Say “Bye”

I woke later than usual this morning. As I passed our upstairs windows soon after 7 a.m. I spied Jackie standing with a camera at the far end of the garden.

She was taking advantage of the early morning light, which was just as well for the first three images in particular.

Titles, as usual, can be gleaned after accessing each of the galleries with a click. Otherwise I will let her results speak for themselves.

This afternoon she drove me to

Rhinefield Ornamental Drive, where I walked for thirty minutes along this reasonably even path.

So crowded were the car parks that we only just managed to find a space. Surrounding the car park, golden St John’s Wort glowed in the sunshine that pierced gaps between the

majestic giant redwoods

surrounded by bracken.

Now the tourist season has begun, and children have been let out of school, I do not walk alone.

Two little boys ran on ahead of their parents, pausing while a woman approached engrossed in her mobile phone. Having put it aside, she greeted me warmly.

Two gentleman I took to be the fathers of the boys called them to stop, caught up with them and turned to communicate with the likely mothers with whom I had been conversing.

The woman carrying a younger child, I think did not speak English. Nevertheless when, realising that they were pacing me and my knees, I urged them not to wait for me she held up her little boy to wave and say “bye”. Her companion had good enough English to tell me about her aunt’s hip replacement.

On my return to the car I paused to photograph a trio playing catch. Anyone who has been accustomed to catching a hard cricket ball will appreciate that it is much easier to pouch than is this yellow tennis ball.

When we set off for home string of cyclists wheeled along Rhinefield Road.

Just outside Brockenhurst a leisurely pony and foal were instructing a patient motorcyclist in the rules of the New Forest roads.

This evening we dined on Jackie’s luscious beef, mushrooms and peppers in red wine; Yorkshire pudding; crisp roast potatoes; crunchy carrots; and tender runner beans with which I finished the Grenacha Syrah. Mrs Knight had downed her Hoegaarden while seated on the patio in conversation with Nugget.

82 comments

  1. Jackie’s photos don’t need captions, they are that good! But it is nice to know what we’re looking at.
    The tourists and all seem pleasant, that helps with the local animal kingdom!!

  2. Soooo many photos to admire today! The early morning light offers some interesting shadows – but my fav (one of my favourites any way) is a peak of the iron chair through the growth in some corner or other. It looks quite inviting. I always love to see the chimney pot on the lawn too. As you know, I have a view of that framed and hanging on my wall for a couple or so years now and every so often I get a glimpse of what it looks like as Jackie works her annual magic. Fabulous stuff! And I was delighted to read you are walking for a half hour too Derrick – your knee/s must be coming along splendidly.

  3. Beautifully refreshing photos Derrick. Your walk on the forest path look gorgeous..Your article is a glorious positive start to my Monday morning.

  4. You have such wonderful places to walk. As the summer wears on, I need to search out more places with shade — such a lovely addition to our lives, thanks to the trees.

  5. What a gorgeous garden you and Jackie have–and what nice walks with friendly encounters. I liked that picture of the two little boys, the one with his one pant leg up and the other down.

  6. I marvel that Jackie has ANY time to cook and you go for walks considering all the watering and deadheading and weeding that must be done daily. So many pots!

  7. Jackie is apparently conscious of the advantages of the golden hour in photography. But the afternoon shots are no less picturesque. New Forest is chock-a-block with tourists and lingerers. Thanks for the extensive gallery.

  8. I’m glad to hear that your wife talks to the robin. That reassures me that I’m not a nutcase, or that if I am, at least I’m not alone.

      1. Yesterday evening, Jackie, hearing singing from the fence behind us while we were having a drink on the decking said, “That sounds like Nugget”. Sure enough, it was

  9. Excellent work by Jackie catching the Morning Glory in their ‘prime Time’ 😉 I have only seen the plain blue-purple ones here, the variegated ones are amazing! And the red Honeysuckle and white Hydrangea are both rarities for me also – I only have the white and gold Honeysuckle, but they are a couple of months away from blooming.

    Glad to hear the walking is becoming easier, you certainly have some visual distractions on your rambles. 🙂

  10. Jackie gives you a run for your money in the photo-taking department, Derrick! 🙂
    Love her photos AND your photos, both! 🙂

    YAY for your walking outings! Such a beautiful place to walk and encounter other walkers! Everyone can encourage each other as they keep moving forward! Kids and dogs help us to walk with gusto and excitement! 😀

    We lived among the redwoods in northern CA for many years! Such gorgeous forests of trees, moss, etc.! 🙂

    I wonder what Little Nugget had to say. ??? 😉 Like Jackie, I talk to birds,too. And every other kind of creature! Of course, also, I talk to my plants, flowers, veggie garden, and trees, etc. 🙂 (HA! I typed “pants” and had to add the L …I don’t talk to my pants very often…really, I don’t! 😀 )

    HUGS!!! 🙂

    1. When I saw Jackie’s photographs, I said “I’ll put my camera away and leave the photography to you” 🙂 Thank you very much for all this, Carolyn. X

  11. “The kiss of the sun for pardon,
    The song of the birds for mirth,–
    One is nearer God’s heart in a garden
    Than anywhere else on earth.”

  12. Beautiful flower and garden photos from Jackie in the early morning and then a cool and shady walk in the afternoon. Wonderful post, Derrick!

  13. That garden Derrick 🙂 So, so beautiful! I would love to take a walk surrounded by such a wonderful nature! And that dinner? Oh my, I’m hungry right now 🙂

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