Stubbington Choice March 2024

HELLO!

On the dog walk I’ve gone down from 5 layers to 4! Spring is definitely on it’s way! The clocks change this month, we have an excuse to eat chocolate, blossom is in abundance and the temperatures are rising. Plus we have a fab edition for you this month! Hooray for March!

ALL ABOUT ART

Want to learn about art? Local art society, Spithead Arts could be for you! They have interesting monthly lectures all about art! Hear from speakers who are experts in their field, sharing their knowledge, skills and research in an accessible lecture, usually followed by Q&A. This month Rita talks about a colourful shrub that’s bringing fragance to Crescent Garden. We all know roses are beautiful flowers to look at and some smell amazing! But are you aware of there medicinal benefits? Louise Courtney talks us through them on page 30.

ALL ABOUT GARDENING

If you’re in to all things gardening you may be interested in knowing about Crofton Gardening Club! They have an interesting monthly talk. This month the talk is on ‘The History of Flowers in Art’ by Glenn Duggan. More details inside.

If you’re getting in your garden, our gardening guide is inside. We also have what is on locally plus the sudoku. You’ll also find lovely advertisers, news and more!

We’ve gone for an Easter biscuit recipe this month if you are all chocolated out!

Don’t forget to follow us on our socials!

NEED MORE CUSTOMERS?

Why not try an advert in the April 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. Wishing you a happy Easter if you’re celebrating and a happy Mother’s Day to my amazing Mum and all our Mum readers! We’ll be thinking of all the Mums on and off this planet!

See you next month!

Read me, keep me or pass me on!

Method

Heat the oven to 200C(180C fan)/390F/gas 6 and line a couple of large trays with baking paper.

OAT, SPICE & CURRANT EASTER COOKIES

Looking for a chocolate-free Easter goodie?

You’ve found it! This is by the wonderful Meera Sodha. It’s basically Easter in a biscuit!

To make around 12 large or 24 small you’ll need:

• 180g wholegrain spelt flour

• 50g rolled porridge oats

• 1 tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

• ½ tsp flaky sea salt, crumbled

• 100g currants or sultanas

• 2 tsp chai or mixed spice

• 50g dark brown soft sugar

• 100g golden syrup

• 120ml cold-pressed rapeseed oil

In a heatproof bowl, combine the spelt flour, rolled oats, baking powder, bicarb, sea salt, currants and chai spice, and whisk to mix well.

Put the sugar, syrup and oil in a small saucepan, set it over a low heat, cook until the mixture comes to a boil, then take off the heat. Pour into the bowl of dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until everything comes together into a dough.

Roll into balls the size of a ping-pong ball (about a tablespoon) and weighing about 40g each, or smaller ones at 20g, around a generous teaspoon and place on the baking sheets, there’s no need to flatten them.

Bake for 12 minutes, or until golden in the centre and starting to crisp to a golden brown at the edges.

Remove and leave to cool on the sheets – these cookies regain their integrity when they cool, so they need a bit of a rest before eating.

Find out more about Meera Sodha at: meerasodha.com

Does your clock need repairing?

Spring is around the corner, it’s time for all things new If you can’t think of what you want, I have an idea for you

That old clock on the wall has long ago stopped, and it needs some love and care I can come to your house, it won’t cost a thing, and try and fix it then and there

If not I’ll take it away for a while, it will cost just what we agreed

No nasty shock or surprises, and my work is guaranteed Christopher

Pitta Clocks

Tel: 01329 711041

• Mob: 07423 054191

• email: chrispitta@hotmail.co.uk

LEE PLAYERS

Our next production will be a spine-chilling drama entitled ‘THRILLER OF THE YEAR’, by Glyn Jones, at the Crofton Community Centre, Stubbington Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd March. Doors open 7:30pm, curtain 8pm. Tickets, £10, from 01329 662128 or from the Community Centre or on the door on the night. An author is terrified that she will suffer the same, awful fate as the heroine in her awardwinning novel - don’t miss this gripping drama.

CROFTON BOWLING CLUB COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING

Saturday 16th of March 10am

9 Stubbington Lane, PO14 2PP (near the Community Centre).

Costs £2.50 for non members and includes a tea or coffee and a slice of cake. There will also be an Easter raffle and tickets will be available from the club house. It is open to all and a great place to meet people for a chat, even if it isn't about bowls! www.croftonbowling.org.uk

STUBBINGTON & HILL HEAD WI

Will meet on Wednesday 27th March 2pm at Baptist Church, Jay Close, Cuckoo Ln, Stubbington, PO14 3TA. Our speaker will be Jane Glennie "Who's Wearing the Trousers?". We have a monthly Lunch Club in addition to a Book Club, outings, theatre trips, picnics, Summer and Christmas lunches. We also participate in WI Group activities such as quizzes, skittles and day trips. We are a very friendly group and visitors are always warmly welcomed, so if you have just retired and wish to make new friends, come along and try us out! Visitors can come for two taster meetings before joining.

INTERNATIONAL FOLK / CIRCLE DANCING

March 5th, 19th 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

CROFTON GARDENING CLUB

March 18th 2024 7.30-9pm Roman Catholic Church Hall, Bells Lane, Stubbington. Our speaker this month is Glenn Duggan and his talk will be on The History of Flowers in Art. Please put this in your diaries and join us for an interesting and informative evening. Refreshment provided. Visitors always welcome £1 per visit.

CROFTON PROBUS CLUB

Lunch Meeting last Wednesday of the month. Are you a retired professional or businessman? Would you like to meet others in a social atmosphere? Then why not consider joining our Probus Club. The members meet at Lee-on-theSolent at 12 noon for 12:30 for a three-course meal, followed by a speaker invariably with a topic of interest; or maybe by a club member recounting the “behind the scenes” of an interesting life and career. At the Springtime and Autumn meetings the ‘other halves’ of the membership are also invited to join the members for lunch. Why not come along to a trial meeting before joining? For further info: 023 9235 9365 or email timaus29@gmail.com

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.

Beautiful pool in Stubbington

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

MARCH IN CRESCENT GARDEN

If you walk along to the middle of terrace walk on the southern side of Crescent Garden, just behind the fountain you can take a stepping stone path into a small enclosed garden and there you will see, among other plants, a small shrub bearing clusters of pale pink tubular flowers each with a brighter pink middle and edge. You will also be able to follow your nose to a delightful fragrance produced by these flowers. The plant is Daphne odora Aureomarginata. As the variety name indicates the dark green glossy leaves have a narrow margin of yellow/gold colouring. Like many other winter flowering plants there is a strong sweet perfume which attracts pollinating insects seeking nectar; dominant among them are bumble bees whose large size enables them to survive cooler temperatures than many other insects. Although the plant has such striking flowers and attracts insects it very rarely produces its berry like fruits in this country. It can, however, be quite readily propagated by taking cuttings or by layering flexible branches.

The plants are native to China, Korea and Japan being introduced into Britain via Kew in 1771. Since then Daphne odora Aureomarginata has

become a popular park and garden plant. It is easy to cultivate as long as it is planted in the right conditions. It prefers to grow in dappled shade with well drained, but moisture retentive soil containing plenty of organic matter. It won’t tolerate drought or waterlogging and its deep roots prefer to be cool and moist, so given a dressing of good compost in spring and autumn the plant requires very little care. As it has such deep roots, it is not usually very happy in a pot. It is slow growing and needs almost no pruning. The occasional straggly branch can be removed if required and it is, in fact, a good plant for cutting and arranging inside where the fragrance intensifies. No Daphnes like being moved, so if you plant one in your own garden give it time to settle in, having made sure you meet all the requirements mentioned above and it will give you years of trouble free pleasure.

There are other varieties of Daphne around Crescent Garden. See if you can spot them as you walk round.

Rita Rundle

Crescent Garden, Crescent Road, Alverstoke alverstokecrescentgarden.co.uk

Photo

We at Spithead Arts believe we have the best kept secret in Alverstoke, an art appreciation group which is warm, welcoming and friendly and which has 10 interesting and informative talks a year, by some of the country’s leading experts in their field.

Our lecture program is wide and varied and has, in the past, covered topics from Bach to Banksy, Frida Kahlo to the Black Death.

This type of group is becoming all too rare and needs to be supported and preserved. It provides so much to our members, not just interesting informative talks but the enjoyment of belonging to a warm and friendly society.

Our membership is £40 for the year, or you can come along as a guest for just £7, an amount which is refunded if you decide to join.

We meet early evening at Bay House School once a month. Full details of location, times and talks can be found on our website www.spitheadarts.co.uk

So why not give it a go? You’ve nothing to lose and potentially 10 great evenings to gain.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE ENTERTAINED, AMUSED AND INFORMED AT LEAST 10 TIMES A YEAR?

Our talks through 2024

26th March - Art Behind Bars - the role of art in the cycle of crime, prison and re-offending

23rd April - Art after the Windrush - post colonial artists since 1948

28th May - Art & Architecture of Britain's historic pools and lidos

25th June - Medieval Woodwind Instruments

23rd July - The Cult of Celebrity - Omai, the Exotic and Joshua Reynolds

24th September - Olafur Eliasson - Playing with light

22nd October - Grace Darling and the art of saving lives at sea

26th November - The Curious History of Christmas Foods

28th January 2025 - Nazi Looting and WW11

IN THE GARDEN

• Start cutting your lawn

• Remove old hydrangea flower stalks above a pair of buds

• Pick off any developing seedheads on daffodils and other spring bulbs, but leave the foliage to die back naturally

• Repair fences and outdoor buildings

• Hoe borders now to reduce weeding later

• Scarify or rake the lawn

• Apply residual weedkillers to paths

• Sow annual flower seeds

• Plant summer-flowering bulbs

• Lift & divide clumps of snowdrops while in leaf

• Trim winter flowering heathers

• Protect tender new shoots from slug attack with copper ring barriers

• Lightly trim winter-flowering heathers

• Prune winter-flowering jasmine

• Cut down old growth of perennials and grasses left over winter

• Order and plant bare root roses

• Split polyanthus after flowering

• Lift and divide your summer-flowering perennials

GREENHOUSE

• Sow celeriac, celery, lettuces and parsley indoors to transplant out later

• Sow tomatoes, chillies, sweet peppers and aubergines, courgettes, leeks, peas, beetroot and cucumbers in pots indoors

• Sow dwarf French beans in a large pot for early crop

• Take cuttings from dahlias to raise new plants

VEG PLOT

• Plant out onion sets and shallots

• Sow parsnips once the soil starts to warm up

• Plant out asparagus crowns

• Plant out early potatoes

• Sow broad beans direct outside

• Make the first outdoor sowings of hardy veg, such as spinach, covering with cloches/fleece

• Hoe veg beds as soon as the weather starts to warm up

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.

Christine Davies Solicitor

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.

Evenings/Weekends:

THE BEAUTIFUL BENEFITS OF ROSES

Not just beautiful to look at, roses are good for our health! This month local Apprentice Medical Herbalist Louise Courtney shares the medicinal benefits of roses...

“Of all flowers me thinks a rose is best” (Two Noble Kinsmen, Act II, Scene II) Shakespeare clearly had an affinity for the Rose, a beautiful, elegant and gorgeously fragrant flower. Since ancient times Rose has symbolised love, purity, faith and beauty, and was associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and linked to fertility and spring. There are many different medicinal uses for plants within the Rose family, for example, dog rose (Rosa canina), hawthorn and cherry. Rosa canina is high in Vitamin C and quercetin, and has benefits for inflammation, diabetes, depression and stress.

My favourite, the Damask rose, is used to make a range of medicinal products such as rose water, rose oil, and dried flowers.

Traditionally Rose was considered strengthening, astringent and cleansing. More recent research has shown Rose to have antiinflammatory properties and to be effective as a calming nervine and heart tonic.

Physically, Rose can alleviate stress on the heart and reduce palpitations; emotionally it can help heal a broken heart and induce calm after trauma and emotional upheaval. It assists in relieving tension and releasing negativity, despair and anguish. It is an excellent herb for treating female complaints including menstrual cramps, PMS and hot flushes.

My favourite way to take Rose is as a tea with dried petals, usually mixed with chamomile flowers. Rose can have a pretty strong taste on its own! However, if herbal teas are not your thing, then don’t worry you could take it as a tincture, glycerite or syrup, or use an aromatic water, oil or cream. You could even add rose petals to your bath, or use essential oils in a burner or added to a massage oil. This time of year, Rose syrup is great for coughs and sore throats. Nb: as always please consult a qualified medical practitioner before commencing any herbal regime and use Rose with caution during pregnancy.

Follow Louise on instagram @wildsidehealth for photos, tips, research information and all things plant medicine!

WHO ARE WE?

We are a growing family church who meet in Crofton Community Centre, Stubbington every Sunday at 10.15am. Everyone welcome. Coffee is served before and after the meeting. We also have various small groups who meet during the week in homes and the community centre. We are non denominational and welcome people from all denominations and none. Our Sunday meetings are fairly informal with modern worship and bible based teaching.

This Easter we will be joining with all the other churches in Stubbington on Good Friday, 29th March.

There will be a treasure hunt and children’s activities from 10am, followed by a service at 11am. Hot cross buns and hot chocolate served after the service.

This will all take place on the green area opposite the pet shop in Stubbington Village.

www.shorelinechristianchurch.com juliestares@hotmail.co.uk Julie 07531 856465

Email: mjquigleybuilders@gmail.com

www.mjquigleybuilders.co.uk

adverts@stubbingtonchoice.com

We urgently require your broken and unwanted gold, jewellery and antiques.

Any amount, any condition- top CASH prices paid! JEWELLERY

WANTED

WANTED

We are at last approaching longer and warmer days after what seems like a long winter.

As we emerge from hibernation we realise the toll that central heating has played on our hair.

Choose a matching shampoo for HALF PRICE when purchasing any of these lovely oils!

We use Schwarzkopf Professional products and recommend the Oil Ultime range. For Mothers Day we are doing a special offer on our particular favourite products.

The range includes some beautiful smelling hair oils for all hair types.

Hair colour specialists - Bridal hair experts - Child friendly Children's area (first hair cut certificates available)

Beauty is with Sophie of Hill Head Beauty and Aesthetics.

We also have a separate gents Barbers. A walk in service with usually no appointment necessary. Our fully qualified staff welcome men & boys of all ages.

Open Monday - Saturday.

Please note we open at 9am Monday to Saturday and close on Mon/Thurs afternoon

EASTER WEEK AT ST EDMUNDS

Tuesday 26th March at 7.00 pm – Taize Service; Maundy Thursday, 28th March at 7.30 pm –Communion Service; Good Friday, 29th March 12-2.00 pm - the Church will be open for prayer and meditation followed by a short service of led prayer starting at 2.00 pm; Easter Sunday at 9.30 am – Service of Common Worship Holy Communion including the Easter Story.

STUBBINGTON VILLAGE WI

Second Thursday of each month Methodist Church Hall, Mays Lane, 7.30pm. We are a lively group who enjoy many other social activities, such as Games morning, Natter knit and stitch group, a craft group, a darts team and many other sub groups. We have a lovely variety of interesting and informative speakers, and we support several local charities. We have just celebrated out 40th year as a WI group, and really enjoy coming together and supporting each other. If you would like more information, or would like to visit us for a couple of sessions, to see if this is the group for you, please ring Chris on 07970 826044.

ST EDMUNDS (CROFTON OLD CHURCH)

Services are at 9.30 am every Sunday. The 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month is Holy Communion (BCP) and the 2nd and 4th Sunday is Morning Service. The 2nd Sunday, 10th March, is Mothering Sunday. Coffee will be served after the Morning Services. The Church will also be open to visitors on 18th March between 10.00 am and 12 noon. We look forward to seeing you then.

STUBBINGTON STITCH AND KNIT GROUP

Meet every Friday afternoon 2-4pm in the Foster Room, (next to Holyrood Church.) We are a non profit making group, who make garments and craft items to give to, or sell to raise funds for the 13 local Hampshire charities, which we support. Our Friday afternoons are spent socializing as well as producing some lovely gifts, suitable for all ages. Most of these garments and gifts are then sold at our regular sales. Our next sale in Stubbington Library is 2nd March 2024, from 9.30am to 12.00pm. Please come and support us and see what great things we have managed to produce. I would like to thank our many supporters who donate wool, material and other useful items to help us in our quest. For more information , or if you wish to arrange a donation, please ring Chris on 07970 826044.

STUBBINGTON AND HILL HEAD HISTORY SOCIETY

Second Monday of the month at the Catholic Church Hall PO14 2PL

Monday 11th March 7.30 p.m.

Gosport Involvement with The World’s Oldest Yacht Builders. Richard Bloom New members and visitors welcome. Enquiries to merrieldixonhistory@gmail.com Website shhhs.co.uk

MINI MARKET

Saturday 23rd March 10am-3pm

High Street, Lee on the Solent

Is your conservatory too hot and bright? Speak to us about solar film!

you an idea of the most popular services a list is below:

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PARKING SENSORS WITH AUDIBLE WARNING FITTED

Rear set colour coded: from £160

Front set colour coded: from £190

Both Front & Rear Sensors: from £290

Metatrack insurance approved vehicle trackers fitted from £265

Rear view cameras for Cars £190

Vans from £225 & Motorhomes from £245

Dash cameras starting at £145 fully fitted or FRONT & REAR cameras for just £275

We fit the amazing iroad Fx series dashcams, probably the best value dash cam for sale google it and be amazed iroaduk.com

Mobile Service - We Come To You!

Tel: 01489 449020

Mobile: 07979 353696 www.reversepark.co.uk

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BETWEEN PANCAKES AND CHOCOLATE EGGS

The season of Lent starts this year on 14th February, coinciding, interest-ingly, with Valentine’s Day! Lent is that strange time somewhere between Christmas and Easter, but what’s it for? It’s best known as that period when people give up a luxury. Is it meant to be a second attempt at our New Year’s resolutions? Is it a chance to have a go at self-improvement or get-ting into shape? For most of us it’s a time that’s no different from the rest of the year; we’re just looking forward to Easter and a well-deserved break. Why bother with Lent?

Lent starts after Shrove Tuesday, better known as Pancake Day, and ends just when we’re tucking into chocolate Easter eggs. But what Lent shows us is that between the pancakes and the chocolate, there’s an opportunity to sit with

something completely different: stones. I’ll explain.

Lent traditionally marks the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness. It was a tough time for him when, even though he was really hungry, he re-fused to turn the stones around him into bread. He was making the point that what matters most is his relationship with God. After the 40 days, Jesus came out of the wilderness having met with God, ready for the next stage of his life.

Some people refrain from luxuries during Lent because it helps them focus on God. You could say they’re choosing stones over pancakes and choco-late. Lent shows us that we can encounter God in a new way when life is deliberately that little bit harder. Sometimes we find God when things get tough.

Thankfully Lent is only 40 days. It will come to an end because there is a celebration coming: Easter Day! There is always something to look forward to. The stones will be replaced with chocolate, and perhaps the chocolate will taste better for it.

Rev. Dan Greenfield Associate Vicar Crofton Parish croftonparish.org.uk