Summer is in full swing which means summer events galore! We’ve got all the details of the Picnic in the Park, the Stubbington Fayre & Donkey Derby and the RSPCA Summer Event inside! The sunshine has been booked!
We’ve also got details of the Royal Marines School of Music concert. It’s this month! Check out page 4 for all the info. Grab your ticket and get over the water to the Portsmouth Guildhall for a wonderful afternoon!
Lots more local events listed inside this months edition prompting you to get out and about!
Have you been enjoying Louise Courtney’s articles on herbal health? Would you like to discuss any health concerns and your wellbeing? You are in luck! You can now book an appointment with her at her newly opened clinic, all the details are inside.
This month Rita talks about the Sisyrinchium striatum (common name satin flower). It’s often mistaken for Iris before it flowers.
LEMON & COCONUT CAKE
We’ve loved seeing your pics of last months recipe! We’ve gone with a touch of citrus this month! Lemon and coconut are - we feel - a truly delicious combo! We’ve included a recipe with
these ingredients by Michelle Vonhahnr for a light and fluffy loaf! One slice wasn’t enough at a time. It was devoured in record time in our house! Check out page 6 for the recipe. We look forward to hearing what you think of it!
You’ll also find the gardening guide inside, the sudoku, plus lovely advertisers, news and more!
Don’t forget to follow us on our socials!
NEED MORE CUSTOMERS?
Why not try an advert in the August 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. I also hope you have a lovely July!
Enjoy the sunshine! See you next month!
Read me, keep me or pass me on!
RENOVATION
LEMON & COCONUT LOAF
This recipe is by Michelle Vonhahnr. She is right when she describes it as light and fluffy! The lemon and coconut is a delicious combo!
You’ll need
• 2 cups ground almond
• 1/2 cup unsweetened desiccated coconut
• 1 tsp baking soda
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1/3 cup lemon juice (from around 2 lemons)
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
Optional lemon honey glaze:
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp lemon zest
Method
Whisk all dry ingredients together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix all wet ingredients together until combined.
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix
- careful not to overmix!
Line a loaf tin with coconut oil or parchment paper and pour mixture into it.
Bake at 350°F/Fan160°/Gas4 for 35-40 min and let cool for 10 min.
To make the lemon honey glaze, combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix. Spoon over the top of the cooled loaf. Enjoy!
Pebbles Cleaning Company
Call us on: 07896 773559 Email: pebblescleaning@myyahoo.com
Fixed rate £16.50 per hour
• Weekly/Fortnightly Cleans
• We provide the cleaning materials
• Deep Cleans
• Ironing Services
• End of Tenancy Cleans, along with minor maintenance services. Price on enquiry.
• Commercial & Domestic
• Fully Insured
• All cleaners are DBS checked
• Same dedicated cleaner on every visit
• Based in Gosport www.pebblecleaning.co.uk
Complete foot care service includes:
• Nail trimming
• Reduction of thickened nails
• Removal of corns and calluses (hard skin removal)
• Treatment of in-growing toenails and cracked heels
• Foot health check and advice on diabetic foot, verrucas, fungal nail and athletes foot
• Application of moisturising foot cream
• All in the comfort of your own home
Karen Seal & Bonnie McIntyre Mobile Foot Health Practitioners
Fully qualified and insured with current DBS. Karen - 10yrs experience. Bonnie - 5yrs experience
For an appointment in Stubbington & Hill Head please call Karen on 01329 481107 or 07469 825087
For all other areas call Bonnie on 07990 674819
WHO ARE WE?
Waves Has An Exciting New Venue @ the Crofton Youth Project Meeting every Sunday 10:45 – 12noon
We are a family Church. We gather every Sunday at 10.15am at Crofton Community Centre, Stubbington. Everyone welcome. Coffee is served before and after the service, providing a great opportunity to connect with others. We also have various small groups that meet throughout the week in homes and the community centre. We are a nondenominational church, embracing people from all backgrounds and traditions. Our Sunday services are relaxed and feature modern worship along with bible-based teaching. www.shorelinechristianchurch.com juliestares@hotmail.co.uk Julie 07531 856465
Art, craft, music, games and chat Explore the Bible, learn about Jesus And take part in lots of fun activities.
Waves is our children’s and young people’s work aged 5 to 18. They have a separate session every Sunday during the adult talks in the Crofton Youth Project building which is attached to the community centre. They also meet midweek every fortnight and have social outings during school holidays. (All our children’s workers have up to date DBS checks)
We also run activity mornings on the last Sunday’s of half term, next one 21st July
WHAT’S ON
STUBBINGTON BELLES W.I.
1st Monday of each month 1.30-3.30pm at The Crofton Club on Titchfield Road. Variety of speakers or demonstrations, as well as a monthly coffee morning and Lunch Club. Very friendly group and visitors are always welcome. Next meeting July 8th with speaker Alan Saunders giving us a talk on ‘The Queen’s Bodyguard’. Info from Irene 01329 512649.
STUBBINGTON VILLAGE WI
Meet on the second Thursday of each month
Methodist Church Hall in Mays Lane 7.30pm. Variety of speakers, demos, activities. Book club, luncheon club, Lee Stroll, Natter, Stitch & Knit, Games, darts group. Join us for a couple of visits, before you make a decision about joining. Friendly group. Chris 07970 826044.
SPITHEAD ARTS LECTURE
23rd July 7pm. Bay House School, Alverstoke
The Cult of the Celebrity: Omai, the Exotic and Joshua Reynolds. Membership £40 per year, or come along as a guest £7, refunded if you decide to join. www.spitheadarts.co.uk
STUBBINGTON AND HILL HEAD WI
Wednesday 31st July 2pm, Baptist Church, Jay Cl, Cuckoo Lane, Stubbington, PO14 3TA. Speaker Sarah Delves - Lipstick, Powder and Paint. We are a very friendly group and visitors warmly welcomed. Come along! Visitors can come for two taster meetings before joining.
ST EDMUNDS (CROFTON OLD CHURCH)
Services 9.30am every Sunday. The 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month are Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer. Morning Prayer is on the 2nd and 4th Sunday. Teas and coffee available after. Church is open 18th July 10am12noon for visitors or for private prayer.
INTERNATIONAL FOLK / CIRCLE DANCING
July 16th, 30th 10am-12noon
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
LEE PLAYERS
Don’t miss ‘Dead Lucky or The Murder Mystery That Goes Wrong’, at The Crofton Hall Theatre, Crofton Community Centre, Stubbington, PO14 2PP on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th July. Doors 7:30pm, curtains 8pm. Tickets, £10, available from 01329 662128 or Crofton Community Centre. Please book in advance. Seating will be at tables and you are welcome to bring your own refreshments.
STUBBINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH
Jay Close PO14 3TA
Sun 10am Morning Service with Sunday School Tues 1.15pm Baby and Toddler Group - lovely carpeted area with lots to do! (Term time) 7pm Evening Life Group Weekly. Weds 10am 2nd & 4th in month - Life Group Thurs 12.30pm Snack ‘n’ Chat. 1st in month. £2 Donation welcome. Everyone welcome. 11am Coffee & Cake - 3rd Thursday in month 4-6pm Messy Church - 4th Thursday in monthCraft, celebration and hot meal and dessert. Donations Welcome. For children 5-10. Main hall and smaller rooms available for hire. For information douglasfleming612@gmail.com 07775687767
Could your swimming skills do with a brush up?
Are you a complete beginner?
Scared of the water?
Do you feel you just sit and watch while your family have fun in the water?
Whatever your level or requirements, we are here to help.
With all of us starting to get our annual holidays booked, why not join us for some specialist 1:1 sessions to improve you stroke ready for your break? If you can’t swim at all, we can get you started on the path to being confident and happy in the water. No one should feel they have to miss out when it comes to enjoying the pool or sea.
Here at The Swim People we only teach from our beautiful private pool in Stubbington. All lessons are private and with no spectators, leaving you free to focus on learning and relaxing in the lovely warm water. We have over 25 years of experience in teaching adults of all ages and abilities.
We teach water phobic, beginners, improvers right through to competitive and technique refinement. Our adult specialist teachers are ready to get you started on your swimming journey.
So don’t delay, give one of our friendly team a call or email today. 01329 802208
Email info@theswimpeople.co.uk
Website www.theswimpeople.co.uk
Beautiful pool in Stubbington
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
JULY IN CRESCENT GARDEN
Photo credit: Rita Rundle
they grow in open meadows and grasslands. The plants were introduced into Europe many years ago and were first mentioned at Kew in 1792. The conditions in which they grow best are those which most nearly imitate those of its native area. In other words, full sun and almost any soil as long as it is well drained. It is drought resistant and the one condition in which it will not survive is waterlogged soil, as this rots the roots. It does well in a gravel garden.
Sisyrinchium striatum (common name satin flower) is a plant with strap shaped grey green leaves about 40cms long and 2cms wide. It belongs to the iris family. When not in flower it could easily be mistaken for an iris, but when its distinctive flowers appear in May, June and July it is unmistakable. Tall straight stems, about 80cms tall, bearing rows of pale yellow star shaped flowers, grow from the middle of each clump of leaves. The flowers are nectar and pollen rich and, therefore, attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators. There are several clumps of Sisyrinchium in Crescent Garden around the various borders. The name is of Greek derivation; sys is the Greek for pig and rynchos means snout as the roots used to be readily consumed by pigs. The specific name, striatum, comes from the Latin for groove as the leaves tend to be rather ridged.
They are native to Argentina and Chile where
It is a very easy plant to grow and makes an attractive clump in any border and is almost entirely pest free. Even snails don’t find them pleasant to eat, though they do find the clumps to be good hiding places during the day! The flowers are followed by interesting black seed pods. Some people do not enjoy these plants as they increase rather easily. A small piece planted will soon become a large clump as it spreads by a creeping rootstock. Most gardeners find this a pleasure, however, as a clump, if it gets too large, can easily be dug up and divided, a small piece put back and this lovely plant shared with friends. It also selfseeds readily, but if you do not want a lot of small Sisyrinchium in your garden, cut off the seed pods as they form. Another slightly annoying feature is that some leaves readily go black in the autumn, but they can easily be cut off and a fine display of sword shaped leaves will adorn the garden throughout winter and spring before the plant flowers again in the summer.
So do think of having some of this plant in your own garden. It will reward you for years.
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IALSO HAND BUILD MY OWN RANGE OF BIRD BOXES TO SELL.PLEASEVISIT WWW.VIKINGGARDENCREATIONS.COM AND CLICK ON THE'BIRD BOXES'LINK FOR MOREINFO.
IN THE GARDEN
• Pinch out annuals
• Divide iris
• Thin biennials
• Water and feed sweet peas regularly, pick the flowers every few days, and remove seed pods to prolong flowering
• Take cuttings from pinks
• Sow fresh seed of foxgloves
• Trim lavender after it flowers
• Deadhead your lupins
• Prune summer-flowering shrubs
• Collect flower seeds, take clematis cuttings
• Boost poor lawn growth with a liquid feed
• Trim conifers & hedges, clip & shape bay trees
• Prune the long sideshoots on wisteria, cutting them all back to a length of about 20cm
• Top up bird baths, ponds and water features during hot weather
• Cut back hardy geraniums and delphiniums after the first flush of flowers to encourage new growth and further blooms
• Dead-head your roses
GREENHOUSE
• Leave cans of water in the greenhouse to warm up
• Stand pot plants on capillary matting, or in trays of gravel and water, so they don't dry out
• Damp down the greenhouse floor on hot mornings
• Keep pinching out side shoots of cordon varieties of tomato
VEG PLOT
• Pinch off the growing tips of squash and courgette
• Mix 8 parts water to 1 part milk and spray courgette leaves that have a white powdery mildew
• Spray apples & gooseberries with fungicide
• Sow an autumn crop of peas before mid-July
• Sow seeds of salad leaves, beetroot, radishes, spring cabbages, kohl rabi, Swiss chard, spinach, Oriental greens, chicory, swede and turnips for green tops
• Lift early potatoes
• Plant out purple sprouting broccoli and winter leeks
• Cut down broad beans after harvesting, but leave the roots in the soil to release nitrogen as they decompose
Grinding
Shrubs:
WHAT’S ON
STUBBINGTON STITCH & KNIT
GROUP Every Friday, Foster Room, 2-4 pm. We make craft items, gifts and lovely garments to sell to raise funds for local Hampshire charities. Next sales: 29th June & 27th July 10am-12pm St Columba’s Church, off Highlands Rd.
7th July 9.30am-12pm at Stubbington Library. 13th July 1-5pm at Blackbrook Care home grounds. Come and support us, we have some beautiful gift items, to suit all ages. If anyone has donations for us, Stubbington Library will take these for us, or bring them to the Foster Room on a Friday afternoon or ring Chris on 07970 826044, for info or to arrange a collection.
SHORE LEAVE HASLAR
MEMORIAL GARDEN OPEN DAY
10th July 11am - 1pm.
FREE ENTRY, donations gratefully accepted. Payment can be made by card or cash. Crafts, plants and produce for sale, homemade cake and drinks. Walk around the peaceful garden and see what the Volunteers and Veterans do. Please park in the main Haslar site. Access for visitors through green pedestrian gate towards the junction of Haslar Road with Fort Road.
CROFTON PROBUS CLUB
Lunch Meeting last Wednesday of the month. Retired gentleman missing the camaraderie of the workplace? Would you like to meet others from a wide range of industries and professions? In May members were joined by their partners. Lunch was followed by an interesting presentation on ‘Travels in Canada’. Made up of members from Stubbington, Fareham, Gosport and Lee on the Solent, Crofton Probus Club may well be the social outlet for you. Why not come along to a trial meeting before joining? New members welcome. Further info: club secretary 01329 600837 mortonsue.dupreez@gmail.com
GOSPORT JAZZ CLUB - JULY
Gosport & Fareham Rugby Club, Dolphin Cres, Gosport, PO12 2HE 8-10.30pm 3rd Excelsior Vintage. 17th Paula Jackman’s Masters. 31st Harry Strutter’s Hot 7 M £10 G £12 - book early 023 9242 9302 or gosportjazz.org.uk gjcreserve@gmail.com
LEE HIGH STREET MINI MARKET
6th July 10am-3pm High St, Lee on the Solent Pop along and support Lee High Street by visiting the various local stalls, selling their wares alongside fabulous independent High St shops & businesses.
Illustrious, Daedalus Drive, Lee on the Solent PO13 9YA
Illustrious, Daedalus Drive, Lee on the Solent PO13 9YA
HVR Customs offer a range of services, including full or part van conversions, pop top roofs and Kombi’s! We specialise in VW Transporters inside and out, including paint repairs and Revo remapping carried out on site. Follow Us!
Picnic in the Park
Sunday 7th July 12noon - 4.30pm
Stubbington Recreation Ground
FREE EVENT
ZORBS
FACE PAINTING
TIN CAN ALLEY
TUG OF WAR
KIDS RACES AND LOTS MORE!
Bring a picnic!
An afternoon of
LOCAL NEWS
STUBBINGTON FAYRE & DONKEY DERBY
Bank Holiday Monday 26th August
Stubbington Recreation Ground 10.30am-4pm
The hugely popular perennial August Bank Holiday Fayre and Donkey Derby, with it's many and varied stalls and eateries, comes to Stubbington again this year.
Both Phoenix Under-17 Driving Club, who offer test drives and a seat belt simulator, and Interactive Bubbles (can you create the biggest bubble?) make a welcome return as highly entertaining activities for children and young adults of all ages!
We also welcome back Luna Acrobatics team
with their displays of flexibility & agility, and music will be provided by the marvellously tuneful Gosport Brass Band.
A quick flutter via the Tote tent on the 3.15? All we need is the going to be good to firm. It's going to be a good one, so put the date in your diary and we look forward to seeing you there!
p.s. If you'd like to help with the organisation of this please come and speak to any of the Lions team members on the day.
Monday 26th August Stubbington Recreation Ground 10:30am - 4 pm
ENTERTAINMENT - LIVE MUSIC
INTERACTIVE BUBBLES - DRIVING CLUB
BUSKERS - GOSPORT BRASS BAND LUNA ACROBATICS - STALLS - EATERIES AND MUCH MORE!
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
MARVELLOUS MILK THISTLE
This fine specimen of a plant is Milk thistle with the brilliant Latin name Silybum marianum! Its name is derived its huge white-veined leaves. Native to the Mediterranean, this plant is easy to cultivate, in fact this one was grown from seed and is happily flourishing in my back garden. Milk thistle has been used for centuries to support liver health and digestion. It is a rich source of flavonoids, particularly silymarin, which is responsible for its medicinal properties which is found in the seeds. Milk thistle is also a good source of vitamins A, C and E. It has been shown to protect the liver from damage caused by toxins, such as those found in pesticides and pollutants and following the use of pharmaceutical drugs, to help alleviate side effects. On a more frivolous note, Milk thistle can help to minimise hangovers, and more seriously it is used intravenously as an antidote to poisoning by the death cap mushroom! So, it’s main actions are: it is hepatoprotective (protects the liver cells) and hepatotrophorestorative (repairs liver cells after damage) and is a cholagogue (increases bile flow), and also can be used as a galactagogue to increase milk production for nursing
mothers. It helps to control blood sugars and cholesterol levels, it is anti-inflammatory and helps to regulate the immune system. Medical indications for Milk thistle are liver damage, fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis, gallstones and gallbladder inflammation, and jaundice.
I use Milk thistle in my practice for people who have been on medication long term, or are showing signs of liver stagnation and congestion and to help improve digestion function. As the main medicinal compounds are not water soluble, this is an example of a herb that would not be included in a herbal tea blend. A stronger solvent such as alcohol is used to extract the medicinal compounds and this is called a tincture. The seeds can also be dried and ground into a powder and taken in a capsule.
But how does it actually work? There are a couple of keys mechanisms; firstly Milk thistle helps to raise levels of glutathione in the liver. Glutathione is one of the most abundant antioxidants in the body and is a key part of the body’s detoxification process. Secondly, silymarin prevents the absorption of toxins into liver cells by occupying the binding sites and thereby inhibiting the transport proteins at the cell membrane. How wonderfully clever nature is!!! So, if you feel your liver is a little sluggish and maybe in need of some support, Milk thistle may well be the herb for you.
Nb. While Milk thistle is a gentle herb, it should be used with caution during pregnancy, especially in the alcohol form, and avoided in the first trimester. Please consult a qualified medical herbalist before internal use (especially with the tincture and if you are taking other medications) and for use with children and babies
Follow Louise on instagram @wildsidehealth for photos, tips, research information and all things plant medicine! You can also visit her in her newly opened clinic and dispensary.
