Barrie and Vicki dropped in this morning to present me with Barrie’s new book, ‘Walking in the Sea’. I look forward to reading it.
Ever since my lingering cold in August, I have been feeling decidedly under par, so Jackie persuaded me to visit the GP, made the appointment, and drove me there. After a thorough examination, Dr. Moody-Jones formed the opinion that I have a specific infection and prescribed antibiotics. I have confidence in the diagnosis. We’ll see how we go.
On a very sunny afternoon Jackie drove us through the forest. We enjoyed wood- and heathlands, and the livestock that, having right of way in the New Forest, roam the terrain and the roads.
Pools, such as this one formed near Bolderwood, are beginning to varnish the forest floor.
We stopped for a while near the Ornamental Arboretum.
Next stop was Nomansland where ponies grazed on the green,
where the lowering sun cast long shadows and glinted in the animals’ eyes.
The matted, crusty, hide of some of these creatures bore evidence of how muddy their environment has become.
As we drove back along Roger Penny Way, a grunting sow followed by squawking offspring, clambering all over each other in their haste, burst through the bracken, dashed along the verge, and came to a halt among a heap of fallen leaves and acorns. They were just like the proverbial pigs in a trough. I was amazed at the amount of noise they made.
At one point the mother left her brood, advanced on me, and, her nose rings grating on my toes, snotted all over my light tan brogues. Eventually she realised they were not acorns, and returned to the trough.
On the approach to Beaulieu, a group of cattle, and one pony, grazed on the heath in the warm glow of the setting sun.
Just before we reached the village, rounding the bend in a narrow road, we came hard up against the reason for a bit of a hold-up. A donkey, its rear hooves planted in the road, calmly chomped in a hedge.
This evening we dined on roast lamb, mint sauce, roast and mashed potatoes, carrots, cabbage and corn on the cob. Jackie drank Hoegaarden, and I abstained.
Not being a man of fashion, I never knew the term “brogues” – I always thought it to be a dialectical manner of speaking. One can only presume you put your foot in your mouth!
Would that I could, Bruce. Thank you
Perhaps yours are pigskin brogues? Maybe she mistook them for a distant relative…..
Nice one Cynthia. Thank you
Your cows look a lot furrier than ours do. I mean, their hair is longer and wavier. I like them better!
Thank you, Weekly
such a lovely place for you to enjoy! I love this time of year and all those animal!! so wonderful 🙂 I love following your blog, keep it up! Michelle
Many thanks, Michelle
Remember that the purpose of antibiotics is to kill life, so some probiotics would be a good idea. I suggest chicken soup 🙂 Love the reflection, long shadows and the pony back lit by the low sun.
Many thanks, Mary. I do hate antibiotics, but I have been feeling feverish for quite a while now.
Fever! Ummm they do say ‘starve a fever, feed a cold’ so I guess no chicken soup for you. Get well soon.
Thanks, Mary.
Adorable!
I’m with Mary, get some chicken soup made the good old fashioned way into you – you’ll be doing hand springs in no time at all! The rear end of the donkey made me smile!
Thanks, Pauline. I could never do handsprings, even in my youth.
Beautiful fall photos. I love the pig encounter and the donkey’s hooves. Hope the antibiotic does its work properly and you feel tip top soon.
Many thanks, Lisa
Now those pics of the Forest take me back. Can’t stand the ponies mind you but that’s because of the run ins I’ve had with the walking dog food. Still we came to an accommodation when I loved there which worked well enough. I was terrorised by a sow during pannage one year when she charged me, probably to protect her young. Not really done well with the larger Forest inhabitants, have I? I played cricket at Nomandsland – the war memorial was at short fine leg from the cattle grid end and if the ball hit it, it was given as two runs with a flourishing ‘Churchill’ to the scorer.
Thanks, Geoff. Great cricketing story. You might like this early post: http://derrickjknight.com/2012/06/17/six-leg-byes/
Cricket Green IS still there at Nomansland, Geoff, like all the wickets within the New Forest national park, it is protected from the ponies by a metal fence.
Sorry you are dragging along with the infection and send a healing prayer for your speedy recovery now. And what a good title to this post of fascinating creatures and bucolic countryside…such a good trip. I love the horse and cows and pigs…thanks.
Many thanks, Cynthia. I suppose I’ve got to the age where my body needs a bit of help to get over these things.
My last encounter with pigs ruined the toe of a new pair of converse in the exact same way! They were henceforth known as the ‘nibbly-pig shoes’. 🙂
Wow. What a coincidence. I’ll be more careful in future. Thank you, Bianca
Now Derrick, All these animals that run wild. Are they actually wild or do they belong to someone?
They all belong to someone. You can see the tags on some of the cattle’s ears. Their owners have ancient rights to let them roam. They have no road sense and the onus is on drivers to protect them. The only exception is deer. We carry cards with phone numbers to report deaths. I’ve only done this once: http://derrickjknight.com/2013/02/22/a-sad-duty/
Hey! Thanks for sharing this with us. And take care! I hope you are well!
Thanks, Monica. I’ll get there.
Wonderful photos Derrick, I especially like the first image. Hope the antibiotics help…
Thanks, Julie
What great adventures you always have together :)) Thanks for sharing your day and all of the excellent wildlife pics Derrick.
Many thanks, Patricia
Love the reflection in the water pool, and all the hairy horses, and the pig mama with her pink-bottomed family.
Many thanks, Inese
Derrick,
Don’t forget to eat a clove of raw garlic every day. There are something like 90 antibiotics in garlic! I swear by it. Took care of sinus infection fast.
Ginene
I forgot to mention how kind of you to allow the sow to use your brogues, for tissue to wipe her snout. 🙂
Also, sorry you are still not up to par and meant to show sympathy to Jackie on last post for the winds harsh effects on greenhouses. 🙁
Many thanks, Robin
Your drives weaves through the countryside like poetry that is paired with the most beautiful photographs. The trees are magnificent structures Derrick and did enjoy the livestock too. Hope you begin to mend and feel better before winter settles in.
Thanks, Mary. Antibiotics seem to be working
The forest scenes are magical. AND, after seeing the coats on those horses, why were the pigs so clean? ha ha ha
Thank you Crystal. 🙂