Opinion

New Star Wars film will take me back to playing Luke Skywalker | Simon Carter

Picture the scene: a school playground a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… a group of friends, all aged eight or nine, are role-playing the amazing new Hollywood film recently released.

Opinion

Steve Canavan's little girl made him cry

The day my lovely daughter brought me to tears | Steve Canavan

I cried in bed the other day and am now worried I might be having a nervous breakdown. It would be a terrible time for it to happen, what with Christmas coming. I mean, if I’m going to have a breakdown, at least let it happen in January when there’s not much on.

Opinion

A homeless youngster. Picture posed by model. Credit: Mikael Damkier - stock.adobe.com

Why don't we care about homeless children all year round? | Blaise Tapp

We are now fully locked into the Season of Goodwill, a time when people are prepared to talk to those they ignore the other 50 weeks of the year.

Opinion

The great Waterlooville Christmas tree heist | Cheryl Gibbs

Last week I wrote about how I was getting serious FOMO (fear of missing out). It felt like everyone but us had their Christmas decorations up. I’m now pleased to announce that Christmas has finally arrived in the Kingston household. But, as usual, it wasn’t without a bit of drama.

Opinion

The first acts have been announced for Victorious Festival 2020. Picture: Becca Egerstrom/Mihail Stanescu

Early act reveals show how far Victorious Festival has come | The News

With frosty mornings and Christmas just around the corner, those warm summer days down on Southsea seafront seem a long, long way off.

Opinion

CHART-TOPPER: Will Whitney Houston be knocked off her pedestal? Picture: Scott Gries

Will Whitney be beaten by Dance Monkey? | Rick Jackson

History could be made tomorrow. I’m not talking about the general election, but the UK Top 40 charts. Are you familiar with the song Dance Monkey by Tones and I? It’s very catchy but at the same time has a slightly annoying sound to it.

Opinion

The Spinnaker Chorus performing at Cosham Christmas Light. Picture: Malcolm Wells (271119-0301)

I have a soft spot for choirs and brass bands at Christmas | Zella Compton

What I love about this time of year is the choirs which pop up everywhere. Never mind the endless looped music in stores, or the tinsel hanging from the rafters of shops trying to sell us more junk that no one ever wanted in the first place.

Opinion

Alun's next job... clearing out the garage. Picture: Shutterstock

Why I have to earn my time in front of the telly | Alun Newman

It’s the winter evenings that provide the most testing of psychological challenges. It gets dark so quickly that I can easily think it's time to settle down into fully committed sedentary living, only to see that it’s just gone 4pm.

Opinion

Waterloo sunset. The evening rush at London Waterloo.

Portsmouth or London? Where do you feel most at home? | Lou Hannan

Having spent some of my early career working in London, it’s a place I hold real affection for and always see it as a treat when I head back to the capital.

Opinion

BBC radio presenter Alex Dyke is calling for Christmas classic Fairytale of New York to be banned from the airwaves - for being an 'offensive pile of down market chav bilge'. Picture by Solent News & Photo Agency

Radio Solent's Alex Dyke really is The Grinch | Clive Smith

BBC Radio Solent presenter Alex Dyke really is The Grinch this Christmas after calling for the Christmas song Fairytale of New York to be banned from the airwaves for being ‘an offensive pile of downmarket chav bilge’.

Opinion

Johnson or Corbyn? Worst choice ever for electorate | Simon Carter

It is possibly the worst choice ever placed before long-suffering British voters. On Thursday we will again vote to elect a new government – the third time since 2015. As ever in a UK general election, only two parties can win.

Opinion

Steve Canavan managed to break a little dog's heart when he threw its toy in a river...

'You absolute cretin!' | Steve Canavan

I’m in my sister’s bad books. I kindly offered to take her dog for a stroll – she’s currently struggling to walk long distances because of a nasty outbreak of athlete’s foot (though she’s asked me not to mention it in print as she’s embarrassed) – but managed to lose a brand new £15 pet toy she had purchased the day before.

Opinion

So, I'm not the only clown in the village | Blaise Tapp

As someone who comes from a long line of daydreamers, calamities are an occupational hazard.

Opinion

Who wants 12 months of misery on the wall for 2020? | Verity Lush

Remember the Pirelli calendars of old? Scantily clad women, the odd breast. There’s nothing wrong with the female form – far from it – myriad paintings exist in the art world of naked women.

Opinion

COMMENT: Pride of Portsmouth awards are a great way to show appreciation of NHS

Imagine the joy of Shakardokht Jafari when she finally found out she was pregnant after trying for a baby for more than 12 years.

Opinion

Im A CelebrityGet Me Out Of Here! 2011 contestant Gillian McKeith.

I'm a Celeb just wasn't tough enough this year | Cheryl Gibbs

I’m gutted I’m a Celebrity finishes on Sunday. It signals the start of the Christmas season for us.

Opinion

TROUBLE: Rick is embroiled in psychological warfare with his daughter

My battles with a strong-willed four-year-old | Rick Jackson

Don’t laugh, but my current choice of reading is Peaceful Parenting for a Strong-Willed Four-year-old. Yes, my daughter Holly turned four last weekend.

Opinion

Zella would be better at saving the planet if she could only remember her bags for life

I have a plan for those who forget their bags for life | Zella Compton

Bags for life are now being bought in ever greater quantities and there are moves afoot to up the price of them, to encourage us to buy fewer. I don’t have a problem with bags for life, but what I do have a problem with is remembering to take them with me when I go shopping.

Opinion