This morning we shopped at
Setley Ridge Garden Centre for
a birthday present, and continued to Rhinefield Ornamental Drive where Jackie parked in Blackwater Car Park while I
followed a group of younger walkers,
who were soon out of sight,
into the forest,
which is strewn with arboreal detritus
in various stages of contribution to the sylvan ecological system.
Some of the giant conifers bear wrinkled leathern skins;
Bright green mosses cling to weathered stumps
and gnarled roots sprinkled with
last autumn’s fallen foliage,
some of which soaks into the wetter tracts rent by underground streams.
More recently toppled trees
still bear their shallow roots demonstrating what easy prey they are to heavy winds.
It may have been my conversation with a couple walking two small dogs that caused me to miss my mental milestone at which I intended to retrace my steps. I sailed on past it. This extended a 30 minute walk by 15 minutes. Too much for my knees.
As I staggered back into the Modus Jackie pointed to a Just Married message on the rear window of the vehicle alongside us. Wherever they were hiding, I hadn’t seen them.
On our return home we we unable to exit Vaggs Lane because there had clearly been an accident which had blocked the road. As far as we could tell before we turned around, a small car had managed to become sandwiched between a couple of OpenReach vans. A police car arrived while we were reversing.
After lunch we finished our shopping at Otter Nursery. Later, I succumbed to persuasion from various sources and we watched episodes 8 and 9 of series 2 of The Crown. I’m still not comfortable by the dubious intrusive nature of the presentation but I have to admit it is good drama and the history is like tracking back into our own lifetime.
This evening we dined on Hordle Chinese Take Away’s excellent fare with which Jackie finished the Suvignon Blanc and I finished the Cabernet Sauvignon.
I love the photograph of nature reclaiming that tree stump 🙂
I’m pleased, Tiny. Thank you very much.
It’s always an adventure here with you two!!
Thanks very much, GP
Mind those knees young man!
🙂 Thanks very much, Chrissy
The trip to the garden center must be Jackie’s birthday coming up? A beautiful old forest, and I thoroughly enjoyed the photos! I am sorry the walk extended the time your knees allow. I would have done the same thing in such a place, get lost in time.
Thanks very much, Lavinia. Not Jackie’s – but someone who might read the post 🙂
Seconding Lavinia! Derrick, you have had such a good stroll covering 50% more distance than your knee constitution usually allows, and finishing at the Hordle Chinese Take Away washed down with fine wine. A good life indeed!
That’s great . Loved it
Thank you very much, Tanvir
My pleasure ?
Maybe the couple walking the dogs were just married ?
Now, I never thought of that, Gwen 🙂 Thanks very much.
Even though we are not the subjects of HRM, we had the same concern about the intrusive approach to her life.
P.S. I am with Jackie on Sauvignon Blanc, and my husband is with you on Cabernet Sauvignon, Cheers!
4 good tastes. Thank you very much, Dolly.
My favorite in this group is the walkers-disappeared-into-the-forest.
You’ve done it again, Liz. I wasn’t sure about posting that one – but the whole point seemed to be that they were out of focus. 🙂 Thank you very much.
You’re welcome, Derrick!
Your photographs of the decaying processes of the forest are wonderful – I think there could be a wonderful coffee table book ‘A Year in the Life….’
🙂 Thanks very much, Pauline.
These younger walkers are so speedy! I hope that your knees didn’t suffer too much from the extra distance. Perhaps the newly married couple are woodland ecologists too.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal. I think the knees will be OK tomorrow 🙂
The Crown! Despite my family telling me how much I would love it, I ignored he Crown until you got me into it. So, having committed myself to knitting Joey pouches I turned to the Crown to keep me focused on the job in hand.
I remember some snippets from my childhood, and comments from my parents. Now on series 3
Thank you
Thanks very much, Sue. John was very impressed to learn that you were knitting Joey pouches.
Yesterday I met up with my Friday Friends, we meet up for coffee every month. I was meant to be handing over the completed pouches so they could be delivered to a central collection point. Unfortunately, having picked up my little parcel of pouches, I put them down to answer the phone and ended up leaving them behind so now I must send them off myself!
🙂
PS. I think I’ve arrived at my late teens!
Kennedy’s assassination is where we’ve got too. The year of my first widowerhood.
Losing Vivien must have been a terrible shock for you, a year you will never forget.
I’ve just watched the Investiture of the Prince of Wales.
Absolutely, Sue. Thank you so much.
Would like to shop at your garden store!
You certainly would, Cynthia. Many thanks
Visiting a garden center is always a joy for me. You’ll never know what you can find there.
Indeed, Arlene. Thank you very much.
What a superb garden Centre you have. Hope the birthday present will be well received.
Thank you very much, Sylvia. We have a plethora of garden centres 🙂
Fascinating forest photos!
Thanks very much, Sheree.
You know this is my kind of post! You make arboreal detritus look so good. I hope your knees are recovering well.
Thanks very much, JoAnna. I did think of you. Knees recovering well.
The perfect place to buy a birthday gift!
Love your forest photos, always!
Love the walkers walking! Walk on, walkers!
Please treat your knees kindly, Derrick.
I enjoyed The Crown…but I kept fact checking after watching each episode realizing they might not be-being 100% accurate. After watching all 3 seasons/series…I had much more respect and admiration for the Queen.
(((HUGS))), no bugs or slugs, just HUGS for you and Jackie! 🙂
BUGS and SLUGS for Mr. and Mrs. Nugget if they care to dine on them! 😀
https://youtu.be/OV5_LQArLa0 Thanks very much, Carolyn. X
Thank you!
Gerry & The Pacemakers is one of my hubby’s fav 60’s bands!
And that song always touches my heart! 🙂
🙂 So pleased.
“Superfast fibre” sounds an interesting dietary idea. Presumably it’s some kind of prune-date-fig-dynamite mixture.
If only it actually worked, John. Thanks very much.
I always think that roots that shape remind me of chicken feet!
Yes. Thanks very much, Andrew. John phoned me from Gatwick. He thoroughly enjoyed the trip with you.
Thanks Derrick. We had a very good day and the weather was kind.
Beautiful scenes from the forest. I wish I could shop at that garden center. It looks amazing.
Thanks very much, Cheryl. We have a number of good local ones, that one being our favourite for gifts.
Oh, those young walkers! Good for them to still be out and about.
🙂 Many thanks, Laurie
The forest is an amazing place full of so many things to see. I love how you describe nature. The photos really bring me there.
Thank you very much, Lynn
wow and double wow, I loved the toppled tree that looked like a mythical dragon head.. a fun fantasy one.. what a good picture.. I would love to use it in one of my blogs…
Many thanks, Dymoon. You are very welcome to use the picture.
The aging trees are so like us; faltering yet still resplendent with stories to tell. Your words are lovely to read.
Thank you very much, Rose.
Awesome photos.
Thank you very much, More.
You’re very welcome
Beautiful photographs Derrick! So many accidents nowadays ?
Thank you very much, Ribana.