Professional Services

POLAR EXCHANGE SKIWEAR & ACCESSORIES FOR ALL AGES

Extensive choice. An exciting collection of performance ski kit and cold weather wear for every age. New location. Our fabulous showroom outside Alresford is the best way to try a variety of styles & sizes before you buy. Open by appointment from October to Easter, please email us to book a slot or make an enquiry. Same great service. Seasoned skiers ourselves, we offer buyers guidance in our showroom and at selected school events.

email: skiwear@polarexchange.co.uk www.polarexchange.co.uk | 07783 538389 | 07767 238874

Mr Mac

I have spent quite a bit of time abroad during December and have not been very happy about the internet wi-fi connections provided by hotels, airports, airport lounges and even on airplanes. I am very aware of the technical hurdles involved in providing free wi-fi to a lot of people at the same time. What I do find annoying is that you are very rarely informed as to how slow your connection might be.

In general, most people want to keep up to date with emails and do some light browsing and this requires a very small amount of bandwidth. Clearly watching or downloading a movie on Netflix is not to be expected although I have heard people asking why not? I have a very good contract with Vodafone that allows me to use my UK data allowance while I am abroad so I am not totally reliant on hotel wi-fi.

This is not an expensive option; I pay just over £30 a month for the facility and I think it is excellent value. I recommend you download the Ookla app from https://www.speedtest.net as you will be able to see exactly what internet speed you are getting on your devices.

That’s all for this month. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or for any advice. Best wishes for 2023. Andy - Mr Mac, 07392 552592

Sustainable Diamonds Sustainable Diamonds Autumn Colours

Sustainable Diamonds January ’s BirthstoneIs Garnet

Left To Right

Sapphire with Oval Diamonds - £6,995 Oval Sapphire & Round Diamonds - £12,950 Cushion Sapphire & Diamonds Left To Right: - £7,595

Tsavorite Garnet & Diamond Ring – £8,650 Pre-Owned Rhodolite Garnet Cluster Ring - £2,995 Tsavorite & Diamond Cluster Ring - £2,995 Colour Change Garnet Ring - £2,750

40a West Street, Alresford, Hants 40a West Street, Alresford, Hants Tel: 01962 73220040a West Street, Alresford, Hants 40a West Street, Alresford, Hants Tel: 01962 732200 Tel: 01962 732200 www.dbarkerandson.co.uk www.dbarkerandson.co.ukTel: 01962 732200www.dbarkerandson.co.uk www.dbarkerandson.co.uk

ONE TO ONE SUPPORT FOR APPLE MACS & WINDOWS

Helping you to make the most of your Mac computers, Windows laptops, PCs, Wi-Fi, Email and home tech. Computer support and training, home set up and advice where to buy. Macs, iPhone, iPad and iCloud and Windows Laptops 07392 552 592

andy@mistermac.co.uk

Alresford Rotary

Thank you from Alresford Rotary

For the magnificent support given in 2022 and best wishes for the new year. Our final event in 2022 was the sale of locally sourced quality Christmas Trees in Broad Street on 3rd December again raising significant funds to support individual and charitable need, notwithstanding the highly competitive price of the trees, prices being unchanged from 2021 to reflect the current hard times. The town was quieter than expected so sales were slightly slower than last year but our loyal customers turned out early as always and great support was received from Alresford and Cheriton Scouts and George Skayman and his trumpet! If you have any views as to how the tree sale could be improved, please send us an email. Is the first Saturday in December too early, too late or just right? Could the variety of trees on sale be improved or reduced to make choosing one easier? Let us know - we'll be back in 2023!

Local Villages Photo Competition

Many thanks for all who entered the competition featured at the back of November and December’s Itchen Valley Forum. There were few correct entries, the location in photo A in particular appearing to be relatively unknown or unnoticed! The correct answers are:

A Cub Scout building near Bramdean Common B Carved Bear outside Broom Copse Farm, Spiers Lane, Old Alresford C Railway Arch, Northington Road, Itchen Abbas D Sports Pavilion, Ropley E Village Pump, Preston Candover F Road bridge over the Itchen on School Road, Cheriton

The aim of the competition was to emphasise that in 2023 Alresford Rotary aims to continue to promote and develop its community focus not only in New Alresford but also in the surrounding area i.e., not only SO24 but also GU32, GU34, RG25 etc postcode areas. If your local community has a need we may be able to help, but that’s not a possibility unless you contact us. If you want to improve your community let us know. We’re a lively, expanding group aiming to recruit more members and establish more contacts. Our membership is increasingly diverse, not just old men! Rotary is for all! Involvement with Rotary need not involve significant expense nor more time than you can spare. Please let us know if you feel you can help Rotary or Rotary can help you! “Probably mid Hampshire’s Quiz of the Year 2023”

The box office is now open for this popular annual event at Itchen Abbas Village Hall to be held this year on Friday 31st March at 7.15 p.m. £12.50 per person (tables of 6) to include hot supper. To book please contact rotaryalresford@gmail.com or 07951 951 671

Book early to avoid disappointment! James Pinniger and Paul Watters

Alresford Pigs

We should finish 2022 in celebration of all that has passed and with hope for the year ahead. As a local charity we have achieved much to be proud of: We sold thousands of litres of compost, we directed traffic for the Watercress Festival, we helped many, many local people in many ways – from physical assistance to financial help. We put up tents (and took them down), we helped open gardens, we quizzed in November and we were so pleased to see the return of the Alresford Show! An outstanding success, with record attendance. What a year!

2023 It’s a Duck Race year! So look out of this fun family event in June (probably). We will be selling compost again and potentially holding a plant sale as well as other fundraising events. 2024 will be a big year for the Pigs – being our 50th anniversary and we will be planning hard for a bit of a ‘do’!

The Arrival of Father Christmas So, Father Christmas did arrive on Broad Street to the delight of all and then processed, with his helpers, around the streets of Alresford bringing delight and festive fun to all. Many people and organisations give their time and equipment for free to help with this event. The Alresford Pigs join the Alresford Main Tree Fund in thanking our sponsors and helpers: Hellards, Barnes and Liddiard, MD Payne, the anonymous sponsor of the children’s toys, Toy Box, Prospect Fencing, Eddols Carpets, Apecs, Stephen Thorne, David Tigg and many others who give their time and effort so generously.

Christmas Trees Thanks to all the volunteers from the Alresford Pigs, the public and the Alresford Chamber of Commerce who helped put up the Christmas Trees this year. The display is a delightful attraction, bringing both visitors and residents to our main shopping streets, and adding a charming Christmas sparkle to our delightful town.

Cost of Living Things are getting harder. This season is a very difficult and expensive time. We’re all seeing the impact of climbing inflation and the rocketing cost of living are very real concerns for many of us. For some tighter finances means making hard choices, sometimes deciding between heat or food. It can be an embarrassing and stressful thing to ask for help, we understand this, and all enquiries are treated in the strictest confidence, by people who care, and are responded to with a willingness to help - if at all possible. Contact us in confidence: info@alresfordpigs.org or call 01962 658961.

Mobility - A call for help! The Pigs provide mobility equipment and aids for many people in and around Alresford. But demand is rising, and we have seen our stocks diminish. We desperately need supplies of commode chairs, walking frames, Rollators with wheels, and wheelchairs. If you have borrowed some of our equipment in the past and no longer need it please return it or call us to collect it from you. We also have several powered mobility scooters in stock, please just ask, we have the experience and expertise to help – and it’s free!

Help is available If you, or someone you know, needs help please contact us. Be assured all enquiries are treated in the strictest confidence. We consider any request for financial support from within the area and although it’s impossible to list all of the people we have supported down the years they include organisations such as the Scouts, Guides, sports & youth groups, local schools for specific projects, families who are unable to fully fund school trips for their child, single parent families needing white goods, families needing support that cannot be provided by other services, mobility scooters, park benches, senior residents events and activities and life-saving defibrillators scattered all round Alresford, plus donations to others in the wider area.

The Alresford Pigs Association is a registered charity (charity no. 1163001). More information can be found at www.alresfordpigs.org or email us at info@alresfordpigs.org or for an immediate request for support call the Pigs Helpline: 01962 658961.