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On another bright, cold, morning Jackie drove us out into the forest.
Catkins, like these in Royden Lane, Boldre, dangle from their trees.
In one paddock the livestock was conveniently labelled.
On the outskirts of Brockenhurst the telephone box was reflected in the icy pool. Long shadows were cast across the surface, which glinted in the sun. Ponies’ hoofprints remained stiffened by the overnight freeze, as, fortunately, was a heap of their droppings onto which I backed in my efforts to obtain the right angle for one of these photographs.
In the High Street two women were deep in conversation on the bench opposite Tesco’s. This continued throughout the period during which I sat in the car whilst Jackie did some shopping.
What follows may chiefly be of interest to anyone who is suffering withdrawal symptoms from the recent lack of administrative problems.
At lunchtime the postman delivered a card stating that a letter could not be delivered because insufficient postage had been paid. £1.50 was due. We could pay that on line and the missive would be delivered the next day. Or we could drive to Lymington to pay for it there and collect it. The delivery staff are, of course, not allowed to take money. Jackie drove us to Lymington. We arrived ten minutes before the next opening time. Jackie went off to park the car. I waited outside. Then I realised I had left my wallet at home, so hadn’t the required I.D. When Mrs Knight joined me we discovered she didn’t have any I.D. in her married name. She offered her passport. This was not acceptable. I asked to look at the item. It was a large format letter. Post is now charged as large or small. This one needed a stamp marked L for large. It bore a small one. We could pay now for delivery tomorrow, but the man at the bullet-proof counter could not give it to us. We paid then, and now we wait.
There was a silver lining to this cloud. I had plenty of time to contemplate the muted tones of the tower of the Church of St Thomas the Apostle.
This evening, with our Hoegaarden and madiran, we dined on starters of spring rolls and prawn toasts, followed by Jackie’s succulent sautéed peppers, leeks, and onions supporting Thai fish cakes.
You do have some unique problems, Derrick, but you take great pictures!
Many thanks, GP. I’m sure I am not alone 🙂
NO, you are not.
A lovely time to be in a lovely place. Thanks for posting, Derick.
And thank you, Roland
Oh Lord deliver us from drones – oops no, I don’t want to die yet and yes Lord I know you created them to punish us for our sins and we will always sin so we must live with it.
What a wonderful prayer, Mary. I wonder what it would look like in Chinese. Thanks very much
Oh dear, that I.D. Sigh. I opened my first bank account in the UK a few months ago. The bank could not accept my tax papers because of a missing initial in my address. Took a week and many miles to drive to get the new papers with the correct initials and spelling from the authorities.
And now I have learned a new word; catkins, Thank you, Derrick. Have a wonderful evening. Xx
Many thanks, Dina. I expect you have learned much about our bureaucracy in every walk of life
I like the Catkins. Never seen anything like that before. Have a good one Derrick
Thanks very much, Andrew
Nice pics and adventure as usual Derrick.
Many thanks, Gary
Oh thank heavens for more bureaucratic idiocies – we can’t have you getting bored with your idyllic life! 😀
🙂 🙂 Thanks very much, Pauline
Looks like a nice outing. I’ve been having lots of fun dealing with the bureaucracy of signing up for Medicare – so fun (NOT!).
Many thanks, Karen
Some days it’s just better to stay in bed… I have two distinction memories of St Thomas: a scout parade fro remembrance day one year and a memorial service for a very close friend of my parents who tragically died next to dad in the car as he drove him and his wife to the airport. Dad read a poem he’d written for him which spoke volumes for their friendship. Not a dry eye…
Many thanks, Geoff. Terrible about your parents’ friend
My favourite bit was you stepping into the poo – you should do it more often!
Had to give you something, Bruce. Many thanks.
Beautiful photos–the catkins and another magical road, the lovely water and shadows, and more. I’m glad the horse droppings were frozen. 🙂
Sorry about the administrative problems. I’m sure we will hear what the letter was–once you receive it.
The letter is a spec from Kitchen Makers. I was permitted to peer at the logo through the glass. Anne could easily have delivered it herself! Many thanks, Merril
Oh gosh…is anything ever easy these days…geesh! Don’t you wonder what those women were talking about? We need to hook you up with some sound for your camera. 🙂
Many thanks, Jill. They certainly were there for some time
That tower is pretty, but probably not worth the irritation of that letter with the insufficient postage.
Oh, I don’t know….I wouldn’t have pondered it from that standpoint otherwise. Thanks very much, Laurie. (Of course, I don’t really expect delivery today)
It’s an ill wind that blows no good. 😉
🙂
Even collecting a letter is not easy these days. I loved the pictures as always… 🙂
Thanks very much, Maniparna
Oh Derrick, I’m a real Doctor Who fanatic, and I adored your photo of the telephone box on the outskirts of Brockenhurst, looks very surreal !!
🙂 Many thanks, Ivor
I was amazed that the loose ponies appear to be shod, which I would not have expected, given they’re free range, loose ponies. As for the bureaucratic nuttiness, doesn’t it sound like a Monty Python skit?
Many thanks, Lisa. I’ve never thought that about the ponies. Their prints are everywhere. M. Python is coiled around the world
Do your admin problems never cease?! We had to pay £1.50 to collect a Christmas card we had been sent.
I love the shiny catkins and the reflections in the ice.
Many thanks, Clare. The corporate world has gone mad
Thanks for the hit, I was beginning to get the shakes … love the Tardis-beside-the-Lake 😀
Many thanks, Widders.
Those are eye-grabbing images of woods and reflections. Is that a baobab tree I see? The photographs of ladies in deep conversation have been captured cleverly. I loved the tower of the church: it seems brooding over unseemly ways the humanity has strayed.
Having googled baobab, I doubt it. It will be an oak that has grown a bit near the water. Many thanks, Uma
I love the facade of the church.
Many thanks, Arlene
Beautiful catkins. Lovely shadows and shapes on the icy pond. Your photos are a reminder that beauty can be found in every season.
Thank you very much, Nicki
I hope the delivery proves to be worth the wait, Derrick!
Thanks a lot, Sandra. It’s about the new kitchen. But it remains to be seen whether it does come today 🙂
Oh then it’s important! (Our kitchen is very nearly finished. Not something I’d like to go through too often, but definitely worth it!)
I join the ranks of the Dr. Who fans who love that photo of the red phone booth! 🙂 And it is always good to see the ponies and the photos from the drive through the forest.
I am sorry for the continual administrative problems. Your postal problems do seem like something from Monty Python. 🙂 Perhaps a book of bureaucratic mishaps is in order? It might be a best seller! 🙂
Many thanks, Lavinia. Just about anyone could write it 🙂
I love how your postal service allows you the option to pay online for mispriced mail. That’s fair customer service
🙂 They are good like that, msw. Thanks a lot
Church of St Thomas appears to be of very old heritage, must be some beautiful photographs waiting to be recorded inside Derrick, these old Churches are great on the outside, but their historical secrets lie on the inside.
I can take a hint, Ian. Watch this space. Thanks a lot
Thought you would get the hint mate, I love the outsides but want to know the secrets insides, cheers,
🙂
Love the photos and the telephone box refelction very cool! I also love the dangling plant!
£1.50 for insufficient postage?
Is this a fine for not putting enough stamps on the letter/card whatever or the actual amount to send the thing? Costs me $0.70c to mail a letter; we poor old seniors/pensioners/no hoper’s get a discount which is probably equivalent to just 50p or some small amount.
Things might be crook in Tallarook but they’re a damned sight worse in Lymington
So true, Brian. Many thanks
I had to pay for a large letter with insufficient postage once – it turned out to be an advert! I was. I confess, annoyed.
I’ll bet. Thanks a lot
🙂