Discover Itchen Valley Mar/Apr 2014 by Tania Houston

Itchen Valley Edition inc Hedge End | Fair Oak | Colden Common | Botley | Horton Heath

Mar/Apr 2014

Spot the Golden Egg and Win £100 see p22

Transform Your Lawn this Spring! Before & After see page 12

Live Local... Think Local... Buy Local

SERVICE D ES I G N I N STA L L AT I O N P LU M B I N G • T I L I N G CA R P E N T RY THE COMPLETE E L ECT R I CASERVICE L ST E A M R O O M S • DESIGN • INSTALLATION W E T R O O M S • PLUMBING • TILINGWAT • CARPENTRY • ELECTRICAL E R SO F T N ERS • STEAMROOMS P L AST E •RWETROOMS ING B•U I L D I N G NEEDS WO R K SPECIAL S U P P LY & •FPLASTERING IT • WATER SOFTENERS PA RT ‘ P ’ •CBUILDING E RT I F I EWORK D • DECORATION • SUPPLY & FIT ONLY PART ‘P’ CERTIFIED

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Io Design • Survey & Measure • Planning Drawings & Applications • Building Regulation Drawings With Io Design you will deal with one person from start to finish. We are a local, family run company which enables us to offer competitive prices as well as a high quality, personal service throughout the entire process. Feel free to still choose your own builder or use Io Contracts for a complete service.

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From this to this in just a few days!

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ABOUT US

Discover Magazines ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Tel: Melanie Tinson 023 8026 6388 Email: melanie@discovermagazines.co.uk Web: www.discoveradvertising.co.uk

ARTWORK ENQUIRIES Tel: Debbie Nixon 023 8001 0222 Email: design@discovermagazines.co.uk

ACCOUNTS ENQUIRIES Tel: Tania Houston 023 8027 6361 Email: Tania@discovermagazines.co.uk

EDITORIAL/COMMUNITY NEWS Please visit www.discovercommunity.co.uk and use the Editorial Form under Contact Us Email: editorial@discovermagazines.co.uk Tel: 023 8026 6388

NEXT ISSUE: DIARY DATES Editorial copy deadline: 21 April Advertisement copy deadline: 23 April 1st Distribution: w/c 30 April 2nd Distribution: w/c 21 May

Distribution Discover Itchen Valley is published every other month and distributed to Hedge End, Fair Oak, Botley, Horton Heath and Colden Common. This is a total distribution of 14,000 homes.

132,000 Circulation, 10 Local Editions

The Walking Wounded In addition to being business partners, Mel and I are best friends. We play squash a couple of times a week which we can follow with a chat about work (and of course all manner of other things, none of which can be remembered 30 minutes after we have parted). In mid-February we had a game where my score was looking particularly embarrassing and in my desperation not to be beaten I ran full pelt after the ball. Unfortunately I didn’t stop in time and ran into the wall. This resulted in a ‘Tom and Jerry’ style bump above my eyebrow and within 24 hours the most impressive black eye. Coincidentally three days later we went skiing together for a few days. At the end of the last day, Mel took a bad tumble, stretched a ligament in her shoulder and was off to the doctors to be strapped up for the journey home. As we walked through the airport together even the man in the passport booth couldn’t help smirking and passport people never smile. Comments from strangers and friends have ranged from ‘have you two been in an accident’, ‘have you two had a fight’ and (for me from my hairdresser) ‘have you had some ‘work’ done’. And they say exercise is good for you? Pah! If you are feeling lucky (and clearly we aren’t) we are running a competition again to find the hidden symbol (page 22). We’ve hidden an Easter egg this time - truly a golden egg as it could net you £100. Good hunting!

Tania

Melanie Tinson & Tania Houston

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SHORT STORy

Parma Violets by Jackie Brewster “Can you be trusted to mind the café while I nip next door?” Aunt Carol asked solemnly as though she was leaving Becky in charge of the country. It was a big responsibility, and this was only Becky’s third day. The lunchtime rush was over, and there had been no customers for nearly an hour. While Becky was grateful to Carol for giving her a holiday job, she found that buttering cobs was not as easy as they made it look on television. She suspected Carol wasn’t convinced she had what it took to be a success in catering. “Whatever you do,” Carol warned her, ”don’t let that rat chap in.” Which seemed both a strange and reasonable request. Left alone, Becky practised folding napkins until she heard the café door open. An elderly gentleman, smartly dressed, sat down at the table by the window. Becky took a deep breath, picked up her order pad and walked briskly over to him. “What can I get you, sir?” she asked. He was wearing a jacket which appeared to be wriggling. A small furry nose popped up between the lapels. Becky nearly dropped her pencil. “Oh, don’t worry about him,” the man said. “He’s ﬁne.” “Pets aren’t allowed in the café,” Becky said nervously. She was almost certain this was true because she’d read a sign in the window. “Roland’s not a pet,” the man replied, browsing the menu. 6

“He’s a guide dog, and they’re perfectly welcome everywhere.” “But you’re not blind,” Becky said, a little embarrassed. “Of course everyone immediately thinks of guide dogs for the blind.” He closed the menu as though he found nothing appetising within it. “Roland’s an allergy guide dog. Have you heard of that?” Becky confessed she had not. “I am allergic to parma violets,” the man continued conﬁdentially. “Roland has to sniff my food to conﬁrm it’s safe to eat.” “Allergic to parma violets?” Becky repeated blankly. “Dangerously.” The man nodded sagely and tapped the menu. “Can you recommend anything that doesn’t include parma violets?” Becky was confused. Parma violets were little purple sweets she had no idea they were also a cooking ingredient. “I don’t think there’s any in the tea,” Becky said hopefully. The man frowned, “Can you guarantee it?” She shook her head. “In that case, it’s a good job I have Roland here.” He pulled Roland out of his jacket and sat him in his lap. He was a funny looking dog, with short legs, a pointy nose and a long body. “What type of dog is he?” Becky asked. “He’s an allergy dog, we’ve been

through this.” The man waved his hand dismissively. “Be quick with the tea dear, I’ve a plane to catch.” Becky hurried back behind the counter. Something didn’t feel right about the man and his allergy dog. She hoped he would drink up and go before her aunt returned. After all, the nearest airport was a two hour drive. She was not in luck. Carol bustled into the café carrying a box of crisps. “Any customers?” she asked. “Not really,” Becky lied as she overﬂowed the teacup. “So who’s that for?” Carol asked dubiously. “The gentleman over there.” Carol turned round and almost exploded. “Not you again,” she screamed. “Get that rat out of here!” The man scooped up Roland protectively. “He’s not a rat,” he said indignantly. “He’s a ferret, and they’re very clever animals.” “He sniffs parma violets,” Becky added to explain the situation. And with that, her fate in the world of catering was sealed.

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LOCAL EVENTS

Titchﬁeld Art & Craft Show 2014 It’s the 40th anniversary of this acclaimed annual event and a wide variety of quality original art work, photography and craft exhibits will be on display and on sale. There will be both painting and craft demonstrations, a raffle with some great prizes and the artists are invited to sell greetings cards of their work. The Show takes place at Titchfield Community Centre (Mill Street, Titchfield) on Saturday 26th April – 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 27th April – 10am to 4pm, tickets are available on the door for only £2. Tickets for the Preview Evening on Friday 25th April can be bought from Titchfield Community Centre at a price of £7.50, and will be available from Wednesday 19th March. The ticket includes entry to the exhibition, wine and canapés, as well as a tremendous social evening and the opportunity to buy from the pick of the exhibition. Entry to the Preview Evening is by ticket only. This year the children from Titchfield County Primary School and West Hill Park School will be delighting visitors with their Van Gogh and Picasso inspired work. All visitors are invited to vote for their favourite pictures throughout the weekend and the votes will be counted on Sunday afternoon to determine the winners. Homemade refreshments provided by the local Country Market will be on sale throughout the Show. More information can be found at www.titchfieldartandcraft.co.uk or by contacting info@titchfieldartandcraft.co.uk

Tel: 01489 782333

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

The Green, Green Grass of Home Well, what a winter it has been for our gardens. And your lawn is probably showing the scars of every gale and deluge that has hit us over the last few months. No matter how lovely it was in September, right now it probably looks more like coir matting than a green carpet! What to do then to bring it back to life? Our featured advertiser this month, Greenkeeper Lawncare, have made a very successful business out of proving that using their professional (but very affordable) service is the best solution, with hundreds of happy, repeat customers year after year. So what’s the difference between professional and DIy?

Before the GreenKeeper treatment, our cover picture shows the after

Products Greenkeeper uses professional slow-release fertilizers, which have been developed, tested, and fine-tuned on tens of thousands of lawns, golf courses, sports fields and parks. Furthermore organic summer feeds are applied within your schedule at no extra cost.

Equipment Scarification and aeration are physically demanding procedures and need robust equipment to get good results – a domestic lawn rake isn’t up to scratch. Greenkeeper uses professional machines, clear up ‘arisings’ and dispose of them for you if necessary.

starting from square one. A lawn maintenance service can make a significant difference, giving your grass a regular program of TLC.

Cost yes there’s a fee to pay to a professional, but you’d still need to pay for equipment and fertilisers if you were doing it yourself. And when you take into account the hidden cost of using your time it’s really great value ‘outsourcing’ this service. you only have to look at this picture – the ‘before’ – then turn to the front cover to see the ‘after’. The results speak for themselves, and with prices starting at just £14 per treatment, what’s not to love? Call Rob at Greenkeeper today for your free lawn analysis.

Analysis and Planning

Consistency

The Greenkeeper service begins with a complete lawn analysis, evaluating your soil type, and identifying any weeds and pests. Then they develop a programme of treatment that's specific to the needs of your lawn, which is monitored throughout the seasons.

Life and leisure are certain to get in the way of a TESTIMONIAL: Superb improvement consistent program in our lawn since you took it over from a of DIy lawncare. previous lawn company. Thank you, your Sporadic attention team are punctual and always give feed back and neglect - even if on the general condition of the lawn. I have unintentional – can passed your details to our neighbour. lead you to find that you are always Mr P, Southampton.

ALSO FROM GREENKEEPER Pro-grow deliveries - excellent recycled green compost product for mulching, top dressing and general soil improvement. The delivery for a 2 cubic metre transit tipper load is £155.00, equivalent to approximately 33 x 60litre bags. That has to be easier and cheaper than loading up your car from a DIy shop! 12

WHO ARE WE?!

Your local lawn treatment professionals servicing lawns in your area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rob, I am so pleased with the way the lawn has improved. I took some photos back in April just before you started and I recently bought a new mower and I took some more photos today, I though you might like them. Amazing to compare and see the improvement. Feel free to use these if they are of any help. All the best, Mike Grant (HAMBLE)â&#x20AC;? At GreenKeepers we appreciate there are many different lawn products and a growing amount of large franchised companies available! We are able to offer you a comprehensive annual lawn service at a competitive rate. No gimmicks, just tried and tested products and experienced staff committed to high standards of customer service. Take a look at our website for more information and testimonials from satisfied customers. A typical annual service will consist of 4-6 visits, including scarification and/or aeration if required. If you are serious about improving your lawn give us a call on 0800 0845 296 or visit www.greenkeeperlawns.co.uk

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Contact Rob for your FREE lawn analysis & quote

0800 0845 296 We have hundreds of happy customers - visit our website to see what they say www.greenkeeperlawns.co.uk 13

GARDENING

Bringing Up Babies By Pippa Greenwood, www.pippagreenwood.com

A visit to any nursery or garden centre at this time of year will reveal a brilliant array of herbaceous perennials. True, right now they may not look particularly enticing as they usually show little growth and seem to be unbelievably small but just take a look at the illustration on the label and you will see that these small plants have great potential.

At this stage, before they put on their fabulous foliage or flowers, herbaceous perennials, particularly those grown in relatively small pots (3in or 7.5cm) are fairly inexpensive, usually somewhere around the £1.50-£2.50 mark and great value. They’re packed full of potential and within a year or two will have formed really good sized plants. In order to make sure that newly planted herbaceous perennials not only survive but thrive, it’s essential that you give them that little bit of extra tender loving care. Small plants such as these are more likely to be prone to any weather extremes such as drought or waterlogging and even plants in larger pots should be well established. When you ease the plants out of their pots, if you see a really plentiful supply of roots that usually means you have purchased a good plant. Unlike woody plants such as shrubs and trees, a crammed in root system tends to mean that the plant has been growing well and is unlikely to lead to problems in the future.

Check the plant labels to see the ultimate spread of the plant and then this will give you an idea of how far apart you should space them. For the best effect you generally want to grow several individuals of the same species and I suggest you choose an odd number, perhaps three, or five for a much larger garden, as this invariably makes a better display than if even numbers of plants are used. It may be tempting to plant too close and although this will provide a better looking display initially, over-crowded plants are less likely to become well established, will have to be moved in the near future and in the meantime will be more prone to numerous diseases including grey mould and powdery and downy mildews. It’s also essential to plant at the correct depth. With herbaceous perennials you need to make sure that you place the plant in the ground to the same depth that it was in the container and although you may decide to mulch the soil afterwards, do remember not to mulch right up to or over the crown of the

plant, as this is likely to lead to poor growth and maybe even dieback. Weed control is essential and you can either hoe regularly between the plants to prevent the weeds causing competition or you can use a deep mulch or perhaps even place squares of landscape fabric or black polythene around each plant. Do remember however, that if you use polythene, rain will not be able to penetrate through it and so the plants are more likely to suffer from drought. With landscape fabric this is not a problem. I’m a great fan of copper-impregnated and coated fabrics as these help to keep weeds and slugs and snails at bay. Once you have dug over the whole bed, then it’s well worthwhile adding a general fertilizer at the rate suggested on

the packet; this will help to start the plant off well. If you notice that the soil is on the heavy side and unless you have chosen plants which are only likely to thrive under these conditions, it would be advisable to attempt to improve the soil conditions by incorporating plenty of bulky organic matter and grit. Similarly, if the soil is excessively dry, then you could try to improve its texture by incorporating large quantities of any good bulky organic matter. Once the plants are in position, firm the soil thoroughly and do take care not to compact it if it’s on the heavy side. Regular watering is essential and if the ground is not already quite moist, you should water the plants in well. Although they should have been in good condition when you purchased

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them, do check them regularly for signs of any pests or diseases as it will be much easier to stop something in its tracks if you start to take action early on in the season. Pippa loves growing gorgeous veg and wants to persuade you to as well; visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com for the ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ veg growing system where she will send you garden ready plants and weekly advice and tips emails, making veg growing easy, productive and fun.

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www.hambrooks.co.uk 15

LOCAL CLUBs, GROUPS & EVENTS

Shieldhall to Revisit Bournemouth Air Festival The SS Shieldhall – the oldest passenger cargo steamship still active in Europe – has announced her Full Steam Ahead cruise programme for 2014. The ship will shortly be journeying to Dry Dock in Falmouth for hull repairs, part of a £1.4 million HLF grant project. On her return to Southampton Shieldhall will commence her 2014 programme on 31 May with a 2 hour Vikings! Cruise, remembering the 1000th anniversary of Canute being crowned King of England in Southampton. Other cruise highlights for the year can be seen on the website www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk. Most significantly though, Shieldhall is set to resume her annual visits to Poole in August, from where she will make three trips to visit the Bournemouth Air Festival. Guests on Shieldhall get a lot more than a conventional cruise along Southampton Water. The ship is manned and run entirely by volunteers, who actively encourage visits to the Engine and Boiler Rooms and also the Bridge. ‘We are told that the interaction with our volunteers is a highlight of everyone’s time on board’ said Graham. ‘On a warm summer’s day the role of engineer must be one of the hottest jobs in the country, as temperatures in the Boiler Room can reach 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Visitors love to see the engines in operation and whilst they can sympathise about the heat, they should know our volunteers love their work!’ ‘Shieldhall is an excellent resource for local residents and enthusiasts’ said Graham. ‘With the ongoing lottery work we are opening up Shieldhall to new audiences with a diverse cruise programme and also through her setting for ‘alongside functions’ where the ship hosts theatre, quiz and film nights. Last year Shieldhall celebrated her 25th anniversary ‘In Preservation’ – we are now entering a new and exciting era. It’s full steam ahead.’ Website www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk

Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Fareham Petanque Club Gentle exercise in the fresh air, whatever your age and ability. 8yrs - 80+. Now firmly established in North West Community Centre, Henry Cort Drive Fareham PO15 6PH. Come along on Wednesday evenings from 7.30pm. Join in the fun and try French boules, learn to play with good company. Phone Mary 01329 843295 or Linda 01329 829495 so that we can make sure there are players there who can give you support on your first try. 16

Why not come and give one of the world’s fastest growing watersports a try. AV SUP Club is based on the beautiful River Hamble and can offer the BSUPA Level 1 “Ready to Ride” course. Learning to SUP is a fast and fun process with a qualified BSUPA instructor, the 2 hour course is run on flat water, It’s accessible to all, young and old (our courses are designed for ages 12 - 112...) and all you need is a little balance. Fantastic for fitness, it’s low impact, very social and great fun! For more info visit: avsupclub.co.uk or call us on 01489 588327 or email info@avsupclub.co.uk

• General plumbing repairs & installations • From a tap to a complete bathroom • Tiling & decorating • Free estimates • No call out fee • Fully insured • All work guaranteed • NO JOB TOO SMALL For excellent value & a friendly service call your local plumber now on:

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Hedge End Veterinary Health Centre ÔDedicated to the Wellbeing of Your PetsÓ

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• 24 hour emergency cover provided • Mobile nurse clinic • Friendly & dedicated veterinary staff Open Monday to Friday: 8.30am till 7.30pm for routine enquiries. Consultation by Appointment Only: Monday-Friday: 9am to 12 noon and 4pm to 7.30pm, Saturday: 9am to 12 noon 17

LIVE LOCAL

Adequately insured to rebuild? The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has commissioned the Building Cost Information Service to provide general guidance to help you check the adequacy of your sum insured. It provides guidance on the rebuilding cost of houses and some types of flats to the general public. The benefits of the residential rebuilding cost calculator: • Use it to check that your buildings insurance amount still covers the rebuild cost • Get a rough idea of your home’s rebuild cost so you don’t end up paying any shortfall • you only need to insure your home for its rebuild cost • SIMPLE and FREE to use • Enter your property information and hit calculate Visit http://abi.bcis.co.uk to check the rebuilding cost of your home.

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22 14

18 ©Puzzlepress.co.uk

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD

24. Agitated (6) 25. Insect which rests with forelimbs raised as if in prayer (6) Down 1. building for housing horses (6) 2. German submarine in World War II (1-4) 3. Frame supporting the body of a car (7) 5. Appear suddenly or unexpectedly (3,2) 6. Windlass used when weighing anchor (7) 7. Soft yellow substance secreted by aural glands (6) 8. Expert in art, food or drink (11) 14. blue-flowered trailing plant (7) 15. brilliant and showy technical skill (7)

8 9

16 18

17 19

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Across 1. Ornamental plaster used to cover walls (6) 4. Native North American tribe (6) 9. Pear-shaped fruit with green skin ripening to black (7) 10. Writing material (5) 11. Asian water lily (5) 12. Volatile liquid used chiefly as a solvent (7) 13. Narrow strip of rubber formed into a loop for holding objects together (7,4) 18. book of the New Testament (7) 20. Long, narrow passageway (5) 22. Measuring stick (5) 23. Small guitar with four strings (7)

16. Group of people Olympic Games (6) assembled to sing (6) 19. Lofty nest of a bird of 17. Mary ___, women’s prey (5) pentathlon gold medal 21. Mixture of rain and winner in the 1972 snow (5) Answers: Page 29

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7th: Jim Clark, Formula One

What happened in... ...April 1968? Average cost of a house was £4,350 A gallon of petrol was about 28p

driver, from Scotland, was killed in an accident in Hockenheim, Germany. Aged just 32 he had twice been World Champion and had won more GP races (25) and achieved more GP pole positions (33) than any other driver.

“…it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop…And I’ve looked over and I’ve seen the Promised Land. And I’m so happy tonight; I’m not worried about anything… mine eyes have seen the coming of the Lord.” From the last speech, on the 3rd April 1968, of Dr Martin Luther King Jr.; Nobel Peace Prize winner, Baptist minister and spokesperson for non-violent protest in the Civil Rights Movement.

Three of the bestselling singles this year were: What A Wonderful World/ Caberet - Louis Armstrong Delilah Tom Jones If I Only Had Time - John Rowles

The next evening, while standing on the balcony outside his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, he was assassinated with a single bullet to the head. An escaped convict, James Earl Ray, was arrested and convicted of his murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison; although many, including some of King’s family, believed that Ray was innocent and that the FBI was involved.

2nd: The premiere of 2001: A Space Odyssey took place in Washington. The Stanley Kubrick film was a British-American production, made almost entirely in England, with the screenplay co-written by Arthur C Clarke.

10th: Two storms merged over Wellington, creating Cyclone Giselle, the worst storm in New Zealand’s history, with winds of 170 mph. Three ambulances and a truck were blown onto their sides during rescue attempts. At about six o’clock in the morning the ferry TEV Wahine tried to enter Wellington Harbour but was blown off course and onto a reef and badly damaged before being swept away. After several rescue attempts and false hopes the vessel eventually capsized at about 2:30 pm. 53 people were killed, including many who had taken to lifeboats and rafts. 20th: “People often blame the predictions of troubles for the actual troubles that eventually arrive”. “Politicians who shirk their duty deserve the curses of those who come after”. Just two of the points made by Enoch Powell in his lengthy ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech, for which he was demonized. 23rd: The first decimal coins were issued in Britain: the ten-pence and five-pence pieces.

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LOCAL WHAT’S ON LOVE YOUR BONES DAY 19 Mar, 10am - 3pm Jubilee Hall, Shore Lane, Bishops Waltham SO32 1ED An information day on osteoporosis. Contact: Jill Phipps 01329 224 531, Jill.Phipps@southernhealth.nhs. uk or Margo Berry, Chairman of the National Osteoporosis Society, Portsmouth Branch 01329 833 114. Free.

Soberton Village Hall, School Hill, Soberton SO32 3PF Soberton Players present ‘The Vicar of Dibley’, a stage play by Ian Gower and Paul Carpenter, adapted from the original TV series, with kind permission of Tiger Aspect Productions. Tickets £7. Box Office 01489 878724. Credit Card Hotline 01489 866666. Email: tickets@ sobertonplayers.co.uk

Holy Trinity Church, West St, Fareham PO16 0EL The choir is giving a concert which includes Mass, Dvorak’s Te Deum and Mozart’s Solemn Vespers. Tickets £12.00, £10.00 (conc) and £2 (under 16 and students), from the FPC box office 01329 664948, Community Action Fareham 01329 213899, choir members, or on the door on the night. www.fpchoir.org

SOROPTIMIST FASHION SHOW 21 Mar, 7 for 7.30pm Richard Taunton College, Hill Lane SO15 5RL Have fun and help raise valuable funds for Soroptimist International Children’s Charity. See, try, buy and take home fashion from Travelling Trends. This season’s high street fashion at bargain prices, wine and soft drinks bar. Tickets £7, in advance only. 023 80 253847. jean.edwardes@talktalk.net

AUTISM HAMPSHIRE’S CHARITY QUIZ NIGHT 28 Mar, 7 - 10.30pm Hedge End CIU Club, Bursledon Road, Hedge End SO30 0BR Get your brain working and join us for a night of quizzes and puzzles. Ploughman’s supper, bar and raffle. Teams of 6, £10 pp. To book a team or for more info contact Lucy ward 01489 880881 ext 208, or email lucy.ward@has.org.uk

NEWTOWN EASTER EGG HUNT 9 Apr, from 11am Forest of Bere Hosted by charities Newtown Infant School/Earlybirds Pre-School. Start at West Walk, Hundred Acres Rd, nr Wickham OR for easier parking, leave your car at Woodend Car Park, Heath Rd and walk though to an alternative start point (same finish point). Face painting, bouncy castle, cakes, lucky dip and many more stalls. Follow the trail and collect coloured eggs, then exchange them for a chocolate prize. £2.50 per child. For more info www.earlybirds. ik.org

BAND CONCERT Royal Victoria Country Park 25 Mar 7pm The Friends of Royal Victoria Country Park will be having another of their popular concerts in the acoustically acclaimed Chapel featuring the Band of The Hampshire Constabulary. Refreshments will be available. All money raised will go towards a memorial Poppy sculpture to commemorate World War 1. £9, book in advance 023 8045 5157 SCOUT JAMBOREE QUIZ NIGHT 26 Mar, 7.30pm See page 22 for information. THE VICAR OF DIBLEY 27 - 29 Mar, 7.30pm 26

Universal Marina, Sarisbury Green

CAR BOOT SALE Royal Victoria Country Park 1 Apr, 9am to 12pm Free Entry. Please note normal car parking charges apply. If you would like a pitch please phone 023 8045 5157 for details. Magpie’s Nest Indoor Gift & Craft Market Sat 5th April 2014 10am til 1pm Hedge End Village Hall Showcasing a Nest of Beautiful, Bespoke, Artisan and Unique gifts from talented artists, crafters and small businesses. Also providing a tearoom as well as face painting and glitter tattoos. FAREHAM PHILHARMONIC CHOIR CONCERT 5 Apr, 7.30pm

RIVERBANK FESTIVAL Universal Marina, Sarisbury Green SO31 7ZN 26 & 27 Apr, 10am – 5pm Charity family fun weekend with tented village incl. Surf Simulator, face painting, River Trips, paddle boarding, climbing wall & Sailing Simulator & much more. Hants RNLI, Police & Fire Brigade. Live music, boats, prestige cars, marine clothing & exhibitors stands. Competitions & Prizes, Bar & Cafe. FREE ENTRY FOR ALL. www. riverbankfestival.com 01489 574272.

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New Traineeships Now Launched Eastleigh College has announced the launch of an array of Traineeships, starting March 2014. Traineeships are a new six month qualification scheme which combines a six week work placement in industry with relevant training in college. The new Government invested programme focuses on giving students the skills and experience that employers are looking for, to help them prepare for their future career, whilst giving employers the opportunity to bring enthusiastic individuals into their business, before they get onto the job ladder. Traineeships at Eastleigh College are offered in the following areas: Travel & Tourism Business Administration Hospitality & Catering Motor Vehicle Hairdressing Childcare Following completion of the Traineeship it is hoped that successful candidates would then progress onto a full Apprenticeship with their employer. If you are an employer looking to take on a Trainee or an individual aged 19-23, without a Level 2 qualification or above, and want to find out more, please call one of the College’s training advisors on 023 8091 1226 or email ecta@eastleigh.ac.uk.

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ADVERTISER’S INDEX

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Your Community Business Directory Hampshire Walks Clubs & Societies What’s On Restaurant Guide Useful Numbers …and how to send in your own community news.

Every issue of Discover is full of interesing articles, useful information and fun stuff too, delivered through your door free of charge, made possible by the financial support of its advertisers. Please support local businesses who promote themselves in Discover. They are ready to serve you and they want your business. We’d appreciate it if you’d mention Discover when contacting advertisers from this issue. AERIALS Pure Digital Aerial & Satellites 27 APPLIANCE REPAIR Advanced Appliance Care 2 BATHROOMS See Plumbing BLINDS & CURTAINS The Blind Business 31 Waterside Blinds 5 CHILDCARE Kiddywinks Nursery 21 COMPUTER SERVICES Home Computer Help 21 CONSERVATORIES Britannia Conservatories 18 DOUBLE GLAZING INST/REPAIRS Hampshire Window Surgeon 7 Windowmenda 9 EDUCATION Barton Peveril 21 ESTATE AGENT NiceMoves 32 FENCING Colourfence 10 FLOORING G E Nicholls 9 Premier Wood Flooring 10 FURNITURE Pont Furnishings 19 GARAGE DOORS Fix Quick Garage Doors 27 GARAGE SERVICES Independent VW 25 GARDEN DESIGN & SERVICES Arbor-Call Tree Surgeons 11 Colourfence 10 Dave’s Friendly Garden Service 11 GreenKeeper Lawn Services 13 Hambrooks 10/11/15 Neil Richmond Tree & Hedge Services 15 Tidy Timber 11 HEALTH SERVICES Hampshire Hearing 31

kITCHENS Dream Doors Re-Nu LETTING AGENT NiceMoves LOCkSMITH DH Locksmith Lockright OVEN CLEANER Oven Wizards PLASTERER AY Plastering PLUMBING SERVICES (including bathroom installation and gas and boiler services) Aqua Bathrooms Aquatec Plumbing & Heating DN Plumbing Services G.E. Harding & Sons Ltd Gair Gas G Grogan Plumbing & Heating House Martin Heating HTS Studios TP Watts PRINTER Warwick Printing Company PROPERTY MAINTENANCE House Worx Io Contracts The Door Hanger Ltd The Flat Pack People PROPERTY SALES NiceMoves RADIO The Breeze TREE SURGERY See Garden UPHOLSTERY Pont Furnishings VETERINARY Hedge End Veterinary Health Centre WINDOW REPAIR Hampshire Window Surgeon Windowmenda

3 17 32 18 11 18 27

2 7 17 7 31 8 27 8 18 9 8 2 8 27 32 23

19 17 7 9

l Buy Local . . . USEFUL NUMBERS Doctors & Hospitals NHS Direct

0845 4647

Botley Health Care Centre

01489 782008

Hampshire Dental Helpline

0845 0508345

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01489 786201

Princess Anne

023 8077 7222

Royal South Hants

023 8063 4288

Royal Winchester County

01962 863535

Southampton General

023 8077 7222

West End Surgery

023 8047 2126

Transport Solent Blue Line Buses

023 8061 8233

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National Rail Helpline

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Puzzle Answers

Schools General

Pictograms

Berrywood Primary

01489 780068

Bitterne Manor Park Primary

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Bitterne Park

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1. The first cut is the deepest 2. Point blank range 3. Breakfast in bed

Botley CE

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Cantell

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Freegrounds

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Kings Copse Primary

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Shamblehurst Primary

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St James CE

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The Gregg School

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Wellstead Primary

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Wildern School

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Knowledge Crossword Across: 1 Stucco, 4 Apache, 9 Avocado, 10 Paper, 11 Lotus, 12 Naphtha, 13 Elastic band, 18 Hebrews, 20 Aisle, 22 Ruler, 23 Ukulele, 24 Shaken, 25 Mantis. Down: 1 Stable, 2 U-boat, 3 Chassis, 5 Pop up, 6 Capstan, 7 Earwax, 8 Connoisseur, 14 Lobelia, 15 Bravura, 16 Chorus, 17 Peters, 19 Eyrie, 21 Sleet.

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LIFE BEGINS

When Did You Last Do Something Impulsive? By Kate McLelland

It sometimes pays to follow your instincts. Author JK Rowling reportedly decided to write the first Harry Potter novel after an idea for the story occurred to her when she was travelling on a train. She completed the book as a struggling single mum on state benefits, becoming a multimillionaire within five years. Japanese engineer Yusuke Funaki saw a performance by the worldfamous circus company Cirque du Soleil and was so inspired that he decided to learn the rope-skipping techniques he had seen in the show. After a few years of practice he abandoned engineering and literally ran away to join the circus. He is still working with Cirque du Soleil as a performer at their Florida base. The link between these two individuals is their willingness to follow an impulse, taking up new activities that – given their backgrounds and relative inexperience in their chosen fields - were far from guaranteed to result in success. It takes a certain kind of courage to 30

risk everything in order to follow a dream, especially when we know it might fail. Most of us, at some stage in our lives, have done things that we have regretted at a later date. Sometimes our spur-of-the-moment choices seem so out of character it’s almost as though someone else has taken over our minds. A study of the brain shows why we feel this way. While the primitive, emotional part of our brain (found in the limbic system) makes rapid-fire decisions about things we like, dislike, hate, love, fear or want, the intellectual and more logical mind (located in prefrontal cortex) is geared to making deliberate and rational conclusions at a slightly slower pace. Allow your emotional brain to guide your actions and you’re likely to end up doing something impulsive. We tend to associate impulsivity with youth. As they age, people often reject these youthful emotional responses: instead mature people use the knowledge they have acquired, backed up by logic and reason, to cope with new challenges or solve problems. While no-one would doubt the benefits that knowledge and experience can bring, something is perhaps lost in this process. Impulse and risk-taking are

closely linked with creativity, and there’s a danger that we may ignore creative impulses that have the power to change the course of our lives. By middle-age, many of us have ceased to follow our instincts completely, relying on tried and trusted methods that we have learned in our formative years to see us through. But does sticking with what we know actually inhibit brain development? When individuals settle into routines that are repeated automatically from day to day, the brain activity required for those activities decreases. That means that we tend to carry out familiar actions on autopilot and consequently our minds receive very little stimulation. The good news is that older people can reactivate their brains by undertaking new activities, or by approaching established routines in different ways. Whether you decide to join a choir, take up a musical instrument or volunteer for a local charity, it’s not really about the activity – it’s about rekindling the youthful spark that encouraged you to experiment and try new things. At the very least it will give your brain some exercise, at best it might be the key to a whole new life.

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