Chances Of Making It Through Christmas

This Wednesday weather was warm, wet, yet unwilling to welcome the slightest sign of sunshine.
Jackie and I visited Lyndurst for a little Christmas shopping then enjoyed

brunch at Lyndhurst Tea Rooms, after which we took a trip by car into the dripping forest.

A clutch of chickens at East Boldre

gave the cold shoulder to

a pair of geese who were no doubt discussing their chances of making it through Christmas.

Peering through the misty precipitation from the end of Tanner’s Lane I presumed that EU regulations have not ย restricted the activities of the sole fishing boat trawling ย The Solent at that point.

On such a day as this, loggers burning branches at Norley Wood surely had no need of the flames to keep them warm.

A string of ponies blocking the road at Pilley conveniently stepped aside, just giving me time to bring up the tail.

We retuned home via Burnt House Lane, where there was no flame in sight.

Tomorrow morning, Elizabeth will be driving Mum to a respite care home in Netley. In readiness for this, friends Pauline and Jo sent Elizabeth this photograph, attached to a text with the caption

Cheering up your Mum.

On the wall to the far right of this picture is a charcoal portrait of Elizabeth watching our first television that I made about 60 years ago.
This evening we dined on smoked haddock; creamy mashed potatoes; piquant cauliflower cheese; moist ratatouille; crisp carrots; and tender runner beans. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and Elizabeth and I drank Western Cape Malbec 2018.

0 comments

  1. OOH! Geese and chickens! ๐Ÿ™‚ Maybe the chickens know the geese can be bossy and aggressive so they are not encouraging any social activities with them! ๐Ÿ˜‰ I’ve lived next door to geese…they are good watch-dogs! ๐Ÿ˜ฎ ๐Ÿ™‚
    OOH! Maybe the chickens don’t want to associate with the geese because they don’t want The Christmas Chicken to catch on! ๐Ÿ˜‰ ๐Ÿ˜€ Ha! what you said about the geese discussion made me laugh out loud! ๐Ÿ˜€
    Your beautiful Mum looks happy! I’m so glad! ๐Ÿ™‚
    Your brunch looks so delicious and filling! ๐Ÿ™‚
    That is so wonderful that your charcoal drawing is on the wall! Great artwork, Derrick, and it is sweet, too! ๐Ÿ™‚
    Gentle (((HUGS))) to all, but especially your Mum! ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. I enjoyed the trip through the dripping forest, something we wouldnโ€™t often do! You mum looks like a marvellous with it lady.

  3. Lovely photo of your mum Derrick. Hope she settles in well. As for those geese and chickens, theyโ€™d better not cross the road. ?

  4. Great picture of your Mom Derrick. I know she will be much better under full accessible care in her new home. I pray that your Mom will have a smooth transition and enjoy the new location and adjust very quickly.

  5. Another good one, Derrick – you did it again. Family, good food, friends and animals!! Ummm… I haven’t made goose in long time, I wonder……. ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. I laughed at your comments about the cold shoulder and the geese conversation. I like the photo of the lane.
    I hope all goes well with your mom. What I can see of your sketch looks excellent.

  7. Wonderful picture of your mum, Derrick. Hope she feels good in her new place.
    The days are getting darker, but you still manage to take beautiful photographs.

  8. Those wintry pictures are lovely, there’s a softness about them that summery pictures don’t have.the same appeal; well to me anyway!
    Those eggs look a bit slap happy and unappetising; and went a bit over the top with the baked beans.

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