Month: January 2013

Patty, Last Of The Legendary Andrews Sisters Dies


It has been reported that Patty Andrews has died at the age of 94.

The Andrews Sisters close harmonies have given, and continue to give great pleasure whenever I hear them singing. Dated they may be but the songs always make me smile. Here are a couple of tunes to remind you and as a tribute to Patty and the gang.

Swing Singing Legend Patty Andrews Dies.

View From The Conservatory


Topped up the bird feeders earlier today. Threw a bit of feed on the bird table and just for a bit of sport spilled a bit onto our wonky feeder over the bird bath. Just making sure that the birds had plenty of options open to them.

I knew that arch criminal, and bird food thief, the squirrel would be doing the rounds to help himself. If only a few minutes ahead of those big fat bird shaped vacuum cleaners, the wood pigeons.

What I didn’t expect was that, having already visited the bird table, the squirrel would move on to new pastures.

Feed Thief
Feed Thief

Feed Thief, Who Me ?
Feed Thief, Who Me ?

I don’t mind them filling up. All wildlife is welcome and they do tend to leave the feeders on the house walls alone. So there is plenty to go round for the Robins, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits and Dunnocks that are our regular visitors. Even the Carrion Crows visit although they tend to gather the flickings from the bird table. To be quite honest I think they prefer the curried rice which I have taken to putting out.

Spurlings, Wellbourne, Swansdell – You Choose


Coming to the countryside near you….. yes a new village / town. And you too can get involved in the naming of this new community.

The local authority has whittled the list down to just three. I have to say that none of the choices are particularly awe-inspiring. They all have some historical linkage to a bygone era. It’s a shame that they the new construction is unlikely to “visually” hark back to those times.

It’s a shame that the people of the general public weren’t involved in the original list compilation. I for one would love to have seen what Joe P. would have suggested. Anyway, here are the choices put forward by the authorities….

Researchers have gone through Ordnance Survey maps and used the museum’s archives to pick out three names of historic value to the area.

Each of the three names has a close historical connection with the land to the north of Fareham.

The names to choose from are:

  • Spurlings: Marked on the 1879 Ordnance Survey map. In 1841 it was occupied by Charles Osborn, who developed the Victorian villas along Osborn Road. Today, there is a Spurlings Road north of the M27 at Junction 11.
  • Swansdell: Also marked on the 1879 Ordnance Survey map, Swans Dell Cottage was occupied in 1841 by the gamekeeper of Roche Court and labourer John Stares.
  • Welborne: Relating to fields immediately north of Kiln Road and south of Kneller Court, the land named Welborne was occupied by John Budd at the time of the tithe map. The land was owned as part of Fareham Manor by the Gardiner family of Roche Court.

Mind you I think they missed out on a couple of alternatives based on the historical notes for the last one. Here are my thoughts.
According to the Tithe Map the land was occupied by one John Budd. So I thought perhaps Budds Farm would have been appropriate, then I realised that the name was taken …. by the local sewage farm. Another alternative, what with the Gardiner family name linked to the land, would have been Gardiners World !!! Oh well I guess not.

Now we know why Joe P. wasn’t asked to contribute suggested names. There are too many people out there that think like me.

Anyway, if you want to throw in your thee penneth and vote for one of the above options, here’s how.

HOW YOU CAN VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE

There are a number of ways for people to get involved and vote for their favourite name.

Go to fareham.gov.uk or visit the Civic Offices and vote using tokens.

On Friday we will be printing a voting slip in The News, so that you can fill in and send back to make your voice heard.

Voting opens on Friday, February 1 and closes on Sunday, March 31.

The name with the most votes will be announced at the council’s executive meeting on Monday, April 15.

Have your say – it’s finally time to name new town – Politics – Portsmouth News.

%d bloggers like this: