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Yesterday evening we dined with Helen, Bill, Shelly, and Ron at Tyrell’s Ford Country Inn and Hotel at Avon, near Christchurch. As the only group in the dining we enjoyed the attentions of a friendly waitress. My choice of meal was liver and bacon, mashed potato, carrots. swede, sugar snaps, green beans, and broccoli. My dessert was Dutch apple crumble and custard. Three of us shared a bottle of red, and three, white, wine.
Storm Doris, having vented all night, eased up enough for me to take a chance on keeping my lunch appointment at La Barca in Lower Marsh. To this end Jackie drove me to New Milton where the London Train arrived on time.
These gentlemen viewed from the waiting room awaiting their transport were no more disappointed than I was.
Soon after departure a tree was reported across the track outside Eastleigh. This afforded me the opportunity closely to examine the pastel shades of a line side block of flats.
After a while we were under way again, the train was only 35 minutes late, and I arrived at the restaurant before Norman had taken off his coat. We both chose artichoke soup for starters; my main course was swordfish steak in a piquant sauce served with sautéed potatoes, sugar snaps, green beans, and broccoli. We shared a bottle of the house Valpolicella. I needed no more sustenance in the evening.
The return journey was rather longer than the outward one. In addition to another tree on the track, there was a 50 m.p.h. speed limit ‘for health and safety reasons’.
Groups of assorted travellers stood on Waterloo Station, eyes glued to the departures board where they could read about delays and cancellations.
There had been many unfortunate travellers without seats on the outward journey. There were fewer of those on the way home, but they were even more discomforted when the food trolley or other passengers need to pass.
Once again I was able to study the trackside. There was graffiti between Waterloo and Vauxhall;
trees waving with the wind,
and an embankment somewhere near Basingstoke.
Jackie had been expecting to meet me at New Milton. This was not to be, because the railway company decided to decant passengers for intermediate stations at Brockenhurst, and send the train non-stop to Bournemouth. She therefore set off for the latter station. As I walked out into the car park I could see a very long traffic queue stretching a long way back in the direction from which I expected her to arrive. I decided to walk to the end of it in an effort to save her getting stuck in it. When I got there I phoned Jackie to let her know where I was. She was approaching from the opposite direction from which there was no tailback. This meant I had to walk on further in an effort to find a place where she could stop.
Sunset was now on its way. Thank goodness for mobile phones.
We chased the sunset to Milford on Sea,
where the spirited waves rushed towards the shingle.
I spent a very short time leaning into the wind. This family group who had come to watch the sea stayed out of their people carrier for an even shorter period.
Without Doris, I would not have enjoyed such line-side views, nor such moody sunsets. As they say, it’s an ill wind (that does nobody any good).
Despite your travel troubles, you certainly know how to dine well!!
Thanks, GP. Worth the journey 🙂
It sure sounded as though it was!
I love trains, and train stations. A long day but great sky vistas
Thanks a lot, Pleasant.
Railway stations!
the best
I wonder if anyone thought you were a tourist with your camera always at the ready. 🙂 Nice sunset and silhouette.
Thanks a lot, Mary. I hoped they might think I was a news reporter.
There used to be a phrase I heard in my youth ‘That was a Doris of a day’ which meant there had been a lot of double backing and round and rounding going on. I don’t know who Doris was, or why she was chosen. 🙂
That’s funny. I am glad no one says that about me. “That was a Jodie of a day.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MnUrhptPSo&w=560&h=315%5D Thanks, Pauline. I do hope you can get this in NZ
I put the code into you tube and 10 videos came up – what is the name /title I am looking for?
I Just Blew in From the Windy City. Doris Day
Ha-ha! 🙂
I read Storm Doris left some destruction along her way. Glad you survived the storm to take some wonderful sunset photos. Thanks Derrick for sharing your day with us. 🙂
Many thanks, Terry.
What a day you had, Derrick. How thoughtful of you to try and save Jackie the headaches of sitting in a traffic jam. As my father says, “You’re a good egg.” 🙂 Oh my, the sunset photos are amazing!
Very many thanks, Jill
I have often thought – ” what did we do before cell phones?” regarding the picking up of people. – We used to say “I will pick you up HERE at THIS TIME.” and if things went awry, there was really no way to communicate the issue. I do admire your effort to meet your Jackie. Good egg, indeed.
Thanks a lot, Jodie.
You made the best of an ill wind. Well done. And artichoke soup sound delicious!
Many thanks, Leslie. It was.
What a day! at least you got those sea photos at the end of it. They rival Winslow Homer waves…
Thanks very much, Lisa.
That bloke in the last picture at Waterloo, seems to be looking down menacingly at some bloke taking his photograph.
Love the sunsets,you seem to have greater variation in your sunsets, than we have in ours.
That bloke using the laptop in the last picture would have got a kind word from me. “Pull your bloody legs in !” Selfish twit! 👿
Naturally I meant the last picture from the train set. XD
Well spotted. I missed that until your comment. And I see another comment has pushed your railway buttons 🙂
I took a chance with those Waterloo pictures. No-one objected. It’s the designers of these trains that need seeing too. They are built for Mrs Average. Thanks, Brian
…and we are anything but average; are we not?
Quite. 🙂
Those are lively pictures of wind-struck folks and wind-swept views. It was as if I lingered with you all day long. It did some good to me too. I noticed food had a precedence today.
Thanks very much, Uma.
Really you’re a nature catcher. Superb scenes.
Thanks very much, Harbans
My pleasure sir. :))
Love the family with sunset. You are so busy!-and enjoy such great food. Do the British eat that many veggies all the time? Delish! I can only WISH I ate so well over here. (Excuse me while I make eggs an ham for d inner tonight–the cook is out of town on business…I do get hungry for nice dinners when he’s gone.)
Many thanks, Cynthia. When you have such a range of veg in a restaurant, you get just a little of each. Normally at home you’d have 2 or 3 including potatoes
You may still have me beat. Must get to it!
🙂
What a well fed traveler and adventurer you are! Such a positive soul you are with a treasure trove of photos. I’m glad you thought of your faithful readers and didn’t come up empty handed from your trip. ?
Thanks very much, Rose.
Argh, you got me early in the piece with the “l” word.
Me too. Hubbie only gets to have it when I am away, or we are eating out.
🙂
That’s offal, Yvonne
You’re dead right, mate. ?
🙂
I think offal is awful
Innit?
Those hopeful passengers at Waterloo station seem as if they are looking skywards in anticipation of the second coming of Christ. Might be more chance of that than their train running on time in a storm.
True, Gwen. Thank you.
Sounds like it was an exciting day. I love the pictures at the end. They are so beautiful.
Very many thanks, Geetha. We were only just in time for those.
Most welcome Derrick
You’ve been busy reading 🙂
Yes, I had been at the hospital for a while so had very limited access to internet. It was nice to catch up with your posts 🙂
Thank you. I trust you are OK?
Yes I am thank you 🙂
Glad to meet you as a nominee of my blog “Travelling around the world” Award. Good job!
Thank you, Ester
You re welcome ?
Beautiful pictures. Worth the ill wind.
Many thanks, Laurie
Wow what a day derrick! Love the photos
Thanks a lot, Lynn
Thank you, Doris and Derrick, for this beautiful moody sunset.
Have an awesome weekend!
Mo-hugs <3
Love these photos especially the ones that show movement aka Storm Doris. I was at Netley and you could have surfed on those waves.
Many thanks, Sol
Artichoke soup is my favourite – made from Jerusalem artichokes and not globe artichokes! I have a forest of Jerusalem artichokes growing here awaiting the depths of winter!
Thanks, Bruce. Enjoy your soups.
Your meals sounds lovely. I agree artichoke soup sounds wonderful.
It seemed very unexpected that the train suddenly stopped at a different station. I expect it was very inconvenient for many people.
The sunsets are glorious.
Thank you, Merril. I was lucky. Anyone else wishing to go to New Milton had an hour to wait for the next train. The platforms were full.
Wow–you were lucky!
Beautiful sunset. The water at dusk is always attractive.
Thanks a lot, Steve
I traveled back and will comment on a few errant posts missed, Derrick.
The passengers waiting were very interesting. I see less casual wear in your group photos. Being a work day, I do understand weekends may be different situation.
Cell phones are so valuable and I don’t know how we lived without them! 🙂
I really liked the beautiful sunset skies over the water in your photos!
Thanks a lot, Robin. I would be an exception, actually voluntarily risking the trains on that day, so many of those who did needed to for work.
Hi Derrick, I just found your blog, I’m really enjoying it.. I explored that area for the first time last autumn, what a lovely part of the country. I wander and write on east London if you’re interested in such things!?
Thanks, Dan. I’m certainly interested. I have covered much of London in my posts, especially with my ‘Streets of London’ series. I am gradually working my way through almost 1000 colour slides. Thanks for your comments.
Beatifual sunset
Thanks very much, msw