This morning I scanned three more of Charles Keeping’s excellent illustrations to ‘Our Mutual Friend’.
‘Conveniently elevated above the level of the living, were the dead’
‘Tippins the divine’
The artist’s inspired evocation of Dickens’s ‘The whole metropolis was a heap of vapour charged with muffled sound of wheels’ prompted me to post https://derrickjknight.com/2021/09/11/a-knights-tale-32-the-great-smog/
On a still sultry afternoon we took a drive around the forest.
Dumped beside the entrance to the paddock on Braggers Lane was a burnt out Daihatsu Fourtrak.
Whoever left it there did not destroy the number plate.
Looking over the landscape at Rockford End. we could see a sunlit distant marina.
Jackie parked beside the very narrow lane while I wandered about with my camera and photographed
a grassy verge; tumbling farm buildings in an overgrown field; a dappled bank; and a gate into a similar field
From the lane up to Gorley Common and Hyde we observed a basking herd of deer.
At the top of the hill ponies shared the pasturage with cattle. One pony found its tail in a tangle; one cow stopped the traffic.
At North Gorley three donkeys were employed clipping a hedge, and
a huntsman and hound took note of the wind direction.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s wholesome cottage pie; crunchy carrots; tender cabbage and runner beans, with meaty gravy. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I drank Cepa Lebrel Gran Reserva Rioja 2011.
Oooohhh your dinner sounds delicious! Beautiful photos, Derrick, but who would burn a vehicle like that! Why? Not removing the license plate as we call them will help the police track the owner. Terrible.
Maybe that was the whole point of leaving the plate, John. Thanks very much.
You had a rather nice light for your afternoon photographs. Talking of light, I assume that the arsonist and the car owner were different people.
I would imagine that is right. Otherwise why leave the number plate? Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
Hi Derrick
Love that a huntsman and hound
And I just grabbed a photo of a clock weather vane that had a “dali” feel to it!
That’s interesting. Thanks very much, Prior
☀️
Dastardly deeds in Downton. I don’t think you’ve ever mentioned dumped cars before, much less a burnt out one.
Just one before – but watch this space for the next post. Thanks very much, Gwen
Mystery afoot. Maybe the licence plate was planted as a red herring.
Did the burned-out vehicle make the news? It seems odd for it to have been left in that location.
My favorite photo out of today’s group is the weathervane.
Thank you very much, Liz. It may be in the local papers which we don’t see. It certainly is intriguing. The last one we saw was not removed for some time
You’re welcome, Derrick. I’ve only seen burned-out cars on the side of the interstate.
Yikes on the burnt-out car! But, you captured some artistic photos of it!
Love, as always, the textures, shapes, patterns, motion, character, etc., in Mr. Keeping’s illustrations!
Looking at your photos of the animals it comes to my mind that they might say, “Hey, Human-Beans, it’s okay to slow down and enjoy the simple, basic things in life!” 🙂
Oh, poor tangled horsey tail! Maybe he needs some hair conditioner?!?! 😛
HA! on the donkeys employed to clip the hedges! 😀 Do they work for The Bray and Kick Landscaping Company?! They’re doing the donkey work! 😉 😛
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Your usual amusing comments, Carolyn – with sound thoughts from the animals. Thanks very much.
Irresponsible to leave trash like that in such a place. I extect it in NYC. When I worked in Inwood Park we somtimes found burnt out vehicles.
Thanks a lot, Sherry. This is the second we have seen in the forest.
Makes me angry and sad that people can be so uncaring.
Indeed
The landscape at Rockford End is gorgeous. What in the world? That burned-out vehicle would make for a good story prompt. Lovely photos, Derrick.
It would indeed, Jill. Probably not your genre, though. Thanks very much, Jill
I’m always amazed at how many animals you encounter on your wanderings.
Thanks very much, Nicki
I adored your wonderful photos of the deer in the field Derrick .. Oh .. I used one of your photos from your “Greener Graveyard Grass” article, as my featured image for my poem/senryu today .. Again thank you kindly for allowing me to do so …
Thank you very much, Ivor. I will be reading your poem soon.
I love these photos from your forest drives, especially the animals!
I hope burned out vehicles are not something you see very often there. At least it is traceable, and I hope no one was hurt.
This is the second. Thanks very much, Lavinia.
Mr Keeping’s inimitable fogged up illustration across two pages neatly coincides with the current installment of your story, Derrick.
Why would anyone dump a burned out car in public space? Isn’t it illegal, taking littering to a ridiculous level?
It certainly is illegal, which is why I am intrigued by the number plate. The illustration coincidence was pleasing. Thanks very much, Dolly.
The license plate made me think of a crime (I guess I have watched one too many Russian criminal news), since nobody in their right mind would leave an easy identification, asking for a fine.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
I thought the same.
Great minds…
Conveniently elevated above the level of the living, were the dead. That is a thought provoking piece of black humour. Keeping has captured the soul of smog laden metropolis ably. You have captured engrossing landscapes today. The burnt out vehicle has a surprisingly intact number plate and stepney wheel. The fallen farmhouses have nothing to display however. Perhaps their souls are as free as the deer that roam the sparse woods.
Beautifully written, thoughtful, comments, Uma. That intact number plate is particularly intriguing. Thanks very much
You know just how to shock us out of a routine, Derrick. By taking us through the illustrations of ‘Our Mutual Friend’ to … a spectacularly burnt out vehicle … you have made your readers sit up and take notice. The photographs of that are interesting in their details. What I find intriguing is your description of it as being ‘dumped’ as if the vehicle was no longer wanted. I agree with Jill that the first photograph would make an excellent prompt for a story: the vehicle is parked correctly … was it burned by accident (how?) or by design (why?) …
Certainly intriguing, Anne. And I have ne er seen a burnt out car with a clear number plate – this is not the first left in the forest. Thank you very much
I’m guessing the vehicle was stolen and that’s the last place I would expect to find one.
I hope someone helped the pony with its tail hair caught.
My guess, too, Sue. The pony freed its tail before we left. Thanks a lot
Yah, donkeys!
I thought you would like them, Sheree. Thanks very much
I think this post’s photos is a very atmospheric mystery novel in the making. I wonder about that burnt car–with the license tag left on.
The tree and the gate are lovely landscape shots, and of course the animals are always fun. The weathervane is beautiful.
Thank you so much, Merril
I wonder how the pony’s tail got stuck up that high. haha Those donkeys actually do look like someone hired them to trim the hedges!
Thanks very much, GP. It was a bit breezy 🙂
What a lovely dinner you had! Jackie is truly a Culinary Queen. I always enjoy your photos of the animals and I’m sure there is an interesting story behind the burnt-out truck.
Thanks very much, Eugi
You’re welcome, Derrick.
What dramatic pictures of the burned out car. They are strangely interesting. I like that weather vane picture. It would be nice to have that on top of something near me.
Thank you very much, Barbara
Another fascinating drive on the country followed by another one of Jackie’s delicious meals!
Thanks very much, AnneMarie
Wow! I hope the owners of the car are ok…
Me too. Thanks very much, Ribana
I doubt crime was involved in the burning of the car. Anyone who set it on fire purposefully would have removed the identifying plates. Beyond that, the damage to the body of the car suggests a roll-over accident.
Car fires aren’t that uncommon around here. Unfortunately, they seem most often to happen on the freeways at the height of the rush hour. Drivers and traffic reporters even have a name for them: Car-be-ques.
Thanks very much for that perspective, Linda. I imagined that if you had a grudge against the owner you might leave one identifying plate. However, it is a scene upon which to speculate.
The art work is mind boggling! So magnificent! And your photography is so appreciated, Derrick. I love that pony with the tail tangled in the hanging weeds (branches?). How kind of Jackie to be so patient while you meander with your camera. Does she bring along a good book??
Thanks very much, Jan. She has a puzzle book 🙂