Early this bright, sunny, and cool day we drove out to Pilley to deliver a letter to Elizabeth. I popped it into her letter box and we continued on our way.
I have a couple of times before featured the horse and pony occupying the garden of Jordan’s Cottage on the corner of Bull and Jordan’s Lanes. Today I was to be formally introduced. As I photographed the two equines feeding from their trough a Gentleman planting flowers invited me in. This was Roderick, whose granddaughter owns these creatures. The horse is Foxglove and the pony, Twinkle.
Given her freckles, Foxglove is so aptly named. She is an eventer who is convalescing while recovering from and injured back leg. Roderick confirmed that the mask is for protection from flies. Seeing me back away as the horses trotted over to me when I entered the small paddock, he assured me that they were very friendly. I laughed and explained that I was not afraid but had to keep my distance to use the lens on my camera. In fact I left the paddock to take the shots of Foxglove in her mask. It would, of course, have been rude not to have photographed Twinkle’s eye.
On Norleywood Road we passed trick cyclist who probably wasn’t a psychiatrist. This was to have been on our way home until Jackie took a diversion down
Lower Pennington Lane to investigate the nature reserve at the far end.
Hurst View camping site was packed out and I could hear voices planning their day’s trips all the way down the lane along which I walked while Jackie waited in the car, parked on a verge just before a considerable narrowing of the thoroughfare.
Even cyclists had little passing room.
The marshland to my left was quite dry and occupied by a few basking ponies. The Isle os Wight could be seen in the distance.
When I reached the entrance to the bird sanctuary it seemed that the caravan site was decanting its entire contents who were making their way along the dedicated path which I consequently decided to eschew and set off across undulating terrain which I largely had to myself. I took the last section of the path on my return and I have to say that the boys in the third picture above thanked me for stepping aside.
In the circumstances it is hardly surprising that the only birds I saw were flocks of Canada geese,
occasionally joined by others flying in.
Against the backdrop of the Isle of Wight, The Needles, Hurst castle and their lighthouses, across the marshland could be seen walkers, cyclists and a dog. Particularly the last of this gallery would benefit from bigification.
A few goats occupied a field opposite the campsite.
After lunch I put in another stint at pruning Félicité Perpétue in the front garden.
Later this afternoon Elizabeth came for a cup of tea and stayed for dinner consisting of another of Jackie’s succulent cottage pies; crunchy carrots and cauliflower; tender cabbage; and meaty gravy, with which the Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Carles.
I am so pleased that you were invited to take photos of the horse and Shetland. You may have made a new friend in the gentleman.
What a lovely drive around and a great set of photos,
He certainly was very friendly. Thanks very much, Sue.
Goats always cheer up any post
🙂 Thanks a lot, Sheree.
Captivating photos of the little sailboats dotting the calm waters with Isle of Wight in the background.
Thanks very much, Dolly.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
They are really sweet.
Thanks very much, Rabirius
Lovely shots, Derrick. I performed bigification on several of your photos. I was interested in the Isle of White and other long distance features. Oh, and the running pooch was looking really fast!
The pooch was a real bonus. Thanks for your appreciation, Maj
Nice to find some polite boys. The picture of Lower Pennington Lane was very inviting.
Indeed. The two gents behind didn’t even look in my direction. Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal.
It sounds like you might have a new mate. Lovely photos today, Derrick. Lower Pennington Lane looks like a nice place to explore. Thanks for sharing!
If you know the TV series Only Fools and Horses you will understand why I said he and I were Rodders and Del Boy. Thanks a lot, Jill.
Does Jackie read while you walk?
She does crossword puzzles, Leslie. Thanks a lot.
I adored your photos of Foxglove and Twinkle…. and ironically my nickname when I was a teenager was “Twinkle”..
🙂 Thanks a lot, Ivor. I bet you did twinkle, too
Thanks for the tour Derrick; I just Google mapped my way from Lymington down Lower Pennington Lane et al. Loved the view across to the Isle. But of course I’m a big fan of buck and geese so that massed flight of Canada Geese was delightful.
Much appreciated, John. Thanks a lot.
I was all set to like the black-and-white of the Canada Geese until I saw “Marshland, yachts, Hurst lighthouse, Isle of Wight.” It’s a tie between the two. I’m sorry to see that Freckles, now Foxglove, is being bothered by flies again.
Thanks very much, Liz – especially for remembering Freckles.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
That was so nice you were invited to meet Foxglove and Twinkle up close. They are a sweet couple. I’m glad Foxglove is getting good care in fly protection. The Isle of Wight backdrop provides an interesting contrast and depth.
I’m pleased you noticed the “contrast and depth”, Joanne. Thanks very much.
It was a pleasure meeting Foxglove and Twinkle. Hauling a spare cycle alongside was a frequently witnessed phenomenon in my younger days, and it was considered a mandatory skill for a cyclist worth his salt. Having attempted it once, I can assure you the trickiest parts are the getting to move and trying to brake. The flock of geese look nice. The curled horns of the billy goats constitute a weighty matter.
“Weighty matter” I like – and of course all your other observations, Uma. Thanks very much.
What a nice sunny looking day.
It was, Mrs W. Thanks a lot
Your welcome.
Wonderful shots Derrick. Good that you took a closeup shot of Foxglove.
Thanks very much, Rupali
Because the wearing of masks in public is mandatory here, I gasp at the sight of so many people – in fairly close proximity too – enjoying themselves sans masks. No wonder you chose the rougher ground to walk over. Your photographs are lovely to explore.
Thank you very much, Anne. It was a bit scary.
The last of the gallery is a really beautiful photograph. It reminds me of the one of WW1 soldiers sihouetted on the horizon.
I’m pleased. John. Thank you very much
No wonder everyone is enjoying a beautiful day outdoors ?
Thanks very much, Ribana
Thank you for introducing us to Foxglove and Twinkle! What a sweet face Twinkle has! 🙂
I wonder if that cyclist who probably wasn’t a psychiatrist has an imaginary “biking” friend. ??? 🙂
Love seeing the geese in flight! For years, my youngest lived in a city that had a lot of Canadian geese. I found them beautiful. She had lived “with” them for so long she just found them messy. Guess they like to pooh whether they saw fit. 😮 😉
Goats always make me smile. 🙂 We had a fav BBQ restaurant and you could sit out side at picnic table…and the owners pet miniature goat liked to roam around the tables and greet people. 🙂
HUGS!!! and glad you had a marvelous day! 🙂
And thank you so much, Carolyn. Your imaginary friend joke appealed to me
So it seems, the horse owners are as nice as the horses – isn’t that a pleasure to hear.
The countryside is looking good, and getting ready for winter?
Lower Pennington Lane looks delightful.
It is (until you get to the narrowest bit 🙂 )
Thanks a lot, Andrew
Great shots, as always Derrick. I love their names – Foxglove and Twinkle! ?
Perfect. Thanks very much, Julie
how wonderful to have met Foxglove and Twinkle! lovely photographs as always. i lingered in the shots with backdrop of the Isle of Wight and the Canada geese flying in are delightful!
I’m pleased, Lola. Thank you very much
Striking pictures of Foxglove and Twinkle. (Love those names!) I wonder why that bike rider was hauling a bike. Your area is certainly a busy place. Reminds me of coastal Maine, a place in summer overrun by those “from away,” as we Mainers put it.
Grockles our locals call them. However given that we have only lived here 8 years we also count as grackles. Thanks very much, Laurie.
Same in Maine. You can have lived here for 30 years, and you would still be considered to be “from away.” Fortunately, my family has been in Maine for five generations. 😉
Wow – certainly not from away.
Nope.
What a beautiful day out! I love Twinkle and Foxglove! The goats against the fence have interesting coat patterns, too.
Don’t they just. I’m pleased you noticed, Lavinia. Thanks very much.
That’s a lot of nature for one day! You go out and about a lot. Great!
It looks like a lovely day. Foxglove and Twinkle are adorable. I wonder about the backstory of the “trick” cyclist.
The black and white Marshland scene was definitely worth biggification–wonderful shot!
All fascinating. Bet you don’t find (or need) many trick cyclists in the N. F.
Not come across one 🙂 Thanks a lot, Roland
Looking at all those people one might imagine that the virus has disappeared. Love the photos of Twinkle and Foxglove. ?
Thank you so much, Sylvia
The pony is so cute. I wondered if it might be a pygmy it looks so short.
I’m glad you got a thank-you from the boys.
Lovely photography. I appreciated particularly the Canada geese shots
Thanks very much, Geetha. I’m pleased you liked those
Welcome Derrick