What's on offer?

If you have any interest in: Ufology, Paranormal, Angling, Paganism, the Eco-system and general controversy then this may just be the place for you. I am a published author of books concerning these particular topics...


NB. Images are copyright of Pat Regan...



Saturday 16 March 2024

In Pictures: Today's Craft Fayre at St Peter's in Birkdale

 



Photographs from the Birkdale fayre, held today at St Peter's parish hall. 














Support our local businesses!

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Tuesday 12 March 2024

Crossens Craft & Gift Fayre - a few pictures from 9th March

 


A small selection of photos from the Crossens fayre last weekend 

Photo credit: Cath Regan 
















Support our local businesses! 

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Monday 11 March 2024

Erwin, Tennessee - The town that shamed America!

 


All the FUN of the circus! 

Marching into the ragged Big Top to the noisy accompaniment of an inebriated four-piece band, the mistreated elephants in Charlie Sparks’s travelling circus did their best to entertain the baying audience, on one cold afternoon back in February 1916.


One sick elephant called Mary, was to meet a terrible fate at the hands of some of the monsters who lived in this town.


Riding on Mary's back was a new trainer. He goaded the poor creature and hit her in the head with a large metal hook. Understandably, she defended herself, via wrapping her trunk around the man throwing him into a drink stand. A crowd of devastated onlookers watched as the elephant ended the brute who has injured her. One man shot his pistol into Mary, and the townspeople screamed, "Kill the elephant!"


Cruel methods based on fear were utilised to train circus elephants and would have been used to initially break Mary. Nevertheless, an elephant stick usually kept her in line, but she was suffering from a painfully abscessed tooth that day.


Later, an autopsy showed she had the abscess tooth, right where the brutal trainer hit her with the metal hook.


The crazed townsfolk advocated several ways to kill Mary including:


Crushing her slowly between two opposing railway engines.


Roping her head to one locomotive and her legs to another so that she would be dismembered alive as they set off in opposite directions.


Electrocution - but it was decided that there was not sufficient power to destroy an elephant,


Finally, they came up with the idea to hang Mary with a powerful railway crane.


The Erwin crowd watched in fascination as the first attempt failed and the poor animal fell, fracturing her hip. She sat still in terrible pain as they hoisted her up by the neck once again, ensuring her death.


If ever a town needed removing from the face of the earth, then Erwin must be high on that list.

More: 




Thursday 7 March 2024

HUNT'S BUDGET - TWO FINGERS UP TO OLDER PEOPLE

 


Latest news from the Silver Voices team shows discontent at Jeremy Hunt's selective budget....

Silver Voices state.... 

TWO FINGERS UP TO OLDER PEOPLE

'So said the Daily Telegraph in its immediate response to the Budget yesterday, which failed to mention older people at all. But the majority of the media has been keen to welcome the National Insurance cut of a further 2%, and has downplayed that this is a tax-raising Budget as far as older people are concerned.'

The Silver Voices Director has submitted the following opinion piece to the Daily Express, which pulls no punches about the implications of the Budget. 

 BLANK PAGE FOR OLDER PEOPLE

The Budget was a stunning miscalculation by the Chancellor. He failed to mention older people or the word pensioner once in his Budget Speech. He did not commit to the Triple Lock on state pensions beyond this year and did not recognise that older people do not benefit from National Insurance reductions. In failing to unfreeze tax allowances, 800,000 more older people will start paying income tax on their modest pensions from this April. The prized Triple Lock increase will be taxed for the large majority of pensioners. And we will face rises in council tax of at least 5%. So, for many of us this is a tax-raising Budget not a tax-cutting one.

On our crumbling public services there was little comfort. How many times have we heard cries of less bureaucracy and more productivity from politicians, with little to show from such plans in terms of better public services. The reality on the ground, with record NHS waiting lists, thousands of older people stuck in hospital beds because of a lack of social care to support them at home, and scores of local authorities in danger of bankruptcy, needed an emergency funding plan, not vague promises about the potential of new technology. New computer systems, artificial intelligence and drones are all very well, but their full impact will not be seen for years, and the public service crisis is now. And there are hidden dangers for older people from a hell for leather dash to digital services. A huge group of the digitally excluded is becoming increasingly isolated from modern society. Unable to access public or commercial services because they cannot afford broadband or do not have the necessary digital skills, these millions of vulnerable people feel they are being cast adrift by the politicians. Any move to increased digitalization must have a strategy for those who are currently excluded.

 If this was a pitch to floating voters, it failed miserably in respect of senior citizens. The Budget was a blank page for 12 million older voters. In appealing for the votes of working families, the Chancellor has taken older voters for granted. The Conservatives will have to do a lot better than this in their election Manifesto if they want to appeal to the Silver Vote.

This brief film was recorded live by LBC, as the Budget was being announced yesterday: 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Rc69vcS9k  


Silver Voices 

Silver Voices is a non-profit making company limited by guarantee (registration number 12883349). We have deliberately not applied to be a charity as we want to be free to campaign on political issues. We have no allegiance to any political party. All subscription income and donations are invested in website, marketing, campaign and office costs

https://silvervoices.co.uk/ 



Tuesday 5 March 2024

Crossens : Mother's Day & Easter Craft & Gift Fayre

 

Location: Crossens Community Centre, The Old Library, Rufford Rd, Crossens, Southport PR9 8HT.

Date: Saturday March 9th 2024.

Time: 11.00 am to 2.30 pm. 

Free public admission and inside, so whatever the weather we have you covered!

Make it a 'crafty Saturday' and join us for an event filled with creativity, talent and unique handmade gifts.


Browse through the preloved items for hidden treasures.

Explore a wide range of beautiful, handcrafted items including:

handmade tote bags, crochet and knitted gifts, wreaths, hair accessories, beautiful wooden handmade items, wax melts and candles, jewellery, delicious cinnamon rolls, Slimming World and Tropic, plus more!

We have refreshments available too.

Lots of Easter and Mother’s Day gifts to choose from.

To make this Craft Fayre even more unforgettable, we need your help!

Please share this post and spread the word far and wide!

Let your friends and family know about this exciting event.

Save the date and support our small businesses.

We hold fayres most weekends within Southport.

Our event the following weekend is at St Peter's Parish Hall, Birkdale, Southport PR8 4BY March 16th 10.30am to 2.00pm.


Cath Regan 

Event organiser 

https://southport-crafts-arts-and-preloved-items-fayre-1.jimdosite.com/


Monday 4 March 2024

HES came back – dreams 'can' come true!

 

After many years, one little boy’s great passion for a Citroen 2CV ensured that an old car came back.

14 years ago, Jason's Southport family sold their 2cv Dolly, thinking it would never return. However, they did not realise at the time that their son Jason’s obsession for the car would see it return, many years later.

 Affectionately known as HES, the car’s ownership was tracked by Jason and after finally finding its latest location he purchased the car.

Jason always loved that car and it was apparent, year after year. He even went so far as asking for his 16th birthday cake to be made in the car's likeness. 


HES received national fame as the star of the Grange Hill TV programme, back in 2005 too.


 Jason's great love affair with cars and most especially the 2CVs seems to have developed at a very early age too.


His overriding passion is a lifelong one and the car’s return was the achievement of a dream.

Today, Jason is a successful car valeter and his love of cars ensures that his work goes far beyond the call of duty. 


 

https://www.facebook.com/crdtlingctral 

https://www.otsnews.co.uk/bespoke-car-detailing-firm-go-from-strength-to-strength/ 









Tuesday 27 February 2024

Easter and Mother’s Day Woodvale Fayre

 


Saturday 2nd March 10.30am to 2.00pm is the date for our second monthly craft and gift fayre at our new venue in Woodvale, Ainsdale.

St John Stone Parish Hall, Ainsdale, Woodvale, Southport PR8 3RN opposite the large Health and Wellbeing Centre in Sandbrook Way.

There are some very talented artisans booked in, with beautiful handmade gifts, also personised gifts completed on the day. We have some preloved sellers as well. There will be plenty of Easter and Mother’s Day/Special Person gifts to purchase.

The craft table playdough is ready for the children (or adults)!

Refreshments also available, so please fetch your friends or family along to have a cup of tea and chat to our lovely stallholders.

St John Stone Church have a stall raising funds for their much-needed local food bank, so please come along to support them.

We have an information table at all our fayres for the Brookdale Resource Centre, which is situated in Ainsdale. They deliver a wonderful specialist day support service, for older people with a diagnosis of advanced dementia.

We like to work alongside our local communities. If any schools would like to be involved or have a free fundraising stall at our events, please do get in touch. We would love to hear from you.

Whether you are a seller or visitor, there is something for everyone.

The fayre is indoor and free admission.

There is still just enough time to book a selling space for Saturday, please contact Cath directly on: Email cregan192@yahoo.com or WhatsApp07548262061

Next Week....

Next week our fayre is at Crossens Community Centre

The Old Library, Rufford Rd, Crossens, Southport PR9 8HT

Saturday 9th March. The event opens at 11.00am to 2.30pm.




Sunday 25 February 2024

In Pictures: Birkdale Fayre gets off to a great start

 



Our craft and gift fayre at Liverpool Road Methodist (Red Brick) Church hall in Birkdale got off to a flying start yesterday. 

Here's a selection of pictures from the event. 




















Our Next Fayre...


Our next fayre will be held next week at St John Stone Parish Hall, 7 Sandbrook Way, Ainsdale, Southport, PR8 3RN on Saturday March 2nd, 10.30am to 2.00pm.



Ample parking space is available behind the church (accessible via Sandbrook Road just past the shops). 

NB. Stallholders please contact us soon to reserve your table.

More:

https://southport-crafts-arts-and-preloved-items-fayre-1.jimdosite.com/upcoming-fayre-dates/