Chandler's Ford Today

travel

A VERY L–O–N–G Shot from Australia

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Phil, a friend of ours from Sheffield, England, is over here in Perth, Western Australia at the moment visiting family … on Saturday, he visited us in Glen Forrest, as he has done for the past eight years.

On this occasion, he presented me with a copy of Barbara Hillier’s book, ‘CHANDLER’S FORD, A PICTORIAL HISTORY’ (1994 edition – Front Cover shows Fortune Court and a VERY blue sky) … Phil bought it via Amazon U/K from a bookshop in Reading, Berks … [Read more…] about A VERY L–O–N–G Shot from Australia

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What is Happening in France? The Gilet Jaunes Protests.

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Who are the Gilet Jaunes?

The gilet jaunes or yellow jackets movement is a populist, grassroots political movement for economic justice that began in France in 2018. An online petition posted in May reached 300,000 signatures by mid-October and was followed by regular mass demonstrations beginning on 17 November. I spend part of my life in Normandy. The following report is based on my personal experience. [Read more…] about What is Happening in France? The Gilet Jaunes Protests.

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A Grand Day Out to London from Chandler’s Ford

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Yesterday morning I took the 7.14 train from Chandler’s Ford to London Waterloo. The return ticket (including London Underground all zones) cost £90.

Ideally I should have taken the 6.06 train, but I wasn’t feeling safe to get to the station so early by myself. Recently I’ve heard of news about people being mugged in Eastleigh and Chandler’s Ford, so was a bit more concerned. I considered driving to the station, buying tickets from the machine near the platform, but …. what if someone jumped out from nowhere and I was on my own? I also considered driving to Southampton Airport Parkway but parking would have cost £15 per day. [Read more…] about A Grand Day Out to London from Chandler’s Ford

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Party

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It is the season of parties, not to be left out, we are arranging one. Is it any different in Sri Lanka?

Invitations –

Sri Lankans do not seem to plan their diaries too far ahead nor do they always respond to invites but they turn up on the dot. There is no angst about who to invite and there is no angst about who should come. If you have friends staying, you take them along. [Read more…] about Party

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Sailing into Christmas with the Jubilee Sailing

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Christmas is a busy time of year for most charities and the Jubilee Sailing trust (JST) is no exception.

Having enjoyed a lovely day at the Chandler’s Ford Joint Charities Christmas Market, we also attended the Romsey Christmas Market and most recently the Winchester Christmas Market in the stunning setting of Cathedral Close. [Read more…] about Sailing into Christmas with the Jubilee Sailing

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Our Recent Trip to Salisbury (after Spy Attack)

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Two weeks ago, I went to the ancient cathedral city of Salisbury with my parents. Obviously this city has been at the centre of a major international incident for about a month now, but as a resident of Wiltshire’s neighbouring county who has visited Salisbury many times, I decided to visit the city to see what had happened. [Read more…] about Our Recent Trip to Salisbury (after Spy Attack)

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Sharing my Videos and Memories: by Syd Hutchinson from Chandler’s Ford

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I have lived in Chandler’s Ford for over 30 years. I am retired now and realised when I pop my clogs, all my videos and photos would probably be deleted from the drives, so decided to share many of them on YouTube.

I created my own channel Syd Hutchinson, and have had nearly 120,000 viewings in the last 3 years. I re-edited some of our holiday videos from far-flung places and added them. It’s a shame many countries we have visited were many years ago when video quality was not so good, so many places are not included. Fast approaching 100 videos now ranging from wildlife to National Trust properties. I even have a video that was used on the Travel Channel. [Read more…] about Sharing my Videos and Memories: by Syd Hutchinson from Chandler’s Ford

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Snow Brings Out the Best of People in Chandler’s Ford

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Last Thursday, these people from Chandler’s Ford helped push a Bluestar 1 bus stuck in the snow in Chandler’s Ford.

The bus towards Southampton was at the Central Precinct stop.

Washington Muringayi happened to see this scene and filmed it. He shared the video on Facebook, and ITV has since shared this video and it has now been viewed nearly 30,000 times. [Read more…] about Snow Brings Out the Best of People in Chandler’s Ford

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Proposed Improvements to M3 Junction 9

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It’s been the bane of commuters for years – probably since the M3 was opened between Southampton and Winchester, if not longer.  The bottleneck that can add half an hour to your journey north and south – trying to get between the M3 and the A34 at Junction 9.

Morning queues on the M3 can stretch back to the Twyford cutting and evening traffic on the A34 is often standstill from Three Maids Hill.  I speak from experience here.

Traffic queues similar to those around M3 Junction 9.
Traffic queues similar to those around M3 Junction 9. Image from Pixabay.

Well, all that is about to change. [Read more…] about Proposed Improvements to M3 Junction 9

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A Christmas Eve Like No Other

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A Little History

When the hillsides and jungles of Sri Lanka were being opened up to British planters of coffee in the middle of the 19th century, the planters were desperate for workers but the Sri Lankans, the Sinhala, were not interested in working for foreign colonialists. Why should they? They had their patch of paddy to tend, a coconut plantation and banana trees, they were self-sufficient and the British only needed them at the time of the coffee harvest. [Read more…] about A Christmas Eve Like No Other

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Greetings from Sri Lanka 2017

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Christmas Greetings from Kandy. Sri Lanka may be 80% Buddhist, but they do like the story of Baby Jesus. For many, religion is like belonging to a club, you can change or be a member of several. Why not enjoy the Poya days (full moon) at the Buddhist temple, Diwali at the Hindu and a few Carols at the Church?   [Read more…] about Greetings from Sri Lanka 2017

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Rev. Wilbert Awdry Bridge in Chandler’s Ford

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Do you know there is a Rev. Wilbert Awdry Bridge in Chandler’s Ford?

The Rev. Wilbert Awdry (15 June 1911 – 21 March 1997) was an Anglican minister who created Thomas the Tank Engine (and other engines). In interviews he said his son Christopher (aged 3) had measles, so he came up with stories to amuse him. [Read more…] about Rev. Wilbert Awdry Bridge in Chandler’s Ford

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Saved from Drowning

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It is not on every holiday that you find yourself involved in the rescue of a drowning man.

Our son, who lives in Chandler’s Ford, was enjoying a holiday at Bonchurch on the Isle of Wight.  Relaxing after day visiting nearby children’s attractions with his four-year-old daughter, he heard cries for help.  From his flat overlooking the sea he could see a man in deep water out beyond the breakwater waving, calling for help and in distress.  Already another man was swimming towards him with the life buoy which was provided nearby. [Read more…] about Saved from Drowning

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Chinook

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Every infantry man in a combat zone loves to hear a Chinook. Wop, wop, wop, you can hear the characteristic sound, you know what it is but you can’t see it. The twin rotor helicopter is coming in at 160 mph with 10 tons of stores and ammunition or re-enforcements. Once it lands, it will be there for 60 seconds, there will be no departure delays, no last calls for passengers, no check in queues. What isn’t taken off or loaded within the time is left where it is. [Read more…] about Chinook

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The Flying Scotsman in Scotland

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Following Janet’s post with Carl Maskelyne’s pictures of the “Flying Scotsman” locomotive, I thought I’d post this short video of it pulling a train out of Stirling the other day.  

It’s a fine beast and my video clip, though a bit amateurish, builds the expectation nicely, giving brief glimpses of smoke in the trees, before it bursts into view in all its splendour. [Read more…] about The Flying Scotsman in Scotland

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Exclusive – Chandler’s Ford man found in Pyrenees

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José Ascaso had been riding his chestnut mare most of the day and was beginning to feel tired. Together, they had made good progress deep into the Pyrenean valley alongside Rio Ara. His plan was to spend the night in Broto, a small mountain town, and ride on into Ordesa Gorge the next day. The valley had become steep and narrow with the mountains rising to 6000 feet on both sides. He hoped to spot the Lammergeier, it is known to fly in the gorge. It is a large vulture with a wingspan of almost 3 metres and weighing up to 7 Kg. It feeds on bone after the other vultures have taken the flesh of dead animals. [Read more…] about Exclusive – Chandler’s Ford man found in Pyrenees

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From Weymouth to Chandler’s Ford

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Geoff and Vicki are travelling to all 2,563 railway stations in Great Britain. So far they have visited 459 stations, including Chandler’s Ford station (see the video at the end of this post).

All The Stations is a project to travel to ALL the national railway stations in Britain in just three months, and to create an online documentary film about the journey. [Read more…] about From Weymouth to Chandler’s Ford

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Ruins, what to Do with ’em?

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The United Kingdom is a fusion of four old countries that have fought wars together and with others. It has had kings, princes, invaders, usurpers, pretenders, bishops, priests and parliamentarians who have fought among themselves. Going back into archaeological time and pre-history and even in legend there have been conflicts of people and ideas of which we know little. No wonder that the country is littered with old castles, battlefields, abbeys, forts and earthworks. [Read more…] about Ruins, what to Do with ’em?

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