Bastille Day by the Sea

Now that La Perle restaurant is established in Milford on Sea High Street, we as a village are of course now annexed to France.  I have contact my old friends the mayor’s of Paris & Nice about a twinning arrangement, but their e-mail must be broken, as to date I have not had a reply. I am sure it is only a matter of time before I receive a formal civic invitation.

I digress, next week is Bastille Day, which is celebrated in France every 14^th July, apparently it is something to do with a group of guys ‘Storming of the Bastille’ on on 14 July 1789, and the start of the French Revolution. It was also a great excuse to write some great songs and the magnificent ‘Les Miserables’ stage show, but I think this was done later and was not written by the lads storming the Gallic prison, they were far too busy getting shot of one of the King Louis’.  Of course, being a village that will jump onto any excuse for a good time, it is only fair that we join in the celebration of our French brothers.  So, to celebrate, La Perle will be serving a full traditional French menu for both lunch and dinner next Thursday.  Having had a sneak preview of the dishes, it looks like Lionel is giving us all an opportunity to taste many of the specialities from his French homeland.

Being English, born & bred, it is weird the way that I can transform into a Francophile in a nano-second. I am sure I will be there quaffing ‘D'escargot avec sauce crème à l'ail’ and ‘Cassoulet de Toulouse’, as my wife watches me with distain.

If you fancy taking a look at the menu please visit: http://www.laperlerestaurant.co.uk/  Due to demand this will be available on both Wednesday & Thursday 13th & 14th July.  (Thursday night is already fully booked.)

Booking may also be a good idea if you fancy a true ‘taste of France’, it looks as though this could be very popular.

MoS Club raises £10k for ‘Cash for Kids’

Over the past few months Mark Ketchen and Richard Millbery, supported by the members of the Milford on Sea Club, have been raising funds in the memory of Jack Boothroyd and to support local children charities.  Jack was a popular Milford on Sea teenager who tragically passed away in October 2010. He attended Priestlands School and was a regular member of Milford Youth Club.

Their efforts have certainly been successful, with £10,000 being raised for Wave 105 Cash for Kids.  This Tuesday, 7.30pm 12th July, a presentation of the cheque will be made to Simon Clarke (DJ) and Gloria Hill from Wave 105 Cash for Kids at Milford on Sea Club. In addition to this, funds have also been raised to contribute to a bench in the memory of Jack Boothroyd on Milford on Sea green and £500 will be donated to MoS Juniors Football Club floodlight fund.

The successful fundraising events organised by the guys included, The Jack Boothroyd Memorial Five-a-Side Football Competition and a fundraising 'Auction & Prize Giving Night', and their tremendous job will provide support to many kids across Hampshire.  Congratulations to everyone who took part in the organisation or by participating.

For more information please contact: Mark Ketchen | 07967 547639

Milford on Sea Club, 67 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QG

*PS: Mark has asked for any sponsors who have yet to pay their money could they please contact him or Richard Millbery as soon as possible.

Milford on Sea gets a taste of South Africa

Village based specialist South African wine company, Cape Wine Cellars, will be holding a South African Wine Tasting Evening in the Milford on Sea Community Centre at 7pm on Friday 29^th July.

The evening will include a guest appearance from Hansie van Niekerk. Hansie is the owner of the Knorhoek Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, and he will be presenting information on his wine production and a tasting of his wines. http://www.knorhoek.co.za/

Those attending will also be able to taste about 30 South African Wines including 12 wines made from the Pinotage, a unique South African grape.  There will also be a draw for a number of prizes during the evening.

Tickets are £5, and available from: Jaws, Paws and Claws in Church Hill, Milford on Sea village.

The company, Cape Wine Cellars, was founded in Milford on Sea in April this year by Daan Coetzee, and launched successfully at Milford on Sea Food Market during Food Week.  As you many have guessed from his name, Daan is a native South African, but having met and married Rebecca, a local Milford on Sea girl, they have now moved to the village with their young family.

Cape Wine Cellars will be having a very busy time during July, with appearances at the CLA Game Fair, The Pylewell Park Food and Wine Festival,  The New forest Show and finally the Milford on Sea Sip & Shop event. So, no shortage of wine tasting opportunities for us all!

For more information, please contact:

Daan Coetzee | Cape Wine Cellars

Tel: 07703 687707 | 01590 670746

http://www.capewinecellars.com/

Milford makes sweet music

A number of local pupils have excelled in recent national music exams.  Milford on Sea music teacher, Jenny Davies, was delighted by the performance of some of her pupils, each of whom sat The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music examinations.

Josh achieved his Piano Prep Test certificate, Jack got a good pass on his grade 1 Guitar, Jackie passed with merit for her grade 2 Clarinet, Anatole passed with merit for his grade 1 Piano, and Jordan passed with distinction for his grade 3 Saxophone.

It is nice to hear that a myriad of young musicians are learning such a variety of instruments in the village.

Jenny tells us that she always tries to have funds available for pupils who otherwise could not afford music lessons and instruments. Donations of e funds for me to buy instruments for pupils are always welcomed.  She is also constantly on the lookout for donations of no longer used musical instruments for her pupils to use.

Should anyone be interested in music lessons or wish to make a donation, please contact Jenny at jenanda@hotmail.com or call 07766 592425.

Milford on Sea gets first App

A new local business has launched Milford on Sea’s first SmartPhone App.  Helen White & Paul Etheridge from Bluetooth Marketing Ltd in the village have launched an Android version and are now just waiting for Apple iPhone version to be approved.

The App is designed to be a handy information tool on the move for both locals and tourists alike.  Local business will have the opportunity to advertise their services and to promote special offers on the Milford on Sea App. The team are also planning App’s for Lymington, Brockenhurst, Sway and Lyndhurst. To provide even more benefits, Bluetooth Marketing are planning a 'Flash your APP' promotion, where those who have downloaded the App can win a variety of prizes.

If the word ‘App’ is a mystery to you, we will try to explain; basically it is a noun, and short for “application”.  An App typically refers to software used on a smartphone or mobile device.  The App itself is on icon on your smartphone which enables you to get to a version of your favourite websites quickly, and on the move.  Many App’s are free, whilst others have a small charge, and all are available from an ‘App’s Store’ directly from your phone.

For many I am sure if I had written this article in Japanese language it might have been a bit more understandable!  The world seems to be moving so much faster today, and keeping up takes a bit of effort.  However, many of us will have witnessed the technological innovations of the day, such as colour TV, dishwashers, microwaves, digital cameras and of course mobile phones; and they just keep coming!  Indeed, how many of us would have thought ten years ago that the internet & e-mail would have become such an everyday part of our lives today?  So, the App is simply another innovation, and personally I wish they would hurry up and crack ‘teleportation’ to save me having to walk into the village!

If you have an Android mobile phone, why not give the new Milford on Sea App a try.  I am looking forward to the iPhone version so that I can give it a go.

Village Garden Share Scheme

Transition Lymington (which also covers Milford on Sea), have just started a Garden Share Scheme which matches local growers with local garden owners.

The principle of the project sounds great to me.  Basically, the Transition team are looking for any unused corner of a garden that the owner would be happy to share with a grower.  You might have a suitable plot that could be used to grow vegetables, fruits or flowers.  The benefits are significant, as you could get a share of the produce, the pleasure of seeing a developing vegetable plot, and it is likely you will also make some new friends.

The project are also looking for committed, enthusiastic and respectful growers, who they can match with local garden owners.  To date they have made two matches, with more people being matched at the moment.

If you would like to join in as a garden owner or grower, please contact either Emily on 01590 675612 or Rachel on 01590 683558

www.newforestransition.org

Les rides Tiger around UK

Les Spicer, local motor bike enthusiast & B&B host at Applecrust (September Cottage), has completed his mission to motor cycle around the coast line of the United Kingdom. Les completed his mammoth journey on his classic 1968 Triumph Tiger 100 motor cycle, and raised valuable funds for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

Such a long trip was not, as you may expect, without incident.  Having left Milford on Sea, all was going well until Les experienced engine problems in the north of Scotland, where he had a two week wait for parts and repairs.  Disappointingly, this was the start of a number of mechanical problems which resulted in more engine issues. Struggling with a lack of compression and engine power, the only solution was to return home for major repairs to a hole in one of the pistons.  Undaunted, he was soon back on the road to Cornwall, around the Welsh coast, and then back to the exact spot in Scotland where the Tiger had broken down to complete his challenge.

Les had plenty more experiences on his journey, and we will be providing some more of his highlights in the coming weeks.

A sparkly clean beach!

The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust would like to thank everyone who joined in the Beach Clean and Litter Survey at Cut Bridge, Hurst Spit on Tuesday evening (28th June).  They had about 30 volunteers helping (including some very willing Milford on Sea Brownies and Cubs!), and they collected 13.5kg of rubbish in 1.5 hours along a 120 metre stretch of beach. The vast majority of litter collected was plastic, with small plastic pieces, nylon rope and drinks bottle caps accounting for most of it.

The Beach Clean and Litter Survey is run four times a year as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s ‘Adopt-A-Beach’ project. It’s important to keep our beaches clean to reduce the risk to our marine wildlife that can become entangled in waste and litter along our shores. Hundreds of species of marine wildlife accidently eat or become tangled up in litter each year, often fatally. As well as being harmful to wildlife, beach litter is also unsightly and is hazardous to people too. Information gathered from surveys adds to the data collected on other adopted beaches around the UK, and allows the MCS to build up a better picture of the state of our shores by telling us what types of litter wash up and when.

For more information please see the Wildlife Trust’s website:

www.hwt.org.uk

Sweet Pea Champ in Village

News has reached us that Milford on Sea has its very own ‘Sweet Pea Champion’. We have heard that Mr R. Newland recently won a 3rd award at The National Sweet Pea Society Show.  The show took place on Tuesday & Wednesday 21^st/22nd June 2011 at Stewart’s Garden Lands in Christchurch.

Mr Newland, is as you may expect, locally known as a keen gardener and an obvious enthusiastic for sweet peas. Congratulations on your award!

Verveine up for prestigious awards

Something many in the village have already discovered is now being recognised across the County.  Our very own Verveine Fishmarket Restaurant in Milford on Sea has been shortlisted for 2 awards in this year’s Hampshire Food & Drink Awards. The restaurant serves spectacular fish based cuisine together with a level of service and experience of the highest standard.  Indeed dining at Verveine contains many surprises and an element of theatre.

Having only opened in February 2010 Verveine is excellent by any standards, and it is great to see them putting themselves, and the village, on the map far afield.  Verveine had been nominated, and then won through to a final shortlist of three in two categories.  Firstly the are up for the ‘Best Restaurant’ Award against Chessel Rectory in Winchester and Pebble Beach in Barton on Sea.  David Wykes has also personally made the final shortlist for the ‘Best Chef’ Award, competing against the head chefs from The Aviator in Farnborough and the Chessel Rectory in Winchester.

Verveine, and its competitors for the awards, will face their final judging in the coming weeks, with them all attending to hear the results at a black tie gala awards evening organised by Hampshire Life magazine.  The awards ceremony takes place on August 25th at the elegant Four Season’s Hotel in the Georgian manor, Dogmersfield House, near Hook.

The whole Verveine team are rightfully proud of their recognition and Stacey’s excitement I am sure could be heard from miles around.  Many fingers in the village are crossed that they bring home a trophy, or hopefully two!

www.verveine.co.uk | Hampshire Food & Drinks Awards

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The Verveine team may also have a surprise on the night, as a big bloke in the village has been bemused to discover he has made the shortlist for the ‘Hampshire Life Recognition Award’. This is apparently an award to celebrate the individual who has made the most impact on a local food community.

I suspect there can only really be three reasons for this particular nomination.  One, the award recognises someone who eats the most in restaurants across the county.  Two, they have got him confused with someone else.  Three, someone thinks it will be funny to see a big bloke being choked by a bow tie at a sweltering awards evening in August!

HSBC disappears from village

Friday was last day of our HSBC Bank Branch in Milford on Sea. A jolly HSBC senior executive in a delightful grey suit, was outside the branch handing out flowers and boxes of chocolates to thank all of the branches loyal customers. (Whoops, sorry, I made that bit up).

As the doors closed at 3pm a military operation immediately kicked into place, and a little before 4pm the HSBC facia signs has been removed and the final illuminated sign was being dismantled to join a nationwide stockpile of old HSBC village branch signs. The ATM cash machine was also attractively boarded up (with notices attached indicating that it would be working again on Sunday). Doors firmly locked, and all evidence of ever being in the village removed, HSBC were gone.

If you would like to get your hand on your money, HSBC will happily give it to you if you make the effort to get to them.  HSBC may have gone, but deserting us will not be forgotten.

Snails for lunch

Since opening its doors a few weeks ago, the new La Perle restaurant in Milford on Sea village High Street has proved a real hit.  Getting a table takes a bit of planning, and I had heard that the ‘Daily French Specials’ were well worth a try.  So, having no ability to plan, I decided to pop in at lunchtime.

Along with a number of other tasty ‘French’ choices I spotted ‘escargot’ on the special blackboard.  Being almost fluent in French, I immediately knew an opportunity had again arisen to try snails.  Just as I was planning to order them, I had the traumatic experience of watching as a waiter approached the blackboard and wrote ‘sold out’ across my chosen dish.  As he passed our table I asked if he had ‘frogs legs’, but he insisted he always walks like that. He did however tell me he had ‘bouillabaisse’.  I suggested a trip to the doctors might sort that out, but with immense patience he explained that he was referring to a traditional Provencal fish stew originating from the port city of Marseille.  As I felt my wife’s eye’s burning holes in my face, I decided that would suit me fine… and it did.  I wonder what other French delights are going to appear next!

www.laperlemilford.co.uk