He Doffed His Cap

This cloudless, sunny, day remained quite cool (13c tops). We took a drive into the forest this afternoon.

Holmesley Passage benefited from the sunlight streaming through the trees. The two vehicles in these pictures demonstrate how narrow is this lane.

Each of the above motors is approaching one of the two fords that cross the passage.

The woodland scenes that border the lane include a number of fallen tress making their contribution to the local ecology.

As we reached the lowest point of this passage across the moors, a pair of hopeful ponies thudded across the turf.

The splendid oak tree on the descent into Burley towards the Queen’s Head is coming into leaf

Today, hungry donkeys seemed to outnumber the ponies at North Gorley, where a 2017 finisher took his eager dog for a run.

While photographing horses in the landscape rising to Gorley Common, I noticed

a horse and trap approaching. After I had taken the last shot the friendly driver doffed his cap.

This stream with its reflections was one of many we passed.

Jackie’s meals are all very good. Occasionally, as with tonight’s delicious chicken jalfrezi, she excels herself and produces something that would make any self-respecting chef from the Indian sub-continent sit up and take notice. Her savoury rice was equally praiseworthy and was accompanied by vegetable samosas and a paratha. The Culinary Queen drank more of the Sauvignon Blanc and I drank more of the Carménere.

65 comments

  1. Spring is certainly busting out all over! And I especially like seeing the people using the horse and buggy (as we call it). It adds character to the countryside!

  2. Hard to imagine Jackie excelling her already splendid meals – shows life in that spanking new kitchen is going very well! Loved seeing the happy children in the cart – such a good life!

    1. I liked that photo, as well. That would be a GREAT jigsaw puzzle; just think how hard the parts with the sky & tree would be! It just occurred to me – I wonder if jigsaw puzzle is named because it looks like it was cut with a jigsaw? I never thought about the name before.

  3. Wonderful as always. I wish you and Jackie ran a bed and breakfast (or bread and dinner). I’d reserve a room with a garden view and sip wine while dining on one of Jackie’s excellent meals. Maybe you could teach a class on photography and Jackie could teach one on gardening. You’d be rich! Rich, I tell you! 😊

  4. Love the ponies and the donkeys – especially the brown one with the blonde hair. Derrick, what are moors? I only know them from Heathcliff and Catherine’s story, and I picture them as fields with hills. Is there a certain vegetation required? I have made a vow – I will try to make chicken jalfrezi. And soon.

    1. Uncultivated hill-land with low lying vegetation – here mostly heather and gorse. As I type Jackie is posting you a link. Do report on the jalfrezi. Thanks very much, Jodie.

    2. Moorland nowadays generally means uncultivated hill land, but includes low-lying wetlands, The soil is generally acidic, here they are the areas of the New Forest that have long gone, to build Henry the VIII ships! the vegetation is mainly Gorse and Heathers.

  5. The dappled lanes beckon the grimy soul of this city mouse. The man in the pink reminds me how I want to be as free as his border collie (or whatever breed, Jackie to correct me, please). What with the intermittent aroma and photographic glimpses of complex subcontinental dishes, I doff my cap to Jackie. She will surely send many of the better cooks out here scurrying for cover.

  6. The first time I arrived in England the temp was 13’c. My friend commented “the weather has been foul but it’s really turned on a gorgeous day for you”. “Yes,” I replied, through chattering teeth.
    Great photos as usual. Love all the vignettes of daily life in your part of the world.

  7. Oh, and what a nice hat to doff! I enjoying seeing men in hats! 🙂

    You know I love seeing the donkeys and ponies, the lanes sheltered by trees holding hands, and the reflections in water! 🙂

    OH! Your descriptions of Jackie’s wonderful meals always make me hungry! I shall doff my hat to her and give a bow in her honor!
    Here’s my hat: 👒 And this is me bowing: 🙇‍♀️
    I’d curtsy, but I might not make it back up! 😮
    HUGS to both of you!!! 🙂

  8. Such splendid photos. I particularly like the ones at the top of the trees with the sun streaming through creating shadows and the sun shining on the rippling water.
    Jackie is a Culinary Queen indeed!

  9. Another glorious ramble enjoyed vicariously via your blog! Love the shots of the rippling brook. 🙂 Thanks again, Derrick.

    Jackie’s Jalfrezi has me drooling now.

    (Expecting a minimum of 17C here tonight!)

  10. It’s been a while since I’ve heard the word doff. I looked up the origins. It is middle English and is a shortening of do off. Don is do on. 🙂

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