This morning’s early light presented us with
glorious garden views from our upstairs windows.
At midday I accompanied Jackie on the big Tesco fortnightly shop; sat reading in the car while she did the business; unloaded the trolley into the car; emptied the purchases into the kitchen, then washed my hands.
This afternoon Jackie took the sprinkler on a whistle-stop tour of the garden, while I took my camera on another.
I pictured begonias, petunias, allium, hemerocallis, phantom hydrangea and phlox, all images of which are named in the galleries that can by accessed by clicking on any one. Each photograph can be viewed full size by clicking on the box beneath it, then further enlarged if necessary by repeated clicks.
Bees have shown themselves to be partial to these alliums.
Outside Bramshaw, on a drive to the north of the forest, we encountered ponies ignoring flies; sheep steering clear of the equine droppings; and donkeys keen to approach us in the hope of treats.
It was the Lamb Inn at Nomansland that had the honour of providing us with our first meal out since the recently partially relaxed coronavirus lockdown began.
My main meal was a tender rib eye steak with a bucket of chips and French fried onions; Jackie’s chips in a bucket were of sweet potatoes served with her haloumi burger. Mrs Knight drank Diet Coke and Carlsberg while I drank Timothy Taylor’s Landlord beer.
Naturally Jackie photographed the hanging baskets and
the sign in the outside dining area which had me wondering whether I was meant to use the letter box.
Your last set me off giggling. I had various thoughts when I read the sign, but not that one!
I’m happy to amuse, Susan. 🙂 Thanks very much.
I would be looking for another place that offers more privacy for a toilet than the front door! 🙂
🙂
Haha! And fabulous hanging baskets, beautifully captured by Mrs Knight!
Glad you got the joke, Pauline. Many thanks 🙂
Jackie looks so happy! Those hanging baskets are gorgeous. As for your garden, I’d have a hard time peeling myself away from the upstairs window. What a view!
Thanks very much, Jill.
Love the hanging baskets! My sons and I haven’t yet dined out–only outdoor dining allowed here in Los Angeles–but we’ve been ordering meals for pick-up from our favorite Brazilian restaurant.
Thanks very much, Rosaliene. Brazilian sounds good.
More of your absolutely delightful gardens! Our lockdown was somewhat relaxed for about 2 weeks, but is now closer to lockdown again — restaurants may serve meals, but only outdoors, and barbers and salons are attempting to figure out how to do their business outdoors! I suspect it will be full lockdown again in another week or so.
Thanks very m much, Janet. I am sorry you are going backwards.
I’m afraid my attention was distracted from your lovely photos by your comment about using the door as a toillet. 😉 I’m glad you and Jackie were able to get out and enjoy a restaurant meal.
🙂 Thanks very much, Liz. I suppose that could have been somewhat disconcerting.
Now I want to go out and eat, and I know exactly where I want to go — there’s some coconut shrimp waiting for me. I’m really glad you enjoyed an evening out, and what looks like a wonderful meal.
Enjoy yours, too, Linda. Thanks very much.
Vague thoughts around a phrase involving ‘pissing in’ and tents came to my kind when I saw the sign. I am glad that you were outside.
Lovely pictures of the garden and I took your advice and biggified a picture with good results.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal. We certainly kept well clear of the door.
Your garden is such an inspiration, Derrick. Gorgeous photos! Of course my favorite was the closeup of the bee on the allium. Your meal looked yummy. I gotta go get our dinner! <3
Thank you very much, Jan. X
HA! I hope no one peed ON the front door! 😮 😀
Glad you two got a delicious meal out and about…Jackie is like, “Take the pic, I’m rarin’ to eat!” She’s got her knife and fork up and ready! 😀
Love Jackie’s photos of the hanging baskets! What vibrant colors!
Love the bees happily allium-ing. 🙂
The poor pony getting fly-d. 🙁
The line up of sheep is so sweet! 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thanks very much for your usual comprehensive comments, Carolyn X
Glorious garden views indeed!
Wonderful meal ?
Hahah…interesting sign ?
Thanks very much, Ribana.
The “Lamb Inn”, seemed very appropriate Derrick, and your first “meal out” looked scrumptious… and of course my fav’ photo was the Donkeys…
Thanks very much, Ivor. I do hope it doesn’t upset Yvonne too much 🙂
Love your comment about the sign!
🙂 Thanks very much, Leslie.
truly enjoyable visit, thank you..
And thank you very much, Dymoon
Beautiful photos! I’m so glad you got to dine out. The dessert looks wonderful!
Thank you very much, JoAnna.
Early morning light photographs have a certain inviting quality to them. Eventually, you found your treat in the Novirusland of Nomansland! Jackie does look exceptionally pleased.
Thank you very much, Uma. I’m pleased you appreciated the light, etc.
how wonderful to see the joy of Jackie on your first dine out. and the hanging baskets are beautiful! your garden is a paradise! always a delight to see snapshots of the animals! the sign is a kicker! interesting and fun 🙂
Thanks very much, Lola. Thinking it would be a neat place to live, we looked at a house in Nomansland when we were buying.
I trust that you did not use the letter box. 😉 Love those donkeys.
🙂 Thanks a lot, Laurie. I’m pleased you got the joke.
The meal looks scrumptious, but my attention was captured by desserts. Are you officially post-lockdown?
No – some relaxation, but stats are being monitored, and where they rise, e.g. Leicester, full lockdown is reinstated. Thanks very much, Dolly.
My pleasure, Derrick.
A beautiful day in the garden, the forest, and a wonderful meal out! Good to see you both enjoying such a lovely day and meal!
Thank you so much, Lavinia.
I remember, long ago, and far away, people like me used to go out to dinner too. Happy you and Jackie went virtually for Jim & I. Stay well you two.
Thanks very much, Cindy. May you return to normal eventually.
What a treat to be able to eat out in pleasant surroundings – with a beer too. The sale of alcohol has been banned (again) for another seven weeks. Strange times we live in.
Yet in America the purveyors of alcohol were considered essential. Thanks very much, Anne. I do hope you’ve got some in.
What an array of colours in your wonderful garden! Unintended humour methinks with the sign.
🙂 Thanks a lot, Sheree. Well spotted.
I hope you enjoyed your new found freedom. Great photos of the garden!?
Thanks very much, Sylvie. We did enjoy it, but had to hold our nerve. 🙂
?
I haven’t had the courage to go to a pub just yet!
We checked this one out first – it was well organised with very few customers. Thanks a lot, John.
I really like the photograph with the horse and the quaint old signpost.
I’m pleased, John. Apart from anything else, I won’t have to remember where we were. 🙂 Thanks very much.
You certainly have variety down to a science for us all, Derrick. Between you and Jackie, we get it all. Ya gotta love that sign too!!
Thanks a lot GP
Any time, my friend. Your posts are a pleasure!
Beautiful photos–all those flowers and animals! Your first meal out looks delightful, both the food and the setting. I’ll take what Jackie had, though your onions look delicious. That sign and your comment. ?
🙂 Thanks very much, Merril
Loved seeing the roaming livestock, and the garden is looking glorious.
You were both very brave to go out for a meal. My eldest and family went on the first day of reopening, they were very impressed with how organised it was.I hope they remain as vigilant when I eventually venture into one. Perhaps I’ll settle for the beer garden.
I wish you courage and safety, Sue. Thank you very much.
Thank you Derrick.
Oh my goodness, Derrick, The Garden of Eden must have looked a lot like your garden!
Hope you enjoyed the meal!
We did, thank you very much, Inese.
I was sure I had missed yesterday’s post and now I know that I did. I would have remembered that sign! Sounds like a lovely meal regardless ?
🙂 Thanks very much, Sandra.
That sign is quite ambiguous. ? Lovely hanging baskets at your al fresco venue. ?
Thanks very much, Sylvia.
What a colourful feast! 🙂
Thanks a lot, Widders
Everything about this is beautiful Derrick!
Thanks very much, Julie.
Oh, I too love the hanging baskets, and they could have found a better placement for that restroom sign…sheesh
🙂 Many thanks, msw.
I loved your close-ups and the hanging baskets. Beautiful flowers
Thanks very much, Geetha
Most welcome Derrick 🙂
Gorgeous photos. Looks like a great place to eat “out”! I like your choice of dessert! Yum!!
Thanks a lot, Dwight.
Your meals looked mouth-watering – more so than our first out since the easing o lockdown.
Thanks a lot, Helen.
I’ll bet it felt good to be out and almost normal.
Yes. Thanks very much, Lindsey
It would have been very interesting if you’d used the letterbox
🙂