Romsey & Wellow Gazette - February 2023

Dear Residents,

Where has the summer gone? Well, I believe Spring is just around the corner, so let’s hang on in there and take a deep breath until March! In the meantime, this cooler weather and rain gives us a chance to look at the house and see what is needed to upgrade or change a few things around. Maybe there are people here in your local magazine to help you? We have electricians, plumbers, solar panel experts, builders, roof specialists, carpet cleaners, oven cleaners, window cleaners, carpet fitters, window fitters… and much more! Each of our loyal and trusted trades people and services would love to hear from you. Now is a good chance to get the help you need, so please do mention us when making those all-important calls. I am always very happy to hear this as it makes all our work worthwhile. You get a local person to help with what you need, and the company keeps busy. It is what we are all about. It also keeps our local economy thriving which is good for us all. A win-win all round.

I also hope you enjoy reading the articles and local data inside. If there is anything you would like to see or any suggestions for making your useful magazine, more useful I would love to hear from you! Do give me a call or send an email.

For now, we wish you a good month of February. May you have fun with, or even find, your Valentine!

Best wishes, Debbie, Stephen & all of us here at Modern Magazines

Printed on Carbon Balanced Paper by Pensord Press Ltd. Certified by the World Land Trust. Helping the planet one page at a time...

Councillor’s Column

I’m pleased to report that Test Valley Borough Council has unlocked £1M from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to deliver six major projects in the borough, including creating a new health hub in Andover and supporting community schemes in Romsey.

The council submitted details of the projects in August last year and received confirmation that the government would be releasing the money just before Christmas. Now the £1M is secured, a contribution of £240,000 will go towards extending the teaching facilities within the Andover College campus to help deliver T Level courses in construction skills, bricklaying and carpentry.

A sum of £280,000 will help council and health colleagues to deliver a permanent health hub. A temporary hub has already opened in the Chantry Centre to help prove the concept, carrying out routine health checks on behalf of the five Andover GP practices. It also enables residents to pop in for blood pressure checks in a bid to help prevent and diagnose conditions early. As well as continuing with Covid boosters and providing support groups. This is the first step towards a permanent hub, which will also be complemented by the creation of outreach worker posts, part funded by a £110,000 contribution.

There will be a £100,000 fund created for community energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects across the borough, as well as £140,000 to help local rural land-based businesses to reduce

their carbon footprint.

Thirty thousand pounds will go to the University of Southampton Science Park’s Catalyst Programme, to provide innovation-led businesses with commercial expertise and experience through mentoring and peer support from world-class business leaders.

Finally, a new £100,000 fund will help deliver projects identified by Romsey

Future to improve public spaces, deliver environmental and infrastructure improvements and increase footfall and visitors to the town.

Ultimately, the additional money that we have been able to secure will benefit so many different projects all across the borough - with a particular focus on improving the health of our local communities, driving down carbon emissions and enhancing public spaces. As we have chosen to contribute funds towards projects in collaboration with other organisations and public sector services, not only can we expect to see more funding unlocked as a result, it will also have some incredibly positive impacts on people’s lives.

Cllr. Phil North

Leader of the Test Valley Borough Council

More organisations set to benefit as Test Valley Borough Council’s Cost of Living Grant scheme increases to £100,000

The Cost of Living Grant scheme, set up by Test Valley Borough Council, has doubled its budget.

Originally launched with £50,000, the local authority now has an additional £50,000 to distribute to groups, not -for-profit organisations and charities to help residents with the rising cost of living.

Since being set up at the end of September, nearly £35,000 has been awarded to 29 organisations.

This includes Portway Infant and Junior Schools who received £1,000 each to provide families with essentials such as warm clothing and bedding and the Community Life Centre in North Baddesley who got just over £950 to create a warm welcome hub with free activities, refreshments, internet access and support.

Meanwhile, Broughton Parish Council got some money to provide a warm space with free food, drink and fun games and activities for all ages, Balksbury Infant and Junior Schools each got £1,000 to provide breakfast packages for families and Roman Way Primary School got the same amount to help give out warm bedding and clothing during Winter.

There is now just over £65,000 left in the pot. Charities, not-for-profit and voluntary

organisations, parish and town councils, and schools can still apply for a share of the money to help them support people who may be struggling financially with the increase to bills and general cost of living.

Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, councillor Phil North said:

“We’re delighted that we have been able to increase the budget for the Cost of Living Grant scheme. In just a few months we have provided nearly £35,000, showing how popular and how important this scheme has been for the people of Test Valley. The increase to £100,000 means we will be able to continue supporting our local organisations who, in turn, will be able to provide help and guidance to those in the borough who may be struggling with the rising cost of living. I would really encourage any eligible groups to submit an application.”

For more information about the grant visit www.testvalley.gov.uk/ costoflivinggrantscheme

If you’d like to make an application, please contact the Community Engagement Officer for the relevant ward to confirm the eligibility of the organisation and project. You can find their details at www.testvalley.gov.uk/CEOfficers.

TVBC has also created a Cost of Living Support Hub at www.testvalley.gov.uk/ costoflivingsupport.

It provides useful information and signposts people to agencies and groups which offer a range of help, from local food banks and warm welcome spaces to financial advice.

Property Fraud : Protect yourself with property alerts

A fraudster can pretend to be anyone involved in a property transaction such as the owner, buyer, borrower, lender or conveyancer. Property fraud can be very attractive to fraudsters if they successfully persuade a buyer, their conveyancer or a lender into believing they are the true owner. They can then sell or mortgage the property to get cash from either the purchase monies or the mortgage advance. This often involves the impersonation of the registered owner and we highlight below who might be most at risk and what properties are seen as desirable targets.

Owners at greater risk are:

• unregistered owners

• absent owners (eg. abroad, in hospital, in care homes)

• landlords

• beneficiaries of owners who have died

• long-time owners with more equity in their property

• sole owners

Properties at most risk are:

• high value properties • empty properties

• properties without a mortgage • tenanted properties

The Land Registry are encouraging people to set up a property alert in order to warn them if someone attempts to alter key details of their property online.

• Scammers attempt to transfer your property into their name using false documents, or stolen identities, in some cases, even whilst you are living there.

• The scammers then raise mortgages against, or sell, your property without you knowing.

• Victims can find that they have to leave their home as there is nothing that can be done to get the property back.

• Victims are left with having to claim compensation from the Land Registry to replace their home.

Whilst the Land Registry have been able to stop some cases where fraudulent documents have been submitted, not all cases are stopped, so it is important to help protect yourself against property theft.

To protect yourself against the risk of property fraud, you should consider the following:

• Register your property on the Land Registry if it is not already registered.

• Sign up for the free Land Registry Property Alert service. You can get alerts for up to 10 properties, meaning you can help protect vulnerable family or friends as well as yourself.

• Put a restriction on your title: this will stop the Land Registry registering any sale or mortgage on your property unless a conveyancer or solicitor certifies that the application was made by you. This restriction:

◊ Costs £40 if you live at the property.

◊ Is free where you do not live at the property but own it privately.

◊ Is free if a company owns the property.

This simple process can help avoid you or someone you know being victim of property fraud. Tell your friends, family, neighbours, and clients.

Bells are a specialist Wills, Probate, Residential and Commercial Conveyancing Practice. The office is open five days a week Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm (prearranged appointments only).

Our professional service is right on your doorstep. Tel: 01794 513328

E: bells@bells-romsey-solicitors.co.uk

Avatar...again

Never an actress who rushes to take up film scripts, Zoe Saldaña very often opts for the ‘less is more’ approach – thus, a string of colossal projects decorate a CV that is notable for gaps in between.

Certainly in terms of the film that set her on her way to a string of big-budget projects from where she rarely now strays, the influence of James Cameron’s groundbreaking Avatar has been present for well over a decade now.

So it is with no small amount of relief that, finally, a sequel has arrived… and not just one. In what may turn out to be the biggest box office series ever, production of four more Avatar movies is in motion, through to Avatar 5, due for release in 2028, no less.

“The project is huge, but it has to be,” says Saldaña. “You have a film that took $3billion at

the box office, and yet here we are 13 years on. Perhaps it’s only right we’re getting this many sequels done if it’s taken us this long up until now!”

On the eve of Avatar: The Way of Water, one of the most-anticipated sequels in film history, Zoe Saldaña is a woman with a lot of work to do. does just different… different.”

While details over Avatar 2, or The Way of Water to give it its official title, are sketchy, what’s clear is this is no rushed project, nor is Saldaña taking her return lightly.

“I was very nervous because sequels can be dangerous, and we were feeling the pressure. I think the first couple of days, we all had moments of, ‘Can we do this again? What was the secret ingredient?

Do you know, does anyone? Should we just leave it there, not mess with it?’ There were a lot of nerves. It has been a long while.

“Yet [director and writer] James Cameron is in charge and his vision is present and trustworthy. And the film is very different from the first, way different… different planet different.”

While we are now in a new era of film that feels a world away from the CGI-laden original, the appeal of welcoming a new generation of filmgoer to the mystery of Eurasia is one Saldaña is relishing.

“We still retain the curiosity and interest of the millions of people who went out to watch it first time around, but the continuation of this story will bring new eyes to the story, and that’s a thrill for me.”

Are You Septic Smart?

All across rural Hampshire, there are properties that are disconnected from the main sewer system. Instead, these properties use private ‘off-mains’ alternatives: cesspits, septic tanks, and sewage treatment plants. The three types vary in how they store, treat, and release waste, but aren’t a cause for concern when working well.

When something goes wrong, however, both people and wildlife are put at risk. While off-mains properties are in the minority, they have the potential to massively impact their surrounding environment. This is because systems that are incorrectly sized, sited, or maintained can cause chronic sewage pollution.

This pollution can damage homes and gardens, but is also rich in nitrogen and phosphorus - highly effective fertilisers. When it gets into our local chalk streams, it encourages the rapid growth of algae. The resulting ‘blooms’ starve the streams of sunlight and oxygen, with devastating consequences for wildlife.

The contamination of our waterways is especially serious in Hampshire, where pollutants can easily reach the underground chalk aquifer. As the source of both our chalk streams and most of our drinking water, this natural wonder is hugely important. Once inside, pollutants may continue to emerge even years later.

Luckily, expensive repairs and environmental harm can be avoided with a little know-how. Owners are responsible for ensuring that their system is suitable for their property and the number of residents. They must schedule frequent emptying and maintenance, and perform regular checks for signs of trouble.

Swampy ground, pooling water, a leaking tank lid, a grey film on the ground, and spots of lush grass growth can all be clues that something is amiss. Inside the home, look out for sinks, showers, and toilets draining slowly or noisily. Staying alert to potential problems is the best way to fix them before they escalate.

Care over what gets ‘flushed’ is also key, as the wrong additions can make off-mains systems inefficient or non-functional. Oil, fat, food waste, ‘flushable’ wipes, and sanitary products can cause blockages. Medicines, chemicals, bleach, and drain cleaner can kill the bacteria that help to break down the waste.

Learn more about how to keep your system safe and effective through the Septic Smart project. It forms part of the Watercress and Winterbournes scheme, which is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

To get involved, visit www.hiwwt.org.uk/septicsmart or email

winterbournes@hiwwt.org.uk.

Free Online Talk – ‘Bats: Superheroes of the Night’

21st February, 7-8pm

Join Nik Knight for a look at our fascinating local bat species and how they thrive in the rich environments of our chalk streams. Book your ticket at: www.hiwwt.org.uk/events

Driven to distraction

Driving on UK roads is about how we respond to danger and hazards… both of our own doing, as well as those around us. We look at how these factors collide, and how being aware means being safe.

The actions of others

The AA regularly poll their members on a variety of road issues, and over time have gathered the responses of a quarter of a million people on the habits and traits that irritate them most. The results are revealing, with talking on a mobile phone, in recent years, having become the thing that creates the most ire.

Most frustrating habits of other road users:

1. Talking on a mobile (30%)

2. Tailgating (23%)

3. Middle lane hogging (20%)

4. Swooping or cutting across lanes to leave a motorway at the last minute (10%)

5. Overtaking on the inside (7%)

6. Driving too slowly (4%)

7. Speeding (3%)

8. Littering (3%)

Our own misdemeanours

Most of us know the key things we need to avoid on the roads, yet there are a few other

seemingly inoffensive actions that you may also land you in trouble.

A bad apple

Around two thirds of British drivers have had a bite to eat while behind the wheel – but how many of those would have snuck a piece of sandwich had they known it could mean big trouble?

The Highway Code, under Rule 148, states that “safe driving and riding needs concentration,” and advises against eating, drinking, smoking, listening to loud music and trying to read maps while behind the wheel.

Anyone tucking into their lunch could well be committing an offence of driving without due care and attention, or not being in proper control of a vehicle.

Making a splash

Mean-spirited motorists careening through surface water and subsequently soaking pedestrians may be infringing section three of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which states that driving “without reasonable consideration

for other persons using the road” is an offence. So next time you see an inviting puddle, steer well clear or risk being hit with a fixed penalty notice!

Horn blower

The horn is a vital part of staying safe on the roads and should be used to warn other drivers of your presence, particularly if you are about to tackle a sharp corner or a situation where there is poor driver visibility.

Beeping in a moment of anger can in fact be considered breaking the law; while sounding the horn between 11.30pm and 7am in a built-up area unless is prohibited, unless it is an absolute emergency.

The Property Protection Trust Will package is based around how you hold the ownership of your home. All good estate planning nowadays considers the difference between owning your home as joint tenants or as tenants in common.

If you own your home as Joint Tenants; when one of you dies the ownership of the home passes by the Law of Survivorship and not by your Will. Therefore, the surviving partner will automatically own 100% of the property. This sounds right to most people. BUT should the surviving partner need care in the future, the Local Authority can take everything they own (including their home) to pay for the care fees, leaving just £14,250 to be inherited by children and grandchildren.

There is an alternative.

Nowadays many couples choose to own their home as Tenants in Common where each partner will own 50% of the family home. This provides for many benefits. Firstly, it allows you to legally leave your share of the property in your Will to whoever you wish. A properly written Will can ensure that your half of your house will eventually pass to your children even if your widow re-marries.

Unmarried cohabiting couples or relatives living together can also use this means of ownership as a way of minimising their Inheritance Tax exposure.

It can also help with long-term care costs. If one of you is still living in your home the Local Authority can’t include its value in the means test if one of you has to go in to long-term care. This also applies if the husband or wife still living at home dies while the other is in care as their share will go into the trust.

Dorset and Wight are your local experts in Property Protection Trust Wills.

Increasing numbers of homeowners are choosing to hold their properties as tenants in common to reduce inheritance tax and help protect their share from care fees

A Design for Life… e Kevin McCloud Column

Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner talks about the concept of space.

During lockdown, our understanding and appreciation of space was something that was challenged in ways we w had probably never expected.

Not only was even outside space challenged and conditioned to be accessed and used in very specific ways, but when at home, our rooms suddenly became multifunctional when they were never designed for such a purpose – our kitchen tables were work desks; our little creative nooks and crannies were filled with children and other imposters!

One of the positive take-outs many of us took from lockdown

was versatility, yet in my own life I’m keen to get back a certain amount of separation, because I find it absolutely essential for organising my mind and staying creative.

It’s for that reason that I actually have different work areas, spaces and locations for different types of jobs. By that, I mean I will do all my creative television thinking in a little bale- and stone-walled hut I have, called The Straw Bale.

It has a roof, some furniture in there, and serves as a studio away from prying eyes and everyday interruptions you would usually encounter in the house.

I felt I needed this little space because with a show such as Grand Designs I am pretty much on-location the whole time. That means there is no set base by which I can connect myself to a project and get in that headspace… unless I make one.

I have an office within the main part of the house, but that is used for much more menial matters, such as answering emails and firing off angry letters to all and sundry!

The concept of space is one that isn’t always objective – it can be

subjective as well. For instance, just because you have a big area with which to express yourself, it doesn’t mean it will actually feel big, or spacious. Similarly, very small rooms can be made to feel much larger than they are with clever techniques and smart aesthetics. I talk around this idea a lot when I mention high ceilings, uplighting and an abundance of floor space, utilising tables and chairs with legs, that guide the eye and light through the space.

In essence, it’s all about how we marry together space and comfort. If done well, you have the first building blocks for somewhere, home or office, that truly inspires you and brings happiness.

Cleaning up our act

Keen to make your laundry routine as ecofriendly as possible? Well, we’ve got some simple and effective solutions for you.

1. Lessen the load

Sometimes the most obvious option is the best one, and in this case, that would be to simply do less washing.

Naturally, socks and pants can only be worn once before they need a clean, but perhaps you can at least strive to get a couple of days from the same pair of jeans or sweatshirt.

Going fewer days without doing a wash is also a good strategy: three larger loads a week is preferable to five smaller ones.

2. Curb the chemicals

Toxic detergents have a very negative impact on our local eco-systems – particularly marine life. Fortunately, there are numerous ecobrands on the market that are also effective and pleasantly fragrant.

Another good option is soap nuts - these are dried shells of berries from a tree native to the Himalayas. Entirely natural, chemical-free and gentle, these

nuts contain saponins, a soap-like chemical that foams when agitated in warm water. Soap nuts are also anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and an effective alternative to chemical cleaners.

3. Get some balls

Your favourite scented dryer sheet is singleuse, non-biodegradable and packed with toxic chemicals, so invest instead in some wool dryer balls.

Not only do they reduce static electricity and wrinkles, soften fabrics and encourage them to dry faster, they can also be used over and over again – far kinder to your pocket, too! And to go a step further, sprinkle with essential oils to give your clothes a dreamy scent.

4. Ditch the plastics

It’s no secret that single-use plastic is enemy number one to the environment. Why not seek out a local store that provides refillable stations, or consider a detergent alternative such as soap nuts or even just distilled white vinegar -

don’t worry, the vinegar smell naturally neutralises!

5.

Cool it down

Even though most washing machines offer the option of a 90-degree wash, it really is an unnecessary temperature to wash linens at. If you do have nasty stains, pop half-a-cup of baking soda in with your clothes to banish them.

Even your colour clothes wash can be dropped from 40 to 30 degrees thanks to better formulated detergents (even the eco brands), a small change that lessens both the impact on the planet and on your pocket.

Going Green...

So much is being said about the need to protect the planet and use more eco-friendly material, but it is the small steps that each of us can do that will really make the difference.

Take the EcoEgg Laundry Egg... the innovative laundry solution. It replaces laundry detergent and fabric conditioner, reducing both harmful chemicals used and also single-use plastic packaging.

Dermatest has rated it excellent for use on sensitive skin, giving a kinder wash on both your skin and your pocket.

The mineral pellets in the egg, which are refillable (saving even more money!), work together in the water to effectively draw dirt from your clothes and softens them by changing the pH. Therefore leaving your laundry clean and fresh.

EcoEggs are available in Fresh Linen, Spring Blossom and Fragrance Free.

Recently, they have also released the EcoEgg Dryer Egg, which can be used when tumble drying. They reduce the drying time by up to 28%, saving you both time and money.

“I’ve been using mine for over a month now and I absolutely love it. It saves money, there’s no mess from washing powders and liquids. Also easy to use, and is better for the environment. Helps cut down on single use plastic and doesn’t use harmful chemicals.” KD

If you would like to know more about these products and many more, please feel free to visit my website at debbiegoesgreen.uk or email me at hello@debbiegoesgreen.uk as I would love to hear from you. Let’s look after ourselves and our environment!

Debbie Corney

Test Valley pensioners urged to come forward for Winter Fuel

Payment help if they need it

People above the age of 66 in Test Valley, who may be in need of a little extra financial help, are being urged to come forward.

Towards the end of 2022, Test Valley Borough Council, Unity and Citizens Advice Test Valley launched a scheme where anyone who receives a Winter Fuel Payment, but doesn’t necessarily need it, was able to donate it to help other pensioners in the area struggling with the rising cost of living.

At least £1,300 has already been given to Unity, and with TVBC match funding any donations, it currently has around £2,600 to distribute to those in need.

But it’s important for people above the age of 66 to come forward and ask for help if they need it.

With the rising cost of living, many people will be in a situation where they need more help than before and may not know how to access support.

Anyone with an older relative who could do with a little extra financial help is encouraged to direct them to Citizens Advice, who are administering the funds.

Residents can contact Citizens Advice on 0808 178 6882 or go to their website www.testvalleycab.org.uk.

Ange Moon, chief officer at Citizens Advice Test Valley, said:

“At a time when everyone is finding the cost of living a struggle there is no embarrassment in asking for a little extra

help.”

“We are here to support you, and our team will make sure you feel comfortable from the very first time you contact us. I know reaching out for help can be a tough thing to do, but I promise that you will feel much better for doing so.”

Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Cllr Phil North added:

“We want to make sure that anyone above the age of 66 is getting the help and support they need in these difficult times but we also need those people to make themselves known to us. People have been very generous with their donations so far, so we need to make sure we are distributing that money to pensioners in the borough who need it most.”

“If your elderly relative or friend could benefit from this please encourage them to contact Citizens Advice, they will be more than happy to help them. Thank you those who have donated all or some of their Winter Fuel Payment to Unity, your community spirit and support is very much appreciated.”

Anyone wishing to donate some of their Winter Fuel Payment can still do so by contacting Unity on 03304 004 116 or visit

www.unityonline.org.uk/winter-fuelpayment-donations.

The Adventures of Daichi

The Modern Magazines Camper Van

Daichi, The Dashing Dude, our wonderful, spirited Campervan is always ready to cheer us up, to take us on family adventures both near and far and generally take us away from any stresses or strains of everyday life. He doesn’t believe in watching the news or letting woes and worries get him down. He is all about living life, seeing friends and family and making the most of our beautiful British Isles. It is a great attitude to have. Christmas seems a long way away already, but at that time we have two important Birthdays (well I think so…), my own and Stephen’s. You see I was born 3 days before Christmas and Stephen was born on Boxing Day. It is a busy time of year! Daichi’s story this month is how very different we can spend our Birthdays and how we all enjoyed both of them!

Daichi drove us all the way to Hull for my Birthday… where I was born and lived until I was 18 years old. The family are still there and what I wanted was to see them all with my Mum and Dad. It gets to a certain time in your life, when, I don’t know about you, but you wonder if this Christmas could be the last, with certain people. I had this going on in my jumbled head for some time, so Daichi was very accommodating and drove myself and Stephen all the way to Hull. We arrived late on December 21st. What my Dad did not know

was that I had already been in contact with our 22 family members there, and each were coming to his humble abode the following evening. Dad worries a lot, and at 87 now and though still very fit and able to drive all the way down South, Daichi did not want to stress him out. A Mum with dementia is not at all easy and situations can never be predicted, but I managed to get her up and dressed and ready to go to a local garden centre the morning of my Birthday. For anyone with this problem, I had bought mum a gorgeous doll and it worked like a treat. This “baby” was a saving grace on many occasions this Christmas. It is very sad to watch in many ways, but believe me, Mum lit up like a Christmas tree when she saw her, and hardly let go the whole time we were with them. The people in the garden centre were marvellous too, mum had many smiles and hello’s, and I was very touched by all their gracious looks and helpful comments as Mum wandered around holding carefully her pretty baby. Daichi was all smiles too. What a great idea that worked a treat, for everyone’s benefit. During lunch I approached Dad and told him my Birthday plan. A little taken aback, but he knows me well, the next step of the plan was set. Shopping! The boys would do the shopping,

Debbie and mum in the garden centre

while I kept mum entertained at the garden centre. It worked! Daichi took the boys to the supermarket… and I lost Mum several times walking around the Christmas decorations! All good fun.

Seeing all my cousins and family members was what I had wanted. We don’t get together too often and when we do it is always good. I was particularly interested in the younger members… now in their twenties and thirties (I am showing my age now…). One cousin is buying her first house. Another cousin had gotten married and gone to Disney for three weeks. An aunt is planning a new life for herself. I loved it. Lots of life, living and forward thinking. It was a great way to spend my Birthday.

Mum and Dad came back with us for Christmas and spent a week with my sister over at their farmhouse in Margaret Marsh, near Shaftesbury. We spent a quiet Christmas Day with them in the countryside. Gorgeous. Log fire, wind whistling around the walls and windows and Christmas dinner…mmm…. From Hull to Margaret Marsh, and then to Weymouth for Stephen’s Birthday on 26th. Variety is the spice of life I have heard it said!

As you know we do love living in Weymouth with our sea views. The last two years, Boxing Day has been glorious! Really, sunny and blue skies. It has become Stephen’s day for a brisk swim in the sea with Hayden, our son, to

Stephen after a bracing dip on Boxing Day

celebrate his big day. They do have wetsuits, but nevertheless this is a brave move I would say! I, well, I take the photographs… Afterall someone has to do it! This year they stayed in the water a good 15 minutes all the while playing ball and diving in and out of the water. It is fun to watch, though people passing by gave us a few sympathetic looks… I think Stephen likes the challenge of it all. There I am bringing the family members together for my day, and Stephen absolutely backs me up with all of that, but on his day a bracing challenge and a full ‘alive feeling’ is what he wants. After a Birthday lunch, including ice-cream of course at our wonderful “Wafflicious” ice-cream parlour, “Avatar 2” was next on the menu! All within walking distance of where we live, the cinema, just around the corner was the perfect way to end a great day. The film is brilliant. Defense of the family is at the core of this adventure. Quite apt really. A three-hour movie, well worth it with gorgeous graphics and we were well entertained the whole time. An exhilarating end to a fabulous day!

So, how did you spend your Birthday? Daichi would love to know. Why not email him at debbie@modernmagazines.co.uk. Maybe we could add some of your Birthday photos in the magazine and Daichi will send you his Best Wishes? Birthdays are a great excuse to do what YOU want to do! Where will Daichi take us next, I wonder?

By Debbie Corney

Man ordered to pay £2k for failing to help with fly-tipping investigation

A Southampton man has been ordered to pay almost £2,000 after failing to assist Test Valley Borough with a fly-tipping investigation, after waste was found dumped in North Baddesley in spring last year.

On 5 April 2022, TVBC received a report from an eyewitness who had seen a vehicle fly-tipping large chunks of soil and turf at Castle Lane, North Baddesley. The waste was also blocking the entrance to the Southern Water pumping station

The vehicle, a red tipper truck, was shown to be registered to Toby Flanagan of Fritham Road.

On 8 April 2022, TVBC served a legal notice to Mr Flanagan requiring him to assist with the investigation.

Just two days later, a fly-tip containing identical matter was found in a

second location on Castle Lane, close to that of the first.

Evidence within the soil enabled council officers to trace it back to the defendant.

TVBC served a further notice to assist with the investigation on 21 June 2022, with which he failed to comply.

Flanagan was found guilty in his absence at a hearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Friday 6 January, for failing to respond to the legal notice. He was ordered to pay a £660 fine, £264 victim surcharge and £1,034 costs.

Portfolio holder for environmental services, Councillor Nick Adams-King, said: “It baffles me that, presumably, this gentleman thought he could ignore legal notices to attend interviews and get away with it. That is certainly not the case, and we will always pursue the matter until it ends up in court.

“Fly-tipping is an utterly disgusting and inexcusable crime and failing to assist with an investigation is just as deplorable. I hope that this serves as a valuable lesson and a deterrent to those in the minority who might consider doing the same.”

ROMSEY L VES

By Alex Baxter

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The River Test

At first glance, the River Test might seem like just an ordinary tributary. One you could have learnt about in geography. On a map it is easy to identify - carving a 47 mile stretch of picturesque landscape as it courses through Hampshire from its source in Ashe to the mouth of Southampton Waters. But as we shall find out, its nature is far from ordinary.

The Test has always been a prominent feature in Romsey’s history. In fact, the intertwined story of our town and the chalk stream goes way back to Saxon England. Evidence to support this is sparse but fascinating. Some of you may remember back to December 2021, when Hampshire Chronicle reported the discovery of Saxon timbers in a section of riverbed that

was drenched to make way for flood alleviation infrastructure. The logs were carbon dated (600-706 AD) and suspected of floating from an astriding structure further upstream, thus proving how the river was a valuable life line to early settlements. Before even then, it is likely Neolithic people to Romans relied on the river for survival too.

Fast forward to the 16th century and Hampshire’s economy is booming in trades that depend on rare high quality water: watercress, fisheries, farming of beef and lamb etc. Watermills were also abundant - the first machines prior to the Industrial Revolution to harness the river’s energy (the Domesday Book of 1086 records their earliest presence). Romsey was no exception, for the town had its own profitable relationship that made it an important trading town. Its status and wealth at the time was particularly built on tanning and woollen cloth - creating products that were sent to Southampton for export. Although the prosperity lasted only two centuries, the Test continues to play a part in the success of other sectors. Hospitality businesses; pubs, restaurants, hotels, for example, owe the river as a desirable destination for scenic dining experiences. And in recreational activities, the Test occasionally makes an appearance on recommended UK walking routes on TV and print - for those hardy enough to undertake the 44-mile long Testway Walk.

There is a spot earmarked for a lot

of people when they go on strolls around Romsey and that is Sadlers Mill, just behind the Memorial Parkformerly known as the Salmon Leap. From here you can see along the causeway and under Middlebridge to glimpse Broadlands. People get easily drawn in by the soulfulness of the view that they are compelled to stop and take a moment. Enchanted no doubt by the whimsical vibe that reminds you of The Wind in the Willows, with the arching willow branches that drape over the flowing limpid water that is graced by Swans and families of Ducks and Moorhens - holding you with the soothing sound of running water and air of serenity. Under an azure sky, you are powerless to resist.

The purpose of a river however is more than just to power machines and inspire emotions. In the natural world a river can support a vast ecosystem for many species of freshwater life, and the Test is no different. Described as ‘one of the most species-rich lowland rivers in England’ and designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the Test is a vital habitat to iconic species of animals and insects that are either endangered or unique to only the UK. Wildlife enthusiasts of Romsey’s two nature reservesFishlake Meadows and Tadburn Meadows Nature Reserve, will know this includes Otters, Ospreys, and Kingfishers, but other notable species include White-clawed crayfish, Water voles, Toads and Frogs, Dragonflies and Damselflies, Grass snakes and common lizards. Not forgetting of

course the diverse range of fish that gave the Test its fame - The Angling Trust regards the Test as the birthplace of modern day fly fishing, and as ‘one of the finest Trout and Salmon rivers in Europe’.

So there we have it readers. London may have the Thames, Paris the Seine, Cairo the Nile and New York the Hudson. But Romsey has the The River Test. Though it may not be nearly as iconic, the Test nevertheless holds a world-class reputation for its history, scenery, and rare ecosystems. According to The Wildlife Trusts, there are ‘only 200 chalk rivers [known] globally, 85% of which are found in Southern England’. We certainly have a lot to thank for it, for as we can rationally propose: if there were no Test there would be no Romsey to speak of. No Romsey and no you and me!

Steve Hubble Master of Sounds

Performing for the WEOS concert on Thursday 16 February will be STEVE HUBBLE from Broadmayne in Dorset, making his sixth appearance for the Club.

Originally from Birmingham, Steve is particularly noted for his musical arrangements and orchestral style of playing and has performed many times on radio, including BBC Radio 2 and Radio WM.

and was one of the first artistes to use multikeyboard set-ups.

In addition, Steve provides music tuition, from absolute beginners to diploma standard in piano, keyboard, organ and music theory at his teaching studio and in state schools throughout Dorset.

He is constantly in pursuit of top quality sounds, having worked with many of the leading instruments of the day,

He also uses his studio to produce CD recordings and artwork design.

The concert commences at 7.30 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) and tickets at £6.00 are available at the door.

Further information about the Club can be obtained at www.weyhill-eos.co.uk or by phoning (01264) 323213.

Couple Goals

Want to put your best foot forward with your better half? These fashion tips on how to maximise your power couple status – while not looking too matchy matchy – cover every occasion from a gym outing to a super slick soiree.

Here are our top tips for ensuring you are the sartorial king and queen of wherever you roam.

Casual date

Want to show your one and only you have eyes for them? Then consider looking similar in the subtlest of ways.

Matching outerwear in the form of camel coats or bomber jackets; white trainers with jeans or a sweatshirt in a similar hue to her dress, can be touching without overbearing.

As with so much in fashion, the trick is to keep it subtle for maximum effect.

Gym hangout

Matching lycra is obviously a no-no unless you fancy channelling Barbie and Ken, but gym-based couple selfies surely demand a little liaising with your betrothed.

Donning the same sportswear brand or t-shirts with a similar font and style will give an effortless sense of cohesion, as will matching sports bags.

Similarly, you can also team up with matching post-workout protein shakes, but that really is one for the dedicated.

Wedding

Just remember that white and black dresses are generally a no no.

Corporate event

If the event is semi-casual, then the guy can wear a black jacket paired with pitch black jeans and loafers. His partner can stick to the little black dress. If it’s a formal event, then adhere to the same rules as for a wedding.

Summer Soiree

her

When it comes to complementary fashion looks, it’s often about the smaller details… for example, his tie matching her dress. It’s a little nod to the one you love without going overboard.

Generally, a dark to mid-grey suit pairs well with a formal cocktail dress in a colour palette agreeing to the theme and time of the wedding.

You want to look and feel relaxed, so definitely choose breathable fabrics and cuts. Loose cotton shirts and lightcoloured chinos with loafers or boat shoes for him, and a flowing, elegant dress for her.

Once again, your outfit synergy comes from the accents. The gentleman’s shoes may be similar to the lady’s dress, or her nail polish may match his shirt. These details not only make you look well put together as a couple, they also show your hosts that you’ve made the effort for their event too.

Greenfingers…

The Alan Titchmarsh Column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and allround horticultural inspiration. is month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses how to keep motivation for your garden going.

e back might ache more than it used to and there’s more than a hint of a painful creak in the knees, but most days I still feel the urge to get out there and do my bit… and even when I don’t feel the urge, I always find it important to push on. A er all, my faithful beds and trellises rely on it!

It’s also worth remembering how beneficial the everyday rigours of flowering and weeding, pruning and digging are. It comes with the territory when you get to my sort of age, but I always remind myself that by the very nature of gardening you are outdoors, filling the lungs with oxygen and experiencing what it is to be around plants, trees and flowers. If that isn’t good for the soul, I don’t know what is!

I think what should motivate us to garden, even on those days when we would rather be in the pub, is the fact there is something unique about every outside space, and it changes on each occasion you set foot out into it. ere is always something that’s di erent, and special, and always ready to enchant you… always something you perhaps hadn’t noticed before!

It’s important to remember that although your garden is a wild space, you have, in e ect, tamed a lot of it; so like a pet or a child, it relies on you to keep doing the things you invested in it in the first place. It’s sort of saying, ‘you’ve started now, you can’t just stop!’

Remember too, it was you who had the vision, the idea, the perception of what this space should look like; so press on with those jobs and keep making your garden your own personal space – it’s an expression of who you are, and just like we get up in the

mornings and have a wash, comb our hair, so too do we owe that to our gardens.

So in summing up, of course the work can be hard and tiring and there are days when the body seems to be telling me to stop, but I am happy and healthy and have a loving family so things could be far worse. And what would I do anyway? Okay, yes… head to the pub!

STAR GAZING

WRITTEN BY KATE EARL kateearlastro@gmail.com

Welcome to the February Stargazing Page. Highlights this month include a close meeting of the brightest and dimmest planets in the Solar System, and the constellation Orion high in the sky.

International Space Station

The ISS can be spotted early in the evening until the 4th. Viewing then switches to our morning skies from the 18th. To establish exact timings please refer to www.heavens-above.com or a similar webpage for up-to-date information, remembering to set the location to your observing area.

Events

A conjunction is when objects in the night sky appear close to one another as viewed from Earth, even though they are actually thousands of miles apart in space. One such event happens at the end of the month when the two bright planets Venus and Jupiter appear extremely close to one another in the early evening western sky (see figure). The closest they reach is actually on March 1st, but they will be approaching each other rapidly the week beforehand, noticeably changing position and moving nearer to one another nightly. This conjunction can be easily seen with the naked eye, but a pair of good, steady binoculars may allow you to spot some of the moons of Jupiter.

Mercury

During the first week of February the innermost planet is visible low in the southeast just before sunrise, but is very difficult to spot.

Venus

Venus will be blazing brightly in the southwest every evening and will be impossible to miss! Apart from the conjunction with Jupiter mentioned above, the Solar System’s brightest planet is also very close in the sky to the Solar System’s dimmest planet, Neptune, on the 15th. You’ll need binoculars or a telescope to see Neptune, which will appear as a star-like object just to the lower right of Venus, at a 5 o’clock position (see figure).

Mars

The red planet can be seen until the early hours of the morning, and although fading every day, is still a bright object located relatively close to the orangered giant star, Aldebaran. It can be interesting to compare the colours of these two ‘reddish’ night sky objects.

Jupiter & Saturn

As the Sun sets, Jupiter is visible towards the southwest. It will have disappeared below the horizon by 10pm. Saturn is too close to the Sun to be visible this month.

Moon

February’s full moon occurs on the 5th.

Star of the month

Rigel, the seventh brightest star in the sky, marks the left foot of Orion the Hunter, and indeed the name Rigel stems from the Arabic for ‘left foot’ (see figure). It is blue-white in colour due to its temperature, a searing 12,000 °C (our Sun is comparatively cool, with a surface temperature of nearly 6000 °C). Similar to the star Capella featured in January’s issue, the Rigel star system actually consists of four stars. The largest star in the group (and the one we see) is 20 times more massive than the Sun, and will end its life as a supernova: a huge stellar explosion that leaves behind a neutron star or a black hole. Fortunately, that isn’t due to happen for several million years, and as Rigel is over 850 light years away, the Earth won’t be affected when Rigel’s demise does come about.

Orion The Hunter

View south during February 8.30pm

Betelgeuse

Rigel

Saiph

Bellatrix

Orion Nebula

A waxwing winter? –Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

Waxwings are perhaps one of the most beautiful birds imaginable.

Their buff colouration with flashes of yellow and red on the wings, elegant ‘eyeliner’ and silky large crest really make them stand out from the crowd.

Part of a family of three species, the Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is the species native to northern Europe. The bird’s English name refers to how they travel in large nomadic groups (bohemian) and the red tips to their secondary wing feathers that look like seal wax droplets (waxwing).

But it’s not all about the looks. Their trilling ‘sirrrrr’ call sounds like a small ringing bell – perhaps akin to Santa’s sleigh dashing overhead – as flocks of up to 100 birds move from tree to tree.

Bohemian waxwings breed within the northern parts of Europe’s coniferous belt, often in remote, damp, mossy mature forests nesting high in pines. In winter, they escape the numbing temperatures of north-eastern Europe and western Russia and head west in search of more temperate conditions, feeding on fruit-rich trees including apple, rowan and hawthorn. During winter, a relatively small number of these starling-sized birds travel to UK shores; first seen on the east coast before spreading west and south from there.

Waxwings are referred to as irruptive, which means on occasion large numbers of the birds migrate beyond their typical range. Some years, hundreds of thousands of waxwings will land in the UK, often labelled as a ‘waxwing winter’. But why does this happen?

Waxwings are pushed away from their

breeding grounds in search of food, and it’s the yield of fruit trees that determines how far afield waxwings must travel. Most fruit trees of the same, and of similar, species bear fruit at the same time. This can result in a bounty of fruits in some years, and practically none in others. During years of bad yields, large numbers of waxwings will migrate large distances. Recent reports of poor berry crops in Finland and Sweden suggest an irruption is possible this year!

In Hampshire, waxwings are not seen every year – they are a rare visitor. However, when they do turn up, it might not be where you’d expect. The ASDA supermarket in Totton and Whiteley shopping centre in Fareham are common hotspots. These commercial areas often feature car parks planted with aesthetically pleasing, berry-laden fruit trees – and these always prove popular with waxwings. The last irruption in Hampshire was in the winter of 2010 when over 2,000 birds arrived.

So, keep your eyes and ears open for these punk rock-looking winter birds over Christmas and New Year and you might just get lucky enough to spot one!

Find out more about local wildlife at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s website: www.hiwwt.org.uk

Image Credits: The aptly named Bohemian waxwing can often be found feeding on berry-laden fruit trees in supermarket car parks (c) JonHawkins_ SurreyHillsPhotography

Lisa Faulkner’s Choux Hearts with Berries

Having met her now husband, John Torode, on the 2010 series of Celebrity MasterChef – on which he was a judge and she a contestant – Lisa Faulkner knows full well that food is the language of love. So, what better way to woo your beloved on Valentine’s Day than with these stunning choux hearts?

Ingredients

(makes 8 hearts)

For the choux pastry

• 90g butter

• 360ml water

• pinch salt

• pinch sugar

• 110g plain flour, sifted

• 3 whole eggs, beaten well

To serve:

• 500ml double cream

• 400g mixed fresh berries

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6. Put the butter and water in a medium saucepan, add the salt and sugar, and bring to the boil. Ensure the butter is melted. Remove from the heat, add the sifted flour all at once and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes away from the sides of the pan. Return to the heat and cook for 2 minutes until the paste is pale. Cool a little.

2. Add the beaten eggs, a little at a time, incorporating fully with a wooden spoon after each addition. The mixture will go glossy then back to dull. Add the eggs until the mixture is shiny again and it just drops off the wooden spoon. Cool the mixture for about 10 minutes. Put in a piping bag and pipe heart shapes on to a baking sheet dampened with a little water.

3. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes then reduce the temperature to 160°C, gas mark 3, and bake for a further 15-20 minutes until golden.

4. Pour the cream into a chilled bowl and whisk, either by hand or with a hand mixer, until stiff peaks form. This may take a few minutes.

5. When cooked, turn the hearts over and pop back into the oven for 2 minutes to dry out a little. Split each heart in half horizontally and then spoon or pipe the whipped cream on the base. Top with the other half and fill the centre with the fruit. Serve immediately.

Top Tips

Be careful not to overwhip your cream. As soon as you have firm peaks (you should be able to hold the bowl over your head without it spilling out!) you should stop.

If berries aren’t your thing use whatever fruit you prefer… mango and passion fruit, for example.

PORTSWOOD

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Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm

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