Loci Pannum - Issue 05 by COG Publications Limited

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Loci Pannum SEPT 2012

Local Filmaking

“Comedic cannibals, mystical bench-dwellers, serial killers, saucy ghosts and frustrated writers ” Pork Chop Productions

September 2012 - Issue 05 The olympics are finally over and by most accounts, Great Britain has more than earned the right to use the term “Great”. Now all we have left are the memories of one of the most successful olympics in modern history, both in terms of the number of medals won and in how the games were perceived by the competitors and visitors. By all accounts, the olympics appear to have at least broke even and we might even have made a few “bob or two”, but we shall await all those hidden costs. Now begins the process of continuing the legacy and the completion of the olympic Park in to an area for future generations to share. There were so many moments worthy of praise that I wouldn’t know where to begin. up and down the country sports clubs are reporting high levels of interest from adults and young children and we can but hope this will continue for some while. one aspect of the Paralympics was the amazing sight and sound of the 80,000 plus crowd seeing past the disabilities of those competing and seeing the true sporting achievement of those athletes. for the first time, people didn’t see the wheelchair first; they saw the athlete, the achievement, the effort and finally the disability. I will admit to being one of those who doubted we could ever match up to the show put on my sydney and China, but from the moment the Queen fell out of the sky, I knew we were on to a winner regardless of the number of medals won. This is an event that will probably never happen in any of our lifetime ever again but at least we will be able to say “we were there” or “I watched that”. In this issue, you’ll see what we hope to be a new regular fashion column from Treatz Boutique of Basingstoke and we’d like to offer them a warm welcome to our publication. our new website is almost ready to go live and in conjunction with the opening of the main website, we will also be running a local site for various areas. The first of these to go live will be http://bramley265.com which will contain local news and events and provide you a place to sell or ‘freecycle’ those unwanted items. We hope you all had a good and safe summer and with all the children back at school and college, life can hopefully return to normal once again. We look forward to seeing you in Issue 6 in october.

Chris & Mike Designed, produced and published by mike Peates Chris Wright 3 holman Close Bramley hampshire rG26 5XD 01256 881452/881233 www.locipannum.co.uk editor@locipannum.co.uk Twitter @locipannum https://www.facebook.com/locipannum

Contents Page 5 “In The Garden” Jane Jordan Page 7

TREATZ Boutique Page 8 “Pork Chop Pictures” Page 10 Suduko

Printed by: Greenhouse Graphics Bramley 01256 880770 www.greenhousegraphics.co.uk

Page 10 “Antonia Dewhurst - Art At The Cartshed” Page 11 “South East Water - Metering” Page 13 “Suduko Answers”

Page 15 “St Neot’s Preparatory School”

In the garden.... Growing Pains By Jane Jordan he soil type, soil moisture conditions, amount of light and exposure to the wind will determine which plants will grow in your garden and which plants will not succeed. With a little homework and better understanding of the growing conditions in your garden you can reap more rewards and avoid expensive disappointments. so, here is a brief guide to the essentials.

some plants, including many herbs and succulents, ﬂourish in dry soil, and some will only survive the winter in very free draining soil. Dry sandy soil can be made to retain more moisture by adding plenty of organic material every year.

Boggy ground, that stays wet all year round, can often be drained. however, it is also an ideal place to grow moisture loving plants like astilbes and gunneras which will not grow elsewhere.

lighT levelS an open sunny situation will generally produce healthy sturdy plants, and minimise the need for staking. many plants that grow well in shade will also grow very well in full sun but there are some which are scorched by strong direct sun, for example certain ferns and primulas. There are lots of plants that grow well in shade. These are generally plants whose wild relatives are found in deciduous woods, like hellebores, euphorbias, ferns and primulas.

Soil Type

Generally, soils are classiﬁed as clay soils, sandy soils, or loamy soils. Clay is nutrient rich, but slow draining. sand is quick draining, but loses nutrients and moisture easily. Loam is generally considered to be ideal soil because it retains moisture and nutrients but expoSure doesn’t stay soggy. a sheltered site will Typically in this part of Whatever your soil, adding organic matter is always a good idea to keep your soil healthy protect plants from wind the world, clay soil is the damage, and also greatly reduce most common. While many water use in summer and trees and shrubs grow well in clay, the damage from cold winds in winter. In an How to Determine your roots of the majority of annuals, perennials exposed garden, planting a hedge or and bulbs need good drainage to thrive. soil type shelter belt of trees, or erecting a wind-

MoiSTure levelS

‘moist but well drained’ soil is the ideal growing condition for most plants. The retained moisture supplies the plant with water, and the good drainage ensures enough air around the roots. Wet poorly drained clay soils on the other hand can be saturated for long periods, especially in winter, but dry and compacted in summer. Installing land drains can help but can be expensive. Drainage can also be improved by digging and by adding large amounts of granular and organic material. raised beds can also help. If none of these are possible, then there are plants, like lythrums and symphytums, which grow well in very wet in winter and dry conditions in summer.

To determine your soil type, take a handful of moist (but not wet) soil from your garden, and give it a ﬁrm squeeze. open your hand and see whether: 1. It holds its shape, but when you give it a poke, it crumbles = Loam 2. It holds its shape, and, when poked, still holds together = CLaY. 3. It falls apart as soon as you open your hand = saNDY.

break fence, is essential unless you choose your plants carefully. There are plants that grow very well in a windy situation, especially those which grow wild in mountains and by the coast. Plant labelling isn’t always that helpful, but garden centre staﬀ usually are, so if in doubt about whether a plant is suitable for your growing conditions, do ask. for more information about creating views or vistas or for any other advice on getting the best from your garden contact Jane Jordan on 07879 606714 or go to www.janejordangarden-design.com

omedic cannibals, mystical bench-dwellers, serial killers, saucy ghosts and frustrated writers looking for inspiration at the local pub – it all sounds like something out of a movie. In fact, these are just some of the characters you will find in several different films all produced in Basingstoke by independent film-makers. film-making is not something synonymous with the town, but over the last couple of years a community of enthusiastic and independent directors, writers, actors, editors and more has grown at an exponential rate. It was a development in the town that was first recognised at the inaugural red Carpet screening event held back in may 2010. The event, organised by founder seb hall, was designed to deliver a platform for local and national film-makers to show their work to a live audience and even take part in a Q&a session afterwards. Quite significantly, however, the event also provided what would soon become breakthrough networking opportunities for film-makers

that, up until this point, thought they were the only ones in the town making ﬁlms at all. after a second successful red Carpet showcase hall said, “Basingstoke had not been known for ﬁlm at all, but that hasn’t been because of a lack of talent. It’s just there wasn’t any infrastructure for festivals so people went to London or Bristol instead.” With a local platform to

independent film-makers can now achieve a high level of production value on zerobudgets that would have been almost impossible before.” Whilst the possibilities now seem endless for film-makers in the town to make their own films, they are fully aware the challenge of achieving good quality material is still there, as time and talent will take them only so far. “Whilst having no “Fishcake”

The cast from “Meat” - Alex Flahive

show their work, film-makers who previously thought they were working in a vacuum were now not only aware they weren’t alone, but would soon be coming together to help each other in their productions. one such production company based in Basingstoke is Pork Chop Pictures. Writing and producing their own short films, the award-winning outfit have had work created in Basingstoke shown at film festivals around the world. “The landscape for the independent filmmaker has really changed with the advent of digital technology,” said mark Brennan, co-founder of Pork Chop Pictures. “at a grass roots level,

Filming on location for “Fishcake”

funding for a film is nowhere near as prohibitive as it used to be, you still need the help and good will of so many people to make projects a reality,” said Brennan. “We’ll always need props, locations and costumes so will always be calling on friends, family and anyone interested in film to help.” It was with that help and good will that another local and veteran film-maker, Geoff harmer of fraught Productions,

“Meat”

has been able to produce his first feature film, ‘addict’, shot entirely in Basingstoke. “I was extremely humbled by the amount of time, effort and expertise people gave just so they could be a part of the project,” said harmer. “We had people travel from very long distances at their own expense, amongst other acts of generosity.” most of the town’s filmmaking community came together to help on the project and also for the local premiere, hosted by seb hall and red Carpet screenings. “The amount of professionalism and dedication shown by all involved during the making of ‘addict’ is inspiring, and proves that you can make films with the bare minimum,” said harmer. “We will be looking to enter the film into as many film festivals across the globe as we can. Depending on how well it does, we will potentially be looking at pursuing a distribution deal. maybe that’s pie in the sky stuff… but I’m not going to rule it out!” Now the feature-length ‘barrier’ has been blasted through by this ever-expanding group, they hope to have more on the way soon. Watch this space. To find out more about the film-making community in the town, please visit. www.redcarpetscreenings.com www.porkchoppictures.com www.fraught.net

suduko

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puzzle 2 (Medium, diďŹ&#x192;culty)

ntonia Dewhurst has been running art at The Cartshed since 2006. after moving to Bramley from London in 2004 antonia converted the old Cartshed to an artist's studio, and after a gap of some 14 years bringing up her family, antonia began painting again. she uses a variety of media, and focuses on portraits, the life model, musicians, and landscapes from skye, the french alps, or the hampshire countryside. she has exhibited widely; in London, scotland, the us, and more recently, Basingstoke. she takes part in the annual open studios event each may, with the WBerkshire/Nhampshire group. Commissions are always welcome, whether portraits, landscapes or other subjects. The classes at The Cartshed began in 2006. antonia teaches

Watercolour techniques, drawing, pastels and acrylics. “The majority of students come to me with no art background at all, and are therefore complete beginners. It is great to see people developing their skills and their conﬁdence through drawing and colour exercises, and making their own paintings. Last November we put up some of the student's work in the Tadley library, and it looked fantastic. I was very impressed with what they had achieved.” “ a lot of people talk about 'talent' when they start the classes, fearing that they will not be able to achieve what they want, but painting is just like every other subject – you have to learn what it is about, and then you can make great strides. students also learn so much from each other, and the classes are really like a club, with everyone supporting everyone else. We

Derek Nash

have fun, as well as making some lovely paintings. The thing I hear most often from students is ' When I come here I know I can leave everything else in my life behind for 2 hours'. This gives people a much needed break, whatever

Anemones

their circumstances may be.” antonia is taking commissions now for the Christmas period, and classes start again on september 24th at the Cartshed. Telephone: 01256 883 876 www.antoniadewhurstart.co.uk

orange,melon

South East Water’s Customer Metering Programme reaches Bramley

n 2007, the Environment agency classed the south East of England as seriously water stressed and so south East Water is rolling out a metering programme as part of its long term plan to manage water supplies in the south East. south East Water’s Customer metering Programme started in Basingstoke in July 2011 and is due to reach Bramley in November 2012. In the majority of cases, south East Water will install the meter on the external stop tap which is normally found in the footpath at the boundary of the property; customers will not need to take a day off work for this and any disruption caused will be minimal. In a very small number of cases such as with blocks of flats or where there are shared supplies, the meter may need to be installed inside the property (often under the kitchen sink). an information drop- in session will be held in the Bramley room at Bramley Village hall on the 26th september from 4pm-6pm, if you have any questions or concerns, please come along and visit the team who will be happy to help. alternatively, if you would like further information on what the metering programme means for you, water efficiency advice or details of financial support available, please visit www.southeastwater.co.uk or call the metering helpline on 0333 000 0003

Black Cuillins

suduko - answers Below are the answers to the suduko quiz from Issue 4. If you would like to see a number of diﬀerent types of quizzes within the magazine, please email me your suggestions to quizzes@locipannum.co.uk. how many of you prefer a crossword over a word search or would you prefer something a bit more challenging? Please do send your feedback to us at the above email address, or editor@locipannum.co.uk. We will be oﬀering prizes in the near future, so start practicing

Legacies of Love Don’t let your estate fall within the Government’s intestacy rules o protect your family there are two crucial documents to remember. Elizabeth Groom, solicitor of rowberry morris explains:

“making a will is something one would rather put off. most people just don't want to think about it. however, if you have spent thousands of pounds on house and car insurance, it makes no sense to withhold the best security that you could possibly give your family: making sure that their future is protected if something should happen to you. We may come up with all the excuses under the sun for not making a will, but few of us would want our family to struggle – emotionally, as well as financially – simply because we have failed to plan for the event of our not being around. In the absence of a will, upon the death of the first spouse, the

Government’s intestacy rules apply: the surviving spouse will get personal belongings and a set amount - currently £250,000 – and half of the rest in a life interest trust. The remaining portion goes to any children the couple have, remaining in trust if they are under 18. If this is not what you want, you must make a will. at the same time, while you with your solicitor, it will be worthwhile to discuss Lasting Powers of attorney (LPa)). You can then make an informed choice on whether or not to have one. and LPa is a legal document that enables one person to make decisions on behalf of another in the event of diminished mental capacity, caused by a stroke for example. There are two types: property and ﬁnancial, and health and welfare. Without an LPa it may be necessary for family members to apply to the Court of Protection for the necessary authority, which can be a lengthy and distressing process and is certainly far more expensive. Wills and LPa's are important documents and, in both cases, it is sensible to get advice about the choices you have. The LPa is a little like house insurance: it may never be needed,

but if it is, you in your family will be glad that you made one with a specialist lawyer. and, if you don't want your estate to fall within the Government’s intestacy rules, but would prefer to protect your family's future, there is only one sensible course of action to take: make a will.” Elizabeth Groom , a solicitor working in private client matters at rowberry morris in Tadley is a specialist wills, LPa and probate lawyer and is a member of the solicitors for the Elderly and the Law society’s Private Client section Elizabeth Groom e-mail: egroom@rmtadley.co.uk telephone: (0118) 9812992

St Neot’s Preparatory School t Neot’s Preparatory school is a thriving coeducational day and weekly boarding school for children from 3 months – 13 years, set in a stunning 70 acre site in the North East corner of hampshire on the borders of surrey and Berkshire. Year 8 pupils Jake samut and Lotte high summed up what in their view makes a good prep school. ‘a good prep school should make pupils feel happy, included and offer new opportunities in sport, academia, music and the arts. Vitally, there should also be a healthy relationship between pupil, teacher and parent. You should expect there to be a wide range of opportunities for pupils to express and extend their talents. This should be assisted by teachers who are willing to give their time to help pupils reach their full potential. a vast area of school grounds is also important, both for sports and for playing with others. This helps to increase sporting abilities, influence friendship at a young age and encourage child’s imagination by building camps and shelters in the surrounding woodland areas. The arts are also a key ingredient for a good prep school, since they can increase confidence dramatically in a pupil. furthermore they can help with a wide range of scholarship attempts. Pupils should be allowed to have free time for a variety of activities, either after school or during their daily routine. This relaxes pupils ready for the next school day.

all pupils’ hard work will pay off at some time in their school year. It is vital to reward pupils in many different ways for many different things such as citizenship and academia. as well

Free time to help relax

as making pupils feel happy, it increases standard of work and pushes them in the right direction to try and get another award. In addition, group awards over the school terms increase the ability of working with others and getting along in order to create a friendly environment. To sum up a good prep school should have good grounds, a friendly environment, good infrastructure to express and increase talents found within the pupil. all this should be supported by both teachers and parents alike.’ Pupils have ‘excellent personal qualities, strongly fostered by the school’s open, friendly atmosphere of genuine happiness and enjoyment’, according to Independent school inspectors. over 65 scholarships to a wide variety of schools have been achieved over the last 5 years, including academic, music, art, drama and sport. This success is enhanced by the wide range of extra-curricular activities available including mountain biking, fencing, orchestra, gardening, baking and rock climbing to name but a few. Inspectors commended the community spirit ‘outstanding care and guidance provided by staﬀ……as a result pupils thrive.’