n o t l A this is
Issue #8, April 2011 ISSN 2044-7884
What to do in the
Easter Holidays
Host Your Own Easter Egg Hunt
Gardening | Healthy Living | Business | Event Guide | Onlooker and lots more...
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Issue #8 - April 2011
Features Page 4
From the Editor
Page 6
The Mikado Show Review
Page 8
Local Election Time
Page 10
News from ALFI
r e t s a e days! holi
Page 13
EASTER GUIDE!
Page 15
Hosting an Easter Egg Hunt
Page 16
Alton Buckle Children’s Partnership
Page 17
Alton Lions
Page 18
Easter Message from Simon Corlett
Page 19
Making a Simnel Cake and Competition
Page 45
www.thisisalton.co.uk
Page 23
April and May Event Listings
Page 33
Bank Holiday DIY!
Page 36
Gardening Advice for April
Page 38
Charwell Chat
Page 40
Have you Got a Good Memory?
Page 42
Allergy Allert!
Host Your Own Easter Egg Hunt
Photo of the Month
Page 3
Welcome Hello, and welcome to the April 2011 edition of This is Alton magazine. I feel it is a great shame to have to announce that, whilst the printed March 2011 edition was received very well with the magazine being read thousands of time in print and online, we have not been able to secure enough advertising to continue printing it. Quite why this is, I don’t know. Many of the outlets across the town had to have their supplies replenished several times, and I even had phone calls asking for more. With this is mind, and having a sensitivity to the current economic climate, we are considering a quarterly print run rather than monthly. Please let us know if you would like this to happen. On a more positive note, you can still help the magazine grow by telling your friends and family about it . . . and this month, the Easter guide is packed full of events and activities across the Holidays. It starts on page 13 and goes on until page 34!
One event that will be on everyone’s lips towards the end of month will be the eagerly awaited Royal Wedding! There is a special Garden Party event in the Public Gardens that afternoon when everyone is invited to go along with a picnic from 3pm and enjoy local bands playing an assortment of music through the afternoon. It looks to be a great way to relax on your extra day off this year! Many thanks to those advertisers who continue to support the magazine. Without this support, we would not be able to continue . . . and thanks of course to our readers who enjoy the publication and pass it on to others! Until next month, all the best and have a very Happy Easter,
Martin Saban-Smith Editor
There is so much to do over Easter, it will be a wonder if anyone has the time to sit down and relax!
This month’s cover shot: Easter Egg Hunt from iStock
this is
Alton
Edited & Designed by: Martin Saban-Smith Web: www.thisisalton.co.uk e-mail: editor@thisisalton.co.uk Phone: 01420 542020 Address: 17 Normandy Street, Alton, Hampshire. GU34 1DD
‘This is Alton’ magazine is usually published on the third Friday of the month. ISSN 2044-7884. Published by This is Publishing Ltd. a registered company in England & Wales. Company Number 7521783. Registered address: 17 Normandy Street, Alton, Hampshire. GU34 1DD. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor, Publisher, Sponsors or Advertisers. This is Publishing Ltd cannot be held responsible for the content of third-party websites mentioned in the magazine. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the information contained in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher, editor nor any contributing writer cannot accept any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by any errors or omissions in relation to this publication. The publisher also does not endorse or recommend any of the products or services advertised. Images within this publication are used with the authorisation of the copyright holder and are credited where appropriate. All Rights Reserved. No reproduction of any material is permitted without express permission of the respective owners. Copyright This is Publishing Ltd 2011
Page 4
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Page 5
The
o d a k i M Show review by Martin Saban-Smith
Not being a big fan of opera, I was in two minds about going to see the AODS production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera ‘The Mikado’ on 10th March at Alton Assembly Rooms. To say that I enjoyed the show would be somewhat of an understatement. It was big, loud, glistening with wit, colourful and not what I would have expected to see at all. The enormous effort and commitment put into the production by everyone involved with it at AODS was truly remarkable. The costumes were colourful, the set was simple (but you would expect that being of Japanese influence), and the acting and singing by all the cast was terrific. Notable performances include Simon Jenkins as Nanki-Poo, Geoff Vivian as Ko-Ko and the delivery of every one of his lines! Graeme Cooper whose performance of Pooh-Bah reminded me of Jim Broadbent and Jane Mabbitt as Yum-Yum, whose singing voice was immensely powerful.
‘You don’t have to travel miles to see great theatre!’
Also, Conductor and Musical Director Steven Moore gave a superb performance all of his own as he virtually danced his way through the entire show conducting the orchestra who were simply great! If you have not been to see an AODS show and fancy a night out, I would thoroughly recommend it. On a personal note, I found the whole experience, from the Front of House crew, wine at the interval and of course, the show itself, to be fantastic fun. And, it’s right on the doorstep too! You don’t have to travel far to see some great theatre.
For more information about AODS and their superb productions, visit their website at www.aods.org. Many congratulations on a triumphant show!
Dress Rehersal photograph by Peter Sillick
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L LOCAIO N T ELECME TI -Smith
n Saban
ti by Mar
At some point on Thursday 5th May, we should all make the effort to go to our designated polling station and place a cross next to the name of the hopeful candidate we want to represent our ward on Alton Town Council. The list of candidates (at the time of writing this) has not been released, but it is certain that there will be a smattering of new blood at the Town Hall by the end of the day. Whichever flag you fly during the general, county or district elections may be important at those levels, but at town level, should we not be voting for the candidate in our ward that you believe will do the best for that ward and the town? In my opinion, it doesn’t matter this far down the political ladder which party you vote for, so long as the candidate has the town, and the improvement of it at the absolute centre of his reasoning for standing as a Town Councillor.
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Just as we see the end of Easter and what hopefully turned out to be a cracking Royal Wedding, we are once again being invited to the Polls to vote for the town councillors who we would like to see speak for us and represent us in local Government. But do party politics really have a part to play this far down the echelons of power?
Down here, Mr Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ has been in place for years; just look around at all the organisations and charities around the town and the people that give up their time. Sorry, but politicising voluntary work and ‘getting involved in the community’ could put people off the idea. By all means encourage it, but do not wrap it up in a political cloth and sell it back to us. No, down here, central government politics cover too wide an area to be influenced by Town (or even District) councillors, so the flag you fly may as well be all the colours of all the parties - it doesn’t matter. What matters at Town level is the Town itself and its progression through the challenges placed upon it and its own desire to improve. And that is why, I believe that on 5th May, it is more important to vote for who you believe will be best for the town rather than your normal political party.
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Alton this is
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Have peace of mind on your wedding day.
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Page 9
ALFI and ALEC are the friendly faces of two of the community projects focusing on food and energy run by the Greening Alton and Holybourne Campaign. Here, Penney Hames, volunteer with the Campaign outlines what’s new.
The Alton Local Food Initiative plots around the town are Springing into life once again, as willing bands of volunteers are digging in, clearing and fertilizing the beds beside the station and on Westbrooke Road. This year more people, attracted and inspired by what the small groups of volunteers managed to create last year, have offered to lend a hand and work is moving on a pace. To make it easier for people to join in there will be a regular working party at the station plot on the first Sunday of each month (except May, where it’ll be later in the month). If you’re interested in helping to create a small, vegetable packed bit of heaven by the station please contact: sonia.clark@ btopenworld.com and valeriejanewilliams@ googlemail.com ALFI volunteers are also promoting their garden share scheme, once again this year - a sort of dating agency for gardens and gardeners. The scheme began last year, almost by accident. The owner of a lovely garden in Lenten Street, which runs down to the Wey, contacted some of the people working at the Westbrooke Road plot and was then delighted that her neglected vegetable patch was taken over by two people who wanted more space to ‘grow-their-own’. In their turn they loved working there and quickly developed productive plots. They gave the owner some vegetables most weeks in the summer season, and still had plenty of fresh produce to take home.
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Now four more gardens have come ALFI’s way, all of which are ready and waiting for a local green-fingered gardener to show them some TLC. The gardens are spread across Alton, from the Butts, through the centre of the town and on to Lipscombe Rise. Lesley is happy to put people in touch with the owners, and give advice on an informal agreement with them. The existing successful garden-sharers are also happy to pass on their experience. So, do contact Lesley (lesleyrwillis@gmail.com, tel 01420 83416) if you would like to know more. If you’d like the chance to meet the people behind ALFI in person you can find us this month at the Mill Cottage Farm Experience open day on Easter Monday 25th April 2011,10.30 a.m.– 3.30 p.m. We will be offering crafty gardening ideas for children as well as the chance for people to sign up and join in at the station plot, with a garden share or at Alfi Community Farm. The Open Day is at Andrews Endowed Primary School, London Road, Holybourne, GU34 4EL. Next month you can also meet us at the Spring Fair in the town centre on May 7th from 10 until 3pm. This is your chance to bring along any spare seedlings you’ve grown and swap them for others. It’s our biggest annual event and is hugely popular, with people donating trays of seedlings from early morning on. If you want to join in now is the perfect time to grab a packet of seed and start scattering a few over a tray of compost. If you don’t have room to grow-your-own, don’t worry you can still join in. Come on the day and take as many seedlings as you like in return for a donation.
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For up to the minute information about ALFI please visit www.altonlocalfood.org.uk The Alton Local Energy Campaign or ALEC, to its friends has recently doubled in size, taking on two new volunteers. Roger and Gary were so impressed with their own free home energy surveys that they have now trained as ALEC home energy assessors and are busy booking their first half dozen visits. The ALEC team attended some of the recent parents evenings at local schools. As a result over 40 local families are now booked in for a free home energy survey complete with personalised carbon footprint and advice, with the knowledge that they could slash their energy usage by around a third in a year.
All you need is a well insulated home and a readiness to feedback on how well the equipment performs. Better still, from October 2012 homeowners can also begin to claim money back for every unit of energy these technologies produce. If you’d like to know more about generating your own energy please contact Chris Chappell, Chair of ALEC on 01420 544422 or take a look at the Energy Savings Trust website at www. energysavingstrust.org.uk or the ALEC pages at www.greeningalton.org.uk
Photograph
s courtesy
of Dr. Jam
es Willis
ALEC has recently received word of the government’s plans to make it even more worthwhile to generate energy at home. Everyone can already earn money generating electricity by fitting a solar electricity unit to their southfacing roof. Now the government plan to reward homeowners with a one off lump sum of £300 or more when they install solar thermal panels, ground source heat pumps, air source heat pumps or biomass boilers after July this year.
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Page 11
Bring out the barbeque! (and maybe a new garden to put it in?)
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Possibly originating from the time of the Inquisition where children would be encouraged to find ‘Pagans’ represented by eggs, the modern Easter Egg Hunt is a far more harmless and fun way to get outside at Easter and have some fun! This short guide will give you some hints and tips on putting together your own Easter Egg Hunt.
Host Your Own Easter Egg Hunt
What You Will Need: 1: Lots of eggs (chocolate ones!) and maybe a golden egg or one ‘star prize’ egg. 2: Choose your area - A safe, designated area for the hunt where no eggs will be hidden outside of would be best. Your garden, a public park or a National Trust property would be good. Maybe Alice Holt. Do not play near traffic! 5: Invite your friends and their kids too! Loads more fun with more kids . . . perhaps you could split the cost between you, and maybe a picnic. 4: A simple set of rules, such as: No more than ten eggs each. No fighting, kicking, biting etc! The winner is the person who finds the golden egg. That sort of thing.
How to do it!
Keep an eye on the bigger ones so that there are no aggressive hunting tactics employed, but this shouldn’t be a problem if you have the maximum number per person rule in place! When everyone has finished, count all the eggs found. If there are some missing, send them out again, until they are all found! After all the eggs are found, and to prevent the dreaded ‘sugar-rush’, it might be a good idea to limit the number of eggs eaten before returning home. Above all though, have fun with your family and friends whilst enjoying watching your own Easter Bunnies tearing around looking for the hidden booty!
Make sure the hunters all understand the rules and where the boundaries are before the hunt begins. If you have a wide age range of participants, try giving the littlest ones a minder to assist them and maybe a head-start over the older ones. Keep it fair! Let them loose!
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Use foil wrapped eggs to protect edible eggs from contamination!
Photographs by Henry Buxton
Keeping a note on how many eggs you have, hide them away in as many different places as you can. Some easy, some difficult and make sure you hide the golden egg especially well. Keep a note on where you hid the golden egg, especially if you have put something special inside it!
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With the Easter holidays fast approaching, parents will be keen to find out what activities are running during the holidays for their children to attend. Alton Buckle is working in partnership with Alton Sports Centre, 4Children ABOSC Holiday Play Scheme, SuperSportz and Alton College to promote a wide range of fun activities for all ages. Flyers have been sent through Alton schools giving information on what’s happening locally ranging from a Holiday Play scheme at the Wootey Tiger Club, many sporting opportunities at the Sports Centre and a variety of new activities for older children and young people at Alton College. Alton Buckle Children’s Partnership has been working with Amery Hill School Parliament and Eggar’s School Council to look at activities for young people in the Alton area. In conjunction with Alton College and East Hampshire District Council, Alton Buckle is helping to support the development of activities highlighted through consultation with local youth.
Alton Buckle is a partnership of local schools, health and other professionals and organisations involved with and supporting children and families in the Alton and surrounding area. By working together it enables partners to make a greater difference in improving outcomes for all children locally, especially focusing on addressing inequalities and breaking down barriers. Many of the Alton Buckle Children’s Partnership activities are listed in the mammoth event guide in this edition of This is Alton. Turn to page 15 onwards to find out more.
This Easter sees the start of Photography, Street Dance and Glee Clubs at Alton College with opportunities to continue participating during the summer term. Details of these clubs are available through the Secondary schools and on Alton College website www.altoncollege.ac.uk/community. Places should be booked online on www.altoncollege.ac.uk/ onlinestore in advance to avoid disappointment. ‘Reach Out & Have a go….’ Vouchers are available through schools for all activities to students who are eligible.
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The Band of the Royal Logistic Corps returns to Alton The Band of the Royal Logistic Corps has been invited by the Lions Club of Alton to play for the annual Alton Lions band concert being held on Tuesday 12 April in Alton Assembly Rooms with the doors open at 2pm. The Band and Corps of Drums of The Royal Logistic Corps provides musical support to the Royal Logistic Corps and other units of the Armed Forces and Government. The Royal Logistic Corps Band was formed by the amalgamation of the Bands of The Royal Corps of Transport and The Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1993.
Alton Lions have a long standing relationship with the band and this years event will be the 36th year that it has been held and will include traditional rousing military marches and contemporary music. Entry to the Concert is free to Senior Citizens and tickets can be obtained from the Alton Herald Offices in Market Square or by sending a stamped, addressed envelope to:Lion Gordon Adams, 16 Fontwell Drive, Alton GU34 2TN As usual tickets will be issued on a first come first served basis.
Today the Band is based at the Princess Royal Barracks in Deepcut, the band’s Director of Music is Major Glen Jones MMus, BA(Hons), Dip Mus (Open),ATCL and led by Bandmaster WO1 Justin Teggarty BMus (Hons) CAMUS. The Band performs by kind permission of The Director of The Royal Logistic Corps Brigadier M G Hickson OBE ADC.
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Page 17
An Easter Message
by Simon Corlett, Pastor at the Harvest Church, Alton
When I was a young lad Easter was all about a break from school, chocolate eggs and having to meet up with grandparents. The true meaning of Easter never crossed my mind; I had not given God a second thought and certainly didn’t ever consider what His Son Jesus had done on the cross for me. However at the age of 17, I heard, for the first time the gospel message. My life has never been the same. At Easter we celebrate and remember that very life changing event. Two thousand years ago Jesus Christ, the Son of God died on a cross and then rose again three days later. For many this message just doesn’t make sense, like the man in the following story. There was once a man who didn't believe in God, and he didn't hesitate to let others know how he felt about religion and religious holidays, like Easter and Christmas. His wife, however, did believe, and she raised their children to also have faith in God and Jesus, despite his comments. One winter evening, his wife had taken their children to a Sunday service and he refused to go. "That Gospel message is nonsense!" he had said. "Why would God lower Himself to come to Earth as a man? That's ridiculous!" A while later, the winds grew stronger and as the man looked out, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. Then another. He looked out again, but couldn't see more than a few feet. When he ventured outside to see what was beating on his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of geese. They had been flying south for the winter when they got lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window.
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The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It's warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and didn't seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. Getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe. “Why don't they follow me?!" he exclaimed. "Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?" He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn't follow a human. "If only I were a goose, then I could save them," he said out loud. Then he had an idea. He got one of his own geese from the barn, and carried it as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese. He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn, and one by one the other geese followed it to safety. He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind: "If only I were a goose, then I could save them!" Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier. "Why would God want to be like us? That's ridiculous!" Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese; blind, lost, perishing. God had His Son become like us, so He could show us the way and set us free.
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Mill Cottage Farm Experience We come to you.
Annual Open Day
Easter Monday 25th April 2011
10:30am- 3:30pm
At: Andrews’ Endowed School, London Road, Holybourne GU34 4EL (Parking @ Treloars College)
Entrance: £3.50 adults; £2.50 children; Family Ticket £10
Our animals inc. new born lambs, goats, piglets & chicks Gift, craft & trade stalls for the adults Activities for the kids inc. bouncy castle, make & take craft, face painting, pony rides Refreshments inc. cakes, soup-in-a-bun & Mill Cottage hot dogs, ice cream Entertainment inc. Jazz Band, Morris dancing Rodeo Bull Modern tractor static display Welly Wanging Demonstrations Fun and games for all the family Full timetable of events “Good Life" talks eg. growing your own, keeping bees, candle making, making cheese etc. More details on our website! www.mcfe.org.uk
Fundraising for British Kidney Patient Association www.britishkidney-pa.co.uk www.thisisalton.co.uk Page 19
easter ! g n i k a b
Inspirational baking by Denise Allen from
Springtime this year begins with Easter and it just begs to be celebrated with a cake or two and these two will allow you to run riot with colourful icing and decorations. So what to bake? Well, oddly enough, Simnel Cake (pictured above) is a light fruit cake with connections to Mothering Sunday and Easter time celebrations, when the addition of the 11 marzipan balls represent the Disciples of Jesus. I also like to make Simnel cupcakes at this time of year; light fruity individual cakes topped with scrumptious little Mini Eggs and “runny icing”. Why not choose one of these recipes to make yourself following the “how to” instructions here and in no time at all you’ll be enjoying teatime treats with your nearest & dearest.
simnel cake Ingredients 100g glace cherries, 200g sultanas, 200g raisins, 100g currants, 175g butter (unsalted) 175g caster sugar, 225g plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder, half tsp ground cinnamon, 25g ground almonds, 2 tablespoons milk. 1kg golden marzipan, sprinkling of icing sugar, tablespoon of apricot jam, 1 egg white (lightly beaten)
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Method: Preheat your oven to Gas Mark 3/170°C. Butter & line (with grease proof paper) a 20cm tin (ideally a spring-clip tin as show in pictures). Finely chop the glace cherries (rinse first in lukewarm water to remove the syrup and then dry) and mix with the sultanas, raisins and currants. Sift the plain flour into a large bowl with the baking powder, cinnamon and ground almonds and mix together. Now cream together the room temperature/ softened butter with the caster sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time and each with a tablespoon of the flour mixture. When all 3 eggs are added and well combined with the butter and sugar you should gradually beat in the remaining flour mixture. Finally you can now “fold in” the dry fruit to the butter/flour batter. Spoon half the mixture into the tin and level down gently (left). Now you should roll a disc of marzipan to the same size as your tin and place this on top of the cake mix already in the tin. Finally, add the remaining cake mix on top of the marzipan disc and gently smooth off the top (below).
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This now goes into the oven. After 40 minutes reduce the temperature of the oven to Gas Mark 2/150°C and bake for a further hour and a half. Don’t be tempted to open the oven door too early, but about 15 minutes before the baking time is up, gently turn the cake around in the oven to ensure even cooking. Once the cake is slightly raised and a beautifully golden brown with a firm texture you can take it out and leave to cool in the tin. When the cake is cold remove it from the cake tin and remove the grease proof lining.
simnel cupcakes Ingredients 250g Sultanas/Raisins Zest & juice of an orange 175g butter 175g caster sugar 3 eggs (beaten) 300g self-raising flour 1 tsp mixed spice Half tsp ground nutmeg 5 tbsp milk 175g marzipan. Mix the orange juice and zest with the dried fruit and leave for an hour. Preheat your oven to Gas Mark 4/180°C, and place 12 muffin-sized cases into a cupcake tray.
Cut out another disc of marzipan large enough to cover the entire top of the cake. Warm the apricot jam in a saucepan on the hob (or briefly in the microwave) until it is fluid (don’t let it burn). Brush the top of the cake with this warmed jam using a pastry brush and gently lift the marzipan disc on top. With the remaining marzipan roll out 11 equal sized balls and stick to the marzipan disc using a little of the egg white mix* At this point you can brush the cake top and balls lightly with the remaining egg white and put the cake briefly under the grill in order to burnish the top OR leave it as it is – choice is yours. Place on a cake board or plate, decorate with a springtime patterned ribbon and serve. *If you prefer you can leave off the marzipan disciples/balls and decorate with other Easter-time decorations (rabbits or chicks for example) or maybe with Mini Eggs to match the Simnel cupcakes?
Beat together the caster sugar and butter in a mixing bowl. Add the eggs, spices and milk and beat until the mixture is light, fluffy and well combined. In an electric mixer this will take a few minutes, much longer if you’re doing it by hand! Fill the muffin cakes halfway. Then place a walnut sized piece of marzipan (flattened slightly) in each. Next cover the marzipan ball in each with the remaining fruity mix. Bake in the oven for between 25-30 minutes until risen and golden brown. Nearing the end of the standard baking time you should turn the tin around to ensure even colour and baking. Place the cakes aside until cold, when you can make the runny icing and decorate if you wish. See over the page for the icing!
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Page 21
Icing and Decorating 200g icing sugar (sieved) 2 tbsp of warm water (or orange juice if desired) 36 mini eggs (allows for 3 per cupcake!) Slowly add the warm water to the icing sugar and beat well until smooth and lump free – it should be of a dropping/pouring consistency (see picture).
Spoon a teaspoon of mix on top of each cake and let it arrange itself over the cupcake in a “haphazard” way or using a knife dipped in warm water to spread it across the top of the cake for a more even coverage. Finally place the mini eggs on top of each cake. Perfect! For more information about Cupcake and Bake and the services Denise Allen offers her clients, please visit their website at
www.cupcakeandbake.co.uk
n o i t i t e comp OUS ORGE G S I H T N I W KE! SIMNEL CA
To win this fantastic cake as made by Denise from Cupcake and Bake just answer this simple question:
‘The marzipan balls on top of the Simnel Cake represent each of Christ’s apostles, but there are only 11 of them. If each were given a name, which one of the apostles would be missing from the cake?’ Email your answer, with your name, address and telephone number before 21st April to:
competition@thisisalton.co.uk The draw will take place on 21st April and the winner notified immediately. One entry per household. No cash alternative. Draw will be filmed and placed on our blog at http://thisisalton.blogspot.com. Cake may contains nuts or traces of nuts. Contact Cupcake and Bake for more information. Page 22
www.thisisalton.co.uk
n o t l A this is
Event Guide April & May 2011
Photograph by Ed Livesey from the Alton College Photography Exhibition of Cuba
Here comes Easter! This month, the event guide is over flowing with events and activities to help pass the time! There really is something for everyone in April and May, it will be hard to fit it all in! Enjoy!
April Events Tuesday 5th
Alton Organ Society Concert
A concert to be given by Stephen Disley from Southward Cathedral at St. Lawrence Church at 8pm. For entry fees and further details, visit the society website at www.altonorgansociety.co.uk.
Thursday 7th
Evening Lecture by Dr Sarah Haggarty William Blake (1757-1827) sold scarcely any of his illuminated books and drawings in his lifetime. From 6:30pm, Chawton House Library. Learn about this great man. Ticket details can be found at www.chawtonhouse.org.
Friday 8th - Sunday 10th
SWIMATHON 2011
The world’s biggest fundraising swim comes to Alton Sports Centre. Dive in with 22,000 others around the UK and help raise £2m for Marie Curie Cancer Care. For further information, visit www.swimathon.org
Saturday 9th
Hampshire Farmers’ Market
The High Street and Cross & Pillory Lane will be closed for the finest produce from Hampshire Farmers and Craft workers between 10am and 2pm. www.hampshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk www.thisisalton.co.uk
Saturday 9th - Monday 25th
Easter Bunny Eggstravaganza
Explore the features of Gilbert White’s House Garden in Selborne whilst the children hunt for Easter bunnies hiding in the grounds! Fun for all the family! Normal admission charges apply. See the website at www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk
Saturday 9th - Sunday 24th
Easter Clue Trail at Alice Holt
Join the Easter Clue Trail around Alice Holt Forest. Sheets from the Cafe on the green. £2.00 no booking necessary.
Saturday 9th
Alton Craft Market
Cross & Pillory Lane and the Market Square will be closed for this popular market of hand made arts and crafts from 10am. www.altoncraftmarket.co.uk
Tuesday 12th
Den Building
Between 10an and 12 noon, children aged 8 and over can learn to build dens of all sorts. Call 01420 520212 or email kathleen.calver@forestry.gsi.gov.uk to book. Dress for the weather! £7.00 per child.
Wednesday 13th
Easter Activities at the Allen Gallery Drop into the Allen Gallery on Church Street between 10:30am and 4pm for creative activites.
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Wednesday 13th - Thursday 14th
Wednesday 20th
Strictly Showtime Workshops
Family Bushcraft Day
Wednesday 13th and Wednesday 20th
Saturday 23rd
At the Maltings Centre, Visit Thomas the Tank Engine with Henry, Daisy, Toad and others at this great event on the Watercress Line. Pre-Book tickets at www.watercressline.co.uk
Crafty Kids
Craft sessions at Alton Assembly Rooms for kids up to 12 years of age from 1:00pm. £3.00 per child includes all materials, soft drink and a biscuit. Call 01420 82203 for more details.
Thursday 14th
Camp Fire and Food
Learn essential camping skills Cook sausages and roast marshmallows at Alice Holt between 11am and 2pm. Ages 8 - 11. £9.00 per child. Call 01420 23666 or email kathleen.calver@forestry.gsi.gov. uk to book
Thursday 14th
Chawton House Library Open Day
Explore the Elizabethan manor home that was once owned by Jane Austen’s brother. Refreshments and childrens activities available too. For entry costs and information visit www.chawtonhouse.org.
Alice Holt hosts this exciting day of shelter building, fire lighting and all things to make you feel comfortable in the wild. See www.gonetothewoods. co.uk or call 01252 781309 to book.
St. George’s Day!
Enjoy an afternoon of Morris Dancing from 12:30pm at The Bury in Odiham. Contact 01252 642444 or www.hookeagle.org.uk for more information.
Bank Holiday Monday 25th
Mill Cottage Farm Experience Open Day
Andrews’ Endowed School in Holybourne plays host again for this interactive experience between 10:30am and 3:30pm. There will be farm animals, including newborns. Refreshments, gifts, craft and trade stalls and a full timetable of events. MCFE are fundraising for the British Kidney Patient Association. For more details visit www.mcfe.org.uk.
Friday 29th Thursday 14th
Friends of the Museum Talk
A Royal Garden Party Enjoy
your
Join Phoebe Merrick for a free talk on ‘Wigpowder, matches and Wine - the Excise at Work’ at the Allen Gallery from 7:30pm tonight. For details visit www3.hants.gov.uk/museum/allen-gallery/
Saturday 16th - 25th
Day out with Thomas
Visit Thomas the Tank Engine with Henry, Daisy, Toad and others at this great event on the Watercress Line. Pre-Book tickets at www.watercressline.co.uk
Wednesday 20th
Easter Activities at the Allen Gallery Drop into the Allen Gallery on Church Street between 10:30am and 4pm for creative activites during the Easter Holidays. www3.hants.gov.uk/museum/allen-gallery/ Page 24
extra day off this year by watching the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton followed by a concert for all tastes to be given by local bands in the Band Stand at the Public Gardens between 3pm and 8pm. Bring a picnic and enjoy the fun!
Saturday 30th
RNLI Quiz and Fish & Chip Supper
Fun general knowledge quiz from 7:30pm at The Cabin, Anstey Park. Contact Myra Berridge on 01420 85691 for table bookings. Maximum 6 per table. All proceeds to RNLI.
www.thisisalton.co.uk
May Events
Sunday 8th
Alton Ten Road Race
Tuesday 3rd
Alton Organ Society Concert
A concert to be given by Richard Pearce, (Director of Music for the Waverley Swingers) at St. Lawrence Church at 8pm. For entry fees and further details, visit the society website at www.altonorgansociety. co.uk.
Friday 6th - Sunday 8th
Starting at 10:30am, this important annual ten mile road race is a member of the Hampshire Road Race League and is organised by the Alton Runners. For more information and entry forms, check the website at www.altonrunners.org
Walls Funfair
All the fun of the family fair on the Butts.
Saturday 14th - Sunday 15th
Dog Show
Saturday 7th
St Lawrence Church Furniture Sale
Plenty of second hand furniture, browse books, brica-brac, crockery, videos and CDs at this event where proceeds go towards youth work around Alton. The Parish Centre, Church Lane 9am - 12:30pm. For details, contact the Parish Administrator on 01420 83234 on weekday mornings.
Anstey Park is playing host to a dog show this weekend. Check local press and the This is Alton May edition for further details.
Saturday 14th
Local History Day
Join local historians at Alton Assembly Rooms between 10am and 3pm to learn about the Alton area. More details in next month’s This is Alton
Saturday 7th
Hampshire Farmers’ Market
The High Street and Cross & Pillory Lane will be closed for the finest produce from Hampshire Farmers between 10am and 2pm. www. hampshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk. There are also some other special, seasonal events going on too.
Saturday 7th
Alton Craft Market
Cross & Pillory Lane and the Market Square will be closed for this popular market of hand made arts and crafts from 10am. www. altoncraftmarket.co.uk
Sunday 8th
Rotherfield Park Open Garden
Explore the atmospheric garden and grass amphitheater at Rotherfield Park, East Tisted between 2pm and 5pm. Experience views that cliches are made from in this 12 acre garden. Admission £3 per adult. Children free.
Alton
this is
this is
www.thisisalton.co.uk
Thursday 19th
History of the Flower Pot
Join Alton Horticultural Society for an insightful talk to be given by Jonathan Garrett at the Church Hall at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Normandy Streetfrom 7:30pm. Visitors and new members welcome. Free Parking. www.altonhorticulturalsociety.org.uk.
Saturday 21st - Sunday 22nd
Four Marks Model Railway Exhibition 2011
Model railways galore at this fun exhibition at the Village Hall (on Lymington Bottom) in Four Marks. Between 10am and 4pm on both days there will be a vintage bus service running from Four Marks station for the Watercress Line..
Promoting local events. Free.
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Where’s Spot? Celebrating 30 years of fun
A special exhibition of original art from Eric Hill’s Spot books celebrating the 30th anniversary of the much loved children’s story, Where’s Spot? opens at the Allen Gallery on 9 April 2011. Since the first publication in 1980, Where’s Spot? has gone on to sell over 10 million copies around the world and has been translated into 60 languages! This special touring exhibition by the publishers, Frederick Warne, features a collection of original artwork from Where’s Spot? and other popular Spot books including Spot Goes to the Farm and Spot’s Birthday Party. Information panels follow the history of this lovable little puppy and how he became one of the best-loved children’s characters of all time. For further information about the exhibition at the Allen Gallery contact Claire Dixon at Hampshire Museums Service on 01962 826729 or email claire.dixon@hants.gov.uk For further PRESS information about Spot and request for images please contact: Ilka Schirmer at Frederick Warne on 0207 010 3478 or email ilka.schirmer@uk.penguingroup.com
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Museum lecture uncovers a long overlooked
WWI tale of Courage and Failure in Iraq The research by Curtis Museum Curator, Tony Cross, into the men of Alton who died in two World Wars and whose names are on The Cairn, has revealed fascinating details into where they were lost.
Entitled Kut 1916 – courage and failure in Iraq, the lecture will take place in The Forum at Alton College starting at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 4 May with tickets (£4) available from the Curtis Museum.
What promises to be a fascinating lecture by military historian Colonel Patrick Crowley who has recently written a book on the subject, aims to shed light on a forgotten story of The First World War in the Middle East where some Alton soldiers made the greatest sacrifice for King and Country.
Why not come along and find out more about a largely forgotten episode of the First World War which has interesting parallels with the present day conflict in the same part of the world?
www.thisisalton.co.uk
Page 27
Gallery exhibition inspired in
There is a real treat in store for visitors to Alton’s Allen Gallery during April when there will be an opportunity to see an exhibition by a group of Alton College Photography students who recently spent six days exploring the culture and scenery of Cuba. "The trip to Cuba was unforgettable, it's great to see a place with such a different culture and we were lucky to be able to photograph it, as it was clear that the country is changing and will gradually turn into a very different place." explains Jordan Stovold The AS Photography Students took excursions to Old Havana with Cuban music & vibrant people and the colourful town of Trinidad provided plenty of vibrant photo opportunities, a trip to the 1930’s cigar factory, enjoying panoramic views of the city, tasting traditional Cuban cuisine and a highlight was an early morning visit to the Vinales Valley to experience breathtaking views over Pinar del Rio. There was a lot to take in! Vintage transport, fascinating road systems, motorways lined with money-waving hitchhikers, runaway horses and wild dogs - all part of a fascinating country that is so very different from Hampshire. With the help of enthusiastic local guide Jorge Perez showing them the 'Real Cuba', they found this still Communist country to be warm and friendly, colourful and vibrant. “Cuba was an incredible experience. It was great to have the opportunity to go there and take images of their culture. I met some amazing people and made new friends.” says Alex Bracey
The pictures will be on view at the Allen Gallery from Tuesday, 5 April to Saturday, 7 May. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and admission is free. Photograph by Ed Livesey
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www.thisisalton.co.uk
E G E L L O C N ALTO Street Dance Taster Sessions
Tuesday 12th and Tuesday 19th April 1-2pm in the Dance Studio, Alton College Age 11-16 £5/session Learn some new moves and if you enjoy these sessions, you could sign up for the Street Dance Club every Tuesday at 7-7.45pm in the Alton College Dance Studio.
Glee Club
Wednesday 20th April 10am-1pm in the Dance Studio, Alton College Age 8-16 FREE This session promises to be great fun. For more information on this session call 01730 234 384 or book online at www. getactivenow.org.uk. If you enjoy this session and would like to join a regular after school Glee Club please contact community@ altoncollege.ac.uk or look on www.altoncollege.ac.uk/community.
Photography Taster Sessions
Thursday 14th April - 10am-12 pm [Age 11-14] You must book onto this session by 7th April
Wednesday 27th April - 4-6pm [Age 13-16] You must book onto this session by 20th April
£17/session Creative Darkroom Images – make your own artwork without the need for a camera! Have you ever been into a photographic darkroom before? Come and learn how traditional images can be created using light sensitive paper, your own objects and white light. The mystery of photography will be unravelled. Understand how images appear from nowhere and you will learn how to handle photographic chemicals safely and at the end of the session, be able to take away your artwork and amaze your family and friends!! If you enjoy this session and would like to join a regular after school Photography Club please contact community@altoncollege.ac.uk or look on www.altoncollege.ac.uk/community.
E A S T E R
A C T I V I T I E S
For further information and to book online via the Alton College online store at www.altoncollege.ac.uk/onlinestore
www.thisisalton.co.uk
Page 29
Alton Sports Centre
v ities Easter Holiday Aurcsdtiay 21st April 2011 Monday 11th April – Th PRE-SCHOOL
3-5yrs
Messy morning/Arts & crafts Monday & Tuesdays 10-10.45am - £4.25 per session
Mini Tennis
Wednesday & Thursdays 12-12.45pm - £5.25 per session
Toddler Trampolining
Tuesday & Wednesdays 20 min sessions between 1-2pm- £3.75 per session
Ballet
Friday - 1.30-2pm - £3.75
JUNIORS
5-12yrs
Swimming Crash Courses
Monday – Thursdays 30min sessions between 9.30-10.30am - £21.60
Diving
Monday, Wednesday & Fridays 10.45-11.30 - £15.00 per course
JUNIORS
continued
Trampolining
Tuesday & Wednesdays Sssions between 10am-1pm -£5.75
Swim Technique Sessions
Wednesdays Frontcrawl & Butterfly 10-11am - £4.75 Backstroke & Breaststroke - 11-12noon - £4.75
Squash
Wednesday & Thursday 10 - 11am & 11-12noon - £5.50 per session
Badminton
Tuesday & Wednesdays 10-12noon & 12-2pm- £4.00 per session
Street Dance
Friday – 2.15-3pm - £5.00
For details of all of these activities, please contact Alton Sports Centre directly on
01420 540040
Arts & Crafts
Monday & Tuesdays 11-12noon - £5.25 per session
Mini Tennis
Wednesday & Thursdays 12.45-1.30pm - £5.25 per session
Page 30
www.thisisalton.co.uk
2 1 ÂŁ t s
Ju y! a d a
Easter Holiday Fun! W
ING M IM
SW
FOO TBA
LL
ALL At CLIM BING Alton Sports Centre Chawton Park Road 11th-15th & 18th-21st April 2011 Boys and Girls ages 5 - 12
ARTS AND CRAFTS
ET
K CRIC
TREASURE HUNTS
MES A G TEAM
BOUNCY CASTLE HOCKEY
For more details or to make a booking contact Supersportz on 01252 842432 www.supersportz.co.uk
Specialists in Sports Coaching
MAGNOLIAS, MAY and MOTORS in
FARRINGDON SUNDAY 8th MAY
11am - 5pm FLOWER FESTIVAL IN THE CHURCH
CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW SHOPPING MARQUEE Stalls, Produce, Plants, Books, Ploughman’s Lunch, Cream Teas, All proceeds in aid of All Saints’ Church Page 32
www.thisisalton.co.uk
f l e s r u o do it y
r e t s a this e The bank holidays are nearly upon us again and millions of people up and down the country will be dusting off the tools readying themselves for the most loved and loathed of all great British institutions - DIY! You’ve been looking at and listening to the broken gate all winter, gazed upon the flaky paint on the window frames and now it is time to put it all right again. Time to get the house spick and span in time for the summer. But where to start? To be honest, I’m not the greatest DIY guru in the world, in fact I’m not a DIY guru at all, but at this time of year, I don the tool belt and get to work rebuilding the family nest! Well, I try to. So long as I don’t have to pay someone to put my efforts right, I’m generally happy. So, what can we be getting on with on the Bank Holidays and April and May this year? Other than making sure you’ve got a decent first aid kit for your knuckles and thumbs, and a pocket full of change for the swear box, if the weather is good, get outside and start having a go at the window frames and sills, if you still have wooden frames!
(see the Gardening in April article on page 36 for some ideas), and definitely fix the gate! If you’ve got a patio or terrace, or one of those posh decks, get those weeds up and then blitz the roots with some ‘kill everything’ weed killer. Be sure to read the label though and follow the instructions carefully! If you’ve run out nails, screws or need a few bits to start or complete a job, then the well stocked Alton Home Hardware on the High Street should be the place to go. In this issue, shop Manager Seb is giving a generous 15% discount on your purchase. Just print off the voucher over the page and take it with you! The staff are knowledgeable, helpful and happy to give advice. Now may also be a good time to treat any wood you have outside after the harsh winter. Varnish, ‘creosote’ or a good lick of paint should to the trick. The shed may be a good candidate for this job!
Mow the lawn, start planting the borders with some wonderful new flowers
www.thisisalton.co.uk
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Alton
www.altonhomehardware.co.uk
15% OFF VOUCHER Print off this voucher and present it in the Alton store on or before 3rd May 2011 and receive a 15% discount on your purchase. Discount not applicable for use against other promotions. One voucher per household. Only valid at Alton Home Hardware. Offer expires 3rd May 2011
Alton
13 High Street, Alton, Hampshire. GU34 1FG Tel: 01420 85115 Fax: 01420 85116
www.altonhomehardware.co.uk
Opening Times: Monday - Saturday 8:30am - 5:30pm Sunday 10am - 4pm
rsel u o y t i do
f
ter s a e s i h t As if outside is not enough for the weary DIYer, there’s stuff to do inside too! Even if the weather is poor this Bank Holiday season, inside is just as much of a DIY haven as the outside. Redecorate the living room, dining room or paint that cartoon mural on the kids walls they’ve been on at you about for ages. Or, for the more adventurous DIYer, perhaps replacing a floor would be a good idea? Alton Wood Floors have just launched a new website (see below) which is perfect for the DIY enthusiast wishing to replace or install their own wood floor. With a cracking range of wood flooring and associated products (and with free delivery), this bank holiday, you could really transform that room with a high quality wood floor. You can read about Alton Wood Floors on page 38 of this issue of This is Alton.
Something else that may be on the cards is having the first Barbecue of the season . . . undoubtedly though, it is going to need a thorough going over if it’s been tucked away, unused through the winter. But what do you do with the kids whilst you and your significant other are busying yourselves? Why not let them dig a sand pit at the bottom of the garden or do what we did last Easter and buy them a rabbit and all the trimmings? Perhaps not! When its all finished, a great way to end a bank holiday weekend would be with a barbecue, a cold drink, perhaps some friends round. Sit down at the garden table and chairs you’ve just dusted off, touched up and blown the cobwebs off the parasol. Finally relaxing, you can gaze lovingly at all your hard work, nurse your wounds and give yourself a well earned pat on the back (if you are not too stiff!) Thanks to the Royal Wedding, we all get an extra day off to celebrate the occasion which also gives us a great excuse to do even more round the house! Rest assured, when we get into it, we’ll put our hearts into our jobs and make sure that our own bit of this green and pleasant land is as good as we can possibly make it!
Alton Wood Floor Shop
The one stop wood floor shop • Wood flooring at amazing prices • Large stocks to take away today • Large free car park • Free fitting advice • Free delivery in Alton area
We are open 7 days a week 8.30a.m - 5.30a.m Monday to Friday 10.00a.m - 4.00p.m Saturday & Sunday
Contact us: 01420 540261 Alton Wood Floor Shop Charwell House, Wilsom Road, Alton, Hampshire. GU34 2PP
www.altonwoodfloorshop.com www.thisisalton.co.uk
Page 35
Just as you thought it was safe to plant those bedding plants, Chris Feldon from Garthowen Garden Centre in Four Marks warns ‘We are NOT SAFE FROM FROST YET!’ We have had some really warm days of late but its too early for tender plants to go out!
by Chris Feldon, Garthowen Garden Centre
Plants are really racing ahead and bursting into life at the moment, so time spent now in the garden will reap rewards for you later in the summer, giving you more time to relax and appreciate the fruits of your labour. Plant container grown roses, but if your soil is heavy and wet, improve its drainage by digging in grit and well-rotted manure, compost or bark. Lightly fork over borders and remove any weeds taking care not to damage emerging herbaceous plants and apply a general fertiliser such as fish, blood & bone, pelleted chicken manure or growmore to all plants. Mulch any areas of garden not already done with well-rotted manure or compost. Wait until the leaves of Daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs have gone brown before you trim them. Prune Spring flowering shrubs once the flowers have faded and begin spraying roses only if necessary, to control pests and diseases. a real must do is too get the supports in for tall perennials before they make too much growth. Putting supports in later can cause damage to stems and make the job much more difficult. Cut off dead hydrangea heads ready for all that new growth.
WHAT TO SOW There’s a lot to sow this month especially if March was poor. Potatoes: Plant out first earlies into well prepared ground. Broad Beans: sow the last ones into the ground or peat pots. Peas another sowing can go in this month. Runner Beans: Start in pots under cover this month. French Beans: start a few in pots under cover but leave most until May The climbing french are tougher than bush french beans. Onions & Shallots: Shallots need to go in early. Onions can be later. Those started from seed should be ready to go out now as well as sets of Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage (Winter & Summer), Cauliflower and Kale can all be sown in modules. Lettuce: Keep sowing Radish,Spring onions,lettuce and salad leaves every 2-3 weeks Carrots: These do well sown this month but cover with fleece well tucked down to protect from carrot fly attack. Sow Kohlrabi, beetroot, turnips, spinach beets, chards, and true spinach but sow Salsify later in the month.
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If not already started sow Tomatoes, Peppers, Aubergine, Greenhouse Cucumbers in heated propagators Also outdoor Cucumbers. Sweetcorn: Start in long toms or root trainers towards the end of the month. Chitting the seeds is a good idea. Place them on a sheet of moist kitchen roll and cover with the same, seal in an air tight container and put in a warm dark place, after 3 days plant the seeds that have sprouted.
WHAT TO DO
Weeds: Keep your hoe sharp and deal with weeds before they get out of hand and smother new seedlings. Keep earthing up potatoes Slugs: These are the veg gardeners worst enemy and you will have to deal with them one way or another. There are safe slug baits on the market now or the more traditional beer trap.
Rabbits: a new product on the market called GRAZERS will keep rabbits, deer and pigeons off the crop for up to 6 weeks and is harmless to every thing. Bedding Plants: Continue to pot up any plug plants of summer flowering plants you may have bought and keep them in a frost free, sunny spot. Lawns: Re-seed or re-turf bald patches of lawn. Spread lawn fertiliser or combined weed and feed to produce a healthy lawn. Mow as often as required.
Bedding Plants: Continue to pot up any plug plants of summer flowering plants you may have bought and keep them in a frost free, sunny spot. Lawns: Re-seed or re-turf bald patches of lawn. Spread lawn fertiliser or combined weed and feed to produce a healthy lawn. Mow as often as required.
www.thisisalton.co.uk
For personal gardening advice and for all your gardening requirements, visit Garthowen Garden Centre Alton Lane Four Marks GU34 5AJ Tel: 01962 773225
Page 37
Charwell Chat
by Cathy Hogg of Charwell House Business Centre
This month, Cathy Hogg, Managing Director of Charwell House Business Centre introduces Terry Hill, whose business, Alton Wood Floors has gone from strength to strength in only a few months. Terry Hill started Alton Wood Floors in August 2010 having been involved in the floor industry for over 20 years. The market was found to lack a specialist wood flooring shop and so a close and skilled team, was gathered. Leigh, Terry’s son is a skilled carpenter and Russell who has been involved in installing and restoring wood flooring in some of London’s most prestigious and historic buildings including museums, embassies. The company has enjoyed rapid growth and now employs five floor layers and restoration operatives as well as an apprentice and shop manager. Terry is aware that success comes from the team and the care it shows towards the clients; identifying needs and understanding their way of life. This then allows the right floor to be chosen. Whilst laying the floor the fitters explain what they are doing and why they are doing it. The company believes that the whole experience should be an enjoyable one and so the recommendations come in thick and fast. A passion of Terry’s is to source quality wood flooring at the best possible prices. This passion is equaled by his enthusiasm to give customers the highest quality information, thus allowing them to make a totally informed choice. To service the DIY market Terry has built up large stocks of wood, all the necessary accessories and maintenance products for instant collection or free local delivery. He also gives as much free advice as necessary to install the flooring purchased. To do what Terry has done within only 6 months is amazing, he is one of the most talked about newcomers to the town and this is all due to the team’s attitude, care and passion about doing the best possible job and making the whole experience an enjoyable one.
Further information:
Charwell House: www.officespacealton.co.uk Alton Wood Floors: www.altonwoodfloors.com Page 38
www.thisisalton.co.uk
! e M r o F e t Vo By the time you read this you may have already have received the first leaflet through the door from one of the prospective candidates in the local elections, or if you are particularly lucky, a knock at the door from one of them. While all the parties and candidates will no doubt be talking to you about how much they have either done for you, or what they will do for you, I suspect the main themes will be potholes, value for money, traffic, dog-fouling, protecting open spaces and supermarkets. As a bit of light relief from these great matters of state, I thought that I would offer an alternative manifesto, containing a few common sense policies (and a couple of silly ones!) that I doubt you will find amongst any of the real politicians’ promises. 1. A law that says you must have the number or name of your house clearly visible, preferably a minimum of 6 inches high, and if you live in a street with no street lighting, then it should also be illuminated. This will make life so much easier for the emergency services, deliverers and in fact, everyone else. No more excuses from householders that the numbers fell off years ago or are hidden beneath an out-ofcontrol Honeysuckle. 2. A ban on fibre-optic Christmas Trees and tinsel. I know that taste is a very personal, but in my opinion, these items defy all realms of public decency and should be deposited in some suitable recycling repository without further ado. 3. A ban on building on all routes of former railway lines. It may not be in my lifetime, but there will come a time when most of these railways will have to reopen and it will be a lot easier if houses haven’t been built on them. Some progress has been made on reopening some routes, but as yet it hasn’t been on the scale necessary to get people to leave their cars at home in sufficient numbers. Yes you can get from A to B by train, but often, because many direct routes were closed years ago, the journey now would take all day – a real disincentive. www.thisisalton.co.uk
Onlooker
X
4. Compulsory display of valid insurance in car windscreens. Several countries have this in place already. To me and I suspect all other law-abiding motorists, having no valid car insurance is far more of a crime than not having Road Tax. Although I have never had an accident with someone who wasn’t insured I am told that for people who have, it is an absolute nightmare. Such an Insurance Disc scheme is so simple yet would have a really big impact. 5. To apply the same VAT rules to works on old buildings, as to new buildings. I am no tax expert, but I understand that the main reason that developers would rather knock down a building rather than convert it or incorporate into a new development, is because there are more VAT advantages if you knock it down and start from scratch. This would explain why so many quality character properties (not necessarily good enough to be Listed) have been flattened when there was nothing wrong with them. 6. My last bug-bear, which definitely warrants the most draconian penalty that can be dished out by our judicial system, is the selfishness of those drivers who, whilst everyone else has been in the single file having heeded the advance signs warning of road works and the reduction of two lanes to one, continues in the empty lane and then pushes their way into the queue. This makes my blood boil! How un-sportsman-like and un-gentlemanly. If anyone standing in the elections would like more details on any of these draft (note that was Draft, not Daft!) policies, then please contact me for more details on how they might be implemented. As to residents who hear the door knock and think it might be someone seeking their vote, please open the door. Even if you don’t want to tell them who you are going to vote for, at least you can just say hello, just to cheer them on their weary way as they tramp those quiet streets, hoping to do their bit for your community.
And don’t forget to vote, whoever it is for. Page 39
Have you got a
Good errr..Memory? by Melanie Cowpland, Kariba Consulting
Often people will make comments about their memory. It is either good or bad, generally or specifically on subjects concerning names. So this month I would like to lift the lid on what memory is, and how you can change the efficiency of your memory to suit your needs. What is memory?
Well memory is like the operating system of the computer, Windows, Apple or Linux for example. It is the place where all these experiences are stored to support the programs that you run. It is a function that is so integrated with our identity that the two cannot be separated. How it works is that the senses are receiving information from our environment. This information is stored in the memory. It is our ability to retrieve information quickly that is the key to a good memory.
Information that is not considered to be important to us is difficult to retrieve within moments or seconds depending on the degree of attention we give the information. Information that is considered important will be held in conscious memory and is easy to access when required. For example it is important for teachers to learn and recall names quickly, therefore the majority of teachers are very good at remembering names.
Here are a few tips on what you can do to improve memory.
Attention
The amount of att ention you give to something will greatly improve your memory of it. We always give attention and rem ember the things that are most impo rtant to us.
Processing
How you consciou sly interpret inform ation will affect how yo u remember it. If you are learning for an ex am, rev ise by findin g your own words for the information until you have skeleton summarie s that when you look at them you will rem ember all the detai l behind it. Any active appli cation of the inform ation will also greatly im prove recall as the brain is forced to find mean ing in the informati on.
Cues
Our memory is multi- sensory, so when you are trying to remember someth ing you read last week, try to access the sou nds, or feelings of when yo u read it, not just words. Cues can also be words in themselv es like generating a rhymi ng word for someth ing you are trying to remember, you wi ll find your word will be recalled easily an d give you access to the information you wa nt to remember.
Of course if you consistently find that you can’t remember where your keys are no matter the attention, processing and cue generation you apply, then consider that keys really are not important to your identity, and finding a way to make them important will need to be your priority. For more information about Kariba Consulting and how they can help you, visit the website at www.karibaconsulting.com or call Melanie on 07961 075953 Page 40
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Healthy Living - Allergy Alert!
by Mary-Anne Barber, Lantern Food and Health.
The season of misery is, for some, almost upon us again! If you are in the 20% or so of the population that suffers from hay fever, you will already know it is an allergic rhinitis occurring when pollen or spores (the reproductive bodies of moulds and fungi) make contact with the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, sinuses or eyes. The allergen (pollen) causes the body’s immune system to over-react releasing a chemical called histamine. This dilates the blood vessels allowing white blood cells to travel rapidly to the affected area but also shows itself in the typical and familiar symptoms of acute inflammation that include sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy eyes. Symptoms of can hit at any time of year depending on which pollens or spores the sufferer is allergic to. Most commonly, hay fever is worst in the spring or summer when the majority of plants, particularly trees and grasses, are flowering and thus producing lots of pollen. Over recent years, sufferers have been seeking a more natural and holistic approach to the relief of symptoms, using a combination of products and strategies acting together to alleviate symptoms and make life more tolerable.
As a general rule, it is recommended that you * Maintain physical and mental health * Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, remember your 5-a-day * Choose wholegrain rice and cereals and good quality protein (fish, lean meat, nuts and seeds) * Keep hydrated: drink 1 – 2l water per day * Sleep 8 hours per night * Exercise aerobically for 30 mins five times per week * Manage stress
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Boost the immune system
* Vitamin C is important for immune support as it is able to reduce histamine production. The recommendation is to increase the dose from 500mg to 2000mg per day over a 6-week period * Olive leaf complex, effective against replication of viruses, also supports phagocytosis (the process by which the white blood cells remove foreign material from the body) and immune action * Echinacea is also used to enhance immune response
Reduce the allergic response
* Vitamin C (see above) * Urtica (from nettles) contains Vitamins C and K together with immune boosting proteins and scopoletin, a natural anti-inflammatory that counters the effect of the body’s histamine. Urtica comes in tablet or tincture form or even in tea (try with 3 tsp honey) * Quercetin, a bioflavonoid, is another natural anti-histamine found in red and yellow onions, shallots, squash, courgettes and broccoli, so include plentiful helpings of these in the diet. It is also synergistic with Vitamin C aiding uptake of both dietary and supplemental vitamins * Bromelain, from pineapple, works in conjunction with quercetin to reduce allergic reaction * Green tea (2 or 3 cups per day) has a natural anti-histamine effect or try taking it as a supplement * Local honey is also said to lower the body’s reaction to pollens as it contains small quantities of local pollen that, if taken over a period of time, help to build an immune response.
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* Ginkgo biloba is a herbal remedy thought to reduce the allergic response while increasing energy levels and improving circulation * Homeopathic pollen supplements should be taken a couple of months prior to expected onset of symptoms Provide natural barriers * Haymax pollen barrier cream If all else fails,Relieve symptoms: * Euphrasia (eyebright) is an anti-inflammatory herb helping to dry up secretions of the mucous membranes, particularly the eyes * Plantago relieves congestion and inflammation of the mucous membranes * Luffa tincture or nasal spray * Salt inhalation may settle inflammation and irritation of the lungs * Essential oils (added to a steam inhalation) e.g. eucalyptus, also help to clear the nose and respiratory passages Other tips: * Keep windows closed, particularly at night and when travelling by car * Take a shower when you have been outside to remove any pollen that your body may have picked up during the day For more information about this article and the products and services provided by Lantern Food and Health, please visit their shop at 23 Normandy Street Alton Hampshire GU34 1DD Tel: 01420 544522 E-mail: sales@lanternfoods.co.uk or visit their website at
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PLEASE NOTE: The information contained in this article is given in good faith. It does not replace advice given by a doctor or other health professional who should be consulted in the first instance for a definitive diagnosis. Remember that if you are on medication you need to check whether any other remedy you consider is appropriate.
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Dove, May 2007
by Martin Saban-Smith
A lucky capture indeed! This Dove was coming in to land on a Dove Cote in Four Marks.
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Professional photography 360째 Tours Graphic Design Video / AV Presentations Web Design Roadside Advertising
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