Early on a morning of sunshine and showers Jackie drove us into the forest to take advantage of the dramatic light.
Encouraged by my undulating walk yesterday I was tempted to disembark at the top of
Holmsley Passage
and walk down the much steeper slope. At first I kept to the tarmac because of the muddy and pitted state of the nibbled edges. The road was quite busy so this didn’t seem to be a well advised procedure.
I therefore climbed the bank and threaded my way along the pony track.
The landscapes, rich in gorse and last year’s bracken, with still skeletal trees standing against the
fluid clouds bleeding across broad sheets of blue watercolour paper.
As I turned the bend leading down to the modern building on the left I saw what Jackie was up to. She had been tracking my descent from the
outset on the road surface (you will need to biggify this one to spot me),
and progressing along the verge.
From this point I photographed trees on the other side of the hill,
and after reaching the car, a couple of grazing ponies.
Jackie photographed a mobile signal mast masquerading as a spiky tree.
Yesterday’s pair of work trousers became rather muddy. I had therefore put them in the laundry basket and taken a clean pair for today.
On any other day this might have been a sensible move.
Today, unfortunately, I chose to stop at the junction between Gorley Road and
Snails Lane in order to photograph
the flooded road.
As I stepped backwards across the soggy surface of the lane in order to ensure that the Flood sign appeared in the picture I trod on a loose rock that slid backwards taking me with it.
There is a moment in a fall when it is politic to stop resisting and let yourself fall gracefully. That is how I found myself seated in moist gravelly mire with gritty bits in it, As I began to turn over, wondering just how I would manage to heave myself to my feet, a small van came spraying through the flood. This seemed to be the moment to remain stationary and present an aged and infirm front.
The friendly young driver wound down his window, asked whether we needed help, and upon receiving an affirmative response, leaped from his cab. He and Jackie each took an arm and hoisted me upright.
By now Mrs Knight was regretting that her panic had prevented her from photographing the moment. She made up for it with this shot of
my rear and the offending rock;
and these of my jacket
and trousers.
My head, it seems, was in need of the attentions of “The Horse Whisperer”.There’s not much that can be done about my second row forward’s cauliflower ear.
We weren’t that far from Hockey’s Farm Shop. I cleaned up as best I could with the cold water in their loo. Naturally we had to reward both them and ourselves by brunching there. I sat on a hessian shopping bag in order to avoid making their seats soggy. After a good meal we returned home where I changed my trousers.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s spicy pasta arrabbiata with which she drank more of the Sauvignon Blanc, and I finished the Cabernet-Carmenere.
I hope the fall didn’t cause any damage to your health, Derrick!
I’m fine, Dolly. Thank you very much.
I am glad. You are very welcome, Derrick.
Oh dear! Looks like an eventful day. Sorry about the fall – I hope there are no longer term consequences, Derrick.
No problems at all. Helen. Thank you very much.
That’s good to hear.
Oopsie daisy! 😳 So glad your fall wasn’t more serious, Derrick. You need eyes in the back of your head if you’re going to step backwards.😅
So I do, Sylvia. Thanks very much.
Ahh, the trials and tribulations of the intrepid walker on his soggy trails…
“I cannot walk the continents
Like the intrepid Marco Polo
But my feet have felt the sands of time
Pass between my toes”
A brilliant snippet of verse, Ivor. Thank you very much.
Never mind the photography, there are quotes galore to be had in this post – and please excuse my guffaw of understanding laughter at this one: ‘There is a moment in a fall when it is politic to stop resisting and let yourself fall gracefully. ‘ This is something I have become quite adept at in recent years as it does rather seem to have become something of an athletic interest of mine, to see in how many ways and in how many circumstances I can go upside down…….. But I’ve never dined out immediately following the exercise – now that’s surely an example of savoir faire!!
Chuckles galore, Pauline. Thanks very much.
Next time I will stay calm and remember to take the camera with me, to photo graph my tortoise on his back.
🙂
Hilarious!
Oh no! Hope you recover from the fall soon!
I am perfectly OK, M.B. Thank you very much.
Thank goodness you’re okay and I hope your lovely red jacket is too! Magnificent moody photos.
I love how your story unfolds with your photos. I also hope you are ok after the fall.
Thanks very much, Dave. I am completely unscathed. 🙂
Oh no! Like I mentioned yesterday, please don’t risk your safety for us, Derrick. I did enjoy the photo of Jackie stalking you! 🙂 I hope you’re okay.
I am fine, Jill. I immediately thought of your comment of yesterday 🙂 Thank you very much.
LOL! I’m going to have to tell Jackie to keep a closer eye on you and your antics! 🙂
🙂
It’s bound to happen when we are trying to get good photos, it seems! I don’t have too many of these stories but one time I did slip in the mud and fell forward while carrying my daughter and my camera with a new lens on it. I was proud of myself that I grabbed my daughter before I grabbed the camera, which went down, lens first into the mud. I was able to wipe the lens off and my daughter, who was probably 18 months at the time, thought the whole thing was hilarious.
Now that would have made and excellent photo, Lisa. Thank you very much.
Going with the flow when falling is definitely the way to go. Well done for not sticking a hand out and breaking an arm or wrist.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal.
Oh, poor you!
I had to smile at the one of you at the brow of the hill, you reminded me of ‘Where’s Nugget!
Jackie wondered whether to start a “Where’s Derrick?” series, Sue. I am fine. Thanks a lot.
That thought crossed my mind too!
Bear Grylls like sir. So right on the fall technique. As soon as the bum develops momentum, best to just follow it.
🙂 Thanks a lot, Gary.
It doesn’t matter how many times you fall, only how many times you get back up,
So true, Oglach. I won’t test it again, just yet. Thanks very much.
Oh dear! Glad you’re okay. That could’ve been really bad.
A lesson learned, Leslie. I am fine. Thank you very much.
A fun sequence of your approaching the camera. Then the episode when the rock and gravity won out brought an element of surprise adventure. Glad you’re ok.
Thank you very much, Maj & Sher.
That was certainly an eventful outing. You did emerge in the distance as if in a time lapse sequence, only to slip into the muddied bank of the road, albeit behind the scene. I loved your thoughts in the very moments of fall —a sobering piece of wisdom.
Thank you very much for your appreciation, Uma.
Let’s all remember to be careful, especially when stepping backward. Those are really cool shots of you up on the distant hill looking mysterious.
Thanks very much, JoAnna. I have learned to do a 360 degree scan when stepping backwards. 🙂
🙂
Oh Derrick, reading the description of your fall was a treat, a real moment of poetry.
I hope you’re not hurt and all is well
Thank you very much, Yoshimi. All is well. No repercussions.
Those pictures of Derrick coming over the hill are straight out of a horror film, really sinister.
They really are, John. Thanks very much.
OH, no! 😮 🙁 I hope you are okay, Derrick! Falling is so scary! 🙁
I bigified that one photo and spotted the top half of you just coming over the rise of that “hill”. 🙂
Your cloud photos are stunningly beautiful! We had similar clouds AND it rained all day!
(((HUGS)))
Very many thanks, Carolyn. I am fine. The scariest bit is getting up. Well spotted. X
Oh heck. I’m relieved you didn’t come to any harm, other than having to dine in muddy things, and also that Jackie proved she has not yet developed any paparazzi instincts in moments of crisis.
🙂 Very many thanks, Susan.
Your descriptions are still poetic and and your even posed for incriminating photos – you two have the best outlook on life!!
🙂 Thanks very much, GP
Oh my Derrick! I hope you are ok! That clouds though ☁️
I’m fine, Ribana. Thank you very much
That’s good 😉
The inclusion of Jackie’s photos really add a new dimension. However she must develop more self control and stay on target when the opportunity for a really dramatic subject falls into focus. Panic is no excuse and the youngster in the car should have been adequate.
But still, I hope you didn’t do any real damage.
🙂 I’m fine, John. I got the twig out of my hair without assistance. Thanks a lot.
Sounds (and looks) like a healthy morning indeed. 🙂 >-I
Thank you very much, Kamus
[Shouldn’t have hit the return button just yet]
. . . And about the accident.. I love the spirit! Hope you’re doing just fine.
I am, Kamus. Thanks again
Well, this post certainly caught the highs and lows of walking in the country. First there was this enchanting line: “I therefore climbed the bank and threaded my way along the pony track.” But then came the fall. In the mud. Life is like that. Glad you weren’t hurt and could enjoy a good meal afterward.
Thank you very much, Laurie. I am pleased you liked that line.
The turbulent blue and grey skies of spring with rain pools and mud (and rocks) everywhere! I am glad you are alright after that fall, Derrick. A good cleanup and a fine evening meal with Jackie set all right again.
Thank you very much for these comments, Lavinia
Seems like you were between a rock and a wet place!
🙂 Nice one Andrew, Thanks a lot
I hope you’re ok Derrick from the fall?
I am fine thank you very much, More.
Youre welcome derrick, good thing you’re ok
Thank goodness you did not suffer much from the fall. These can be quite a bad thing I discovered after crossing fifty.
Fortunately the worst thing about a fall for me at the moment is working out how to get up 🙂 Thanks very much Geetha.
You’re lucky you didn’t break a bone somewhere.
I second that, Rosaliene. One advantage of the mud. Thank you very much.
The thing is, I love your sense of humor. So glad you suffered little from the fall besides muddy pants and ragged hair. You may have distressed Jackie the most. Until “the fall,” you were so productive on your walk. Some of the photos look like paintings. Well done. Now, stay on two feet!
🙂 Thank you so much, Pamela. I’ll do my best.
What an adventure Derrick and a great story, apart of course of you actually falling, sounds like you are ok and that’s good. Recently I too fell in an awkward way at the beach when the spray of a freak wave was trying to catch me, I fell headlong in the sand and on top of my camera, yes I was taking photos and did not see the water coming. I was wet to my skin, but all right. I’m glad you are all right too 🙂
Oops … trousers and dignity still intact. Well done. 🙂
🙂 Thanks a lot, Widders. All nice and clean now – jacket in the dry cleaners.
So glad you weren’t badly hurt. Probably hurt your pride most of all. Darn rock! Beware the road less traveled!
Neat final sentence, Jan. Too late for pride over agility. 🙂 Thanks very much.
Derrick, I love your use of colorful adjectives. Your pants…what a mess. Be careful!😂
Thanks very much, Steve. I’m pleased you appreciate them.
Up and down indeed, Derrick! I was enjoying the progression in your photo series, and how wonderful that Jackie followed your downward passage–not expecting that it would be quite so literal. I’m glad your weren’t injured. You are Jackie make a good team–this made me laugh: “By now Mrs Knight was regretting that her panic had prevented her from photographing the moment.”
Jackie’s tracking shots of your descent would make a great opening for a movie. Any screenwriters among your followers? I hope you’ve recovered from your fall.
The fall was really no problem – once I’d been hauled to my feet. 🙂 The movie is a great idea. Thanks very much, Liz.
You’re welcome, Derrick! I’m glad the fall didn’t do you any damage.
Oh, Derrick! I’m sorry you had a fall but am pleased no damage was caused. Giving in and relaxing into the fall is the best possible thing to do and at least rear ends are a little more padded than knees and heads.
Yes, indeed, Clare. Thank you very much.
By commenting late in the blog post party I know you have not suffered any permanent damage, so can afford to throw in my lot with Jackie. But falls are a serious problem as we age, so am happy that you came out of that one unscathed.
Thanks a lot, Gwen