Parents Must Allow Children To Be Adventurous

On another dull, overcast, morning, Jackie drove to a follow-up appointment with her knee surgeon whilst I stayed at home for a visit from Paul, the Double Glazing Doctor, who arrived on time and gave the promised, reasonable, estimate later on. The work will be done next Wednesday when the new television is to be installed.

I amused myself by sorting and scanning a few more of the photographic prints returned by Elizabeth.

In 1986 Jessica, Sam, Louisa, and I spent some time house sitting for the Drapers in Meldreth, and in the process, enjoying a holiday.

Sam 1986

This shot of Sam shows that a gentle, kind, boy nevertheless has a penchant for playing soldiers. Give him a cricket bat and his grandfather’s military cap and what does he do with the bat? My son is living proof that children who play in this way are not necessarily destined to grow up with killer instincts.

Joseph & Louisa 1986

Later that year, on an outing with Elizabeth, Rob, Adam, and Danni, Louisa enjoys a ride on the back of my brother, her uncle Joseph.

Louisa 5.89 001Louisa 5.89 002

Louisa, of course, will have a go at anything. Here she is rolling around in a galvanised tub on the lawn at Lindum House in May 1989. I know it has a jagged hole and she has bare feet, but she was very careful, and parents must allow children to be adventurous.  Had Jessica and I  been more timorous ourselves would this little girl have grown up to complete the Three Peaks Challenge? I know I couldn’t have done it, even when fit.

This much brighter afternoon, I heaved the rest of the rocks out of the recovered bed, laid a few more stepping stones, and built up borders with them.

Later I took a stroll down to Roger’s farm gate and back.

Grasses veiling dahlia

A freshly blooming dahlia in The Shady Bed is veiled by small ornamental grasses,

Eryngium

and alongside The Brick Path eryngium is nicely framed by the red Japanese maple.

Garden gate

On Downton Lane the secret garden gate looked particularly inviting,

Blackberry blossom

and blackberry blossom is developing into as yet green fruit.

This last quartet of un-enhanced photographs were shot on the setting that replicates film.

This evening Jackie produced her classic sausage casserole which we enjoyed with crisp carrots, cabbage, and new potatoes. She drank her customary Hoegaarden whilst I drank Parra Alta malbec 2014.

25 comments

  1. Then photo of the eryngium and the maple is stunning. I have never been able to grow the sea holly – it shrivels up and dies on me. Maybe I’m too prickly for it.

  2. 1. Absolutely, children need freedom to explore. 2. What is eryngium called when it’s home with its family? 3. Have you been in the secret garden? That’s exactly the title I gave the picture before I kept reading.

    1. Thank you, Lisa. I think it was your comment the last time I photographed the gate, that made me call it secret. There isn’t a way in to it from the roadside. Eryngium is sea holly. I have Bruce to thank for that.

  3. But what about the cricket, Derrick? Have you stopped pinching yourself?lovely pictures, mind you, as ever. Love Jessica in the can: health and safety? Pah!

  4. Hello from the beach, Derrick. What a lovely photo essay, and I agree … children need outside exploration! I’ve enjoyed watching the children at the beach. No phones or electronic games. Just the gifts of Mother Nature.
    Your photos are great … I’m drawn to the secret gate!

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