Alverstoke
June 2020 | Issue 175 | £1.50 where sold
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Lush ladies & lovely lads that run! Family friendly midweek supper Activities for kids
Photograph taken by Jenny Harvey
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THIS MONTH...
y, arit h c y, unit d more m n om s, c rties a e p i Rec prope
CONTENTS 8
Get Puzzled
17
Watering & Wellies
10
Recipe of the Month
23
Home Focus
12
Mum’s the Word
24
Keep On Running
14
St Mary’s Church
Test yourself with this month’s crossword
A family friendly midweek supper
Some lockdown ideas to entertain the kids
Creating an oasis in the smallest space
Accessorise your home, without leaving it
Lush ladies and lovely lads that run...
Supporting good mental health
june issue 2020
Smalltalk
T
he new normal...
Peach Publications 01329 630630/07909 627177
Editor
Gemma Harvey-Guttridge editor@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk
Advertising Sales
editor@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk
Distribution
This Big Voice Bigazine is delivered to residents and businesses in Alverstoke. For distribution enquiries please give me (Gemma) a call. Two other editions are also published in Stubbington & Hill Head and Lee on Solent. 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 Peach Publications Ltd.
By now many of us will have adapted somewhat to this temporary new way of life. As a family we have found a routine and things are starting to become normal. School is conducted around the dining room table, workouts are happening in the garden and we are enjoying all mealtimes as a family. The weeks seem to come and go and I feel lucky to be able to stay home and feel safe in our bubble. Everyone’s situation is unique and different and we are all juggling in our own way. I hope that you are all managing as best you can. For me, one of the most memorable days of the COVID-19 lockdown so far, was the 75th anniversary of VE Day. The children and I were grateful for some new activities to entertain us and busied ourselves making and colouring bunting, baking goodies and decorating the house. In the lead up our kids became fascinated with WW2 and particularly interested in the Home Front and what the war meant for children. I think it gave them some interesting perspective on how their Great Grandmothers generation grew up and what she must have been like as a girl. We are lucky enough to live in a close community, with a very active whatsapp group of 60+ neighbours, so organising the ‘socially distanced’ street celebration felt more of a group activity. I have seen so many pictures of homes decorated beautifully in red, white and blue and the roads near me did not disappoint. That one afternoon of sitting with our kids in the sun, on our driveway, was a real pleasure for many reasons. I really felt the community vibe and to hear others laughing and having fun from afar was a real pleasure. When this ends, as it must, I hope that some aspects of what we have learnt about leading a simpler, slower life, being more neighbourly and generally appreciating our freedom, will remain. In other news, I’ve cranked up my running training (sometimes to enjoy the sun and sometimes for the pure escapism it gives me), so I’m hoping I’m more than back on track to join ‘Team Prosecco’ for the 10 mile challenge, once it is safe to do so! Stay home, stay safe, save lives
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Get Puzzled
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Recipe of the month
Stuffed Peppers Stuffed peppers are a healthy and easy way to cater for differing dietary needs. You can fill them with any combination of meats, beans, starches and sauces making them a great mid-week supper for the family with no squabbles! Ingredients 1 bell pepper per person, 1 small onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1Ib minced beef, 1.5 cups cooked rice, 1 tin of chopped tomatoes, 1 cup of cheese 1. Cut the tops off the peppers and deseed the insides 2. Put the peppers into a bake-proof dish filled with just enough water to cover the bottom. Sprinkle with salt. 3. Preheat the oven to 1900C, cover the dish with foil and cook the peppers for about 10 minutes. 4. Meanwhile prepare your fillings. For this recipe we have chosen a rice-based filling. 5. In a large pan, heat some oil and gently fry the onion. When softened, add the crushed garlic and cook for another minute. 6. Add in the beef and cook through for about 8 minutes. 7. Remove from the heat and stir in the rice and tomatoes. 8. Fill the peppers and then add the cheese on top. 9. Bake uncovered for about 20 minutes then serve. 10. You can make and refrigerate these a day ahead but add about 10 more minutes to the baking time.
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Tel 023 9252 6247 www.alverstokepreschool.co.uk
find us on facebook 11
Mum’s the Word Having the children at home so much and keeping them entertained can be hard work. Here are some more great ideas of things you can do to help pass the time and keep a happy house. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear from you. Please email: editor@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk
Create Challenge Many of us our missing our favourite sports and hobbies. Challenge yourself to create a picture of you doing your favourite thing. Here is Mimi who is missing gymnastics so created a picture of herself doing a handspring on the vault! Don’t forget to send your pictures to: editor@ bigvoicedirectories.co.uk.
Puzzles Puzzles: We have found that puzzles have become entertainment for the whole family. The children have tried some simpler ones alone ranging from 100 piece to 500 piece. As a family the kids have loved helping us do 1000 piece puzzles. They are strangely addictive too! Once you’ve completed any you have, why not start a puzzle swap with family and friends, you can arrange to leave them on each other’s doorsteps.
Send A Hug There are many people we can’t see at them moment, especially parents and grandparents. We are really missing these people so we decided to send them a ‘virtual hug’. Draw around your hands and cut out the shapes. Next you can either A) Measure and cut a length or ribbon to represent your arm span and attach the hands to it at either end or B) Draw a picture of yourself (without arms) inside a folded piece of A5 card. Cut two small strips of card and attach the hands to one end and attach the other ends to the sides of the body on the drawing. Decorate both as you wish and voila! You have a hug to send to someone. 12
Water Rainbow DIY Water Rainbow: This is so simple but the kiddies love it! Take a piece of white kitchen roll and fold it in half. At each end colour a section about 4-5cm long in the colours of a rainbow. Get two small dishes and fill with warm water. Take the coloured ends of the kitchen roll and pop them into the dishes and see the magic happen!
Skittles Rainbow Skittles NHS Rainbow Experiment: All you need is a packet of Skittles, a plate and some warm water. Make a rainbow shape using the Skittles around the edge of the plate. Carefully and gently pour on a small amount of warm water to slightly cover the Skittles and the rainbow will start to appear.
One thing I have loved about having the kids at home is that we eat as a family more than ever before! The kids have tried new foods and they have even started to help me cook.
Wrap Recipe Recipe for a quick and easy lunch the kids can help with: You need: Wraps, Grated Mozzarella, Tomato purée, An egg Fillings: We used pepperoni and sweetcorn Take a wrap and spread a little tomato purée over the inside, leaving a small gap around the edge. Add fillings of your choice and top with cheese. Fold in half and push down the curved edges with a fork. Brush with a little egg. Finally bake for 15 minutes at 180 degrees. These are delicious and you can try many different fillings. Why not replace the tomato purée with BBQ sauce or pesto! 13
St Mary’s Church
The Darkest Valley Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
As a chaplain at the Gosport War Memorial Hospital, it has been a great privilege to be able to meet some of the patients who arrive at the hospital with acute mental health needs and then witness their road to recovery.
One of my earliest memories is of going to work with my father in the early 1960’s and sitting on his motorised truck as he drove around the site of Knowle Hospital, collecting bins and rubbish. At the time, I was too young to understand anything much about the hospital, other than it was very big and sat in some wonderful grounds, with a cricket pitch and a large church. I loved going there.
The current situation though has given rise to concerns about the mental well-being of the wider population, with the associated stress and anxiety that it is causing some. The words from Psalm 23 above provide a reminder that God does not abandon us at such times, even though it may feel as if we are going through a very dark valley.
Today, it is a large housing estate off of the Wickham Road, with just one very small section of the hospital still existing, separated off from the rest of the estate. The hospital opened in 1852 to treat people with mental health problems. However, widespread criticism of Victorian institutions such as these in the 1960’s and 1970’s led to the ‘Care In The Community’ act and the hospital eventually closed in 1996. Today, the stigma and discrimination historically associated with mental health problems has thankfully diminished. A 2014 health survey for England found that one in four people reported having a mental health issue at some point in their life and a number of celebrities have more recently spoken of their own battles. 14
To help with this, the Church of England has set up a mental health resources section on its website (www. churchofengland.org/faith-action/mental-healthresources). It includes a free booklet titled ‘Supporting Good Mental Health’, which includes thirteen daily reflections written by Professor Chris Cook. Please do download a copy if you would like to. Support is also available from the Mental Health Foundation, if you are particularly concerned about your own mental health. Written by Steve Dent Chaplain at Gosport War Memorial Hospital Revd Andy Norris Rector for Alvestoke Parish rector@alverstoke.church 02392 580551 www.stmarysalverstoke.org.uk St.Mary’s Church, with St.Francis’ and St.Faith’s.
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Watering & Wellies
NO GARDEN? NO PROBLEM!
How to create an oasis on a windowsill, balcony or tiny terrace. A few small weeks ago that to many feels like a lifetime ago it seemed incomprehensible that a global-wide ‘lockdown’ would ever be on the cards.
to small space living! You can easily grow herbs in pots, and even salad items such as lettuce, rocket and other yummy leaves thrive well in containers.
And yet here we are, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, dealing with exactly that.
4. Look out for bistro style garden furniture that you can fold away and hang on a wall when not being used. You might as well enjoy sitting in your creation if possible!
So this article is for those of you who may be yearning for some green space and who are only able to enjoy a brisk walk outside once a day for our hour of exercise. Sitting on public grass is now a luxury that we can only begin to look forward to in the next few months so I am hoping to bring a little bit of the outdoors, indoors. The best scenario is that you have a balcony. But if not, fear not! We can do some amazing things on windowsills. For those of you who can step out of a patio door here are some tips to get your green fingers on. 1. Small narrow spaces visually hold taller plants really well. So a tree in a pot can look lovely on a balcony. Make sure it is secured if possible so that high winds can’t disrupt it but you might like to purchase two baylollipop standards and position them symmetrically in the space. 2. If you have a little trellis, or a place to hang pots, then why not upcycle some empty cans with spray paint, thread some wire through pierced holes and loop to form a hanger. You can choose your own colour scheme - rainbow or muted pastel tones work well. Make sure you pop some holes in the bottom of the cans for drainage and then add in some little plants! 3. If you want to grow something edible then having a balcony can be great as you can turn it into a mini allotment. You’re also less likely to encounter pests too by being higher up so there’s another advantage
5. So for those of you who are ‘windowsill’ gardening, try and opt for the one which gets the most sunlight. The wider the sill the better because you’ll be able to get more on! But don’t crowd the plants themselves. Nature likes a bit of space to thrive so be mindful when you are planting up that you need to give your seeds and rooted plants room to grow. Rule of thumb is that containers need to be at least 15cm across for plants like basil, whereas salad leaves need about 25cm. A 20cm deep windowbox is fine for salad leaves and 30cm is perfect for carrots. 6. Use compost designed for planters as it will hold onto the water better. Plus they generally contain nutrients suitable for getting your plants off to a good start. When you start with a fresh pot, fill the bottom with stones, bits of broken crockery or polystyrene packaging to assist with drainage. Then top with the compost and firm it down lightly. Water it enough to be just moist and then plant away! 7. Windowsill gardeners will know that they need to keep an eye on moisture levels for their pots as they have a tendency to dry out very quickly. Water often but don’t overwater as that kills plants too. To test, poke your finger into the soil. If it’s slightly moist just below the surface then it’s perfect. Annie Gardner
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PROVIDING QUALITY CARE IN YOUR OWN HOME We are a family run care company providing care that allows people to remain in their homes and continue their life as they choose. • Domiciliary Care • CQC Registered • Fully trained and friendly carergivers • Care Packages cover home care, dementia care, personal care, emergency and respite care, overnight care, companionship and support. • Care within as little as 24 hours • Active Call Monitoring service for peace of mind At Serenity Care Solent we believe in providing care that is tailored to your needs, it’s always a difficult time when deciding to choose care, but with Serenity Care you can be assured peace of mind. If you are looking for care for your loved one or yourself with companionship, personal care, medication support, meal preparation, social visits in and out of the home, dementia care, domestic and overnight care. Please contact our friendly team on:
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that Slimming World feeling! # ThatFeeling We are still offering our full package of support with access to the website, app and social media channels for all members. In addition to this we are holding virtual groups which are running throughout the week, alongside individual support from your consultant. This is for a reduced price of £2.50 per week. If you would like to join call Dawn - 07967 639176
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Home Focus
Let’s go shopping! Many people have turned to working on their homes during this time of lockdown so to avoid unnecessary travel we are needing to source our supplies online. This month we are taking a look at the best homeware supplies available on the net and giving you some ideas as to what you can spend your time working on to make your home feel happy, safe and welcoming (plus the bonus is when your friends and family come to visit again you’ll have lots of new pieces to show them!). ANTHROPOLOGIE UK www.anthropologie.com This is a store that you can happily get lost in because as well as homeware you can purchase stationery, clothing, gifts, beauty and wellness items. Focussing on the house and home though there are plenty of departments to browse. Be warned before you fall in love with the unusual designs and stylish pieces that this is a store offering higher-end pieces at a price point that is not high street. But it’s worth a browse especially in their ‘Stay At Home’ section which offers an edit on Work-From-Home clothes, Your Home Spa, Home Refresh items and Loungewear. If you like the look of items which are eclectic, distinctive and are carefully curated then you will love browsing this store. Top tip - if you download their app then you can enjoy 10% off your first purchase too!
TK MAXX www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en Online ordering is available with TK Maxx - it’s worth bearing in mind for their staff safety they will only take a certain amount of orders per day but you can still browse and then purchase the following day. You can browse a good selection of cushions, bedding, accessories, and at the moment they have a lovely choice of vases and planters plus stands so if you wanted to nurture some indoor plants then you can pick some great pieces to display them. LULU LOVES HOME www.lululoveshome.co.uk This is a lovely local store based in Stubbington who are able to provide online ordering services for their fabulous selection of homewares. Whilst you can’t enjoy the ambience of their main store, you can still peruse the website which is full of candles and home fragrance, some larger furniture items and lots of rustic kitchen accessories. We particularly love the patterned Nordic range of bowls and mugs which are really on trend right now, providing a splash of boho chic into every home. So whatever you choose to buy please remember to combine your deliveries wherever possible to minimise the stress on our postal service, but enjoy this opportunity to try out a way of shopping that you can do at any time of day and doesn’t involve you stepping out of the house! 23
Keep on Running
Keep on Running What a strange time we have found ourselves in. Not in our lifetime has this been in anyone’s experience. Since we were asked to stay at home on 23rd March there have been many, many tragic stories, but amongst these there are also amazing, inspiring and heart warming things happening everyday. Bizarrely, because of the type of lockdown imposed on Brits, we have been allowed to take daily exercise and haven’t we done just that? To keep cabin fever at bay, Mums & Dads have been taking their young ones out to exercise with them or in many instances, youngsters have taken their parents out for fresh air! I don’t think I have ever seen so many families out exercising together. Local running clubs and groups have found ways to stay in touch with each other and group chats on social media platforms have become the new club night. Clubs have collaborated to invent challenges for solo runners and new social groups have formed such as ‘Lush Ladies That Run A Bit’ and 24
‘Lovely Lads That Run A Bit’. These are two examples of how people have supported each other emotionally and there are many more tales of how our communities have come together for the mutual benefit of all.
We believe that we will all one day enjoy something close to the freedom previously experienced and that we shall once again be able to run alongside our friends. Until then, we hope that you can all stay safe and for those who have rediscovered running as a form of sustaining mental and physical health, we invite you to join any of our many local groups or clubs, all of whom will welcome you warmly.
Written by Nick Carter Absolute GosVegas Run Groups. (All group photos were taken prior to 23rd March 2020)
Keep on Running
They are: Gosport Road Runners Stubbington Green Runners Fareham Crusaders 545 RunClub - Wednesday at Fallen Acorn Brewery The Breakfast Club- Sundays at Bayside Cabin. Bayside Tri (Triathlon Club) All groups can be found on Facebook
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