I’ve stated before that I like Chandler’s Ford library and Eastleigh library.
One of the reasons is that both libraries have a small but pretty good selection of comics and graphic novels, where I get some of mine from. [Read more…] about Hampshire Libraries and My Love for Graphic Novels
The plan was to get to the Gliding Club early and fly the Falke motor glider at first light.
I met my pilot friend in the dim light of dawn and we got the aircraft out of its hangar. After an inspection and a short taxi round to the refuelling bunker we added 25 litre of mogas. [Read more…] about Dawn Patrol That Wasn’t
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
Books can be dangerous because they deal in ideas so I reckon the two most dangerous places in Chandler’s Ford are our wonderful library and W.H.Smith at Fryern since one lends out books and the other sells them!
It is also fantastic that, especially after the loss of The Arcade Bookshop, we have another bookseller and our library is a real asset. May both keep going from strength to strength.
[Read more…] about Book Review: The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
It is rare for snow to affect life here in the balmy South very much. This morning was different. Overnight we did some babysitting.
“Why are you called baby sitter?” asked our grand daughter, “You never sat on us, even when we were small.” [Read more…] about Snow Bound
Eastleigh Borough Twinning Association maintains and promotes links with Eastleigh’s twin towns – Villeneuve-Saint-Georges in France, and Kornwestheim in Germany.
If you are interested in learning more about the twin towns, you are welcome to celebrate Fasching / Mardi Gras / Shrove Tuesday on Monday 16 February 2015 at 7pm, at the Age UK Headquarters: 20 Romsey Road, Eastleigh SO50 9AL. [Read more…] about How Much Do You Know About Eastleigh’s Twin Towns?
I received an email advising me that my European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is about to expire, so I thought I better renew it.
I followed the link and was taken to a website to enter my application. Don’t worry, this isn’t going to end horribly wrong; it was a legitimate email and a legitimate website.
I entered the expected details – name and address, National Insurance number, [Read more…] about Time to Renew Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)?
Some 30 years ago I found myself in Krakow, Poland, alone in a communist country with contact phone numbers that did not work and meet and greet arrangements that had gone wrong.
I had a day to fill and looked at the hotel tours of castles, lakes, mountains, ski centres, pretty villages or Auschwitz.
Auschwitz? Was that really a tourist attraction? Should I go there?
[Read more…] about My Poignant Visit to Auschwitz 30 Years Ago
I love travelling. I love seeing what’s going on around me and comparing different places with home.
But despite living near an airport, flying is the one major form of transportation I’ve never used.
I’ve travelled in many different forms, including having a donkey ride on a beach and a pony trek (when I was a child), but have yet to be above terra firma. [Read more…] about From Chandler’s Ford I Get around
My youngest son has just visited from China where he works as a teacher of kindergarten children.
Chinese parents are keen for their children to be taught English so he has been in southwest China for just over three years.
It was lovely to have him and his Chinese girlfriend visit [Read more…] about Cup of Chinese Tea, Anyone?
Chandler’s Ford is like a well-engineered machine. It works smoothly, runs well and does not break down.
It is serviced thoroughly by Eastleigh Borough Council; traffic flows are fluid and it has good bus services and a railway station.
The shops here are more than adequate with three supermarkets (Co-operative Food, Asda, and Waitrose), [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Guide Book Entry
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
This will be the last of my ramblings about what I felt on and after my various visits to Israel.
Firstly, I would like to consider my sole visit to the Upper Room, scene of the Last Supper.
This was something which I had approached with considerable anticipation. Unfortunately, I was not appreciative of what seemed more like a nondescript block of flats, with the upstairs room entered via a suspended walkway more suited to downtown New York. [Read more…] about Israel – Ancient And Modern (Part 4 of 4)
The Sea of Galilee – let this be the starting point for our wanderings around the land that was home to Jesus and his disciples.
Tiberias is the town from which most of today’s visitors make the start to their appreciation of the area. A short boat trip across the water to Capernaum is a high spot: half way over the skipper orders, “Stop engines.” You just drift in the intoxicating silence. [Read more…] about Israel – Ancient And Modern (Part 3 of 4)
Here are a few more recollections – secular and spiritual – about the land in which Jesus lived and which is now the focus of attention for an increasing number of pilgrims.
Nearly all of them arrive at Bethlehem in coaches which park in the large central square. The name of this square? You might think it would be something like Central Square or Bethlehem Square, but it is Manger Square.
[Read more…] about Israel – Ancient And Modern (Part 2 of 4)
Until fairly recently few people from Chandler’s Ford had visited Israel, but now there are some of our parishioners who have joined groups of pilgrims and flown to the Holy Land. Some had pre-conceptions, other had eyes and minds open, ready and willing to accept anything which would strengthen their beliefs.
Here are a few of my own observations – certainly not all with a religious connection – which I hope will bring back happy memories. [Read more…] about Israel – Ancient And Modern (Part 1 of 4)
By Emma Golby-Kirk
In these days when the roar of motorway noise disturbs the peace of the otherwise tranquil suburb of Chandler’s Ford, it is hard to imagine the excited anticipation with which residents awaited the building of the Chandler’s Ford by-pass back in the 1960s.
In December 1967 the Otterbourne-Chandler’s Ford by-pass was opened. This six-mile stretch of dual carriageway created a fast link from Compton to Bassett. It cost [Read more…] about A Playground Of Concrete And Cranes
We can all enjoy Christmas. It is not necessary to focus on baby Jesus and the traditional story of shepherds and three wise men.
Last Christmas was spent in Sri Lanka, a country with only 10% Christians but where the Buddhists (70%), Hindu and Muslim all joined in the celebrations.
We had to dress as Santa and his helper [Read more…] about What Does Christmas Mean For Non-Christians?
On one of my educational cruises we had three or four PE students with us to help conduct deck games when we were at sea.
On this day we were sitting in the shade enjoying a cold drink after visiting the pyramids: beside me one of the students a young lad of about nineteen, starting speaking. He didn’t realise he was expressing his thoughts aloud and his voice was filled with awe. [Read more…] about Travel Journal: Whereto next?
Winchester & Chandler’s Ford MP Steve Brine invites constituents who would like to visit Parliament and watch Prime Minister’s Question Time to contact him.
In line with all MPs, Steve Brine receives just three confirmed pairs of tickets each calendar year. To ensure absolute fairness, he holds a ballot in up to two weeks before each date from all received entries.
The one date for 2015 is: [Read more…] about Steve Brine: Prime Minister’s Question Time 2015
