A Rorschach Test

CLICK ON ANY IMAGE IN A GROUP TO ACCESS ITS GALLERY, INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF WHICH CAN BE VIEWED FULL SIZE BY SCROLLING DOWN AND CHECKING BOX AT BOTTOM RIGHT. SINGLE IMAGES CAN BE ENLARGED WITH A CLICK THAT MAY BE REPEATED

Our trip to the forest was somewhat delayed this afternoon;

our passage from our front drive was blocked by the rear section of a container lorry.

Close inspection revealed that this vehicle’s path was blocked by what appeared to be an injured cyclist being supported on the road.

In each direction along Christchurch Road traffic was being turned away by police. I ensured my photographs were anonymous, and thought it would seem unseemly to ask what had happened. Given that the invalid was talking and it was an hour and a half before an ambulance arrived, I can only assume that this was not the direst of emergencies.

Jackie and I were eventually able to depart as  police officer, who informed us that the man  now being helped into the ambulance had “taken a tumble off his bike”, raised the barrier for Jackie to drive on in the direction of Lymington. On the outskirts of that town another screaming ambulance, blue lights flashing, heralded one more lengthy tailback necessitating us and many others turning back the way we had come. We took the road down to the harbour.  Eventually we reached Undershore and escaped to comparatively quiet Pilley.

Near Norley Wood the usual variety of miniature ponies grazed in the light of the late afternoon sun.

Against the backdrop of Beaulieu Abbey and its grounds, a solitary cygnet was surrounded by energetic mallards competing for food in the lake’s shallows. The deeper water was frequented by gliding gulls and sedately sailing swans.

Later we enjoyed a blazing sunset over Hatchet Pond. One gentleman photographing an expectant swan and her cygnet had first lured them with enticing comestibles. As he departed, his models floated off to present their own Rorschach tests.

On our return home we joined Elizabeth in the Royal Oak where we dined. After a pint of Razor Back, with the meal I drank a glass of Merlot. The ladies drank Amstell. My meal was a mixed grill; Elizabeth chose venison sausages, mashed potatoes and perfect vegetables; Jackie savoured gammon steak, chips and salad. The food was as good as ever under the current management.

0 comments

  3. You had a bit of excitement. I’m glad that the accident didn’t seem too serious.
    Beautiful photos. I particularly like the series of swan and duck photos.

    Reply

  5. OH! 🙁 I hope the bicyclist is okay!
    Love your sunset, duck, and swan photos! Some of your very best, Derrick! And your photo of a photographer taking a photo is cool! 🙂 Your last photo…swan reflection photo is stunning! 🙂
    Dinner sounds delicious! You need to keep current management happy! 😉
    We will have roasted chicken tonight with a salad I will whip up…probably a salad with mixed greens, kale, spinach, carrots, purple cabbage, etc. 🙂
    HUGS!!! to you, Jackie, Elizabeth, and your Mum!!! 🙂
    PS…In college we studied The Rorschach test/inkblots and I thought all of them looked liked either a human being’s innards or insects/bats. Ha. The professor found that funny. 😀

    Reply

  6. Some days it seems like you should just stay home! But, as your persistence ended with those stunning sunset photos and the perfect swan shot – it is good you carried on despite the obstacles!

    Reply

  14. The minor hiccup with the cyclist too has melded with the tranquility of the swans on the lake. I had to go knocking the portals of Google to enlighten me on the Rorschach Test.

    Reply

    1. Our lanes are so narrow and winding, with most speed limits at 40 mph it seems to me to be madness – and our particular road is wider than most. Thanks very much, Andrew

      Reply

  17. Beautiful, atmospheric photos, Derrick. Glad the day worked out well after the initial problems. Hopefully the cyclist was okay.

    Reply

  19. Glad you guys went from a hectic situation to one of peace and serenity on the rest of your drive. Wait until you read my cycling adventure yesterday. that I wrote a post on this AM. Luckily no ambulances for me were needed!

    Reply

  20. An hour and a half! When I took a tumble on the footpath my ambulance came within minutes, it seems. Maybe it was passing by 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply