General Chat

I was born on Portsdown Hill- not the grassy bit but in a bungalow.
We loved to watch the lights from the living room window and could look down to see the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour and to The Solent and the Isle of Wight.

Just recently from the window I watched a huge ship making it's way from Southampton, (Queen Mary 2 ?)
Until I lived away from the sea, I didn't realise how much it meant to me.

I so miss living near the sea. The River Severn is just not the same!! Ann Glos

Hi Guys, more ships in today although the weathers not so good but had a nice lunch in the Still & West then got back to the car to find i had a flat tyre,called the RAC and they said it'd be a 4-5 hour wait!!!! hey ho

I work on Gosport side - in the entrance to the harbour and it is absolutely packed today with ships out there. The whole of Gosport is packed with caravans on every field. Its going to be so busy that the schools are all shut down for the day and I have the day off work - hope the weather stays nice!!!

Have a job to do in Southsea on Thursday night.I'll give it a try but I'm not very hopeful. Can't understand anybody moving away from Portsdown Hill. Watched a ferry going out by Southsea Castle once,where they turn,and thought just how amazing it must have been to see a sailing ship do the same thing.

We did manage to get down to stokes Bay on Saturday, interesting to watch the ships taking up position. I am really annoyed that there is nothing on TV about it. All we will get is a bit on the news. Apparently the BBC are concentrating on the tennis and didn't think this was important. I would have expected at leat one of the stations to televise the Son et Lumiere and even the fireworks and the lighting up of all the ships. after all it is the celebration of a historic occasion which is in itself also an historic occasion. As we get fewer and fewer ships there wont be any point in having reviews. Ann Glos

Karen/Lisa/Jim and others I'll wave at you. We are going to see the fireworks from Ryde. My husband is doing his nut because the red arrows are on really early. The kids will still be at school and we've got to get from Newport. Should still be a good night though. The view from Ryde looked great on sunday.

Hi Karen It's a good job the harbour isn't where Ancestry says it was in 1861. There wouldn't be much chance of the ships moving around as they reckon Portsmouth Harbour is in Northamptonshire!!!!!! Vivienne

Wont get down into Portsmouth tomorrow (or rather later today!) but drove along Southsea front tonight and along to old Portsmouth, stopping with binoculars every now and again. All the world and his wife out to have a look on a balmy evening. Ships (battle-, tall- and foreign) lit up, all very exciting! Took me back to Grand Harbour Malta in the 50s. Having spent my young years in the middle of England the sea is still a thrilling bonus. Isn't there due to be a TV programme on Thursday evening about the junketings? I used to love watching the Harbour Eye but something happened when this machine was updated and now can't get it - I'm gutted! Enjoy it all everyone - first-hand or on the box! Liz A friend told me today that by chance she's sailing on a long-standing booking to France tomorrow on a P & O ferry - what a lucky day to choose - they'll sail right through the fleet. What a view!!

Karen looks like the bad weather is going to spoil the fireworks. Take a brolly - a big thunderstorm is on its way apparantly

And from me in Aust, hubby and I would love to see it all - I am envious, will keep the eyes peeled to see what they give us on the box. Hope you all have a great Trafalga Day! cheers Laurie