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Here is a photograph of yesterday’s Barnet (Cockney rhyming slang – Barnet fair – hair. Geddit?)
This morning Jackie drove me to New Hall Hospital for a physiotherapy session with the excellent Claire who expressed surprise and pleasure at my progress. After she had strong-armed my leg she had taken the straightened knee to just one degree short of perfect, and the bent position to 105 degrees, already acceptable, but aiming for the 120 target.
There had been a nasty motoring accident on the Salisbury road, causing major delays and lateness for my appointment. We therefore took a diversion on our way home. Once we noticed that the signposts in all the tiny villages we wound our way through were pointing to Shaftesbury we realised that something was awry.
Never mind, on the road to Nunton we passed the patterned fields of Longford Farms Ltd,
and the neighbouring rolling landscape.
On the corner of Whitlock rise and the road through Bishopstone, climbing up to the bungalows above, Jackie spotted a sight to behold. She turned the car round and parked in the street beside a garden. I just had to disembark with my camera. At that moment a friendly woman with a small dog carrying out guard duties also left another car. She was the creator of what had attracted us.
She was thrilled that I wanted to photograph this Garden of Delights. She said most people simply take a shot in passing, whilst waving at the figures on the bench, imagining them to be living humans. She asked me to be sure to feature the boy on the donkey. A neighbour had given her the doll to complete the look. The wheels turn in the wind, and at Christmastime the lights are all lit. Local children love it. Having given me the information she entered her house saying she would “leave [me] to it”.
We struck lucky with The Talbot Inn in Berwick St John where we lunched. My pork Madras curry was the best I have ever tasted in a pub, and Jackie found her Italian chicken with spaghetti equally to her liking. She drank Diet Coke and I drank Ringwood’s Best.
Soon after this we found the A30 to Salisbury and set off home. At Fovant we found a good view of the remaining Badges,
which are explained in this plaque. This final image will need the double enlargement to read the detail.
This evening I watched the football World Cup semi-final match between France and Belgium. Following the lunch we enjoyed earlier, we had no further need for sustenance.
P.S. For a short video of the badges see the comment of efge63 below.
Can’t believe I am the first derrick. Great ride today, always love the countryside photographs. But today was special with all the neat Garden of Delights! Great to read how well your recovery is going.
Thanks very much, Mary. Congratulations on being the first 🙂
I’m glad your recovery is going so well. Funny t-shirt.
The garden of delights is–interesting. 🙂 I think the dolls on the bench are creepy.
Thank you for including the explanation for the patches. I didn’t understand what they were until I read it.
Many thanks, Merril. The dolls are rather creepy, but I can see why people in passing cars would think they were real. The title is a bit tongue in cheek. I think patches should be badges – WP autocorrect?
Yes, I meant badges. My mistake. I can’t blame it on autocorrect. 🙂
🙂
High as a kite here …. allez les bleus!!!! It’s always distressing to read that there has been a nasty road accident. I hope there were no fatalities and injuries only to the vehicles. But what a find in both the entrancingly eccentric garden and the pub grub extraordinaire. I also must say that your hair looks extremely chic and that t-shirt is a corker (or is it a caw-Ker in honor of the carrion crow?)
Thanks, Osyth, for your usual thorough reading and commenting. This is the position I hope to be in on Sunday: https://derrickjknight.com/2012/06/12/i-could-not-lose/
Thank you for linking me to that – I loved it, of course 😊
🙂
What a lovely road trip…the Garden of Delight looks like a magical place. That’s a great photo of you!
Thanks very much, Jill
Amazing.
Interestingly, the lion in one of the photos reminds me on one I bought in Eastern Turkey a while back.
Thanks very much, Rabirius
The windmill thingamajigs are really clever. It looks like she made them out of recycled stuff – water or juice bottles, old hard plastic balls? Its kind of a gewgaw garden, eh? You like quite dashing with your new haircut. Carrion t-shirt most appropriate given the crow that likes to hang around Jackie. Are they plotting something?
A nice set of comments, Susanne. There was a lot of re-cycling stuff going on – bikes and all. The T-shirt was a gift from Becky and Ian. Thanks very much
I think I’m still a child at heart, I absolutely loved all of your photos of “The Garden Delights”, so beautifully creative .
Thanks very much, Ivor. It must appeal to the plumber 🙂
Nice photo of you and the garden.
Thanks very much, Byung
You’re a modest little chappie; aren’t you?
So pleased you appreciate that, Brian. Many thanks
I’m soooo late visiting today! Amazing garden of whimsy! The badges are interesting I had not known of them before. So happy to hear all the good news re the body – but don’t sign up for a marathon just yet …… xo
Thanks very much, Pauline. I was a bit late in posting 🙂
Oh how I love it when people re-purpose junk into art! Now, I have some ideas for the old bicycles in the backyard. Congratulations on the progress in physiotherapy!
Thanks very much, JoAnna
I am so glad about the progress of your knee. The Garden of Delights is surely a delightful place to be and you have certainly utilised the moments you were there. Jackie has a sharp eye for the wondrous and unique.
Thanks very much, Uma. You are right. Jackie often spots my subjects – and she is driving 🙂
Good to hear you recovery is proceeding well. Thanks for the haircut shot, and I love the t-shirt! I’m not sure about the Garden of Delights. It’s quirky and fun but I wonder if ALL of the neighbours love it? Must take a battering in the storms. Anyway it’s nice to see familiar objects being recycled and re-purposed.
The badges display is special. My eye immediately fell on the Rising Sun, so it was interesting to read the placard and understand the background. I notice they left Tasmania off the map of Australia 🙂
Thanks a lot, Gwen. The title, rather tongue in
cheek came from https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-garden-of-earthly-
delights-triptych/02388242-6d6a-4e9e-a992-e1311eab3609 by Heironymus Bosch who inspires, in me, similar ambivalence. That was a good spot about Tasmania.
I’ve been away for a bit, and it is good to see you and Jackie again, and I love your t-shirt! Glad to hear your physiotherapy is coming along nicely.
The badges are interesting.
Thanks very much, Lavinia. I trust you are OK
All is well here. Life is moving far too quickly these days, though. 🙂
And it seems to get quicker as the years go by 🙂
I took some time to go to harp guitar retreat amid all the work here. I got way behind, but am so glad I took the time to go. For a few days, I forgot about almost everything but music. Rick took good care of the cats (all nine) for me, although it wore him out. 🙂
How apt – to have 9 cats
Good morning!!!!! I share a video with you as i search to learn what is Fovant Badges
I also enjoy the garden !!
Thank you for sharing all these beauties!! Kisses to Jackie!!!
What a splendid supplement to the post, Efi. I am alerting readers with a postscript. Thank you so much.
Nice adventure after your hospital visit. Those are such lovely garden features.
OH! Garden of Delights…what whimsical and fun creations! I would definitely want to stop and look and chat with the creator! 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful day! And glad your PT session went well!
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn
I love people who do have gardens like that. Modern life is in grave need of eccentrics before social media turn us all into obedient little ants.
🙂 Thanks v very much, John
I think I would have been frightened of all the plastic faces, but wouldn’t be able to resist checking out the garden either.
You must be proud about how well your knee is progressing
Many thanks, Pleasant. I am pleased about the knee, but it is not so good today. Strenuous physiotherapy, walking without a crutch, giving up pain relief, all suggest I should take it easy today.
Our bodies do tell us when to take a break
🙂
That is a delightful, lovely garden. Thank you for sharing, Derrick! 🙂
Thanks very much, Amy. It’s fascinating how varied responses are 🙂
now that was fun… thanks for the smile today xx
And thanks to you, Dymoon X
Sounds like things are going well derrick! Looks like a gorgeous day for taking pictures and very interesting things to look at!
It was a good day for pics, Lynn. Thanks very much
The Garden of Delight is fascinating, if a little creepy. Imagine them all coming to life at night, the way the toys do in “Toy Story.” No reports of weird activity in that area? 😉 Glad the knee is progressing so well. Onward, ho!
Thanks a lot, Laurie. I was fascinated by the range of responses to this one
One person’s creepy is another person’s charming? Somehow, old dolls frequently creep me out. 😉
Me, too, especially realistic babies
They are the worst! Just thinking about them gives me the creeps.
great shirt and what a magical little garden you found too, great for new images 🙂
Thanks very much, Kim
You are looking well and glad your recovery is coming along nicely.
Love the plaque about “Wasps can bugger off”….. too true.
x
Thanks very much, Melanie. I liked that, too
‘Keep Calm and Carrion’, eh? 😀 … that Garden is spectacular, as are the badges on the hill.
Many thanks, Widders
You’re looking good Mr Knight! So pleased to see and read how well your recovery is going 👏👏
Love the landscapes and what a very different garden you found!
Very many thanks, Rob
We saw the Fovant Badges years ago when we were on holiday down that way and spent time looking at various chalk carvings. For some reason the kids were more impressed by the Cerne Abbas Giant.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerne_Abbas_Giant
Many thanks, Quercus. It must have been the length of his cudgel.
I never thought of that…
Fantastic pictures Derrick, and more so to see the Australian Rising Sun Badge in one of your pictures, must be a story in there somewhere mate.
Cheers.
I’m sure there is, Ian. I double checked the plaque. Dated 1917 but no explanation as to why they were there. Cheers