SouthseaScene

Award-winning English indie folk group Moulettes have confirmed some of their most unusual gigs ever, in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. This is no ordinary stop on their huge national tour to promote latest album Constellations. Instead, they are providing a live soundtrack for The Seafarers, an original dance show inspired by the true story of ship building in Portsmouth. Commissioned by Portsmouth Festivities, a 10-day celebration of arts, culture and heritage, The Seafarers is supported by Arts Council England and Portsmouth Grammar School. It is being developed by internationally acclaimed Stopgap Dance Company. Professional dancers will perform on 27th and 28th June alongside men, women and children from local communities. According to Samantha Worsey, Associate Producer for Portsmouth Festivities, “Moulettes’ unique brand of alt-folk will bring a real sense of joy and wonder to The Seafarers.” She adds, “From the visual poetry on stage to the dreamy, folky vibes of the band, this...

My friend George is the Queen of Meringue and so I asked him to share his recipe, which I tried today. Ingredients 4 egg whites 250g caster sugar 1.5 tsp cornflour 1.5 tsp white wine vinegar Preheat the oven at 160C and whisk the egg whites until stiff. Then add the sugar, 1 tsp at a time while whisking constantly. Mix the cornflour and vinegar together in a bowl and whisk into the mix. Cut greaseproof paper into a round of about 40 cm across and place on a baking sheet. Spoon the mixture shaped into a round, build the side higher than the centre. Put it into the oven and reduce the heat to 150C bake for an hour until firm, then turn off the oven. Leave the Pavlova in there until the oven is cool. Best to make this in the morning and leave it in the oven until needed. Whisk some cream to pile on top and scatter some of your favourite fruits like raspberry or strawberry. Today I'm experimenting with some stewed apricot. Delicious!

A SUMMER NIGHT’S SERENADE: THE LONDON MOZART PLAYERS, LAURA VAN DER HEIJDEN AND TIM POSNER. Portsmouth cathedral FRIDAY, 19 JUNE 2015 19:30 The UK’s longest-established chamber orchestra is joined for a very special evening by Laura van der Heijden (BBC Young Musician of the Year 2012) Tim Posner and the Festivities Youth Choir. This promises to be a perfect opening night event of Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Handel and Brahms. THE SWINGLE SINGERS: TIMELESS ; CONCERT.Portsmouth Cathedral SATURDAY, 20 JUNE 2015 19:00 With powerful and versatile voices, The Swingle Singers work classic music into wonderful and surprising new shapes. Be captivated by their dazzling and moving versions of timeless pieces. Whether it’s a Bach aria reimagined as a chilling murder ballad, or a meltingly beautiful interpretation of a favourite Beatles tune, The Swingle Singers bring their tireless invention and vocal mastery to an eclectic repertoire spanning five centuries. “The Swingle Singers pitched those...

I have been feeling low and don't like the feeling at all. So I decided to find out more. According to the NHS website a general low mood can include sadness, an anxious feeling, worry, tiredness, low self-esteem, frustration and anger. However, a low mood will tend to improve after a short time. You can make some small changes in your life, such as resolving a difficult situation or talking about your problems and getting more sleep to improve your mood. A low mood that doesn't go away can be a sign of depression. Symptoms of depression can include feeling hopeless and helpless, having low self-esteem, feeling tearful, feeling guilt-ridden, feeling irritable and intolerant of others, having no motivation or interest in things, finding it difficult to make decisions, having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming yourself , feeling anxious or worried. You can also become depressed at certain times, such as during the winter months or when you are pregnant. Treat...

Today I bought some eel from Johnson's in Old Portsmouth. The fishmonger had a couple of eels he would like to sell off and I felt like having an experiment. Here's a recipe I found online. This recipe from Lorraine is a deliciously versatile freshwater fish stew. Seasoned with herbs and brought together in a rich, red wine base, it is more like a fisherman's coq au vin.   What's truly lovely about this matelote recipe is that the hearty, comforting stew can be made quickly, yet tastes like it simmered for hours. Classic matelote can be made with any firm freshwater fish. However, for it to be a truly traditional preparation, it must include freshwater eel. 2 thick strips bacon, coarsely chopped 250g pearl onions, peeled 250g white mushrooms 400ml fish stock 1 bay leaf 4 sprigs parsley 1 sprig thyme 1 clove 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped 1 shallot, thinly sliced 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 300ml dry ...