Literature

Charley Supermog supercat, super read

Val starts her on-line interview by asking....”WHY do so many youngsters stay for hours in their bedrooms staring at small screens instead of escaping those four walls to enjoy fresh air and all that nature and the outside world has to offer? It’s so unhealthy - both physically and mentally”

Val Anne Lee, poet and author, has lived in and around New Alresford for fifteen years. Her popular and much-loved children’s books ‘On the Banks of Hatchet Pond’ and ‘Podge goes Splodge at Hatchet Pond’ feature Podge, an ugly old frog who wishes he could fly, and Dizzy a beautiful little dragonfly who flits around Hatchet Pond in the New Forest.

Humour figures largely in most of Val’s work although she says “To be honest, I didn’t have much to laugh about in those early days but my crazy sense of humour kept me sane”.

Her new full-length story CHARLEY*SUPERMOG is for older kids but Val says “It will resonate with those adults who enjoyed ‘normal childhood adventures before computers overtook the world”. Dedicated ‘For Cat Lovers Everywhere’ this crazy adventure story features a once-scrawny tatty-eared farm cat who by chance taps a boring old stone and gains magical powers, becoming totally humanised and taking his young owner and her family and friends on amazing and hair-raising adventures which vastly improve many lives.....even those of two nasty young village bullies! Many of Val’s words touch on current topics...for example she speaks boldly for the ‘Gingers’ of this world in her description of their “lovely richlycoloured hair which shines in the sunlight like burnished gold”, Val says her mother and two of her sister were auburn-haired - hence these words. The book also has its young characters enjoying the outdoor life....swinging on ropes dangling over rivers, collecting conkers, daring to skate on frozen ponds and borrowing a metal detector to dig for treasure and more.. At the time of writing, CHARLEY has yet to be released - having been kept in lockdown for the duration of Covid. However, subject to on-going negotiation with Anthony Oxley the owner of New Alresford’s prestigious bookshop Laurence Oxley’s, CHARLEY is soon to be launched..

In addition to her published and so-farunpublished portfolio of more than a dozen children’s stories, Val also writes for adults... mostly humorous poems based on everyday ‘gripes’. She says “My family think I’m slightly eccentric because I have a poem for every occasion and can give a recitation from memory ‘at the drop of a hat’.....such titles as ‘Stinky Old Billy’ the old goat once in her reluctant ownership with other animals - horses, bantams, pigs, fluffy white rabbits which often escaped their hutches to breed with the wild ones in the fields beyond.

In addition, when left to singly support her family of three kids, an added responsibility was the young calf which had been left tied to a plum tree! More of ‘Val’s Verses’ have been narrated monthly at a charity-fund-raising Breakfast Club for ladies including ‘The Rogue’ (the wonky shopping trolley), ‘It’s a Drag’ (“Smoking’s a disgusting bore” ) and many more.

Val’s three books were published by her talented illustrator, Simon Chadwick (CeratopiaBooks.co.uk) for ‘On the Banks of Hatchet Pond’, its sequel ‘Podge Goes Splodge at Hatchet Pond’ both priced at £4.99 plus P&P and ‘The Monkey Who Wouldn’t Eat Nuts’ at £6.00 plus P&P. Charley Supermog is priced at £8.00 plus P&P if ordered directly from Val who has sole ownership and limited stock (email val@valsimbooks).

Val has an extensive portfolio of unpublished rhyming and humorous stories for youngsters and has commissioned Guy Tomlinson of themarketingdirectors.co.uk to approach agents/ publishers on her behalf.....to hopefully gain sufficient interest to back her.

For more information or to purchase any of Val's books email: val@valsimbooks.com

Apple Watch and Apple Pay

In 2021 Apple sold a staggering 46 million Apple Watches. The year they introduced the watch in 2015, they sold just over 8 million. So, an impressive sales increase in 7 years. It has changed quite a bit since the first model with many useful features especially the fitness and health apps. It is now an important member of the Apple family of products. Before a recent trip away, I decided to add Apple Pay to my watch, the current Series 7. I am glad that I did as it has proved to be a secure and convenient way to pay for anything that you would use a card for. It is almost exactly the same as using it on the iPhone and you will need to use the iPhone to set up Apple Pay on the watch as they work in tandem. To do this open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap on My Watch, then tap Wallet & Apple Pay; if you have cards on your other Apple devices tap Add next to the card you would like to add and then enter the card’s CVV. Once installed you do not need to even have the iPhone with you as the cards are registered inside the app on the watch. It is very easy to use, just tap the side button twice and the card(s) appear on the screen, move the phone close by the credit card terminal and pay.

Mr Mac – Andy McHardy

Join the Meon Voices Community Choir

The popular Meon Voices Community Choir will start weekly practice sessions every Monday starting September 12th 2022, from 7.30 to 9.30 p.m. at Bishop’s Waltham United Free Church, in preparation for its Christmas Concert in mid-December. Choir members will be practising an eclectic mix of old and new music, so there is something for everyone.

It’s a true community choir, formed in the early 1980’s to spread harmony and camaraderie through the pleasure of singing and performing together.

This means there’s no need to audition and you don’t need to read music – if you love to sing and are prepared to make a bit of effort, you will be warmly welcomed and given all the support you need. Choir members come from many towns and villages around the area and there are two terms per year, January to April/ May and September to mid-December.

If you would like a copy of our ‘New Members’ leaflet which contains full information, or to talk about joining, please contact Phil 01489 579078 or email coundleypj@yahoo.com or email Jane on janevose@icloud.com

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Contact Catherine Paget TEP

Email: catherine.paget@pagetwillwriting.co.uk Tel: 07786 626979 Web: www.pagetwillwriting.co.uk

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Jackie’s County Corner for August

I have received several complaints right across the division about cancelled bus services which leave residents stranded, and so I have raised this with Stagecoach and HCC. It seems that they will only announce cancellations on Twitter, which is completely unsatisfactory.

The County Council has recorded their disappointment that that they were not successful in receiving any Bus Back Better funding. The original BBB fund was announced as £3bn, then cut back to just £1.4bn, resulting in only 31 of 79 bids being successful. Add to this, the pressure on commercial services at present: Covid, shortage of passengers and shortage of drivers are playing their part in this. This puts considerable pressure on the County’s transport discretionary funding which includes a taxi run-bus services, CANGO, community bus grants and support for smaller link buses such as the 95 and the 240.

However, good news: HCC received a flood aid grant of over £0.74m, which included Phase 1 of the Outer Winchester scheme. HCC claimed an additional sum of £0.243 m for phase 2 of this scheme in Feb 22, which will be spent in this financial year.

HCC also received £9.4m in developer contributions in 21/22, mainly used to provide road improvements and school places, including special school places which are still under considerable pressure as well over 13,000 young people now have an Education Health and Care Plan in Hampshire alone. I continue to work with local families on these plans but please contact me if you feel that you need assistance.

HCC has also received £0.8m to develop a business case for a ‘Mini-Holland’ for Winchester: the bid focus is to improve walking and cycling to and from the city centre, and potentially introduce some Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN’s) in the city too. All of this will be subject to public consultation, so please watch for more detail to come.

Kings Barton roads: I know that many Parishes are affected by decisions made by Cala and HCC about the final road system at Kings Barton. A new County Executive (Cabinet) has just been formed, and so I am afraid the pressure to get this right for all residents both in Kings Barton and across the north of Winchester has started anew with correspondence and a conversation with the new Exec Member, Cllr Heron. He has agreed to meet me to see the roads (as they are now) this month too.

We are living in an increasingly digital world: you may find it useful to receive gov. uk updates from Julia Lopez MP on this. This week’s update includes guidance for online access / applications for the right to work, right to rent and DBS checks. All of this assumes however that you can access these forms online, and retain a copy for yourself. Using a public computer at the Library may be residents’ only form of online access. At present, Library staff can help if you need a paper copy of a form. https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/digital-identity-certificationfor-right-to-work-right-to-rentand-criminal-record-checks?utm_ medium=email&utm_campaign=govuknotifications-topic&utm_source=41af6fececec-42a0-a893-2be19a28af4c&utm_ content=weekly

Ukraine update: despite requests, HCC has refused to contemplate using Cornerways for refugee housing.

The Government has announced that Britain will take Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (often shortened to UASC) from Ukraine- this is a whole new challenge to add to those coming from other parts of the world and HCC councillors are expecting a full update on the implication and actions for the County Council w/c 11 July.

Cllr Jackie Porter : telephone/text 07973 696085, email Jackie.porter@hants.gov.uk, website www.jackieporter.co.uk, twitter @ JackieLibDem

Jane Devonshire calls on readers to join Afternoon Tea

People with breast cancer need you. And they need you now. Every year, around 55,000 women and 370 men in the UK have their lives turned upside down by a breast cancer diagnosis. In 2007 I experienced this first hand when I was told I had the disease.

Nearly five years after I finished treatment I was diagnosed with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer which had spread to my liver. Secondary breast cancer can be treated but cannot be cured.

I’ve worked with the charity Breast Cancer Now for a long time because they’ve been with me right from the start. That’s why I’m calling on readers join me this August by hosting an Afternoon Tea. Afternoon Tea is Breast Cancer Now’s annual fundraising event, that gives you a chance to get together with friends, family or colleagues over a cake in the garden, or a picnic in the park, to raise money for charity.

Money raised will help Breast Cancer Now continue to provide award-winning health information, fund cutting-edge research projects, and give someone much-needed reassurance on their Helpline, which I know from calling the team myself, can make all the difference.

Research into finding new treatments is incredibly important and everyday Breast Cancer Now’s research in the lab brings us closer to a future where everyone with breast cancer lives and is supported to live well. By hosting an Afternoon Tea, you can raise vital funds to help researchers get there faster. I’ve hosted an Afternoon Tea this year and loved being able to invite friends over to share in my passion with food, whilst raising money for a cause close to my heart. This year’s Afternoon Tea fundraising kit includes a whole host of exciting decorations and games to make your event special, including beautiful bespoke bunting designed by iconic British brand Cath Kidston.

Join thousands of people across the UK and host an Afternoon Tea at any point throughout August, sign up for your fundraising kit at breastcancernow.org/ cuppa - Jane Devonshire, 2016 MasterChef winner and Breast Cancer Now supporter