Big Voice Lee on the Solent April 2016 by Big Voice Directories

April 2016 | Issue 102| ÂŁ1.50 where bought

Support the show

The Gosport Gang is back!

CAR REVIEW Mini Clubman

THIS MONTH..

COMMUNITY

FOOD & DRINK

A moment of healing for Alan this month as he meets up with the Acorn Christian Foundation.

Yummy, scrummy in our tummies!

St Faiths

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on

Local clubs and groups in and around Lee on the Solent.

COMPETITIONS 19

Leek and Potato Soup

MOTORING & TRAVEL 24

Auto Biographies

Test driven in Barcelona, Tim Barnes-Clay shot about in the new Mini Clubman S. Find out his verdict here.

Win a kindle!

april issue 2016

Pearl Publications 01329 630630

Joint Editors

Coralie Todd & Sean Middleton editor@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk

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Distribution

This Big Voice Bigazine is delivered to residents and businesses in Lee on the Solent and Cherque Farm For distribution enquiries please give us a call and speak to Mitch. Six other editions are also published in Alverstoke, Whiteley, Titchfield Park and Burridge, Gosport, Locks Heath, Warsash & Sarisbury Green, Stubbington & Hill Head Whilst Big Voice Directories aim to provide a quality publication for local reference, it cannot be held responsible for the services, reputation or cost of any of the advertisers, and content of adverts or editorial herein. Readers must make their own enquiries to establish the credentials of each entry. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from the Publishers. The magazines are produced on paper sourced from FSC approved paper mills and printed using vegetable based inks. They love being recycled but please pass to a friend first! Magazine, adverts, design, layout and content © Copyright Pearl Publications Ltd

Smalltalk Smallt alk

hen you wake up every day, you have two choices. You can either be positive or negative; an optimist or a pessimist.

I choose to be an optimist. It's all a matter of perspective”. Said American businessman Harvey Mackay. Now you can sit back and think “‘pah’, I can’t help what happens to me during the day. I live with a really grumpy person who just constantly moans”; or “my job is killing me – I’m just so unappreciated” etc. And that’s understandable – things like that can bring you down. But what if, every time you wake up in the morning, you make an active choice about how happy you are going to be for the whole day? It might sound nuts but if you jump out of the bed in the morning, envisage a number above the top of your head between one and ten and mentally hold it there, you’ll find it’s much harder for your day to be unpleasant. Think of it like an invisible ‘rubbish deflector’. You can ‘arm’ yourself with your Happy Number for the day and make a positive choice that your day is going to be incredibly good. Take a look at the things that might get you down and imagine bombarding those things with the happy number of your choice. Treat them like your invisible light saber – you can wield it at any point to deflect anything that might affect your happiness. Now before you think we’ve gone a bit potty I promise that we’re only sharing this with you after quite a while of testing this theory. Our lovely business coach, Ian Dickson, spreads his Happy Numbers love with all his clients and now, whenever you come into our offices, you’ll see our numbers displayed proudly on our desks. Just don’t go near anyone who is less than a six as you never know what you might find! PS - Clocks forward on Sunday 27th March which means the beginning of summer. We can all be a TEN that day! Much love

Coralie and Sean x Advertise with us! Reliably delivered by our local teams, reaching over 35000 homes each issue, SEVEN editions of Big Voice provide exceptional monthly coverage of our area every single month. Call our friendly team now on 01329 630630, jump on our website and have a chat or link up with us on Facebook.

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St Faith’s Community

The Acorn Christian Foundation I was enjoying refreshments in the Bulson Hall after the 9.30 service at St Faith’s when Ian Hamilton, a Reader and member of our church ministry team, approached me out of the blue and suggested I might like to go with him to the Acorn Christian Healing Foundation at Whitehall Chase, Bordon, where he once served on their ministry team. Never having heard of the Acorn Foundation nor having been to Bordon, and guessing there might be something new for me to write about, I agreed. Weeks later I was in his car bound for Bordon not knowing what might lie ahead. Eventually we pulled into the driveway of large house set in

acres of parkland and on entering the house I found myself in a spacious lounge being offered coffee and biscuits by Florence, originally from Zimbabwe, who was now living nearby and had offered her services as a volunteer at the centre. Several people had already arrived and were seated around coffee tables talking to each other. After saying hello to some of them I decided to explore the grounds where I discovered wooded pathways to small clearings and a seating area around a pond next to a beautifully designed chapel attached to the back of the house. It was there that a service was to take place at 11.30 and so I abandoned the walk and joined the others in time for the service.

The service was led by the Acorn’s director, the Reverend Wes Sutton. After singing some choruses and listening to a lively address from The Reverend Elizabeth Knifton, Acorn’s Chaplain and Healing Advisor for the Guilford diocese, the service ended with the offer of healing prayers for any who wanted them. Several accepted the offer while others, including me, made their way to the kitchen area for a delicious buffet lunch. At this stage I had already arranged to meet with Wes and Elizabeth over lunch in order to find out more about the foundation and its work. The house, I learned, had originally been a hunting lodge

which was later left in trust for Christian activities. It was Bishop Morris Maddocks, author of The Christian Healing Ministry and first archbishop to become a healing advisor, who was offered the house with funding to further his work which eventually became the Acorn Christian Healing Foundation. The house, open for most of the year, offers various activities including retreats, quiet days, services of healing and wholeness, training for church ministry teams in healing and outreach work, e.g. training street pastors in listening skills. The team also travels to other churches. From my own visit to the Tuesday healing service, just being there in the calm and supportive environment was a healing experience in itself. But was I

willing to ask for healing myself? To ask for healing is not something I find easy but having heard that the chaplain, Elizabeth, suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis, and having recently contracted it myself, I couldn’t resist asking about her experience of treatment in the hope of getting some useful tips. I was happy to hear about the various drugs she’d tried but a little reticent when she asked if I would like healing. Much to my surprise I said yes, and with that I was whisked back to the chapel where she and another member of the team gave me healing prayers. And such was the experience I was glad I said yes. On looking back over the day I can truthfully say it was good to

Dates for your diary

be there. The Acorn Christian Healing Foundation undoubtedly helps many of those who make the journey. If you want to know more about its work there are three ways of getting in touch: telephone 01420 478120, email info@acornchristian.org or website, www.acornchristian.org You might be pleased that you did. Our wonderful St Faiths contributor, Alan Millard can be contacted via St Faith’s Church, Lee on the Solent. Parish Office Mondays - Fridays 10:30am - 12:30pm 023 9255 6445

Saturday, June 11th: National community celebrations for the Queen’s 90th Birthday. Sunday, June 12th: St.Faith’s Summer Fete with street party in Victoria Square.

July: Lee Festival of the Arts (details to follow). Sunday Services: 8am communion, 9.30am Eucharist, 11am Sundays@11 – All-age interactive service, 6pm Evening worship.

In house chat

I’m pretty sure the housing market has been injected with a steroid drug! Over the last month, I’ve seen and sale agreed certain property types that have achieved incredible prices. With one instance of a property going for £25,000 over the asking price. Buyer registrations are up by at least 40% compared to last February, there’s only one word for it - crazy! At this point in the year we start to see reports from mortgage lenders, Land Registry, property websites and local agents all giving their opinion on how much the property market has increased. But why are they all quoting different averages? Mortgage lenders release their figures based on completed mortgages, so this can vary from lender to lender. Land Registry base their figures on completed sales across the country and give an average, once again though this can vary depending on the property types and

DEMAND RULING THE ROOST

styles that are sold over the period compared to the previous. Property portals tend to use asking price data which, as we know, can differ from the actual sold price data. Effective Valuing It’s now even more important that good advice is given to homeowners, with area specific evidence and expertise to back up the price of your home and to capitalise on this marketplace. Demand is one of the most important factors when assessing a home’s value, it should be assessed right down to the road that your property is on, not simply generalised to an area or town.

Creating Demand Now you may think that creating demand isn’t possible but an example of how this works effectively is to take a look at properties sold at auction. The price starts low to attract the buyers in, once they’re interest is peaked you’re most of the way there!

As we all know house prices run in cycles and we’re experiencing an alltime high that’s likely to run for the rest of 2016. Certain roads and areas are experiencing even higher demand than others close by, so if you’re thinking of a move this year, it’s worth checking out your home’s value as it may have increased more than you think.

Mark Rowe, MD & Owner of RPS Estate and Letting Agents

171 - 173 High Street Lee-on-the-Solent PO13 9BX

Auto biographies

Tim Barnes-Clay

Mini’s owner, was expecting. But the Germans have seen the light and the previous rearhinged ‘clubdoor’, has been kicked to the kerb in favour of two ‘normal’ back doors. They make it far easier for passengers to get in and out of the car. Then there’s the barndoor boot. You’ll remember FAST FACTS PROS ‘N’ CONS that from the last model. Well, that stays put, but now the   Max speed: 142 mph doors can be released   Pleasurable √ manually, or if you ticked the   0-62 mph: 7.1 secs   Combined mpg: 48.7   Eye-catching √ hands-free tailgate option, a   Engine layout: 1998 cc, 4 cylinder, 16   Roomy √ sassy little kick under the rear valve turbo petrol bumper will open them up.

   

the roads surrounding San Sebastian in northern Spain, the most powerful petrol drove go-kart-like on the straights - just as a Mini should. It’s a shame the slightly pulpy suspension can drizzle on your chips in the corners, with body roll kicking in if you enter the twisty bits too hard. But that can be forgiven, because the Cooper S generates more than enough pull to keep you cheery.

189bhp can be squeezed from the S’ 2.0 litre turbocharged   Some body-roll X Inside, the comfortable seats four-cylinder lump, and with are kind to your backside and the eight speed auto box, a feel supportive, especially zero to 62mph sprint in 7.1 during long periods on the seconds is easily achievable, road. The car’s uncluttered finishing up with a top speed The old Mini Clubman was no oildashboard is dwarfed by a massive of 142mph. Even though these painting, but this one could easily screen that sits where the figures might make the car earn its place on the podium at speedometer on older Minis used sound insatiable for fuel – it’s Legs 11. It’s a looker alright. to be. The controller on the central not. console manages most of the The brand new Mini Clubman must Clubman’s systems, so there are With the superb automatic have been breast fed at birth, fewer buttons on the dash to gearbox you can officially get because it’s far bigger than its confuse or divert you. an average of 48.7mpg out of siblings. That doesn’t mean it’s fat the Clubman - and the CO2 – no way. This car is well formed As the Clubman is the largest of the emissions are 134g/km, and its proportions are just right. current Mini litter, it has, meaning road tax is a trifling And because it’s not exactly a predictably, the most capacious £130 per annum. shrinking violet, the Clubman is cabin. To be frank, with a big load likely to win over quirkier types area too, the word ‘mini’ seems The state-of-the-art 2015 Mini who might otherwise have gone for rather outmoded. The whole motor is a gargantuan step-up from mid-size family car choices, such as is 270mm longer than the five-door its forerunner, and it puts the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Hatchback, allowing for oodles of right pretty much everything Focus. room in the front and respectable that was awry. The Clubman space for two adults in the rear. now has more doors, better The story hasn’t always been good The boot is about the same as a space, good looks, and it really for the Clubman, though. The first VW Golf’s, so you’ll get the family is exciting to drive. The Cooper generation had a useless, single shopping in – and a toddler’s S version is especially rear door that meant UK buggy. guaranteed to bring a grin to passengers were forced to step the face of anyone who slips into the road. This didn’t help sales The Cooper S Clubman Auto is behind its wheel. and the Clubman therefore wasn’t easily the most gratifying to drive. exactly the rock star that BMW, Out at the Mini’s media launch on

 Max. power (bhp): 189  Max. torque (lb.ft): 221  CO2: 134 g/km  Price: £24,455 on the road

@carwriteups

  Real-world √

MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN AUTO

Food and Drink

An easy recipe that can be enjoyed at any time of the year. It is a perfect meal for either lunch or dinner and can be served with bread or without. Enjoy as a starter or a main course and add pepper if you choose.

Ingredients for 4- 6 servings

Equipment: 2 large pans, hand blender or blender

225g of potatoes (cut into cubes) 2 medium leaks (sliced) 1 onion (sliced) 1 tbsp of vegetable oil 1.2 litres of vegetable stock Salt and freshly ground black pepper 150ml double cream or crĂ¨me fraiche

Stove: High enough to boil Method: Take a large pan and pour in the oil. Then add the onions, leeks and potatoes and cook until they have softened. Do this for 3-4 minutes. Next add the vegetable stock and bring it to the boil. Then add the seasoning and simmer until the vegetables are tender. Once you have done this whizz all of it together (you can do this either with a hand blender or a blender). Reheat all the mixture in a clean pan. You can then stir in some cream or crĂ¨me fraiche. Serve with bread and butter if you choose.