Extras that didn’t make it into the printed magazine for Sept 2018.
- Basingstoke Music and Arts Festival 2019 – Annual Creative Writing Competition
- Basingstoke Civil Service Retirement Fellowship
- Basingstoke Lions Club
- Basingstoke and Deane Neighbour Hood Watch
- Probus Club Summer Pub Lunch 2018
- September Events at the Basingstoke Discovery Centre
- Linguatastic Language Academy Celebrate International Translation Day
Announcing Basingstoke Music and Arts Festival 2019 – Annual Creative Writing Competition
NEW for 2019 – 500 Word ‘Flash Fiction’ Challenge
A Flabby Tabby, a Sat Nav with a mind of its own, Dementia, a letter to Donald Trump, the excitement of Christmas Eve, ‘I Hate Vegetables’ and a short story called ‘The Generation Game’ all have one thing in common. They were category winners in the 2018 Basingstoke Music and Art Festival’s (BMAF) Creative Writing Competition.
The 2019, 57th running of the annual writing competition, launches in September with an entry closing date of Monday 10th December 2018. Cups and trophies will be awarded to the winners at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday 17th March 2019 (2.30pm) at Basingstoke’s Queen Mary’s College. The competition is open to children (School Years 1 to 13) and adults alike.
As well as the usual creative writing categories of Letters, Articles, Short Stories, Script Writing, Poetry and Sonnets, the 2019 syllabus sees the introduction of a NEW ‘Flash Fiction’ 500 words category. Flash Fiction is a relatively new form of writing and is perhaps best personified by the highly successful, Chris Evan’s inspired, BBC Radio Two 500 word writing challenge for children.
Launched in collaboration with Destination Basingstoke, the new BMAF competition category is open to adults as well as children. Entrants will need to produce an original, 500 word, fictional story. The added challenge, unique to the BMAF event, is that the 500 word story should have a Basingstoke (or North Hampshire) setting. However, the real challenge, in a work of such extreme brevity, will be to ensure completeness in respect of both character and plot development and within the 500 words, to hint at a much larger back story.
Entries for all categories are welcomed from writers and budding authors irrespective of where they live within the United Kingdom. Over the years, BMAF (a registered local charity) has gained a reputation for being the literary and art world’s ‘Friendly Festival’. The Creative Writing competition is no exception and unique in that ALL entrants receive adjudicator feedback as well as a personally signed certificate.
Full details of the 2019 Creative Writing Competition can be viewed on the 2019 BMAF website (launches 1st September http://basingstokemusicandarts.org.uk/). Alternatively, please contact the competition’s Section Secretary, Tony Corbin, via email at: BMAFCW@kempshott.plus.com or leave a message on 07801 166223 to obtain a downloadable or printed copy of the 2019 BMAF Creative Writing Syllabus.
Basingstoke Civil Service Retirement Fellowship
There were 50 members at the meeting held on 1st August who after enjoying the usual tea, coffee and biscuits were welcomed by David Cowling, the Chairman. Tony Brazier, the Secretary, asked that everyone return to him their form with preferences for the trips to be arranged next year and he then gave a reminder of the Mystery Trip on Thursday 18th October for which there were only a few seats left. Besides a tour of the beautiful English countryside the cost of £38 includes morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea.
The speaker this month was Mel Rees whose talk was titled “My Family and Other Meerkats” in which he gave an amusing history of his family from the 1930’s when his parents owned a newsagents in Battersea. The Meerkats part of the title came from the attitude his mother would adopt when either disapproving of something (usually that Mel had done) or boasting about someone else in the family (usually not Mel). His anecdotes also strayed into his personal observations on modern life, linked with the absurd the over-stated and the self-delusions of those who control our everyday lives and the fortunes of Aldershot Football Club. These thoughts and more are also contained in his books written in the pen name Anthony Mann and published by his own company the Trouser Press with the latest, In Bed with A Mann, available now.
At our AGM this year Claire Eastick, a Consultant Nurse in Frailty from Southern Health, gave a presentation on Frailty Awareness and gave us information about the new “RED BAG” initiative in the area whereby when a care home resident is admitted to hospital all their details, medication and belongings are kept together in the bag. We said that we would fund one of these which has now been delivered and issued to a local home.
The next meeting is on 5th September when the speaker will be Eric Marsh on Victorian Sports. The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Brookvale Village Hall from 10 am to 12 noon and all retired Civil Servants and their partners are welcome. Details can be obtained from the Secretary Tony Brazier on 07715 640171 and for information about our trips please contact Kate Lambeth on 01256 328791.
Sadly this month I have to report the death of Dalton Hopkins. He and his wife, Dianne, joined us in 2012. They were not new to Lionism as they had previously been Lions in South Africa. But it took them three visits to our business meetings to make up their minds that we were not quite as “off the wall” as our behaviour suggested. Once they got the message, they really got stuck in. Dalton took on the job of Chairman of Fundraising and subsequently Zone Chairman whilst Dianne became Secretary and then President.
Unfortunately, as is so often the case, you learn more about people when they’ve gone than you did when they were here. We did not know that Dalton was a practicing Christian, that he used to ride a Harley Davison, or that he was once a Kenny Rogers lookalike and impersonator. What we had seen were beautiful examples of his work as a glass sculptor (done before his illness made the work too dangerous for him to continue), and his performance as Santa Claus which was very realistic – all in all, a talent gone too soon at the age of sixty-six. He will be sorely missed. Fortunately Dianne has family and friends to help her through this difficult time.
For the Club, it’s back to the arduous business of fundraising to enable us to serve the needs of the community. Our first offering is Motown Music with Lou Taylor on 22 September at the British Legion in Old Basing. Thereafter things have gone slightly pear shaped in the sense that our resident impresario has only just realized that he had mixed up our upcoming concert dates. The correct dates are, The Hampshire Police Band playing for us at QMC on 13th October and The Caerphilly Male Voice Choir on 17th November – Veritably old age does not come on its own!
Quiz Night at the Cliddesden Millenium Hall is still on 3rd November. If any of these appeal, please get in touch with us via the website www.basingstokelions.org.uk or by contacting one of the organisers – tony.bamberger@ hotmail.co.uk – mauricehockley@hotmail.com – jomolincoln@btinternet.com – philipjhwilson@btinternet.com .
Thank you for your support. We look forward to seeing you.
Basingstoke & Deane Neighbourhood Watch Association
Basingstoke & Deane Neighbourhood Watch Association are pleased to announce the new Summer 2018 Issue 10 Newsletter.You can access and download either a full colour or B/W version for our website, clicking the Information header and then Newsletters > BDNW Newsletters > Issue 10.
Whilst on our website, please take a look around at the other information which we regularly update.
Brian Adams
Police Support Volunteer 43533
Basingstoke Police, NW Liaison & Ourwatch/Alert Administrator
Parklands Police Office
Civic Offices
London Road
RG21 4AD
Probus Club Summer Pub Lunch 2018
As usual at this time of year the annual Summer Pub lunch of the Probus Club of Basingstoke took place. On this occasion it was at The Poacher Inn in South Warnborough situated on the Alton road south of Odiham. The incoming president, recently appointed Chris Perkins MVO, of Kempshott, selected the hostelry trying not to replicate past venues.
This is an attractive and welcoming pub with a good menu of pub food on offer and the party of thirty six consisting of members and their spouses/partners enjoyed their time together.
The Poachers, being close to RAF Odiham meant that Chris, who had served there for twenty two years, was familiar with this establishment and confident that the licencee would be able to cope with such numbers arriving on their doorstep. He was not wrong. It was a splendid choice and the range of food and drinks on offer were of high quality and competitively priced.
Now in its fortieth year, the Probus Club of Basingstoke has a full programme of activities with monthly speaker lunches for members, who are all retired professional and business managers, together with a variety of social outings that always involve the ladies.
Prospective members can find more information on the club’s web site www.probusbasingstoke.wordpress.com or phone their secretary, Paul Flint, on 07770 886521 for an informal chat.
September Events at the Basingstoke Discovery Centre
Main events
Basingstoke Camera Club Exhibition
1st to 15th September / FREE
A diverse range of photographs will be displayed, all taken by members of the Basingstoke Camera Club. Make sure you drop by when you are in the Discovery Centre to some exciting images.
Hidden Basingstoke Walk
Tuesday 25th September/ 10.30am / £5
Back by popular demand, Phil Howe and John Hopkins from Hidden Britain Tours will lead you on a walk through the town to explore parts that are often overlooked. Meet at the Information Desk in Basingstoke Discovery Centre and please dress for the weather.
Green Week – September 22nd to 29th
Love Food, Hate Waste– Pick up some useful freebies to help reduce your waste at home.
Upcycled Clothes Display – Students at BCoT have created some fashionable pieces made from unloved old clothing. Come and admire their handiwork and pick up ideas for your own clothes / All week / FREE
Before the Flood – Educational Film
Wednesday 26th September / 2-4pm / FREE
The film, presented by National Geographic, presents a riveting account of the dramatic changes now occurring around the world due to climate change, as well as the actions we as individuals and as a society can take to prevent the disruption of life on our planet.
Clothes Upcycling
Saturday 29th September / 10am – 12pm / £5
Don’t throw away your old clothing – upcycle it into something more stylish and wearable. Join Sarah Pinnell to learn techniques and get ideas for your upcycling clothes projects.
Recycled Plastic Art
Saturday 29th September / 10am – 12pm / FREE
Drop-in session. This activity for all the family will involve making a bunch of flowers completely out of recycled material. And it’s yours to take home!
Biodiversity Gameshow
Saturday 29th September / 2pm – 3pm / FREE
Biodiversity is critical to human wellbeing. Come along to this informative, fun and interactive talk and paly ‘Biodiversity Blockbusters’ to learn about biodiversity loss, the threats species face and what can be done to protect nature. With Tony Curran – no need to book, get here early to ensure a place.
Children’s events
Miniprofessors
Monday 10th September – Monday 10th December (not Monday 22nd October)
9.40am (Ages 2-3)
10.40am (Ages 3-4)
11.40am (Ages 3-4)
A 13-week course / £84.50
Thursday 13th September – Thursday 13th December (not Thursday 25th October)
9.40am (Ages 3-4)
10.40am (Ages 2-3)
A 13-week course / £84.50
These 40-minute classes are especially tailored for young scientists aged 2 – 4 years old. Experiments – Singing – Stories – Interactive – Come along and nurture a lifelong passion for science!
Children’s Craft
Saturday 15th September / 10am – 12pm / FREE / Ages 3+
Celebrate the last day of the Summer Reading Challenge with crafts and activities!
Linguatastic Language Academy Celebrate International Translation Day
International Translation Day is celebrated on 30th September and so in recognition of this day, Linguatastic would this month, like to share with you a few interesting translation-related anecdotes.
As some readers may have read in The Independent, there was reason for embarrassment a few weeks ago, when the British government “botched an attempt to translate its Brexit white paper into other languages”.
Native speakers of these languages reported basic errors including the misspelling of Estonia and Finland in the Estonian and Finnish versions, unusual French inflections which presented Brexit as a moral good and the German version being branded “unreadable” because of the “archaic and needlessly complex” language used.
One can read more on this cringe-worthy episode on The Independent’s website or listen to quite an amusing Radio 4 snippet which Linguatastic has published on its Facebook page, but in the meantime, here are some other examples of where translation has gone awry :
On the door of a Moscow hotel room: If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it.
In a Copenhagen airline ticket office: We take your bags and send them in all directions.
In a Budapest zoo: Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty.
In a Japanese information booklet about using the hotel air conditioner: If you want just condition of warm in your room, please control yourself.
In an East African newspaper: A new swimming pool is rapidly taking shape since the contractors have thrown in the bulk of their workers.
Of course, the above quotes can generally be understood, but what they do perhaps illustrate is that translation is not necessarily a case of 1+1 = 2, but it requires a true understanding of two languages and a skill which deserves our utmost respect.