‘A Short Walk from Harrods’ is the fifth volume of Dirk Bogarde’s autobiography, and, to my mind, the best. I finished reading it last night, and would have been saddened had I not had one more to come.
This work deals in more depth and detail with material that has been featured in earlier books, notably the years in France. Without giving too much away I would say that this is the mature writer honestly facing endings and renewal with his gifted descriptive writing. Pondering on the flowing language it occurred to me for the first time that Bogarde brings his actor’s ear to his prose. He knows how the words and their placement would sound when spoken, and he works on adapting his undoubted skill. I have not read any of his novels but this book could well read like one.
Today was free from rain, but winds gusted at more than 40 m.p.h.
Aaron of A.P. Maintenance is an ace and generous recycler. He takes our logs to another client whose heating comes solely from an open fire. To us he brings paving and other materials without charging for them.
He really enjoys what he says is “making something from nothing”. Here he stands beside an extra compost bin he is building. The burnt plywood sheet came from his friend’s garage; the pallet from another; the perspex sheeting from our garden; the boards from his own supply. The bricks along the front is a typical finishing touch.
So far the winds have not created too much damage. The galleries in this post can be accessed by clicking on any image in each one. These may be viewed full size by clicking on the boxes beneath them. Further enlargement is also possible with a click. The pictures are labelled individually.
Jackie did her best to repair some of the windburn and other damage to plants, and later we drove to the north of the forest.
There was much waving of manes and twitching of tails from the ponies on the green outside the converted school in South Gorley. One creature, keen to make my acquaintance, met me nose to muzzle as I stepped out of the car, shook her head about a bit, and repeatedly presented a fine set of choppers for inspection.
The stream at Ogdens North was now very shallow, so that pebbles on the bed could be seen beneath the reflections from above.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s spicy piri-piri chicken, marinaded throughout the day in a tangy sauce; her most colourful ratatouille; boiled baby Jersey Royal potatoes; and mature, yet tender, cauliflower and broccoli, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank Western Cape Malbec 2019.
I see you’ve made a new friend. Hope the wind doesn’t inflict any damage on your gorgeous garden.
PS We could all do with an Aaron.
Thanks very much, Sheree. Aaron is certainly a treasure – so reliable, too. We do have quite a bit of windburn and broken stems – and one more day of gusts – but much of this is only noticed by the Head gardener.
We’ve had a rather hot wind here today which has dead-headed before their time all my geraniums ☹️
🙁
I should read Dirk Bogarde – I enjoy biographies and he was an interesting actor. Love your garden – and your over-friendly pony certainly has a fine set of gnashers, though they could probably do with a de-scale.
Given that they eat grass all day long, the state of the gnashers was interesting. Bogarde’s writing was a surprise to me – he also illustrated the earlier ones, very well. Thanks very much, Mike.
It looks like a rather wild day! I love the tussled manes, and that one pony has a most expressive mouth!
Thanks very much slmret. They don’t have the fly masks that many of the field horses do.
Quite a biography to go into so many volumes.
That photo in your header made me laugh–quite a set of choppers indeed!
Aaron sounds wonderful–and how cool that he recycles items between various people so that all benefit and nothing is wasted.
Aaron really does that well. I’m pleased you got a laugh, Merril. Not being much of a fan of Bogarde’s films the writing was a great surprise to me. Thanks very much.
Now I’m going to wonder all night as to what that horse was trying to tell you, Derrick!!
I need to look into that Dirk Bogarde book(s) too.
Have a nice evening, and give Aaron a wave from the States for me on his next visit.
Will do, GP. Thanks very much from us both.
Another one looking up that book. Fascinating person. That’s definitely a new friend.
Thanks very much, Gary.
Mm … I trust your Western Cape Malbec is a South African wine. If so, I hope you enjoyed it.
It is and I did. Good South African wines are available now the boycott has ended. Thanks very much, Anne.
Aaron is a gem! You are lucky to have such a friend, Derrick and Jackie!
The gardens and forest drives are always a treat.
I love the series of photos of that grey mare. She does have a fine set of teeth. 🙂
Thank you very much, Lavinia. I wish I knew what she was doing :). Yes, we are lucky to have Aaron.
I regard horses as being inherently dangerous so I am glad that it was you and not me near those teeth.
The pony was quite harmless, but so persistent that I couldn’t get back in the car until Jackie drove on a bit 🙂 Thanks very much Tootlepedal.
Maybe that friendly horsey thinks you are an Equine Dentist! HA! 😉 😀
She DOES have a fine set of choppers! 😀 (Hmm…or maybe she was trying to tell you something?!?!)
Aaron is a treasure! You and Jackie are fortunate to have him in your life. But, he is fortunate to have you two, too! 🙂 (The recycling to create new is great!)
I always enjoy hearing about what you are reading! 🙂
Oh, that everyone could be like the cauliflower and broccoli…mature, yet tender. 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn. Strangely enough, we did meet an equine dentist a while back. He, too, was photographing his day.
You are fortunate to have Aaron there for you, Derrick. LOL! Those shots of the horse would make for some fun puzzles. 🙂
That is so true. Very funny.
We are. I can just imagine you with such a puzzle, Jill. Thanks very much.
That equine certainly gave you a horse laugh, Derrick. The photos of the stream and stones are fun to observe.
Thanks very much, Maj. So that is what it was 🙂
I am glad that the wind hasn’t caused much damage to your beautiful garden, Derrick. That while pony looks like she is trying to tell something or perhaps ask for help. Very expressive!
She was, Dolly. Thanks very much.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
I’m with Aaron; I love nothing better than the something from nothing; and our compost bins look so much like yours as a result!
Thanks very much, Geoff.
As a tradesman I appreciate Aaron’s creative ingenuity, and his skill for recycling used materials…
I’m sure you would, Ivor. Thanks very much.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! That’s the way to go! I do think that horse was trying to tell you something.
🙂 Thanks very much, JoAnna
Aaron is the Lord of Discarded Things. The description of ponies is vivid, but for that I’d have imagined she was pretending to be a lioness. Maybe she was one in her previous life.
Maybe so, Uma. But she was quite silent. 🙂 Thanks very much. I’ll tell Aaron.
Your new equine friend could give Frances the talking mule a run for his money.
🙂 Thanks very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
I would come for dinner uninvited, just spring it on you and Jackie, but of course covid would make that even more rude, so it’s a no go do.
Love your posts Derrick.
PS- I have an old bound set of 12 volumes, everything Dickens ever wrote, way too old for a copyright.
Thanks very much, Cindy. That would be a lovely surprise, but it’s a bit windy in garden at the moment – so the dinner would be in jeopardy. My set of Charles Keeping illustrated Dickens is missing one which was once borrowed and never returned.
I always think that Dirk Bogarde is an underrated author.
Some dental hygiene required I think.
What, no Jalfrezi?
Jackie knew you would not miss the missing Jalfrezi 🙂 I agree with both your other points. Thanks very much, Andrew.
Every time I look at that horse and her magnificent choppers, I keep thinking about Liverpool. Don’t know why!
🙂 Thanks very much, John
Hahaha…what a smile ?
🙂 Thanks very much, Ribana
What a find Aaron is! I wish he was closer to us! As for the wind, I think we have it here for the week ahead. Batten down the hatches!
Indeed and indeed, Sandra. Thank you very much.
Ι have a cat, which every time she tries to say something, she shows me her teeth. That equine certainly wanted to get his message across. Nice photos, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Sofia. That explains it 🙂
We really need more people like Aaron. This is fantastic “making something from nothing”.
Indeed. Thank you very much, Rupali
Hope the rain is doing the garden some good, and a toast to the season of Jersey Royal potatoes – so short but so delicious. I am in the trap of anthropomorphising, but love how the pony looks as if she’s grinning for the camera.
🙂 Thanks very much, Libre
A fine set of choppers ?
A fine set of choppers ? Red Riding Hood came to mind.
🙂 Thank you very much, Lakshmi
Wonderful pictures of those horses! And yay for Aaron. Love how he recycles things. He would fit right in here in central Maine. The world would be a better place if it had more people like Aaron.
It would, indeed. Thanks very much, Laurie
What an amazing portrait of the grey mare. i think the bared teeth. meant that she probably saw you as a challenge, Derrick. 😀 Good for Aaron, what a treasure he is and so is Jackie to keep you so well fed.
Thank you so much, Sylvia
I love the horse’s face,LOL.
Thanks very much, Laleh
Always pleasure.
I like to walk around your garden. When I watch the pictures you made my imagination places me there and the feeling of physical presence is alive.
That is lovely, Alexander, Thank you very much.
Thank you, to allow walking around your garden!
The horse definitely has to visit dentist! LOL…
Indeed. 🙂 Thanks very much, Alexander
Wow! great horse pictures!
Thanks very much, Daniel
Cute ponies hope those winds calmed down
Calm this morning, thanks very much, More.
Very good
Derrick, you and the grey lady must have been sharing a funny story to get her laughing like that. So funny.
Thanks a lot, Steve.
What a great ‘up close and personal’ shot! 😀
Thanks very much, Widders. It was really a close encounter.
Oh my, Derrick, that fine set of choppers needs a good dental cleaning! Do they have tooth brushes for horses?
I once met an equine dentist. I should have asked him 🙂 Thanks very much, Jan.
Hah!
Your garden is looking more and more enchanted, as if designed to be a set of a fairy tale. Is it famous yet?…
The books sound fascinating; I might check those out when I get through my pile!
Thanks very much, Cynthia. Only famous on WP 🙂
Well….wow! I would visit if it cost me to peek in!
🙂
What a nice way to recycle and help others! Love the pictures!!
Thank you very much, Lynn.
Sorry about the wind damage.
Loved seeing the ponies especially the toothy one, seems like she was keen to have her photograph taken!
🙂 Thanks very much, Sue. Had she been able to speak she might have said: “I’m ready for my close-up now”.
I think she did her best to say that!
🙂
I have ordered a couple of his books. Looking forward to reading them.
That’s good, Gary. Thanks very much