh, local interest, news, reading, recommendations, review, Southampton, Station Lane, Three Rivers, train station, travel, walking, writing

Always Annoyed in August (Are Exams Easier?)

September 4, 2015 By Allison Symes 6 Comments

Parenthood changes your outlook in many ways. One way is when it comes to secondary school education and beyond, with exams in the offing, you can be guaranteed every August without fail your blood will boil. You will be annoyed. Why?

Because, without fail, somebody will claim, as the national exam results are much improved, the exams must be getting easier. That same old tired mantra comes out every August. Your blood boils every August. QED. [Read more…] about Always Annoyed in August (Are Exams Easier?)

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, education, recommendations, school, Thornden School, Toynbee School, viewpoint

VJ Day

August 19, 2015 By Mike Sedgwick 3 Comments

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

Tags: community, culture, days out, education, history, local interest, memory, recommendations, storytelling, travel, World War Two

Delightful Hut Wood – Have You Been Yet?

May 9, 2015 By chippy minton 15 Comments

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?

Tags: days out, Eastleigh, hobby, local interest, nature, recommendations, review, travel, walking, wildlife

Days Out: Blashford Lakes

February 8, 2015 By chippy minton 5 Comments

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

Tags: charity, days out, history, hobby, nature, recommendations, review, travel, wildlife, Wildlife Trust

Days Out: Pendon Museum

December 31, 2014 By chippy minton Leave a Comment

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

Tags: days out, history, museum, recommendations, review, travel

How Methodist Church Dovetail Centre Surprises Me

October 26, 2014 By Janet Williams 21 Comments

Updated on 30th July 2017:

Coffee Room at the Methodist Church

The Coffee Room will operate from the Purple Room from Monday 31st July until Tuesday 15th August 2017 while the Dovetail Centre is being refurbished.

The usual range of teas and coffee and biscuits will be available from 9.30 am to 12 noon Monday to Saturday. Access to the Purple Room is from the car park.

Follow the signs.

Below is the original post dated 28th Oct 2014.

My son and I visited the Coffee Room in the Dovetail Centre of the Methodist Church on Winchester Road yesterday.

I went there to buy some tickets for MDG Players’ upcoming comedy: Ladies of Iniquity.

Three things at the Coffee Room surprised me. [Read more…] about How Methodist Church Dovetail Centre Surprises Me

Tags: Chandler's Ford, Christianity, church, coffee shop, community, Dovetail Centre, good neighbours, local interest, Methodist Church, recommendations, review, Winchester Road

WH Smith Chandler’s Ford: Good Books In Community

October 25, 2014 By Janet Williams

I am delighted to see WH Smith at the Fryern Arcade in Chandler’s Ford has started selling books.

Yesterday afternoon I saw a good selection of books at WH Smith. One book relevant to Chandler’s Ford is The Chandler’s Ford Story: From Earliest Times to the 21st Century, by Barbara Hillier and Gerald Ponting. [Read more…] about WH Smith Chandler’s Ford: Good Books In Community

Tags: books, Chandler's Ford, community, Eastleigh, football, Fryern Arcade, interview, local businesses, local interest, post office, reading, recommendations, review, sports, Winchester Road, writing

Mr & Mrs Brown At Eastleigh Museum

August 16, 2014 By Janet Williams 6 Comments

Yesterday my son and I went to see Mr and Mrs Brown again, at Eastleigh Museum.

In 1938, Mr & Mrs Brown lived in Eastleigh with their son Arthur, who was an apprentice at Eastleigh Rail Works. Mr Brown was an engine driver, who earned about £5 a week. [Read more…] about Mr & Mrs Brown At Eastleigh Museum

Tags: community, culture, days out, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Borough Council, Eastleigh Museum, education, history, museum, One Community, recommendations, review, storytelling, train station, travel

D & G Hardware: from Canberra to Chandler’s Ford

May 25, 2014 By Janet Williams 13 Comments

D & G stands for Des & Gabby, a couple who ran D & G Hardware in Canberra, capital city of Australia.

D & G later returned to Winchester and ran their independent, much-loved hardware business in St. George’s Street in Winchester for about 30 years.

In June 2006, Toby Roberts took over D & G Hardware in Winchester from 86-year-old Des. [Read more…] about D & G Hardware: from Canberra to Chandler’s Ford

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, Fryern Arcade, interview, local businesses, local interest, memory, recommendations, review, Winchester Road

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Coffee Room at the Methodist Church

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