On another bright but chilly morning Jackie drove me to Norleywood Road for me to walk along it and St Leonard’s Road for half an hour before she picked me up.
Three different alpacas occupied the usual field;
one wearing a rug. One or two of these may be llamas, but I don’t know the difference.
Japanese maples in the garden of Gorse Cottage sparkled with the earlier rain
which had filled the gutter
and the pool now threatening to spill over onto the road junction.
Mushrooms sprang from the verge of St Leonard’s Road.
Jackie had driven on ahead and back-tracked to tell me of cattle and calves on the road ahead. She thought it might be a bit far to walk so offered to drive me to them. I preferred to see how I got on. Eventually I spied them in the distance. They were on the move, and vanished out of sight, which encouraged me to keep going.
Around one bend they once more came into view
and rounded another.
One of the calves
seemed reluctant to follow the others.
He looked back wistfully at
his oblivious mother engrossed in guzzling griselinia.
This sawn off tree trunk must, at some time past, have fallen across the road.
On our return we drove to Lymington to buy Christmas presents.
After lunch my Chauffeuse carried me to Sears Barbers at Milford on Sea where Peter cut my hair.
This evening we joined Elizabeth to dine at Albero Italian restaurant in Brockenhurst. My choice of meal was a well filled Calzone followed by Tiramisu; Jackie’s was creamy fettuccini; Elizabeth’s a special fish dish. Both ladies enjoyed cheesecakes. Elizabeth and I shared a carafe of the house red wine served at the perfect temperature; Jackie drank Moretti. The food was very well cooked, and the service friendly and efficient.
You beautifully captured the look on that calf’s face.
I’m pleased you liked that, Sheree. Thanks very much.
To be honest, I like all of your photos Derrick
🙂
Sounds like quite a day—-cows, Christmas presents, a haircut, and a meal out..
Put like that it was quite full 🙂 Thanks very much, Laurie
The cutely inquisitive look on calf gave me a splendid reason to smile this morning Derrick…..
I’m pleased, Ivor. Many thanks.
Getting a jump on the Christmas shopping…great idea. The llama with the red coat looks quite festive. Great shots, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Jill. It is, of course, Jackie who gets ahead of Christmas. I usually leave it to the last minute. 🙂
I’m like Jackie, I’ve already put up the decorations! 🙂
🙂 Jackie’s not that bad. Seriously, the decorations don’t go up until after Matthew’s birthday on 19th – to separate it from Christmas.
Are you saying I’m bad? 🙂
🙂 Of course.
Llamas are larger, have longer, slightly curved ears and a longer profile than alpacas – it’s one of those things I learned a long time ago by remembering all the ‘L’s: I think these may all be Llamas – but not a hundy on the last one as it looks short but has a long profile………
Others seem to agree – Jackie thinks the last one has been crossed with a goat. I haven’t found a suitable definition for hundy? Thanks very much, Pauline.
hundred percent – Clearly a kiwism 🙂
Thanks 🙂
Thanks from me, too, for the explanation of the differences between llamas and alpacas.
Sounds like another perfect day, Derrick. I love tiramisu. 😃
Thanks very much, Sylvia. Far preferable to cheesecake I think. 🙂
I like the alpaca (llama?) wearing a blanket! Some very pretty fall leaves too 🙂
Thank you very much, M.B. I hope your wrist is not too painful today.
Nope! It doesn’t hurt much at all, thanks for asking that’s so nice! <3
🙂
Now that’s the kind of walk I love!
Thanks very much, Pamela.
The top two are llamas (long neck), the lower one, I’m not so sure. There used to be llamas in a field near where my sister lives, come to that they might still be there. Funny animals, very curious about things.
That calf is sweet. 🙂
Thank you very much, Val. Jackie thinks there is a bit of goat in the lower one 🙂
Could be… 🙂
Beautiful photos sir. The calf photo is wonderful
Thank you very much, Gary.
What a great walk. I think all three are llamas. The ears are a giveaway. They curve like a banana. Alpacas are smaller, have shorter snouts and more pointed ears.
That seems to be the general consensus, Peggy. Thanks very much.
I’m glad to hear that you pushed yourself a bit on your walk. A good sign in more ways than one. And as usual, your readers were rewarded for your efforts.
Thanks very much, Oglach. It’s gotta be done 🙂
An alpaca bit me when I was three. I try not to hold grudges! That calf is darling.
Thanks very much, Luanne. That would make you wary though.
Yes, it would! As much as I love animals I have been bitten by dogs three times, by that alpaca, and then by a parrot. :/
That’s quite a collection 🙂
Haha, yes, it is.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who can’t tell the difference between a llama and an alpaca!
Thanks very much, Liz.
Seems like the calf liked to be photographed 😊 Beautiful pictures Derrick and delicious dinner 😊
Thank you very much, Ribana.
I also don’t know the difference between alpacas and llamas, but whoever they are, they look exotic enough to attract attention.
P.S. I second Jackie’s dinner choice.
Thanks very much, Dolly.
Very welcome, Derrick
I can’t tell the difference between alpaca and llama, either.
🙂 Thanks very much, Byung.
Those calm country roads beckon cattle and bipeds alike. Even the rain.
Thanks very much, Uma.
We get chased all the time by cows because they know we have food for them
I’m sure. Thanks very much, Mrs W.
Your welcome
I’m pretty sure that all three are llamas. But you could ask Ogden.
The one-l lama, he’s a priest
The two-l llama, he’s a beast
I will bet a silk pajama
There isn’t any three-l lllama
Nash, that is.
Thanks a lot for that, Paol. 🙂
Your alpacas are awesome! (If they are llamas, they are likeable!)
Your leaves are lovely! Your mushrooms are marvelous! Your calves are cute! Your tree trunk is terrific! Your walk was wonderful! Your dinner companions are delightful! Your dinner was delicious!
From your phenomenal photos, it looks like a dazzling day! 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
PS…How is Peter doing?!
Peter’s knees are far better than mine, as he enjoys reminding me. Clever alliterative comments. Thanks very much, Carolyn. X
That’s good as Peter has an on-the-feet-a-lot job.
You’re welcome! 🙂
I was going to write that the difference between a llama and an alpaca is that if you go into a field with them, an alpaca will want to be stroked but a llama will kick you very hard and then try to eat your hair. I thought that that was a little too facetious perhaps, but I may not have been too far wrong judging by the explanation in Google:
“Llamas have long banana-shaped ears while alpacas have straight ears and they are smaller. Their faces are also a bit different with llamas having a longer face, while an alpaca’s face looks smushed. Llamas are also bigger than alpacas, weighing up to 400 pounds.”
Smushed??
All very clear now, John 🙂 Many thanks.
I love the way the cattle are walking at the side of the road and not in the middle! I agree these are Llamas. Alpacas have cute fringes and are a little smaller. Have a look at these two that were featured on my my site a year or so back.
https://nansfarm.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/orange-hair-do.jpeg
That’s very clear, Sue. Cattle in that respect show more sense than ponies. Thanks very much.
You are welcome. These two reside with a few others at a friend’s farm. She has a farm shop and a petting area, my youngest grandchildren love to visit.
Cleaning of road side gullies is less frequent now as a result of Council budget cuts. An easy service to cut back as no one really notices until there is a flood and they are blocked.
Yes. You may have noticed that our road maintenance is rather beyond our Council. Thanks very much, Andrew.
Hold a famous cycle race and suddenly all the potholes are fixed!
🙂
I would agree, all llamas. I used to think alpacas were the more docile, but then I saw one spit at its owner at an agricultural show. And stamp its feet. I would approach both with a degree of caution!
Thanks a lot, Jessica. I will 🙂
Quite a well-rounded day, Derrick!
Thanks for letting us share that walk with you, Derrick. I’m glad Jackie convinced you to keep going. The photos of the cattle are delightful! What a beautiful countryside you live in!! I would have chosen your well filled Calzone followed by Tiramisu, too. It made my mouth water just reading about it. I fixed a shrimp stir-fry with onions, mushrooms, and bok choi in an oyster-teriyaki sauce and served it over lime-enhanced rice for our dinner tonight. We had a lovely Pinot Noir with it.
Many thanks, Jan. Your meal would have done me very nicely
I am just catching up here. I enjoyed your photos, as always. You capture the animals and countryside beautifully.
Very many thanks, Lavinia.