On 15th September, Ron’s parents will have been married for 70 years. This morning, he brought me their wedding album, from which he has given me the honour of making some prints for a commemorative book he is compiling. So keen was I to show him how I would go about it that I scanned one to begin with.
In the process I managed to delete iPhoto and everything in it, including all the photographs I have worked on over the years. This threw me into something of a panic.
Fortunately Elizabeth managed to help me to open up a new iPhoto file, and learned from Google that it would be possible to recover what I have lost. This would require a phone call to Apple tomorrow, but it gave me peace of mind to enjoy the rest of the day and the facility to post today’s photographs.
In the meantime, Aaron finished his work on paving and gravelling the garden, when he covered the concrete surface at the southern end with shingle.
The exquisite, tiny, little rose, Flower Power, is living up to its name.
This was a perfectly splendid, sunny, day, so when the ladies fancied a cream tea we began with a trip to Gordleton Mill Hotel, where the catering is superb, and where we knew Elizabeth would enjoy the sculpture garden which has already featured in a few of my posts.
Unfortunately they no longer serve cream teas, but were happy to give us coffee on the lawn, within nostrils’ reach of the kitchen extractor emitting appetisingly tempting aromas of Sunday roast dinners, reminiscent of supermarkets wafting the smell of baking bread throughout the stores.
Sun played on the River Avon rippling beneath the white bridge over which it is necessary to walk to reach the hotel.
Ducks were in their element.
I have photographed most of the sculptures on previous occasions, but
this horse made from bicycle parts is new.
Elizabeth was intrigued by it too, especially as she thought nephew Adam would like it.
I have not noticed the dancing hares before (I am indebted to our friend, Barrie Haynes, for pointing out that the hares are boxing, as is, of course, their wont.)
The garden offers many different outlooks. Elizabeth and Jackie adorn this one.
The eucalyptus is beginning to shed its leaves.
Taking a break on a chair, roomy enough for them to share, Jackie and Elizabeth found their feet could not reach the ground.
For those who may not be familiar with the term, a pub crawl is a trip from hostelry to hostelry in search of the perfect pint, or whatever else takes your fancy.
The craving for cream teas remaining unsatisfied, we visited Braxton Gardens tea rooms where Elizabeth and Jackie enjoyed their searched-for treat, consisting of scones, clotted cream, jam, tea, and the attention of wasps who indulged in their own crawl into the unfinished jampots.
After this, we drove via Keyhaven and past the salt marsh and around Hurst Spit to Sturt Pond before returning home.
On the marsh at low tide, turnstones were demonstrating why they are so named.
Silhouetted against the lowering sun, a photographer positioned his subjects
then took the shot.
Before Elizabeth returned home to West End, we enjoyed a Hordle Chinese Take Away meal with which she and I drank Caviller del Diable reserva shiraz 2013. Unfortunately Jackie was out of Hoegaarden.
The sculptures are wonderful things and I like the shot of Jackie and Elizabeth looking like little girls in the giant chair – and the cream tea, minus the wasp, would go down a treat here!
Thank you, Pauline. I hope you enjoyed your morning coffee
Two cups this morning Derrick – I’m ready for anything!
Ironic to see a sculpture made of bicyclepoarts at Gordelton Mill. I did a summer holiday job at Steven Bailey’s carnation farm at the top of the hill back towards Hordle and, of a lunch hour we occasionally took a swift pint at the Wheel. On one memorable occasion I took the corner too fast and crashed into the fence opposite the Mill. The destroyed wheel was tossed rather unceremoniously into the river by one of the men with me who would be in trouble of taking us to the pub and making us late on our return – due to my carelessness! I wonder how many of these places survive?
Thanks, Geoff. The Wheel is still there. Google tells me that Stephen Bailey was selling his carnation farm in 2008. I don’t know what happened
70th anniversary, losing and finding (hopefully) photos and beautiful roses. Thank you Derrick 🙂
Thank you, Sylvie
Great photos, Derrick!
Many thanks, Jill
I like the Monet-like ripples.
Thank you Mary. The light was just right
The Rise and Fall of the West could perhaps best be summed up in your phrase: “They no longer serve cream teas”.
Thanks, Bruce. Mind you, they were very pricey
Hope you get your photos back! looks like you had a lovely day after, though. I really enjoy the whimsical sculptures and the girls looked as though they enjoyed the giant chair!
Thank you Lisa. So do I!
Great post as always, thanks for taking us along on this afternoon tea crawl. You shan’t miss another dancing hair, just take note the next time you’re outdoors while the wind blows!
Thanks Oscar. Nice one
Lovely afternoon events and pictures. The wasp may have gotten what it deserved–a treat followed by its demise–sorry, they have too often chomped on me!
Thank you Cynthia. Me too. You might like this one: http://derrickjknight.com/2012/05/29/the-bees/
Egads! I would have passed out from sheer terror and awoken to a living nightmare of bee stings. Cannot believe you survived it and to tell the tale so easily!
Thank you, Cynthia
I hope you sort out your iPhoto problem – what a disaster! I’m impressed that you were able to carry on and enjoy your afternoon 😀
Thanks Jenny. So am I!
Me too!
It looks like a great day out. I hope the iPhoto issue gets resolved – I would have been in a foul mood all afternoon had it happened to me! The gardens look lovely at the hotel….I’ve always wanted a lawn with stripes 🙂
Thanks, Matt. I am about to ring Apple. Fingers crossed
What an outstanding display of Nature. Everyone looked to have a wonderful afternoon in the garden!
Thank you, GP
Flower power indeed. Lucky bee, or is it wasp? We wouldn’t mind diving into the jam and clotted cream.
Thank you both. It is a wasp
Wow Derrick, loosing all the shots would have thrown me into a huge panic – hope all works out with Apple. Wonder walk with you, the water/reflections and flowers always awesome and did enjoy the bee!
Thank you Mary. Not 100% with Apple, but could have been worse
Flower Power is simply gorgeous! I, too, would have mistakenly assumed the hares were dancing. Your photos of the cream and jam and the wasp are really well done.
Thank you, Crystal. That rose is so neat, yet very small