I was born in Chandler’s Ford in 1942 and lived in Station Lane until about 1972.
I remember many of the old places. We used to play in the old brickfield then go off up to Knightwood where there was a big sand pit created allegedly by a stray bomb during the war. [Read more…] about Roger White: My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley
The book of Kells is an illuminated book of the gospels written in Latin by monks from the Columban Abbey of Kells, a place north of Dublin. Some of the folios were scribed in Lindisfarne and Iona. The book was probably completed about 800 AD and kept in Kells until the Abbey was dissolved in the 12th century. Now it resides in Trinity College, Dublin.
I saw it there while attending a conference about publishing. We complained, as all authors do, about the difficulties of publishing. The modern author has life easy compared with the difficulties of publishing 1200 years ago
Last week’s interview into the poetic life with successful local poet, Sandra Gordon, showed her sharing her thoughts about poetry and naming some of her favourite modern and classic poets.
I loved discovering the Poetry Foundation website as I researched some of those Sandra named. I hope to make great use of this given the site gives biographies of poets and shares samples of their works. It could be a great place to go to if you wanted to read more of a poet’s work but weren’t sure where to begin. The Poetry Society website is also full of useful information. [Read more…] about The Poetic Life: Sharing the Muse – Sandra Gordon
One of the strange but nice things about dementia is the way arts can help retain memories. Singing, for example, seems to affect the brain in a way that can put patients on a level playing field with those without that awful disease.
Why? Because singing helps retain memories for all who take part, singing makes all feel good and can be a social event for all. [Read more…] about Interview Kate Day: Chocolate Muffin Publishing
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
Bury Court Barn, in Bentley near Farnham, was chosen for the launch of a new book called The Historic Gardens of England: Hampshire. Co-written by Timothy Mowl and Jane Whitaker this is the latest in a series of books by Timothy Mowl which look at the development of gardens within the context of an individual county.
In Hampshire there is an abundance of riches. [Read more…] about The Historic Gardens of England: Hampshire
I went to see The Pocket Dream, written by Elly Brewer and Sandi Toksvig, on 30th April 2016 at The Chameleon Theatre Group based at the Ritchie Memorial Hall in Hursley Road.
Despite living in Chandler’s Ford for over 20 years, this was the first time I had managed to get to one of the Chameleons’ productions. Many thanks to Lionel Elliot for supplying director’s notes, the cast list and some of the images of the show (which were taken by Dave Wilkins). [Read more…] about Review: The Pocket Dream by Chameleon Theatre Company
World Book Night is on 23rd April each year, this being the date of William Shakespeare’s birth and his death.
World Book Night also links to the day of the death of Cervantes (author of Don Quixote), Spain’s literary hero, St. George’s Day and UNESCO’s Day of the Book (which I think is a fantastic title). [Read more…] about World Book Night 2016 and the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare
I had the great joy last week of going to see An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley with a friend at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton.
My friend had seen the film which was why she was keen to see the play version. I love detective fiction and thought seeing one in a play format would be interesting. I was right – it was!
[Read more…] about Watching the Detectives
I’m a great believer in the arts being good for the soul, that the arts are therapeutic and are something we need despite there not being an obvious biological need for them.
Writing helps me unwind and it is a lot of fun creating articles for Chandler’s Ford Today as well as my short stories and novels. And I’m definitely not the only one to believe this. [Read more…] about Writing as Therapy: Introducing Chocolate Muffin Publishing
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
I had the great joy of going to see As You Like It on Thursday, 25th February 2016 at Thornden Hall.
Having experienced the wonders of Shakespeare’s best known tragedy, Hamlet, late in 2015, I was curious to find out how I was going to get on with one of the Bard of Avon’s comedies. [Read more…] about As You Like It… and I Did!
I love history. Always have done. Always will do. I suppose this is because history is another form of storytelling. It tells the story of where we come from.
I believe there is a great deal of truth in the saying that a nation which forgets its history is destined to relive it.
Stories can be told in many ways to reach differing audiences and this is true for history too. I’ve recently heard of a new comic book (Blood and Valour) and play (The Legends of Sir Bevis) about local mythical medieval hero, Sir Bevis of Hampton. [Read more…] about Producing a Local Legend: Sir Bevis of Hampton
The planned revamp of Fleming Park sounds very interesting and I am pleased they are keeping the current pool open while work is underway on the new one.
I’m also pleased the plan includes keeping free car parking. I use the bus to get to Fleming Park for my twice weekly swims there so perhaps this is not relevant for me but I believe free parking is the way forward to encourage people to visit the centre. [Read more…] about Revamping Fleming Park. Fancy Swimming alongside a Local Fiction Writer?
The natural follow up to my recent post about favourite forms of writing is about my favourite forms of reading in all its forms – non-fiction, fiction, poetry, books, magazines, e-books, newspapers.
It also takes a brief look at reading habits given it is not just a question of print media any more for sources of reading material. [Read more…] about How Have Your Reading Habits Changed?
What are your favourite forms of writing? Fiction? Non-fiction? Poetry?
Do you ever think when you pick up a pen or put fingers to keyboard we are all following a tradition going back thousands of years? Or appreciate how important writing, in all its forms, is for cultural reasons? Or how dangerous writing can be? [Read more…] about Writing, Blogging, Social Media…What’s Your Favourite Forms of Writing?
I’ve found one side benefit of being a writer is that I appreciate words more than I did before I wrote seriously. Writing short stories, novels and blog posts such as this have all given me a greater appreciation of how other writers work. But it also makes me aware there are several ways to work with words.
It is ironic then that two of my heroes, who worked with words albeit in different ways, should both recently have died of cancer at 69. [Read more…] about The Magic of Words: David Bowie and Alan Rickman
I love the word serendipity. It has a lovely meaning and a great sound.
This post, I think, can be thought of as being a case of serendipity.
I was planning a post about the joy of libraries for some time and then read Mike’s wonderful article from Sri Lanka about renovating the school library, which confirmed to me I should go ahead with this now. [Read more…] about Sharing the Joy of Libraries
I went to see the National Theatre’s production of Hamlet at Thornden Hall in October 2015 with Janet Williams and her son Ben.
Benedict Cumberbatch was superb in the title role.
I love the idea of being able to watch West End productions without having the hassle of going there. I’ve never been to a West End production and if I had the time to go there, possibly with an overnight stay, I should imagine that would be a wonderful experience. [Read more…] about Shakespeare Inspirations – Hamlet at Thornden Hall
Just for fun, I thought I would share a few Christmas linked short stories (the famous 100 worders) and limericks.
I also share a couple of my family traditions at Christmastime. [Read more…] about Christmas Stories, Limericks and Traditions
