I drizzling grey colander hung in the sky today while I worked on
clipping and transferring to compost the dogwood in the corner of the front drive which was obscuring the vision of anyone heading into Christchurch Road, either from our garden or from that of Mistletoe Cottage next door.
This is rather a dangerous daytime task as a steady stream of traffic whizzes past, often very close to the kerb. Particular care has to be taken not to step back and admire one’s work, and to sway heads out of the paths of wing mirrors of large trucks. Daytime traffic offers one advantage in that it is not so easy to exceed the 40 m.p.h. speed limit as it is at night, when the road is less populated.
This morning I posted https://derrickjknight.com/2021/08/19/a-knights-tale-19-she-saw-the-r100/
This evening Mat, Tess, and Poppy joined us for a few days, and we dined on Mr Chan’s excellent Hordle Chinese Take Away fare, with which Tess and I drank more of the Comté Tolosan Rouge.
Love your colander metaphy
Stay safe.😉
Love your colander metaphy
Stay safe.😉
Thank you very much, Pat
You are right, Derrick – those huge hulks of lorries do have very long arms to their side mirrors!
I’m sure both traffic and pedestrians are grateful for your work today – the hedge looks very tidy!
Enjoy your few days together… don’t we so appreciate getting together after such a long time when it was difficult!
The important things, that really do make life tick..!
Yes, indeed. Long time, no see – but the months rapidly roll away. Thanks very much, Emma. (I was once hit by a mirror on Putney Bridge)
Those are rather large trucks (lorries) for the road. Nice work, Derrick!
Thanks a lot, John. What was once a country lane has got busy
I’ve seen that happen in my hometown in Michigan. A 2-lane road that once saw a handful of cars a day is now very busy. Not good…
No. But it was probably reflected in the price we paid
Have you noticed that crisscrossed electric cables in the first photo create an illusion of a hammock hanging in the sky? I had to enlarge it to realize that G-d did not get Himself a hammock!
Once again your keen eye picks up detail, Dolly. Thanks very much.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Your garden seems such an oasis, that I never think of the front of your house and traffic. That trimming does seem dangerous with the traffic.
I try not to think about it too. We do have double glazing. Thanks very much, Merril
You’re welcome, Derrick. 😀
I can see that stepping back would not be advisable. That is heavy traffic.
Yes – and the road wasn’t built for it, Tootlepedal. Thanks very much
I could see that. The size of modern lorries has overwhelmed many old roads.
Enjoy your company, Derrick!
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
We did the top of our drive the other day where a section of the hedge sits on the road side. No footpath here so also need to be careful, fortunately, we don’t have the same volume of traffic.
Have a good few days with the family.
Thank you very much, Sue
I think this is the first time that I’ve seen the front of your house, Derrick. Your garden is the perfect escape. Hordle Chinese Take Away and Poppy…sounds like a great evening!
It was a splendid ending to the day, Jill. Thanks you very much
I had no idea that you lived so close to a busy roadway. Care is definitely needed when working along your front fence.
Thanks very much, Rosaliene. Our house was once a small village shop in the days before the motor car.
Amazing how you and Jackie have transformed the space over the years since then!
Thanks again
That certainly is a narrow footpath. I wouldn’t like to be pushing a child in a stroller down there. A risky endeavour for you to trim, but all will be grateful.
Thank you so much, Gwen. Hardly anyone walks by.
They may now you’ve cleared the way :-). I’ve made a start on Estonia blog. Would you mind if I use Evie’s photos?
Please do, my friend
That is a narrow path.
Laid down in the days of horses and carts – now the main road from Lymington to Christchurch.
The busy front yard makes your garden even more appealing.
Yes, indeed. Thank you very much, JoAnna
My word — those trucks seem to take up more than their half of the roadway! It would seem that the more you can keep it trimmed the happier everybody will be!
Yes. We didn’t put in the tall plants and will remove them for next year. The road was once a country lane built for horses and carts. Thanks very much, Janet
those are huge trucks and yes, with heavy traffic, a simple misstep from the curve could be dangerous. 🙂
Thanks very much, Lola
That is an excellent social service rendered by you; the enterprise was fraught with mortal dangers however. The passing stream of imposing vehicles has been produced as a telling exhibit. The episode is made lively by your characteristic humour.
Thank you so much, Uma
Those heavy vehicles are really quite terrifying. I don’t envy you getting so close.
Thanks a lot, John.
All the photographs we have seen of your lovely garden give no hint of this heavy traffic passing by. It must have been an idyllic stretch of road before the juggernauts found it – using it as a shortcut perhaps? We live in a street above the main road into town and have found that the barrier of trees and shrubs we planted many years ago now helps to soften the sound of passing traffic a little. A street lower down used to be greatly sought after for its proximity to a private preparatory school and for how quiet it was – until a stop street was created in the main road to slow traffic down before it reaches a traffic circle. To avoid that, heavy trucks now thunder along Constitution Street, rattling windows and creating large potholes!
I guess this is the same the world over. Anne. We have double glazing. Thank you very much.
Villages seem to suffer enormously from the English desire to break the speed limits at all ,costs.
Quite so, John. Thanks a lot
I can relate to that Derrick, we live on a busy road and hedge trimming requires full concentration.
What amazes me is that passing traffic does not slow down. Thanks a lot, Andrew
You need a high visibility jacket.
Scary to have to work that close to fast passing vehicles, especially big one, on such a narrow road. My that is so narrow! 😮 Such a variety of vehicles passing by. Gotta’ watch all your sides as you work. I’m so glad you got such good work done safely.
YAY for sweet visitors for a few days! Enjoy! 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thanks a lot, Carolyn
Take care doing that gardening Derrick. Never knew it could be so hazardous!
That shrub is coming out before next year. I’m not doing that again. Thanks very much, Miriam
I don’t blame you.
A good job well done Derrick
Thanks very much, Sheree
You certainly have a way with words, Derrick!
Thanks very much, GP
It amazes me how you make chopping a hedge into an entertaining post!!
You’ve gotta try, GP. Thanks very much for appreciating it.
You have a talent.
🙂
A necessary but scary job! How old is Poppy now? Such a cutie.
6 on 25th, Laurie. Thanks very much
Tempus fugit! I remember when Poppy was an adorable baby.
I thought you must have. 🙂
Wow! Those trucks are huge, Derrick! You have tidied up the area nicely.
Thanks very much, Eugi
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Busy roads are not very forgiving. The drivers do not slow down. Please stay safe, both of you!
Thanks very much, Lavinia
Wow looks like you live on a bust street.
Yes. A country lane now a main thoroughfare. Thanks very much, Mrs W
Your welcome.
One would never guess from the lovly photos of your back yard garden that your house has such a busy thoroughfare so close to the front of it. I certainly understand doubly now how important that garden respite is!!
Thank you very much, Jan. Our lanes were built for horses and carts.