1000+ Strong Island Posts!

We missed it a few posts ago but Strong Island broke the 1000 posts barrier yesterday, not bad considering we are still four months away from our second birthday! Lots of things have changed in Portsmouth and Southsea since we started back in August 2008 and we will be unveiling very soon some big changes to Strong Island for the future. We’ll keep you posted as things develop.

Little Johnny Russells News

Little Johnny Russells have just launched a new blog and a new Facebook page to allow you to keep up to speed with what’s going on. Don’t forget they also have a Twitter thinger too. Word is a new website is in the works and ready to drop very soon.

Tags: Little Johnny Russells

Save Portsmouth’s Cultural Services

Portsmouth Cultural Services got in contact with the news that Portsmouth City Council have published their proposed budget cuts for the next 3 years, which heavily impact the city’s cultural services. To be specific the cuts include the following:

• £9,000 reduction in grant to aspex and SCATs
• £133,300 of cuts to the Parks Service, including £5000 saving on fertilizer which will lead to pitch quality degradation, £5,000 saving on the Sports Initiative which could threaten some small scale community sports events. £14,500 for 1 FTE Sports Development Team post and £33,00 for 2 FTE Contract Management Team posts which would leave contractors with less supervision and therefore less protection of the use of
  taxpayers money.
• £35,200 from Museums for 2 front-line posts and one technician who builds and maintains all the displays in all the museums to be replaced with part-timers, jeopardising continuity in the museums offer.
• £1,500 less to be spent on promoting events!
• 1 day a week reduction in Central Library opening hours.
• 50% reduction in the searchroom opening hours at the City Museum and Records Office.

And much, much more (for full details see the Council report (PDF)). Yet again, culture facing total cuts of £481,700 is being seen as a soft target.

But you can do something today by join the cause to save the things you love that are under threat. You can post a comment to your local councillor on their website here and they will make sure that it reaches them! Or join the Facebook cause.

PCS suggest that in your post you include your name, your ward and that you refer to the services that you use and demand that they are protected. If you are not sure of your councillor or ward, you can find that
information here. Also you can always write to your councillor by using the Write To Them website.

All a little strange considering the city council are bidding to make Portsmouth a City of Culture…if we don’t make our voice heard now, we can’t complain when cuts take place.

Tags: Portsmouth Cultural Services

New ilovedust intern needs a home.

Ilovedust have an intern starting on the 14th January. He’s coming over to the UK but has struggled to find a place to rent in Southsea online. His name is Khanh Ly, he’s currently studying graphics at The Design Academy in Eindhoven and rides fixed gear.

Check out his work and contact him through his site if anyone has anything to offer in terms of a room to rent. www.khanh.nl

He arrives next week on Thursday the 14th and will leave the end of April. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

We rarely do this and as I’ve said before please don’t ask us to help you house hunt or find people to live with, but there are exceptions to certain patrons.

And to show the dust boys are trying everything they can to help find him a home here they are, hard at work.

Smoked Fish

Not sure when this happened exactly but the fish stall down in the harbour burnt down recently. I got a few photos down there whilst out on my bike, there are more over at Forever Circling.

Tags: Fire, Fish

Bike Recycling in Portsmouth

The PCC Healthy Towns team needs help with the bicycle recycling project as they have recently been overwhelmed with redundant bicycles. They are currently seeking volunteers to help rescue bikes that are serviceable and dismantle the rest for spare parts.

If you can help, please contact Jerome Kilty on 023 9283 4684 or Jayne Rodgers on 023 9283 4590.

The sessions will take place at Southsea Fire Station, Somers Road, Southsea on Thursday 26 November, Friday 27 November, Thursday 3 December and Friday 4 December.

Tristan photo

Portsmouth Cycle Forum Meeting

The next Portsmouth Cycle Forum open meeting is tomorrow night (19th) at 7pm at Meeting Room 1 on the third floor of Portsmouth Guildhall. Cycle lockups are available in the Guildhall Square.

The agenda, will include:

a. Cycle Parking – a short DVD
b. NEW CTC Right to Ride appointments
b. Strategic Cycle Routes
d. NEW PCC Cycle Strategy
e. NEW. Seafront cycle route
f. Cycle theft

More details at www.pompeybug.org.uk and on Twitter twitter.com/PompeyBUG.

Tags: Pompey Buy, Portsmouth Cycle Forum

Oops, Soaked

These two got drenched down in Old Portsmouth on Saturday morning…

Tags: Old Portsmouth, Storm, Waves

What a Storm

So far today’s storm has been pretty incredible, huge waves at high tide, winds blowing people over (including me on my bike) plus torrential downpours, lightning and hailstones. As bad as the weather is, you can’t say it isn’t exciting! If anyone has any photos from today please leave links in the comments, would love to see them.

Tags: Storm

Twitter

A quick reminder that Strong Island is on Twitter, if you happen to be on there too lets follow!

twitter.com/strongislanduk

Tags: Twitter

Flat to Rent – Kent Road Southsea

This is a quick favour to help out a friend getting on to the ‘chain’. Please don’t email us house listing or similar as this is a one off. Sorry.

Spacious 2 bedroom top floor flat for rent, £600 per month. Unfurnished. Great location on Kent Road, close to the beach, common and Palmerston Road. Property has 2 double bedrooms, GCH, DG, large lounge/diner and separate kitchen. Bathroom with bath and shower.

The whole flat has a lovely light, airy feel. Would suit professionals. Sorry – no pets/smoking. Call 07732 439851 for viewing.

Portsmouth: A City of Great Expectations

The Independent Newspaper’s website recently posted up a nice write up about Portsmouth and it’s past. The article covers Old Portsmouth, Southsea and the rest of the city plus it’s famous inhabitants over the years, well worth a read.

www.independent.co.uk

Tags: Independent Newspaper

Pod Noodle left a bad taste in my mouth…

…but only due to all the beer I drank last night. I’m seriously hungover and can’t think what to write so I’ll just post some photos and let them do all the talking.

All the best mate. Rave safe and get your self checked out every fortnight. X

Tags: Pod Noodle

Another Bike Stolen

Portsmouth bike thieves are at it again, Laura’s bike was stolen today so if you could keep an eye out for it that would be great. If you do see it either contact the police or call Charlie on 07766 522227. Thanks!

Twitter

Strong Island now has a Twitter, feel free to follow us and keep track of new posts and other bits of news and things.

twitter.com/strongislanduk

Tags: Twitter

Stolen Bike

Charlie Thompson got in touch the other day, his pride and joy bike was recently stolen and if anyone spots it or knows of it’s whereabouts please email us or call the police. The bike is a custom Charge Plug Racer with some Italian and Japanese parts:

Sunny Southsea

A beautiful morning to the Bank Holiday weekend in Southsea. Hope you all have an awesome weekend, see you next week.

Creative Design Space – Coming Soon

Creative Design Space are soon to offer in Southsea studio/desk space available to rent. Relatively common in London but rare down in our neck of the woods, Creative Design Space will offer an open plan studio with desks plus a communal client/meeting area, kitchen and toilet facilities plus high speed broadband and electricity included in the rental. Plus free tea and coffee! For more information check www.creativedesignspace.co.uk.

Tags: Creative Design Space, Studio

Noir et Blanc – NeBula Goes Live

Noir et Blanc’s new website NeBula has just gone live. Featuring both magazine and web only content if you liked the free magazine, get over to the website to see more and get involved. If you haven’t picked up the magazine, you can download it from the website as a PDF for free too. Not bad at all.

Tags: Noir et Blanc

Jim Barbers Tuesday Night Pub Quiz

Jim Barber’s Quiz Night is back every Tuesday at The One Eyed Dog. You know the deal here people. Brush up on your drinking skills and maybe you’ll get a question right somewhere along the line.