The Head Of The Queue

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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.

Swans and cygnet

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.

Cygnet flappingCygnet flapping

On shore, it flexed its muscles

Cygnet and gulls

and told the gulls where to go.

Coot

Coot

A coot paddling among the surf,

Mallards

Β 

and several mallards stepping out on the bank made up the avian population.

Fishing at Hatchet PondFishing at Hatchet Pond

Angling families tried their luck.

Pony

A wandering pony searched for fresh grass,

DonkeyDonkey

while a patient donkey, at the head of the queue,

Donkey and ice cream vendorDonkey and ice cream vendor

waited for its friend, the kindly vendor, viewed in his wing mirror,

Donkey and ice cream vendor

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.

64 comments

  1. 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).

  2. 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. πŸ˜‰

  3. AW! and HA! on the donkey getting some ice cream! That made my day! πŸ˜€ He did wait very patiently! πŸ™‚

    Did you get some ice cream, too? What kind?!

    I love seeing all of the birds! I think coots are cute! πŸ™‚

    I wonder WHERE the cygnet told the gulls to go?! Ha! πŸ˜€
    HUGS!!! πŸ™‚

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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. πŸ˜‰ Then there was the cygnet, who was clearly telling those gulls where to go.

  7. 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. πŸ™‚

  8. “…a sky the colours and texture of a soiled lawyer’s wig…” – love it! Definitely, a place where the sun doesn’t shine! πŸ™‚

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