Jackie rose early this morning and sat in a chair on the patio with a cup of instant coffee.
In an instant Nugget was on a paving stone peering hopefully up at the rim of the cup.
Now, “Where’s Nugget?” (16).
Today’s weather was blustery and damp. The Test Match was delayed until after lunch. I spent the afternoon listening to the BBC Sport broadcast and scanning the first batch of a set of prints from negatives I have lost from a holiday with friends in August 2000. This was at the home of Sarah and Howard at Bembridge. Although we live so near the Isle of Wight this was the last time I visited it.
Jessica and Heidi towed Emily and Oliver in our dinghy;
Howard wandered
along the shore
and helped Jessica into their small yacht,
while Michael took over dinghy duties.
The skies had brightened a bit by the end of the afternoon when we visited Otter Nurseries to buy two more bags of compost and somehow came away with four more phlox plants and another bag of tulip bulbs. We continued on for a short forest drive.
Many of the verges, like these along Sandy Down, are already carpeted with cyclamen.
This gnarled fungus has more right to be there than
this shiny drink can.
Moody skies glowered over Sway Tower.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s spicy chicken jalfrezi and boiled rice, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank El Zumbido Garnacha Syrah 2017.
Those scans came out really well!
Thanks very much, Stuart
When I see your photos, I travel places! Every one of them is singularly superb. The last shot with the glowering sky is simply captivating!
Many thanks, Sofia
I was very taken with that one as well.
Thank you both again
Oh you are getting clever Nugget I said when I saw what he had done 🙂 That looks like another fine family holiday too – so fortuitous you found the photos.
Thanks very much, Pauline. The prints are all in albums. It is the negatives I can’t find – I would obviously rather work from them.
Did you pick up the drink can or leave it there for the Council?
I left it. I tried a bit of Wombling a few years back. I would be at it all the time. There were more along that verge. Litter pickers are employed periodically. Thanks very much, Andrew.
My husband has periods of time when he goes out with a trash bag like a vigilante and he rids the neighborhood of the rude people’s debris. After a while he gets discouraged and he stops. Until it gets him so mad that he goes back at it.
After my own heart
Yes – mine too! : )
What a great outing. Say hi to Nugget.
Many thanks, Peggy. Will do
Glad to say I spotted Nugget amongst your great photographs.
We get drivers here on our lane throwing cans out of the window as they drive past. The village employs someone to collect litter and tidy the footpaths, he comes along each week
Thanks very much, Sue. Our litter pickers are not so frequent as that
I adored your heading/feature photo Derrick, family serenity personified……
Thank you very much, Ivor
Beautiful first photo – are there bleeding hearts in the mix?
I found The Nugster, but only because there was a bit of a red petal that took my eye there.
Has anyone ever had such an instance of a bird adopting a household like this? In all my years of birdloving, I have never heard of such a thing. Very cool.
Jessica is braver than I. That boat would never see the back of my ass.
🙂 Thanks very much, Jodie. I don’t think there are any bleeding hearts in that photo, but we do have some in other places. Our robins are known as ‘the gardener’s friend’ – thi one was still a baby when he attached himself, so he may be more friendly than most. Jessica was always up for anything.
Well, I love both Nugget’s and Jessica’s spirit.
It s very hard to visit a garden centre and not come away with unexpected plants.
Impossible for some 🙂 Many thanks, Tootlepedal
In Guyana, it always seemed to rain on the first day of a cricket Test Match.
🙂 Thanks very much, Rosaliene
The idea of cyclamens along the verges is so attractive. they are lovely plants–and your garden remains lovely as well.
Thank you very much, Lisa
That little Nugget just looks so proud of himself, doesn’t he? Great weather for the beach…beautiful photos.
Thank you very much, Jill
What a bird–domesticated and pretty! I enjoy your old photos, as well.
Thank you very much, Cynthia
Has Nugget started asking for morning coffee now? 🙂 The cyclamens are beautiful, too!
It seems he has, Lavinia. Thanks very much.
The photos from 2000 with Michael must bring back some very pleasant memories of that time with him. I know you are still feeling that loss, Derrick.
Thank you very much, Lavinia.
What beautiful days and wonderful memories captured in your photos, Derrick! 🙂
So good to see Michael in some of these photos. I think of him. And I think of you and Jackie and your whole family as I know each of you miss him so very very very much.
AW! Nugget you are being so clever today! But, I see you!!! 😉 😀
That first photo is stunning! I especially love the fuchsias! 🙂
HUGS!!! and TWEETS!!! 😛
Thanks very much, Carolyn. The first photo is, of course, Jackie’s. There are more prints of that holiday. X
It is so sad to see those images of litter amongst so many images of beauty.
Indeed, Paol. Many thanks
Your posts help uplift me.
That is much appreciated, Sherry. Thank you
Aha! Found him and his little rump sticking out from under the green plant. I thought cyclamen grew in grocery stores or the tropics. You do live in a wondrous climate.
We do, indeed, Sue. Many thanks
A social visit to check out what has been going on in your world Derrick, seems you are still enjoying life to the fullest, you have little Nugget well domesticated I see, he observes your every move. Enjoy seeing your Cyclamens, a beautiful flower that certainly brightens up the verges, a lovely relaxing post my friend.
Cheers, Ian. I hope you are well
Couldn’t find Nugget. Darn! But I nearly swooned with delight when I saw the cyclamens on the verge. I can only imagine how it would have been if I had seen them in person. I probably would have needed smelling salts. 😉 Our climate is too harsh for those beauties to grow by the side of the road. Sigh.
Thank you very much, Laurie. Better luck with Nugget today
So awful that people discard their cans in nature.
On a more positive note, Nugget was well camouflaged against the slate but I found him.
Well spotted, Helen. Many thanks
A great little outing, ☺
Thanks very much, More
You’re welcome
Beautiful.
Many thanks, Leslie
Gorgeous shots … the lad is, of course, playing peek-a-boo since he wasn’t getting any coffee … can you imagine him all caffeinated!!! 😀
Scary, Widders 🙂 Many thanks
Nugget is a cutie.
At least you have the prints. So not all was lost.
Thanks a lot, Drew. True
I really like the picture with the sailboat the extends beyond the frame of the picture.
I’m pleased you spotted that, Liz. Thanks very much
🙂