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This afternoon Jackie and I transported to Oakhaven Hospice Charity Shop in New Milton several boxes of kitchen equipment rendered surplus to our requirements after the installation of the new kitchen. We then ordered a quotation for recovering our Chesterfield sofa from Jem Fabrics.
A drive to Hatchet Pond was next.
I have noticed that when families are cycling in the area it is always the youngest member who speeds on ahead. So it is with cygnets. Here, under a sky the colours and texture of a soiled lawyer’s wig, one of this year’s offspring led its parents along the surface of the lake.
On shore, it flexed its muscles
and told the gulls where to go.
A coot paddling among the surf,
and several mallards stepping out on the bank made up the avian population.
Angling families tried their luck.
A wandering pony searched for fresh grass,
while a patient donkey, at the head of the queue,
waited for its friend, the kindly vendor, viewed in his wing mirror,
to hand over the last of his own ice cream.
This evening we enjoyed second helpings of Mr Chan’s Chinese Take Away fare. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and Elizabeth and I drank Calvet’s Cahors Malbec 2016.
That donkey! So gorgeous! That patient trusting look reminds me of Siddy when I have a snack…… That is a wonderful series of photos Derrick and the header is superb! Mind you the cygnet is a bit of a hoot and the coot rather cool too. I don’t think we have them here (coots).
Thanks very much, Paulin. So pleased you liked it
Wonderful post, Derrick! I like all of the photos, but that donkey face is just adorable. He would be hard to resist.
And great line: “under a sky the colours and texture of a soiled lawyer’s wig,” That made me laugh. Of course, lawyers here don’t wear wigs–at least not officially. 😉
Thanks very much, Merril. A bit of adoration and a laugh – that’s good
🙂
What a lovely post, Derrick. I particularly enjoyed the coot, the cygnet and the donkey with its icecream.
Very many thanks, Val
That all made me laugh out loud–good post! 🙂
That’s good, Cynthia. Thanks very much
Who doesn’t love an ice cream, eh?
Well, we certainly joined the queue 🙂 Thanks very much, Helen
Good to hear you enjoyed your ice cream, too, Derrick!
🙂
Oh my gosh! I want that donkey! Do think it’s okay to feed them ice cream? I hope it’s not bad for them. Great photos, Derrick!
Thanks a lot, Jill. According to the young man his asinine friend keeps coming back for more and looks none the worse for it
AW! and HA! on the donkey getting some ice cream! That made my day! 😀 He did wait very patiently! 🙂
Did you get some ice cream, too? What kind?!
I love seeing all of the birds! I think coots are cute! 🙂
I wonder WHERE the cygnet told the gulls to go?! Ha! 😀
HUGS!!! 🙂
Very many thanks, Carolyn. We did have ice cream. Both vanilla – Jackie’s with a flake. Wherever the cygnet directed them, they didn’t go 🙂
Ha, those rebellious, uncooperative, disobedient gulls! 😀
The donkey and the ice cream cone is my FAVORITE!!!
Thanks very much, Gael. A great photo opportunity 🙂
A donkey that eats ice cream. Not I have seen it all
Thanks a lot, Drew
You’ve made my morning a smiley one Derrick, with all your Avian photos, and then especially the little donkey getting his ice-cream, gorgeous.
Thanks very much, Ivor 🙂
animals have the power to produce a lot of love. Lovely photos, thank you Derrick 🙂
Thank you very much, Sylvie
😊
That is one handsome donkey. Thanks for sharing all these lovely animals. What fun!
Thanks very much, JoAnna
As I read your posts I always have things in my head that I what to comment on. Then you throw a pic of a donkey and his icecream. Fantastic. Absolutely. I love it.
Thanks very much, Paol 🙂
That ice cream man must be the ultimate Mr Softee!
Nice one, John. Many thanks
How very nice of the vendor! It is as sweet as those stories by Enid Blyton I got hooked to as a young boy.
He was a gentle soul. Many thanks, Uma
Cute little donkey.
Thanks very much, Flower
I know this is repetitive, but what a wonderful post! That donkey’s bright expression made me smile, and so did your description of the vendor. A dirty lawyer’s wig? Not at all common here. 😉 Then there was the cygnet, who was clearly telling those gulls where to go.
I love your repetition, Laurie 🙂 Thanks very much
Amazing photos! I love the donkey and the ice cream and the birds. The feet on those birds are huge!!
Thanks very much, Lynn. Their feet are better for paddling than for walking
yes! The donkey photo was priceless!
🙂
I loved the donkey photos and certainly was pleased of his reward of a cone and ice cream in the bottom. 🍦
Thanks very much, Robin. You spotted that he didn’t get too much of the cream
Yes, I’m not sure why but I did focus on that miniscule fact! Who knows why I try to find evidence in the details of Life? 🙂
🙂
🙂
Too cute way to start off my day!
🙂 Thanks very much, mliae
🙂
The donkey is so cute.
Thanks very much, Rupali
Methinks that donkey knew a soft-touch when it saw one! 🙂
You are right, Widders. Thanks very much
I want that donkey 😀
🙂 Thanks a lot, Brian
Why thank me? I’ll thank you when I get said donkey in the mail 😛 Airmail I trust as Coco is quite excited 😀
Cos you bothered to read it and comment. So sorry to disappoint Coco – Australian quarantine rules
😈
Your phrase “…sky the colours and texture of a soiled lawyer’s wig” is a great description of your weather that day, Derrick!
The donkey eating the ice cream cone is a priceless photo. Such a patient fellow. 🙂
Very many thanks, Lavinia. I am pleased at your appreciation of the wig phrase 🙂
“…a sky the colours and texture of a soiled lawyer’s wig…” – love it! Definitely, a place where the sun doesn’t shine! 🙂
Glad you liked that, Rob. Thanks very much