Keyhaven Lamb in the Larder

A little secret gem has just become public knowledge.

Lisa's Larder ‘Pop Up Shop’ has a Grand Opening taking place at Aubrey Farm, in Keyhaven Road on Sunday 23rd December from 10.30am until 3pm.

Everyone is invited, so why not go along to find out more about how you can buy local Keyhaven Lamb and other local goodies.

They will also be serving mulled wine and mince pies around midday, also local guest producers will be available for you to sample their products, and the Total Voice Choir will be there to celebrate the festive season.

A few lucky people will also be picking up their pre-ordered traditional barn reared turkeys for the Christmas table. There will also be a small amount of fresh Keyhaven lamb available in various packs.

Lisa's Larder are planning to offer produce straight from their own local farm, including traditional barn reared turkeys, Keyhaven lamb and mutton, local pork, bacon, sausages and gammon plus a few other carefully selected local seasonal products.

If you have walked along Hurst Spit you may have seen some of the farms flock in the fields by Sturt Pond. The salt they eat enhances the flavour.

 

Keyhaven lamb is already being served in The Marine, and having tasted a meal featuring the lamb, I can vouch that it is absolutly delicious. We understand it will also soon be on the menu at Verveine.

If you are after last minute presents, Christmas Lamb Box Gift Vouchers will also be available for pre-cut joints, half and whole lamb boxes.

In August 2012 the farm were very proud to be presented with the: 'New Forest Marque Food Producer of the Year' at the Hampshire Life Food & Drink Awards, and with their exciting plans, things look like they will just keep getting better.

Should you want to keep up with all of the latest product information in the Lisa's Larder newsletter, or would like to know the opening times, please contact: Lisa Morgan at:

lisa@simeonmorganfarming.com or 07702 556207.

Lisa's Larder can be found at Aubrey Farm, Keyhaven Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0TH. 

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About Aubrey Farm

 

Aubrey Farm is in Keyhaven Road near Milford on Sea. Simeon, Lisa’s husband, takes care of all day-to-day farm management and is responsible for all crop marketing and sheep rearing. Lisa takes care of the administration and marketing of the sheep enterprise, as well as Lisa's Larder Shop.

 

The farming business was started in 1998 when J&D Edgar Ltd reviewed their farming operations. At that time Simeon was employed by the company having just completed his time at Sparsholt College studying for his ND in Agriculture and HND in Agricultural Business Studies. Lisa, who also attended Sparsholt College, was working as a farm secretary. Simeon was offered redundancy and was asked to tender to take over their arable operations on a contracting basis and the business took off from there.

It has always been Simeon & Lisa’s aim to create a long-term professional and sustainable business that keeps up with modern farming practices, remains flexible and innovative. They also undertake arable operations on 622 hectares of land, under a range of different agreements from contract farming to tenancy and individual operations.

The farm employs two full time members of staff and have a fleet of modern tractors and up to date farm machinery.

Lisa’s Larder now sells their own crossbred lambs and the male Zwartbles lambs via a box scheme through Lisa's Larder Shop. Sales have come about via word of mouth and currently demand exceeds supply. Customers are given the option of pre-cut joints, chops etc. half or a whole lamb cut and packed to their specification.

To ensure they produce the finest lamb, the farm uses C&S Meat’s abattoir near Sherborne, this is a small operation which they have chosen and inspected carefully. Simeon transport the animals himself and leave the farm early in the morning on the day of slaughter, with the whole process usually taking no more than 4 hours. Simeon & Lisa believe it is imperative for carcass quality that the animal’s remain unstressed and handled as least as possible. Blackmore Vale Butchery then collects the carcasses and hangs them for 10-14 days before cutting and packing to our specifications.

 

The end produce is wonderful Keyhaven Lamb.

The Veertig Flock of Pedigree Zwartbles Sheep

Breed Characteristics: The Zwartbles has a striking appearance: a black/brown fleece, a white blaze on the face, 2 - 4 white socks, and a white tail tip (which is traditionally left undocked). Both rams and ewes are polled. The Zwartbles are relatively large sheep: ewes weigh an average of 85 kg (190 lb), and rams 100 kg (220 lb). The dense fleece ranges from black to brown with sun bleached tips, some silvering maybe present in older animals. The wool is medium to fine with excellent crimp and fibre length, a Bradford count of 54-56 and a micron count of 27 making it popular for spinning and felting. Zwartbles are known for being docile, friendly, easy lambing, prolific, milky and being excellent mothers.

The farm has experimented with crossing their Zwartbles ram with some Easycare and Wiltshire Horn cross ewes and have had some very pleasing results producing a faster maturing butchers lamb whilst still enjoying the advantage of a lean, larger carcass. Lambs from these crosses are always black but sometimes will have a little white on the head.

www.simeonmorganfarming.com

 

A scary story from Milford

We have heard that Maureen Farenden, a resident of Milford on Sea, has published her first book, The Diary.
 

If you like a spooky ghost story to snuggle up to on the late winter nights then, The Diary, could be the book for you... if you dare!

Not content with one book, Maureen already has her next venture well underway, and her next novel 'The Last Train' is due out in New Year.

Maureen's book, The Diary, is available from Amazon in either or paperback or Kindle versions.

www.amazon.co.uk/Diary-Maureen-Farenden/dp/1909224200

 

Amazon Summary: "If you have found this Diary, I beg you; put it back into the sepulchre where it was buried. Do not read it! Open the gateway into the Apport's world and nothing, or no one, can save you." Two lovers who have wished for the perfect English home, for their perfect English family, finally find it thanks to a strange meeting during an accidental visit to a lovely village. When they move into their perfect house, Shannon Mulberry finds an old leather bound diary with a note attached which is just too tempting to the aspiring author. She opens the old book... ...And The Diary releases its terrible truth. It carves their lives into its pages and soon predicts their fates. Shannon and Eddie must find the strength and will to subvert this terrible book and escape the future described. Their perfect English home soon becomes the perfect English nightmare. The Diary has more imagination and flare than most horror writers could dream of in their darkest recesses. Truly, be careful what you wish for because dreams can twist all too easily into nightmares.”

 

ISBN-13: 978-1909224209

 

 

MoS Music Festival moves to August

The Milford on Sea Arts & Music Festival is moving from its traditional July dates to the first weekend in August. The musical jamboree will start on Thursday 1st until Sunday 4th August 2013. 

 

The festival has always been free for visitors, however the Festival costs approximately £25,000 to create for everybody, and with costs always increasing, the income has remained stagnant. This change has been made by the organising committee in an effort to try increase the revenue stream. 

 

The  festival committee appreciate that some will see this move as an attempt to pander to holiday makers; however the decision has not been taken lightly, and they want to assure everyone that the festival remains for the village of Milford on Sea.

 

If you would like to get involved or support the festival in any way please contact Sean Reeves the Milford on Sea Arts Music Festival chair on sean@hwsolicitors.com, 01590 644777 or 07966 449826

www.milfordfestival.org.uk

 

New Diamond Jubilee Trees in Village

Sunday 25th November saw almost 50 Rainbows, Beavers, Cubs, Brownies, Scouts, Guides and their leaders come together for a joint Girlguiding and Scouting Diamond Jubilee Community Project.

 

The youngsters had applied for, and received a Jubilee Tree Pack from the Woodland Trust. The trees were planted alongside Keyhaven Road between Milford and Keyhaven. 

 

Although there had been heavy rain and the ground was extremely wet underfoot, the Milford Conservation Group had been down to prepare the ground. Hopefully, thanks to their help, the tiny trees take happily to the location and grow well. 

 

The youngsters will endeavour to go back In the spring to check how the trees are doing. At the same time, they will place a plaque to mark this joining together of youngsters from Girlguiding and Scouting in our local community in this Jubilee year.

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Milford Brownies Raise Money for Charity

 

Milford on Sea brownies raised £81.93 for charity on Saturday 1st December by selling their homemade Christmas Tree decorations at both All Saints Church Hall Table Top Sale and Milford Primary School Christmas Fair.

The money raised will be donated to The Children's Society (who help vulnerable young people), at the Christingle Service this Sunday afternoon at All Saints Church.

Next year, the Brownies will be conducting their own major fundraising drive in order to raise money to replace their rather old and uncomfortable camp beds.

Good quality camp beds for Pack Holidays cost about £50 each so the girls will be hoping to raise £1000 so they can afford 20 new beds.

 

Storytelling grandma needs your help

Local storytelling grandma Wend Lewis needs your help. She has some remaining copies of her charitable CD for children and wants to reach her target of raising £2000 for Naomi House children’s hospice. 

Wend Lewis, who lives in Keyhaven, has already raised over £1800 for the charity, way over her original target, through her CD of stories and poems based around traditional nursery rhymes, called Grandma’s Tricks.

Wend got the idea for the project from telling stories to her grandchildren, Maia, 8, and twins Darcey and Skye, 5. 

She financed and worked on the CD herself, narrating and adapting the stories and adding some fun and humour to old favourites such as Jack and the Beanstalk, Humpty Dumpty and The Three Little Piggies.

Local musician and retired solicitor Nick Filbee helped with the project by providing the musical accompaniment and Karin Karian of Vocal Solutions assisted with the production.

Wend, a keen singer and music lover, believes that nursery rhymes and traditional stories still have a role to play in this digital age.

“I wanted my grandchildren to hear these traditional stories and to pass them on to the next generation. Computers and tablets are important for children’s education but listening to traditional storytelling can also be magical for children, as well as lots of fun. Many other children have enjoyed these tales as much as my grandchildren have.”

Grandma’s Tricks is being sold for £10 a copy, with all proceeds going to Naomi House.

To find out more about Grandma’s Tricks or to buy a copy, email: wm.lewis@virgin.net or call 07876 626703

 

 

Carols on the Green & Late Night Opening

Join in the Community Carol Singing & see Father Christmas on the village green!

5pm: Milford Shops’ Late Night Opening for getting your Christmas presents. A great chance to give the village shops your support.

 

6pm: Milford on Sea Christmas Carol Service led by Rev Ray Hubble with Total Voice Choir. Plus a visit by Santa's Wagon after community singing.Santa’s Grotto in Ashton’s Estate Agents, Village stalls, Mulled wine, Mince pies, Pizzas, Burgers and hot dogs,. Music By The Windmill Band.

 

It's all for local charities. Everyone Welcome, so please come along!

 

6.20pm: Mummers Play on the green.

 

Event Organised by: Milford-on-Sea Village Community Committee

Sponsored by: Tapper Funeral Service & Hugh Whitlock Solicitors

 

In past years there has been Free Parking in the Sea Road car park from 12.00 midday. Let's hope this applies on the night!

 

Bollywood come to Milford!

Our local Indian restaurant, Zaika in Milford on Sea High Street, is having a live Free Live Bollywood Band on Friday 7th December.

 

All diners between 6.30pm to 9.30pm will be able to enjoy a great curry with Free Bollywood entertainment.

 

This sounds a night not to miss, and of course at the same time you can enjoy the Christmas Carols on the Green & Late Night Opening.

 

Zaika is an exciting, contemporary, Indian Restaurant serving dishes prepared with fresh ingredients each day. They pride themselves that their dishes truly reflect the diversity of cooking styles, and ingredients from the length and breadth of the wonderful and vibrant Indian Subcontinent.

 

To book please call: 01590 643084, or simply call in.

 

www.zaikanewforest.co.uk

 

 

40 B4 40-Gilberts Restaurant

No. 26: Grim’s Dyke Hotel-Gilberts Restaurant

The Grim's Dyke Hotel is a carefully restored country house renowned for its special musical events, and has been featured in many films over the years.

 

click image to enlarge

Just 12 miles from the centre of London and within easy reach of Heathrow, the magnificent former country residence of Sir William Gilbert (of Gilbert & Sullivan fame) is set in over 40 acres of beautiful gardens and woodlands.

 

The 2 AA rosette restaurant prides itself on serving their own seasonal produce, and the Head Chef Daren Mason has a style of modern British food having trained under Gary Rhodes.

 

Our meal had been in the diary for a few weeks, as my wife & I wanted to take my Mum for a Sunday treat. Like many, I never get to see my Mum anywhere near as much as I would like. Everytime I do, it is always enjoyble and fun.

 

The Grim's Dyke Hotel is without doubt an impressive building and the welcome was warm and formal. In fact, the Gilberts Restaurant dining room was a bit of a throw back. The furniture was traditional, and the numerous waiting staff were all attired in formal black and white.

The menu looked spot on, and we went for a collection of Welsh Rarebit and Chicken Liver Parfait starters. The Welsh Rarebit was a surprise as it consisted of a brioche base, oyster mushroom and a small amount of melted cheese. Not as expected, but tasty never the less. The Chicken Liver Parfait was good.

 

We all went for the same main course, Rib of Beef with Roast Potatoes & Yorkshire Pudding. The beef looked great, and my wife loved it. Sadly, my Mum and I had asked for ‘medium to well done’, and either the waitress had not told the kitchen, or the chef had decided he knew what we wanted better than us! He was wrong. We watch a similar occurrence on to other tables, which seemed unnecessary and totally avoidable. When I asked for some more gravy the waitress was a bit lost, until she said; “Do you mean jus?”. I didn’t, but I couldn’t be bother to explain that they were the same, other than you get more when it is called gravy!

The sweets looked interesting, and I thought it was my lucky day when my wife had more or less had no option to have a sweet, due to it being a three course set lunch. However, my luck backfired, as even I could eat the duo of sweets. The Lavender & Almond Pannacotta was just totally wrong, and the Apple & Ginger Pudding with Ice Cream was sadly boring. Even I get to a stage where you consider the calorie intake not worth it. I am pleased to say my Mum’s Pistachio Creme Brulee was fine.

By reputation, and the full dining room, this was obviously a good place to eat. We had caught it on a poor day, and either the head chef was not in, or they trying just that little bit too hard.

Sitting in the lounge having a coffee, Mum asked us if ‘we watch Downton Abbey, we didn’t. “No, nor do I” she replied. Priceless!

As always, we thoroughly enjoyed our time together. I am sure everyone sees their Mum as special, but I am lucky to have one who has always been there for me and I love her to bits. If only I had more time.

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Grim’s Dyke Hotel | Gilberts Restaurant
Old Redding, Harrow, Middlesex, London

www.grimsdyke.com
www.grimsdyke-hotel-harrow.com

If you are wondering what the 40 B4 40 Dining Challenge is all about, please click here and all will be explained.

 

 

Cubs in the Community

Our village Milford on Sea and Keyhaven Cubs continue their good work in the community.

The Cub pack recently visited Hillyfield Rest Home in Barnes Lane, Milford on Sea to enjoy a games evening with the residents. You can imagine how everyone must have really enjoyed the visit.

This is the second time they have run this event and it has been a massive success in building close links in the community. The cubs also get involved in many other village events throughout the year, such carol singing, tree planting and litter picks.

Matthew Cobb, Cub Scout leader said; “We organise these events to teach Cubs about their village, and residents that the youth of the village are of some real worth. They are a credit to the village and often their hard work can get overlooked.”

Good work Matt and the boys! Keep it up, we love seeing and hearing about you caring about others.

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Hillyfield Rest Home appears a place that really cares about their residents. It is a small family-owned care home established 25 years ago by the Harmer family, who still personally manage the day-to-day running of the home. The family (Andrea, David and their daughters, Louise and Jane) firmly believe that, by running just one home and concentrating on providing care to 16 residents, they can achieve a more personal relationship, not only with the residents, but also with the dedicated staff team upon which so much depends.

I love the fact that they have a published 'Programme', regularly bringing in people of interest to their guests, and taking everyone on outings.  Even better than that, I spotted in their day's programme that they serve 'Evening drinks' at 8.30pm. Now that sounds my sort of place!

www.hillyfieldresthome.co.uk

 

Surprises at The Marine

I popped into The Marine the other day and we pleasantly surprised at the great value meals they are now serving in the café every day.

The restaurant has always had a great name for quality food and dining, and as a result the whole place had got a reputation for being expensive. If that was ever the case, it certainly isn’t now.

New head chef, Mark speller is obviously proud of serving homely home cooked food, and is providing food to the café which is a good as in the restaurant, but at a budget price. When a menu has things like Chicken and mushroom pie with seasonal vegetables, ‘Keyhaven’ Mutton stew with crusty bread for around £9 it has to be tempting. The Keyhaven lamb really caught my eye, and it is delicious on the plate, and their relatives also looked pretty good from the window!

 

I had great trouble choosing a dessert from between Chocolate Fondant with cherry ice cream or Treacle Tart with crème anglaise ice cream. However, at £5.50, it was easy to have both!

 

Reading the in-house promotional cards, I spotted a a two course meal for £14.50, and a selection of fun sounding Christmas events for groups of family and friends.  I will have a word with my wife, and with a bit of luck we will be back with friends before Father Christmas brings me the Aston Martin I have asked for!

www.themarinemos.co.uk

 

If you would rather go straight to the menu's click here: www.themarinemos.co.uk/eat-drink

It’s wrong, but impressive!

I came across this film on the web this week.

The guy on the bike obviously shouldn't be on pill box roof, nor jumping onto the path handrails.

But being wrong, and even dangerous, doesn't preclude it from being impressive.  The photography is sharp and the tricks neat, added to that I have to say, that with with the sights of Milford on Sea in the background it gets even better!

I even had to laugh when the guy walking along the seafront and minding his own business, turns around on seeing the bike, then just as quickly turns again deciding he is going for it anyway!  This is wrong on so many levels, but it made me smile.

click here to view video

 

Is it time for a New Village Memorial?

Royal Wootton Bassett War Memorial

We had a thought provoking, interesting, and as usual direct, e-mail from Mike Halliwell this week.  Many will know Mike, but for those that don't, he has been a prominent village resident for many years, and until handing over to The Raft early last year, he was running Bella Epoque in Milford on Sea High Street.

 

He is also an ardent support of the 'Help for Heroes' Charity.

 

This is what Mike had to say:

 

"I saw the film "War Horse" in the lovely new lottery funded community centre. (The new social heart of the village), last week. I was very moved.

 

Also last week I attended a couple of remembrance services. Milford on Sea had one at Keyhaven war memorial, appropriate and moving. The other was on the village green; with a 'temporary' memorial. Very sad.

 

I have been associated with the village for fifty years. It must be the largest village in the land without a "proper" war memorial.

 

After the film I pledged to my solicitor, Hugh Whitlock, and any one else who was listening, £5000 towards a new War Memorial in the village.

 

In 1920, £850 was raised to purchase the freehold of the old cottage hospital built in 1900 (now the telephone exchange!) Ten years later £7500 was raised to build a new hospital. The village needed a new hospital. It also still had no memorial to those eighty+ souls of the village who had given their lives for their country. I am aware that most of their names appear on the "shrine" seldom seen inside the new hospital, also now in jeopardy. This list includes All who served as well as those killed.

 

They are also remembered in All Saints' Church. Neither of these memorials excuse the village from its duty to erect, belatedly, a War Memorial in the centre of the village, where we will see it daily and remember those young men who gave their lives that we might live in peace.

 

I am well aware that many villages built war memorial halls, sports grounds, swimming pools, even bus shelters! but these were exceptions.

 

Ours could be of modern design. Think of Royal Wootton Bassett, they have a fine memorial on the edge of the town built after the first world war, but have also created a fine, modest memorial in the centre of town for today's heroes. What if, God forbid, a son or daughter of the village was killed tomorrow in Afghanistan, or in some future war?

 

Is it really too much to ask? I believe £25,000 is required.

 

My (£5000) pledge is for two years (2014) in the certain hope that our thriving village will easily rise to the challenge.

 

I hope that the public enthusiasm I found for such a project two years ago is still existant. I am seeking a small "working party"to include a lawyer ,banker, computer person, designer and accountant as well as like minded "volunteers".

 

if we cannot fund and create a suitable memorial in the next two years then it will never happen!

 

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If you have a view, or would like to join Mike's working party, please feel free to add a comment below, or contact Mike at mikehalliwell@aol.com

 

Salterns Raise £10k

Over 100 young sailors survive the Salterns Sail a Thon raising over £10,000 for Children In Need!

The intrepid young members aged from 6 – 15 years of age, kept at least one boat on the water at all times between 16h30 Friday 16th and 16h30 Saturday 17th November. Most did not sleep, sailed in cold, dark, windy conditions but they kept focused on the job in hand – raising money for far less fortunate children than themselves.

 

The Saturday morning saw sailors and visitors alike covered with wild water tattoos, red, white, blue, yellow and green hair complemented by some funky nails!

 

The raffle and silent auction raised in excess of £5,500 so a big thank you to all those who took part, baked cakes, gave your time and of course all our amazing sponsors. Without you all, the event would not have been possible. Over the last 14 years Salterns have raised over £92,000.

 

Salterns Sailing Club is a sailing club for children, where they can experience sailing in Optimists, Moths and Scows. The club is run entirely by volunteers.

 

www.salternssailingclub.co.uk

 

 

It is nice to support the League of Friends

The League of Hospital and Community Friends Advent Fair is to be held this Saturday 24th November at All Saints Church Hall at 10am to midday.

The Friends support the Medical Centre and the Community as well as the War Memorial Hospital as much as is possible but are always trying to raise more money to enable them to do this. What most people don’t realise is that some of the equipment used in the Medical Centre and on home visits has been provided by the League, and in fact recently items to the value of £5,500 has been purchased on various items for their use. 

Obviously more money needs to be raised in order to carry on with this so at the Advent Fair there will be a cake stall, tombola, raffle, plants, Christmas decorations and gifts, jewellery, toys, books and collectables which hopefully the proceeds from sales will enable the League to carry on with their good work.

www.friendsofmilfordhospital.org.uk

 

New Milton get into Xmas Spirit

New Milton Memorial Centre in Whitefield Road and the New Milton are holding the Town’s biggest ever Christmas Festival on Saturday 1st December from 11am until 5pm; says Alan Watson – Chair of the Festival Steering Group.

 

The Festival will kick off at 11am , after a brief introduction by the Mayor of New Milton, Councillor Neil Tungate, with The Military Wives Choir from Portsmouth. The Choir will sing tracks from the latest Album – “Military Wives – Stronger Together” as well as a number of well-known favourites.

 

Throughout the day there will be live entertainment from the Central Stage sponsored by Common Ground (New Forest Trust) and Balmer Lawn Motors Group as well as from a secondary Performance Area opposite Costa Coffee in Station Road, Amongst the performers will be the huge local Crescendi Choir, the New Forest Dixieland Band, the young Off-Beat Groove Choir, Soul Baby and Zaq Dixon – Beat Boxer with Steve Biddle and Groovemeister. Amongst the other performers will be the Friendly Dog Club Morris Dancers – a canine version!

 

One of the highlights of the day will be at 12 Noon, when we will see the return of a Christmas Festival Parade, which this year will have a central theme of the pantomime “Aladdin”. Sponsored by Comojo, the Gift Shop in Barton on Sea, the Parade will feature over 30 characters from the cast of Aladdin which is being performed in January at the Memorial Centre by The New Forest Players. The Parade will also feature the Ringwood Pipe Band, local Organisations and groups and we are informed that Father Christmas plans to try and join the Parade. Children in Fancy Dress with their parents are welcome to join the Parade, reporting to the Osborne Road Car Park at 11:45 am.

 

There will be a Christmas Gifts and Crafts Fair at The Memorial Centre with over 45 Stalls full of great ideas for Christmas presents. Some 40 groups who use the New Milton Community Association will feature in their Open Day from 10am until 4pm.

 

Station Road will be packed from end to end with more than 90 Stalls in a series of “Villages” – Crafts, Food & Drinks, Products & Services, Entertainment. The “Community Village” will feature more than 35 Stalls from local Community Organisations and groups, probably the largest gathering of such groups ever in New Milton. To inject a little Continental flavour there will also be a French Christmas Street Market to feast your eyes upon.

 

The event will culminate at 5pm with Groovemester performing on the Central Stage from 4:15 pm. Beforehand however at 4pm, we will see the Switch-On of the central part of New Milton’s Christmas Lighting by our very own singer, songwriter – Rumer. Rumer performed earlier this year at the Freshfield Festival on Fawcetts Field and now returns to her home town again to play a part in what the Organisers believe will be one of the biggest Christmas Festivals in the New Forest this year.

 

Visitors can keep up to date with all about the Festival including any changes in performance timings on the Web Site at:www.newmiltonchristmas.co.uk

 

 

Castle Calendars for 2013

Looking for Calendars for Christmas?

Look no further!

The Hurst Castle calendars are £6 each, or £7 posted. They can be bought from the Guard Room at the Castle (only open at weekends now) or ordered from the Hon. Treasurer by email - hurst@alk.org.uk - or telephone 01329 843883 and orders can be picked up from the Parish Council Office.

Sailing Club Goes Up!

clcik image to enlarge

If you have been to Keyhaven lately, you will have noticed that the rebuilding of Hurst Castle Sailing Club House is proceeding apace. So far everything has gone to plan.

 

The wooden structure, which was made off-site has been erected and it is expected that the roof will be completed by the end of the month if not before, with the re-opening around February time. 

 

It is also nice to see that the work is being carried out by our excellent village building company, Adcroft. 

 

With the height of the new building, there will be a splendid view from the new balcony all the way down Keyhaven river.  This is going to be a special place to be on glorious summer days.

www.hcsc.org.uk

www.adcroftbuild.co.uk



 

40 B4 40-Matahari

No. 25: Matahari, Guildford

click image to enlarge

My wife had a ‘girlie weekend’ in Milford on Sea last week, and apparently the three girls thought it was great fun doing nails, playing with hair and watching films. They even managed to squeeze in fish & chips from Mr Pink’s on Friday, Saturday lunch at La Perle, and Sunday lunch at The Marine.

I and the dogs, had in the meantime been banished to our place in Guildford, under instructions to 'behave like a grown up', and to eat a list of lovingly pre-prepared food.

 

Naturally, all of my wife’s instructions were forgotten as soon as she left, as I ordered a curry that lasted two days, left all the lights on, kept the toilet seat up and didn't put anything in the dishwasher.  On returning from seeing the new James Bond film with Matthew, my son, I proceeded to spend the Saturday evening running around in my pants, and jumping on the settee as I chased the dogs pretending they were the baddies.

 

When the girls returned from Milford, our mate also cadged a lift for a flying visit. For the purpose of this story, and anonymity from village friends of his pregnant wife, he will be known as ‘X’.

 

When they arrived early Sunday evening we had a couple of civilised beers whilst deciding where to eat for the evening. Having ‘X’ as our guest, the Matahari, our favourite Guildford restaurant was quickly decided upon. The Matahari's 'Fusion-Cuisine' is both unique and distinctive, with an emphasis on Malaysian cookery, beautifully blended with Thai, Chinese, Japanese sushi, and other exotic arrays of delicacies with South-East Asian influence.

 

Before going to eat, the three of us had another swift beer in Pews Bar, one the last remaining original public houses of Guildford. The old building has great bulging 17c walls, a narrow undulating staircase for the brave wanting to visit the toilet, and a cobbled alleyway leading to one of the many hidden courtyards in the town.

 

We were soon across the road in Matahari. Set in one of Guildford’s oldest buildings the two floor restaurant is quirky, with low beams, wavy wooden floors, and great charm. Our friendly waiter greeted me by name, which made my wife rightly suspicious that I visited even more times than she knew.

 

It did not take long to make our choices, and we were soon tucking into the Platter of Mixed Starters, accompanied with the first of a few bottles of Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais. We had avoided the Japanese options, as cold fish and rice really isn’t what I consider a pleasure. The Onion Baby Ribs were simply outstanding, The Salt & Pepper Squid, and Chicken Satay mouthwatering, all enjoyed with Mini Vegetable 'Popiah' which added a bit of crunch and spice with the chilli dip.

 

As we gabbled on about seaside village life our banquet of main course arrived. Mongolian Chicken, tender chicken cooked in a very tasty & creamy slightly spicy black pepper peanut buttery sauce, Sizzling Vietnamese Sesame Pork, served sizzling hot, with a tantalizing Vietnamese sauce, topped with a dash of cream, Chef’s Special Claypot Coriander Beef Curry, tender beef slices marinated with spices & wrapped in lotus leave, served in a simmering claypot of creamy coconut & coriander flavoured curry, Fried Rice with Egg, and Spicy Vegetarian Rice Noodles, spicy rice noodles fried with beansprouts, Chinese leaves, pepper strips, mushrooms baby corns, eggs & onions, garnished with crispy shallots.

 

As we smiled and ate, ‘X’ overheard the next table talking about ‘vajazzle’s’.  Innocently he asked what they were, and quick as flash, my embarrassed wife changed the conversation. When ‘X’ asked the waiters they were niether able to understand or help him.

 

My wife had been in a playful mood all evening and was by now engaged in a text conversation on her mobile phone. Soon this became very surreal, as the mobile conversation became five way. We were communicating ridiculous one liners with an old friend, Dave, who was in The King’s Head having a friendly drink with Nikki, who had just returned from Milford with my wife. Dave had obviously enjoyed most of his day in the pub, having been left to fend for himself with his girlfriend in Turkey on business.

 

For sweet we ordered ‘Goreng Pisang’, deep-fried banana balls in batter, trickled with honey syrup, served with ice-cream. As she was not eating this, my wife was busy describing our pudding to Dave by text.   He in turn wanted some, and a rendezvous was agreed at The White House by the river Wey.   Sensibly, Nikki poured Dave in a taxi and went home.

 

At The White House, ‘X’ was still on a quest to find the meaning of his new word, which I have to say is not the best way to introduce yourself to the barman.  We were doing our best to ignore him.

 

Dave now with us, was devestated that the promised ‘Goreng Pisang’ was nowhere to be seen, it had been eaten by us instead.  In no time Dave was busy recalling his day's events, and 'X' was still slightly bemused and dazzled by the bright lights of the town.  The conversation turned to even more drivel as our table worked our way through a weird selection of mulled wine, Bailey’s and Guinness. 

 

In the cab home my wife for some inexplicable reason thought it was fun to pinch Dave’s bingo wings constantly, he of course screamed like a girl and shoot up his path when thankfully released from the dangerous& painful confines of the taxi.

 

Once back, the home bar was open, and a rather pleasant Janneau VSOP brandy was enjoyed with coffee before putting another fun night to bed.

 

Footnote: Breakfast next morning was enjoyed at Cote Bistro, Guildford. Amazingly, for a chain they offered a fabulous choice and the quality was unexpectedly high. So high in fact, it had to be one of the best Full English’s I can recall for quite a time. The daytime & evening menus are also full of a wide variety of French classics at pretty good prices. As they have many restaurants around the country, could be one worth trying out.

 

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www.matahariguildford.co.uk

www.cote-restaurants.co.uk/Cote_Guildford.html

If you are wondering what the 40 B4 40 Dining Challenge is all about, please click here and all will be explained.

 

Total Voice Wow West Quay!

click image to enlarge

Milford's very own Total Voice wow shoppers in West Quay!

Singers from Total Voice's Contemporary and Chamber Choirs joined together on Saturday 10th November to perform in West Quay Shopping Centre for the Southampton Hospital Charity, to raise further funds for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit following their concert in Milford last October.

 

This wonderful opportunity was embraced with great gusto by the choirs who thoroughly enjoyed singing songs including We Built This City, Paradise, Bridge Over troubled Water and Fields of Gold to all the Christmas Shoppers. Total Voice's directors' Christine Mulgrew and Victoria Hopkins also took the chance to try out the acoustics and sang a solo each, not wanting to pass up such an amazing opportunity!

 

The choirs went down extremely well and the hospital charity team were thrilled with their efforts and West Quay commented on the cheerful atmosphere created for shoppers.

 

It was a proud day for Total Voice in what has been an exciting year of performances.

If you would like to see more photo's. please click this link: http://bit.ly/TVLN4L

www.totalvoice.co.uk

 

Anyone remember Cathy Gillies?

We had an e-mail recently from Cathy Green, who some long term residents may remember as Cathy Gillies.

 

Cathy’s family moved to Milford on Sea in 1949 when she was 2. They lived in a converted coach house at Newlands Manor, until the family open ‘Gillies’ a sweet shop and tobacconist . I used to live at 60 High Street. (next door to Gwen’s). Cathy lived above the shop until she left Brockenhurst College at 18. Her parents finally retired to a house in Whitby Road.

 

Cathy recalls two current and eminent village residents; Gwen Peden, and also Freda 'Lieuty' Cheney MBE of the Girl Guides and Royal British Legion.

 

If anyone remembers Cathy and would like to contact or share some memories with her, please drop me a line at: david@milfordonsea.org, and I will pass it on.