Herald - Issue 398

Page 26 • The HERALD • 19th November 2020 v READ THE HERALD ONLINE: www.herald-publishing.co.uk v Professional installers of Fascias, Guttering, Cladding, PVCu Windows & Doors Composite Doors • 10 year labour and product guarantees Repairs, cleaning and advice also available Tel: 023 8086 9715 or 07888 705455 enquiries@aztecfascias.com • Scissors • Knives • Chisels • Dog Grooming Blades • Woodworking Tools • Lawnmower Blades • Garden Tools • Horse Grooming Blades Call Steve 07909 850340 or Mike 07980 302476 solentsharpeningservices.co.uk solentsharpeningservices@gmail.com Mobile Service - we come to you Attention pubs, farmers, land owners LANDWANTED with LARGE OUTBUILDING/BARN LEASE or BUY Anything considered, Must have good access to main roads. Mains water and electric preferred. TEL: 07889 891307 Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH ROMSEY YOUNG CARERS CHRISTMAS APPEAL is year has seen many of the ‘Romsey Young Carers’ spending months shielding with the person they care for. ey have been supported with care packages and cra kits throughout this time, and it is hoped that soon some of them will be able to meet-up again at their clubs – albeit in small numbers only. As with everything, clubs will not be the same as they were, and the children will be unable to share things. For this year’s appeal, therefore, they are requesting individual sets of stationery/ equipment which the children can use at the clubs when they resume. ey would like people to ll a suitable container – for example a large pencil case, zipper bag, tin, other type of bag – with a few basic items. is should include: • A pair of child-proof scissors. • Glue stick. • Small roll of sellotape. • Paint brush. • Pens & pencil. • Small hand sanitiser and/or pocket pack of tissues. ª Plus any other cra /stationery items you wish to add. e only request is to use containers which a name tag can be a xed to in some way. ey will need to be suitable for boys or girls aged 5-9 and 9-12 years. If anyone is willing to put together a set, this will need to be done by the rst week in December to allow for a period of quarantine and to arrange delivery etc. Please contact Pamela on Pamela@shadow26.plus.com or call 01794 501605 to nd out more. Mjolnir, the Norse God of under’s hammer. is is a humongous artefact in the bleak landscape, continually drawing down lightning from the heavens. e warriors are accompanied by two Christian priests, one of which seeks strength from his god to defy this pagan monstrosity, while the other is more pragmatic and curious. When a mysterious vision appears before Mjolnir the Viking’s shaman decrees that a handful of warriors must advance into the wasteland beyond the Needle of Odin to discover what it means. This requires crossing a harsh landscape and through the territories of the strange people that live there; it’s not a task that a Viking warrior is going to shrink from. What they nd in the far north is utterly beyond their comprehension. Being neither manmade nor of the gods, it will take the pragmatic priest to nally understand it. Beautifully illustrated throughout in monochrome, Alan Langford uses his life-long love of the medium to cra his own tale that would sit very comfortably in the 2000AD comics I enjoyed in the 1980s. It’s moody and atmospheric, and oddly it remains grounded in reality despite its science ction leanings. Alan knows just how far to stray into the fantastic to give his tale wonder and awe. We have an inclination of where it’s heading early on, but because we’re companions of the Vikings, seeing the world as they see it, we can revel in their understanding – or lack of –as the narrative puts down its layers. To say that this would have been right at home in a 1980s’ comic doesn’t mean that this book feels in any way dated. Rather, it captures a spirit that I’ve rarely seen since, where the artist was given the time he needed to make the very best of the page, and the story was allowed to unfold at a pace that suited the telling. For me, it’s captured a sense of nostalgia that is very welcome indeed. It's 132 lovingly cra ed pages that have taken three years to complete. You’ll appreciate every minute of that time as you’re absorbed by the pages, the characters, and the answers they seek. New Forest based Alan Langford, is a freelance artist and illustrator who specialises in equestrian subject matter and is a full member of the Society of Equestrian Artists. You can order your copy direct from Alan Langford at www.thesecreto heaesir. com and www. littleknollpress.com In Scandinavia of the 8th Century, a group of Vikings is taking part in an annual trek to pay homage to The Secret of the Aesir by Alan Langford Review by Simon Chadwick GIRL FRIDAY Reliable, friendly local lady available for everyday household duties Cleaning, Decluttering & Home Organisation Gardening, Shopping & Local Errands Personal Admin & Computer Organisation Event Planning & House Sitting All the chores I do in my home I can do in yours too! Fixed hourly rate Juliette 07522 517501• girlfridayhythe@hotmail.com