NOW LAUNCHING - TRINITY HOUSE
Stately Apartments by the SeaOne and Two Bedroom Apartments
Located in Alverstoke on the South Hampshire Coast, Royal Haslar is one of Britain’s landmark buildings.
Built in 1753, the Grade II-listed former naval hospital is part of the very fabric of our nation. Assured its place in history, it is now protected for the future. Reborn as a luxury waterfront residential village offering outstanding period architecture and well-appointed, modern apartments.
Welcome to Royal Haslar - your sanctuary by the sea. Call today and book a private viewing of the coastal and parkland show apartments.
For detailed floor plans, apartment specifications, video tours and to register for the Royal Haslar newsletter, with latest updates and local news, visit the website:
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It’s time! The Christmas lights are officially being lit this month! The countdown to the big day is well and truly on! You can find details of the Gosport High Street Lights Swith On inside. Plus details of the Lee on the Solent Christmas Lights Switch On and the Christmas Tree Festival in Alverstoke is inside. It’s full on Christmas event time!
It may be November but there are strawberry plants in fruit! Find out all about the strawberry plants growing in Crescent Garden right now in Rita Rundle’s article on page 14.
Don’t forget Richard McAnulty from BRETH is back this month with the Sunday morning breathwork and sea dip group. It starts this month! More details and start date inside.
We have advertised the Gosport Half Marathon for adults which takes place this month, but did you know about the Under 12’s Fun Run and Under 17’s Race. All the details are inside.
I’ve found another soup recipe for November. It’s for good old Leek & Potato Soup. It is so simple but delicious and comforting too. Just what you need for warming you up in November! The recipe is on page 8.
We’ve got wonderful local shops advertising with us. They are a great local, on your doorstep destination where you can find the perfect gift
for your loved ones or the perfect self gifts! Get organsied or just treat yourself! Check them out inside!
Inside you’ll also find the gardening guide, great offers, sudoku, plus lovely advertisers, news and much more!
Did you know we produce Stubbington Choice too? Take a look at this months edition at stubbingtonchoice.com where you’ll hear about Stubbington & Hill Head local events and news!
NEED MORE CUSTOMERS?
Why not try an advert in the December edition? Get your business in front of thousands of lovely local residents! Get in touch! Details below or scan the QR code.
I hope you enjoy this months edition, thanks so much for reading! I also hope you have a lovely November!
See you next month!
EDITOR
| FOLLOW SID KEEPS SNUGGLY WITH A CHOICE OF SHEEPSKINS!
GET IN TOUCH
Call: 023 9250 2222
Email: adverts@gosportchoice.com facebook.com/GosportChoice instagram.com/gosportchoice
Website: gosportchoice.com
LEEK & POTATO SOUP
BY FELICITY COAKE
Sometimes you need a warming, simple but delicious soup. This is it!
Ingredients to serve 4
• 1 or 2 large baking or 375g floury potatoes
• 2 large tbsp butter
• 450g trimmed leeks (about 3 medium)
• 1 litre stock, or water
• 4 tbsp sour cream, to serve (optional)
• 4 tbsp chopped chives, to serve (optional)
Method
Heat the oven to 200C (400F) fan. Prick the potato several times with a skewer, then bake for about an hour and a quarter until cooked through.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan over a gentle heat. Rinse the leeks, then roughly chop. Fry with a pinch of salt until soft and silky, scoop out a couple of spoonfuls and set aside. Cut the potato into cubes, skin and all. Add to the pan and saute for another couple of minutes, then add the stock or water. Bring to a simmer, then cook for 10 minutes.
Allow to cool slightly, then puree. Season to taste, then stir in the reserved leeks. Divide between bowls and top with a spoonful of sour cream and a sprinkle of chives. Enjoy.
Rear
HIDDEN TREASURES HIDDEN TREASURES
51-53 HIGH STREET LEE ON THE SOLENT
We urgently require your broken and unwanted gold, jewellery and antiques.
Any amount, any condition- top CASH prices paid!
PRE 1947 COINS (SILVER) WANTED
WANTED gold - silver - jewellery of all kinds medals (any militaria) - cuff links - studs - tie pins pocket watches - wrist watches antiques - moorcroft - clarice cliff - old postcards
WANTED - rolex, breitling, omega etc
Please call in to see us. Monday - Saturday 10am-6pm. Alternatively, call to arrange a home appointment
TELEPHONE: 023 9255 3428 MOBILE: 07767 304495
• Improving risk factors for cardiovascular disease
• Improving general well being
• Increase brown fat cells (Lose Weight)
• Immune boosting
• Cardio Training
• Approx 20mins of a Breathwork Technique
• Dip in the sea(max 2mins)
• Digestive Training (igniting fire into the belly)
NOVEMBER IN CRESCENT GARDEN
If you stroll along terrace walk in Crescent Garden, towards the eastern end of that path you will come to a large spreading tree with an architectural framework of branching tan coloured trunks through which to peer at the rest of the garden. This is the strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo. If you look upwards into its dense crown of dark green shiny leaves you will see bunches of small white flowers. Examine these closely and it will give you an idea of its relationships to other plants. They are very similar in shape to the flowers of heather plants. The strawberry tree is closely related to them being in the family Ericaceae. Like most of the rest of that family Arbutus unedo grows best in dry rather acid soil and likes plenty of sunshine, but does well in Crescent Garden where the soil, although often dry as it is very free draining, is not acid. The name, strawberry tree, comes from the appearance of the fruits, which look rather like strawberries. They start forming after the pollination of the flowers and take a year to reach maturity, so that usually there are flowers and fruits on the tree at the same time.
Unfortunately last year was a very bad year for our tree and there are very few fruits to be seen. Across the road in one of the gardens there is a small strawberry tree red with the berries.
The tree is native to the Mediterranean area, from Portugal to Greece, Turkey and Syria; from southern France to Morocco and Algeria. There is also a wild population in SW Ireland, believe to have been brought there in the late Neolithic era, possibly by the beaker people, as the beakers which give these people their name are the same shape as the flowers of the strawberry tree. It is thought that these people were there at the first known copper mine in N.W. Europe.
It is an important tree in some Mediterranean countries. It became a national symbol of Italy during unification in the 19th century and it is still the national tree of Italy because its green leaves, white flowers and red berries are the colours on the Italian flag. In Spain the tree makes up part of the coat of arms of the city of Madrid with a bear eating it’s fruit. In the centre of the city there is a statue of a bear eating fruits from a strawberry tree. The fruit is edible, but not particularly tasty and doesn’t keep well, so has never become a commercially sold product. In some Mediterranean countries, however, where it grows plentifully in the wild it is sold in markets. The berries have a high sugar content, pectin and plenty of vitamin C, reputedly three times the amount of an orange. It is used in cakes, jams, jellies and yoghurt. In several Mediterranean countries it is used to make an alcoholic drink like a liqueur. The flower produces copious amounts of nectar and the honey formed from it is popular in many places, but by some is thought to be rather bitter.
The strawberry tree is now cultivated as an ornamental plant in many countries and is an asset to any garden. The flowers are a great
source of nectar and pollen for bees and the fruits feed birds. It is salt tolerant with an extensive root system, which can help in soil stabilisation. These features together with its being a densely leaved evergreen, make it a good wind barrier near the sea. The dense foliage also offers shelter for insects, birds and other small animals in winter. It is fire resistant; that is, it re grows readily after fire and is used extensively for reforestation in various Mediterranean countries. The wood is hard, but not used structurally as it doesn’t grow straight. Small carved objects are made from it, however.
Strawberry trees were written about extensively by Greek and Roman authors. It was also mentioned as having been sent to Sir Francis Walsingham and Lord Leicester in 1586 and in 1649 it was described as “a very fayre tree” in a Wimbledon Garden. In 1753 Linnaeus described it in his Species Plantarum.
Christmas Door Wreath Using seasonal foliage and accessories.
So, an interesting plant to have in your own garden, but be aware that it can grow very large 60m by 60m. It can be kept small by judicious pruning from a young age, so how about giving it a go?
Rita Rundle
Crescent Garden, Crescent Road, Alverstoke alverstokecrescentgarden.co.uk
Workshops by
Christmas Door Wreath Workshop £55
Monday 2nd December 7-9pm
Monday 9th December 7-9pm
Christmas Table Arrangement Workshop £65 Monday 16 December 7-9pm
Previous experience not needed! All resources and equipment provided! Come along for some 'bloomin' creative fun!
Door Wreath kits available
Workshop Location Lee-on-the-Solent Community Centre, 51 Twyford Drive
If you are unable to attend one of our sessions, find us this festive season at Alver Valley Garden Centre in Gosport, where we be delivering a number of fesitve creative workshops
To keep up to date with our news please take a look at our website.
For further details www.solentstems.co.uk Follow us on socials @solentstems
Christmas
Darren Harris is a skilled, reliable and professional carpenter and joiner based in Gosport offering a wide range of carpentry services for your home or business. The options are pretty endless but to give you an idea of the most popular services a list is below:
■ door hanging
■ door frames
■ picture rails
■ flooring ■ skirting
■ bespoke fitted wardrobes
■ painting and decorating
■ bespoke fitted cupboards
■ bannisters
■ internal and external doors
■ bespoke furniture
■ windows
gosportcarpenter.co.uk
darren@gosportcarpenter.co.uk
Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday: 8am-5pm Friday: 8am-4pm unitrimplastics.co.uk
Telephone: 023 9252 2880 Email: enquiries@unitrimplastics.co.uk
IN THE GARDEN
• Plant heathers in pots for winter colour
• Wash and disinfect bird feeders and table
• Clear sweet peas and annual climbers
• Fork over vacant soil
• Deadhead pansies to keep flowers coming
• Cut chrysanthemums to soil level after flowering
• Lift and store dahlia tubers or cover with mulch once leaves are blackened by frost
• Prune rambling roses after flowering
GREENHOUSE
• Clear out old tomato and cucumber cordons
• Move potted bulbs into the greenhouse
• Bring potted herbs under cover
• Ventilate the greenhouse on warm days
• Propagate perennials from root cuttings
• Sow sweet peas in pots
• Clean and tidy
• Try growing peas through the winter
• Sow hardy salad leaves and winter lettuce varieties
VEG PLOT
• Plant garlic, overwintering onions, soft fruit bushes and cane fruit
• Lift and store maincrop beetroot
• Clear away climbing beans
• Sow broad beans and endive
• Dig up and compost old summer crops
• Cover broad beans and peas with cloches
• Cut tall ferny stems of asparagus down to ground level when they have turned yellow and are starting to collapse
• Plant out autumn onion sets and garlic
• Lift and divide large clumps of rhubarb
• Pile earth up around the stems of Brussels
• Pick and store apples
• Sow hardy peas under fleece
• Cut down fruited canes on blackberries
• Finish pruning summer raspberries
HOUSEPLANTS
• Reduce watering and feeding of houseplants as the days shorten
• Cacti and succulents need a period of relative dormancy over the winter: keep them barely moist, and do not feed. Resume normal care next spring to bring them back into active growth and flowering
• Ensure plants don’t sit in damp sogginess as they become prone to rot
Stubbington based pond creation and landscaping business, fully insured and specialising in wildlife friendly gardens including:
· Wildlife Ponds · Wildflower Planting & Flowering Lawns
· Fish Ponds, Streams & Waterfalls
· Pondless Water Features
· Paving & Decking
· Pergolas, Wooden Bridges & Seating
· Garden Maintenance
Check me out on YouTube, Facebook & Instagram - Viking Garden Creations ‘Where Water meets Land’
WHAT YOU GET WITH VIKING GARDEN CREATIONS
A PROFESSIONAL, FULLY PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURED TRADESMAN THAT TAKES PRIDE IN EVERY LANDSCAPING, GARDENING AND POND CREATION JOB THAT'S UNDERTAKEN.
A BUSINESS WITH A CONSCIENCE. VIKING GARDEN CREATIONS HAS INVESTED IN THE NEWEST, HIGHEST QUALITY CORDLESS GARDEN TOOLS, SO WORK CAN BE CARRIED OUT WITH LESS NOISE, DISRUPTION AND POLLUTION TO YOU, YOUR NEIGHBOURS AND THE LOCAL WILDLIFE. A LOCAL SOLE TRADER THAT PROVIDES A FRIENDLY SERVICE THAT'S TAILORED TO YOU AND YOUR GARDEN'S NEEDS. JOIN MY GROWING LIST OF HAPPY REGULAR GARDEN MAINTENANCE CUSTOMERS,
ALONGSIDE MY LARGER GARDEN, POND AND WATER FEATURE CREATION PROJECTS.
A BUSINESS THAT DOES IT'S UPMOST TO PROMOTE WILDLIFE FRIENDLY GARDENS, EITHER DIRECTLY WITH THE WORK I CARRY OUT, OR BY TALKING WITH MY CUSTOMERS ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN ALSO BE DOING TO HELP OUR LOCAL BIRDS, POLLINATORS AND MAMMALS.
I ALSO HAND BUILD MY OWN RANGE OF BIRD BOXES TO SELL. PLEASE VISIT
WWW.VIKINGGARDENCREATIONS.COM AND CLICK ON THE 'BIRD BOXES' LINK FOR MORE INFO.
Pollinator Friendly flower bed with Oak Sleeper retainers
W L S
Do you have important legal documents in place to protect your interests and make life easier for you and your family, whatever the future brings?
If you have received a diagnosis of dementia, or are concerned about becoming ill and unable to cope with paying your bills, wouldn’t it be helpful for a family member to be able to step in and deal with your finances? If your family member needed to make decisions for you, instead of just acting on your instructions, they would need your formal written authority to do this.
Formal authority can be given by creating a Lasting Power of Attorney. This document will allow your family member to take over managing your money, either temporarily or long term.
You can also create a Lasting Power of Attorney which allows your family member to make decisions for you about medical treatment, if you are unable for any reason to make your own decisions. This is not the same as an Advance Decision, which is a document which sets out your decision to refuse medical treatment in the future, under specific conditions.
If you are caring for an elderly relative, or are likely to be doing so in the future, a Lasting Power of Attorney will mean that you can provide the support your relative needs and access services on their behalf, without the difficulties, stress and resistance you would otherwise encounter.
Having a Will gives you peace of mind that your money, property and personal possessions will be going to the people you have chosen to benefit. An out of date Will can cause problems within the family or mean that a chosen beneficiary receives nothing.
If you have any unanswered questions about Wills or Lasting Powers of Attorney, Christine will be pleased to help, so do please get in touch for a free, no obligation, chat.
Call Christine Davies Solicitor on 07860 772274 or email: christine@winterbornelegal.co.uk
Christine is a Fully Accredited Member of Solicitors for the Elderly and a Dementia Friend. Christine will visit you in your own home and aims to provide a warm personal touch to every meeting.
Christine Davies Solicitor
WHAT’S ON
CHRISTMAS IN LEE
Saturday 23rd November 9am-8pm
Christmas lights switch on, carols, santa, food & drink, entertainment. Lee on the Solent’s Christmas in Lee is an annual event and is a wonderful opportunity for handmade businesses, arts, crafts, and entertainment to showcase and sell their products or produce in the unique location of this seaside town.
MINI MARKET IN LEE HIGH STREET
Saturday 7th December 10am-3pm
FRIENDS OF STANLEY PARK
Monthly litter pick first Sunday of the month 10-11am Meet in The Alverbank Hotel car park. We provide pickers, bags, gloves and smiles!
CROFTON PROBUS CLUB
Meet for Lunch Last Wednesday of the Month Lee-on-the-Solent Golf Club 12pm. For retired & Semi-retired professional /businessmen. If you miss the camaraderie and social connection of the workplace come along to a trial meeting before joining? New members welcome. 07508711299 morton.wouter@gmail.com
LE CERCLE FRANÇAIS DE GOSPORT
Thursday 13th Nov 7:30 Bay House School.
“Au Cinéma Ce Soir”, we will be seeing a French film. New members will be most welcome –Martin Lazell on 01329 314750 for more details.
CATS PROTECTION XMAS FAYRE
Saturday 23rd November 1.30-3pm. St Marys Hall, Alverstoke. Variety of stalls including catthemed goods, chocolate tombola, raffles and refreshments.
keep turning the pages for more what’s on!
LEE CHORAL SOCIETY Autumn
Term
Concert ...with a hint of Christmas! Saturday 30th November 7pm
St Faith’s Church, Victoria Square, Lee on Solent Sarah Quartel ‘A Winter Day’, Charpentier Te Deum’ and festive music with fabulous soloists and guest musicians. Tickets £12.50 from choir members or 07815 002620 or on the door.
INTERNATIONAL FOLK / CIRCLE
DANCING 5th & 19th Nov 10am-12pm
RC Church Hall, Bells Lane, Stubbington £6.50 Dances to beautiful music from around the World. No Partner or experience is required & all dances are taught. New members welcome. Contact Bob & Mary 01329 609589 Mobile: 07748009838 neal.bob61@gmail.com
SHORE LEAVE HASLAR MEMORIAL GARDEN OPEN DAY
13th Nov 11am-1pm. Free entry, donations gratefully accepted. Crafts, plants, produce for sale, homemade cake, drinks. Walk around the peaceful garden. Please park in main Haslar site.
LEE PLAYERS BLACK COMEDY
‘Caramba’s Revenge’ Crofton Hall Theatre, Crofton Community Centre, Stubbington, Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd November. Doors 7:30pm, curtain 8pm. Tickets, £10, from 01329 662128 or Crofton Community Centre or on the door.
HARBOUR CANCER SUPPORT’S
CHARITY CHRISTMAS FAYRE
Saturday 23rd November Christ Church Hall, Stoke Rd, Gosport 12-4pm Cakes, Christmas gifts, craft Stalls, charity Christmas cards, calendars, tombola, tea/coffee, mince pies & more.
FRIENDS OF STOKES BAY LITTER
PICK Saturday 2nd November 10am. Meet at Splash Pool. All equipment provided.
Trusted Tradesman with 30 Years Experience
• Extensions
• Loft conversions
• General building services
• Groundworks / Brickwork
• UPVC windows & Conservatories
• Property maintenance
• Property renovations
• New Builds
• Roofing
• Flat Roofing
With 3 sites in the local area, all of our Garages are high ranking members of ‘The Good Garage Scheme’ and ‘Checkatrade’. Our Garages provide onsite MOT testing. Mon - Fri: 8.30 - 5.30 Sat: 8.30 - 12.30
3585 999
Solent Airport MOTs, Unit il1-3, Illustrious Daedalus Park, Daedalus Drive, Lee on the Solent PO13 9FX (Stubbington Motors is now at Solent Airport MOTS) Elkins Motors, 99b Mays Lane, Stubbington PO14 2ED Locks Heath Garage, 212 Hunts Pond Road, Locks Heath PO14 4PG
HVR CUSTOMS
Specialists in VW’s, we also cover many other makes and models in the full or part conversion of camper vans, kombi vans and caddy’s. We manufacture and design custom built camper interiors for Volkswagens and other makes.
Full & Part Conversions
VW Transporters, Campers, Kombi’s and Caddy’s
0333 3585 999 (Option 3)
HVR Customs, Unit il3-4, Illustrious Daedalus Park, Daedalus Drive, Lee on the Solent PO13 9FX
CARS AND VANS ALWAYS IN STOCK FOR SALE!
Specialising in transporters and small low mileage cars. (The cars are ideal for first time drivers.)
“Out of Town” in Denmead
