View from the Kingsland: the annual commitment

Picture: Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse, Saints fans’ Player of The Season, in action against Liverpool in the last game of season at St Mary’s/Chris Moorhouse/Southampton FC.   by Nick Mabey.  It’s that time of year again. No sooner does one season end I’m asked to reconfirm my commitment to the...

Suburban Safari: Anyone for Tennis?  

words and pictures by Katie Isham. A Suburban Safari should be a chance to explore another side to favourite locations; to make time to appreciate the beauty in the everyday steps taken. But also, provide joy in finding a hidden surprise amongst the familiar. And most significantly, to observe...

View from the Kingsland: The Doldrums

by Nick Mabey. The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed this column is a week later than usual. I could make up some fancy, but oh so plausible, excuse for this but, truth be told, my writing has hit the doldrums in the same way as my football team...

Suburban Safari: Life and Death in Romsey

by Katie Isham. Start this exploration in the centre of Romsey, the market town northwest of Southampton. Don’t worry though, we’re not staying amongst the hustle and bustle of the town centre. We’re heading out to the suburbs.  From the centre, travel east along The Hundred, one of the...

View from the Kingsland: champions in style

by Nick Mabey. Congratulations to Southampton FC women on winning the FA Women’s National League Southern Division this week. They’ve been top all season and clinched the title with a couple of games to spare. The icing on the cake was being able to lift the trophy after beating...

Suburban Safari: Netley Abbey

by Katie Isham. When everything is busy and life is loud, there are few better places to go wander than around the walls of a thirteenth century monastery, especially when the roof is now cobalt blue skies pouring down from heaven to light your walk through the crumbling walls. ...

View from the Kingsland: flawed heroes

by Nick Mabey. When I was growing up I assumed that adults were perfect. Of course I read and watched the news so was aware that some adults were not. But in my world all the adults that mattered to me must be perfect.  Surely that’s why they called...

View from the Kingsland: Superstition and Momentum Part 2

by Nick Mabey. Picture: Kyle Walker-Peters in action against Watford. Credit: Chris Moorhouse/Southampton FC It’s all my fault. Mea Culpa. Four defeats in a row and I am feeling totally responsible for Southampton’s nosedive in form.  To understand why, you need to read my last In Common article (click...

Suburban Safari: City of Magnolias 

by Katie Isham. Safari today not to a specific place, but to a moment, a fleeting moment at that; a slice of existence right now, to the glorious zeitgeist of blooms and blue skies before the March winds rally and leave our loves strewn across the ground to become...