Chandler's Ford Today

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Israel – Ancient And Modern (Part 1 of 4)

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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)

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Travel Journal: Whereto next?

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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?

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Our Community: What Are We Passionate About?

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By By Dan Brain

Nobody wants to see cuts to services we value, but I do believe the tough times can actually present us with new opportunities to bring us closer together as a community.

With the backdrop of a slow recovery from the 2008 recession and the promise of more cuts to public spending, it is easy to despair at the proposed loss of local services we have come to value [Read more…] about Our Community: What Are We Passionate About?

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Jesters, Mentors and Advocates

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Jesters are portrayed as fools but they are clever. They make us laugh and gasp at their cheeky and audacious remarks. Their humour is barbed and aimed at a person or persons in powerful positions.

A jester must have someone to jest about. In court they performed the important function of saying things to the King and Queen that no courtier dare speak. [Read more…] about Jesters, Mentors and Advocates

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Fluoridation – Have We Tripped Ourselves Up?

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We are not to have fluoridation in this part of the country. Southampton City Council is against it. We have to ask why and our leaders do not tell us.

There is no doubt that our dental health is poor and that fluoridation is a cheap and effective way of improving it. [Read more…] about Fluoridation – Have We Tripped Ourselves Up?

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Houses For Eastleigh

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Eastleigh is to have a new housing development for the fields along Chestnut Avenue & Stoneham Lane. One thousand, one hundred dwellings on 62 hectares [a hectare is 10,000 sq metres] or 153 acres. That is 18 houses per hectare or 7-8 per acre.

What will it be like, this new development?

Of course it will have to have “affordable” housing [Read more…] about Houses For Eastleigh

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Chandler’s Ford Changes. What’s Your View?

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Chandler’s Ford is changing. Recent changes are in its centre, wherever that is, its public buildings, new community halls, library, parks, shops and recreational facilities. Even Eastleigh Borough Council has recently moved into new premises.

Less obvious but marching slowly on are changes in its older residential areas. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Changes. What’s Your View?

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Shower Science

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It’s surprising what scientific principles are illustrated when taking a shower. Here are three that I have observed recently:

Do you remember those 1980s showers that were fed (via the hot water cylinder) from the cold water cistern in the roof? The cold water storage tank was only a few feet above the shower, so there was insufficient water pressure to give a decent flow at the shower. [Read more…] about Shower Science

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Sri Lankan Food

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Sri Lanka is not a place for haute cuisine but if you enjoy fresh and exotic fruits and the complex favours of curries you will be happy with the culinary experience.

Thanks to a homesick Victorian Scottish tea estate manager, there are all the familiar European vegetables grown in the highland area around Nuwara Eliya where the climate, at 5000 feet above sea level is similar to UK. [Read more…] about Sri Lankan Food

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Immigrants

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The head of my department at the University took on two foreign students but he did not have the patience to supervise them. He wondered how the young, green lecturer would cope. I came to be supervisor of two Egyptian men ‘of mature years’ as it is quaintly put. That is, older than most students reading for higher degrees.

It took them a while to overcome the culture shock and get their English up to a reasonable standard. [Read more…] about Immigrants

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Peculiar British House Numbering System

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Something that visitors to Britain find confusing (apparently) is our system of house numbering. You hear anecdotes such as “I was looking for number 127, so walked down the even side of the street to 126 and crossed over. But the house opposite 126 wasn’t 127 at all. It was 233 – I’d missed 127 half a mile back”.

It’s quite simple really. Buildings are numbered in sequential order, odds on one side and evens  on the other. [Read more…] about Peculiar British House Numbering System

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From The Fall Of Singapore To Prosperity

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The Fall of Singapore happened on the 15th of February, 1942, on the Chinese New Year day. It was the largest surrender of British-led forces in history.

Singapore was supposed to be an impregnable fortress.

Older people in Singapore and Malaysia still remember the hardship [Read more…] about From The Fall Of Singapore To Prosperity

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