Knowing that we are about to experience strong gales for three days I lay down the garden chairs and the new water feature as a precaution this morning, and this afternoon we visited the coast at Milford on Sea to make calmer photographs than we would anticipate for a while.
Although from a distance the sea looked calm enough as I focussed on the Isle of Wight and a woman on the seafront shingle,
it wasn’t that tranquil.
Jackie focussed on me photographing
waves advancing in a rush, and seeping back across the shingle.
As we left, a black-headed gull was perched for takeoff.
Should there be anyone who does not know of Captain Sir Thomas Moore, you are advised to consult https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Tom_Moore to read about the inspirational gentleman approaching his 100th birthday who, during 2020 raised our nation’s spirits; £34,000,000+ for the NHS; and, ultimately Queen Elizabeth II’s dubbing arm. This man’s favourite phrase, “Tomorrow will be a good day”, has been celebrated in yarn on the Pilley Street letter box.
After passing this, we drove on to Lepe where, from Inchmere Lane
we looked out over the flats, where I photographed
a solitary oyster catcher, and Jackie photographed
a motor boat.
I disembarked beside a seasonal pool on Exbury Road where I photographed
reflections of overhead trees;
fallen branches; and a mossy bank.
Do ducks lay eggs on a bare scratched circular area of ground? If so, I found one.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s chicken and vegetable stewp with fresh bread, followed by her spicy pasta arrabbiata and tender runner beans, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Primitivo Salento.
What a fabulous topper for the post box. Very clever 😊
x
Thank you very much, Melanie X
😊
Gorgeous, almost monochrome photos and sorry to hear about the incoming gales.
Thanks a lot, Sheree
Having visited the shingle beach at Weymouth on a few occasions as well as the rocky beach here at Tsitsikamma, I can ‘hear’ the chuckling sound as the smooth rocks are rolled over by the tide. I am so glad you and Jackie get out regularly for this is so important during these bizarre times. Which makes me hope that you have seen your mother recently.
We go to see Mum on Thursday – behind the screen. Thanks very much, Anne. You might like this post from my first year of blogging: https://derrickjknight.com/2012/11/20/dover-beach/
I love the letter box design. If it is a duck, it seems to be a minimalist one.
🙂 Thanks very much, Susan
You have a good selection of varied scenery to enjoy in your area. This is good because we can enjoy it too.
I’m pleased, Tootlepedal. Thanks very much.
The seagull on the post in black and white is a piece of art to my eyes.
Regarding ducks and eggs: For a period of time, my mother’s (and in-law’s) suburban neighborhood had a wild duck that would randomly lay eggs in the street as she walked. It was as though the “mothering instinct” never happened with her.
Thanks very much, Jodie. I’m pleased at your appreciation of the gull picture and your confirmation of the duck egg 🙂
I wonder why was the duck in such a hurry that she laid her precious egg in the open?
So did I, Byung 🙂 Thanks very much
Jodie is right – that seagull just about to take off is a fantastic shot… reminds me of your recent running animal shots!
The fallen logs look like dinosaurs lounging in the pool – perhaps it was they who frightened the poor mother duck, causing her to abandon her egg…!
‘Tomorrow is a new day’ is also an important thing to remember, I think – especially when times are difficult.
Thank you very much, Emma, for your usual thorough comments. I like the forest dinosaurs observation. 🙂
Wow that Seagull photo is amazing
Thank you very much, More
You’re welcome
OH! Captain Sir Thomas Moore!!! He made our news here, several times! Such a wonderful, inspiring man with a beautiful heart! 🙂 Love that tribute to him! 🙂 I was sad when I heard he’d died. 🙁
We should all adopt his motto and keep his positivity rolling on! 🙂
Gorgeous photos, Jackie and Derrick! They capture the weather and the life’s-going-ons in your corner of the world! Makes me smile! 🙂 Such artistry! Such activity! 🙂
The egg photo is beautiful…but sad. Poor egg! Where is mama duck?!?!
The sea gull photo should be framed and hung on a wall!!! (I love sea gulls!)
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thank you very much, Carolyn. The egg is a mystery. X
PS…I meant to share…I heard that In September 2020, it was announced that a biopic of his life was being produced. They said when he heard the announcement, Captain Sir Thomas Moore commented: “I don’t know of any 100-year-old actors, but I’m sure Michael Caine or Anthony Hopkins could do a wonderful job if they were prepared to age up!”. Ha! 😀
Wonderful
Wonderful sir.
Thanks very much, Gary
Best of luck with the gale-force winds! I hope no damage is done. Hate those dratted high winds.
Thanks very much, Laurie. Our Head Gardener hates them too.
Strong winds are not a gardener’s friend.
Gorgeous photos! Take care and stay safe from the gales!
Thank you very much, Ribana
The crocheted topper for the letter box is adorable! What a time-consuming tribute to a great man.
I can feel the air by the water . . . .
Thank you very much, Luanne 🙂
Fantastic shots today! I love the seagull photograph. Thanks for sharing!
And thank you as always, Jill
Ready for take off is such a dynamic image. Jackie’s candid of you in action are so much fun Derrick. We were saddened to hear of the passing of Capt. Sir Thomas Moore. His death received touching tribute coverage.
Thank you so much, Maj
The black-winged gull poised for take-off is a one-in-a-million shot. Kudos for capturing it! Captain Tom Moore’s tribute topper takes top honors in today’s group.
Thank you very much for your appreciative comments, Liz
You’re most welcome, Derrick.
Those are lovely photographs of the waves perking up to meet the gale. Captain Sir Thomas Moor is an optimist worth the weight of his years in gold. The volume of excellent portraits of the ardent photographer is growing in body.
Thanks very much, Uma. And they always catch me unawares 🙂
I knew about Captain Sir Thomas Moore, but had not remembered the “Tomorrow will be a good day,” motto. Now, I feel better about going to the dentist tomorrow. What a delightful decoration and a good reminder. I enjoyed the woman on the seafront shingle, and would be drawn to sit with a blanket on the mossy bank.
Thank you very much, JoAnna. I put the mossy bank in for you 🙂
Thank you so much! 🙂
That egg is intriguing. It looks a bit on the smaller side for what I am used to seeing for duck eggs, but it is hard to tell from the photo. Possibly is a kildeer egg? I am not sure if you have them over there. They are in the plover family, and lay speckled eggs on circular patch of bare ground.
Certainly a good thought, Lavinia, but we don’t have kildeers and the egg was pure white. Thank you very much
Captain Sir Thomas Moore even made the news over here, Derrick. A selfless man we could all learn from.
You may think me weird, but out of all the terrific photos today, my favorite is the first fallen branches one.
Not weird at all GP. It tells the story of these branches becoming periodically surrounded by water. Thanks very much.
Unlike GP, I’d never heard of Captain Sir Thomas Moore. Of course, I have no television and don’t follow social media, so there’s that. His efforts are quite admirable. As for the eggs, yes, indeed: I’ve even found heron eggs lying on the docks. The funniest ever were some mallard eggs left on the back deck of a trawler.
These would have been mallards, which occupy these temporary pools. Thanks very much, Linda.
We even heard about Captain Moore over here. What a sweet tribute to his life and spirit! He most definitely was an inspiration to so many. I also enjoyed your pre-storm photos. It looked pretty windy already.
Thanks very much, Anna. Gale picking up today
Stay safe, alright?
🙂
delightful series of photos for us today, Derrick. thank you! a lovely quote from Captain Moore – a remarkable man!
And thank you, Lola
So many wonderful photos. I thought the fallen branches were long-necked birds, but maybe dinosaurs fits better.
I hope Captain Tom was not blown away in the winds.
We hoped the same, Merril. Thanks very much
Your black and whites blew me away, Derrick; I kept going from one to the next and then back. Quite dramatic. “Tomorrow will be a good day” is certainly an improvement on a famous Scarlett o’Hara’s line.
I had to look that one up, Dolly. I’m pleased you liked the black and whites. Thanks very much
You are very welcome, Derrick.
And then he and his family went to Barbados during a covid pandemic travel ban. Just saying.
Thanks for that, Andrew
I love the coast photography and the water stretch at the end with the trees and roots.
Thank you very much, Geetha
Welcome Derrick
More lovely coastal pictures. What a splendid idea to remind everyone that ‘Tomorrow will be a good day.
What a wonderful gentleman Captain Sir Tom was.
Indeed. Thanks very much, Sue.
That hardy egg probably blew out of a tree and survived – ya think?? I love seeing your coastal photos, Derrick… especially since we used to live in CA where the ocean was a few hours away – – – and now we’re in landlocked Montana a good 12 hours form the nearest coast (unless you could the coastline of Ennis Lake… uh, just not quite the same look, feel, sound, and scent!). Your photos are so vivid… I can smell the salty air!
Thank you very much, Jan. It seems it is not that unusual for eggs to be laid on bare ground. Chickens and mallards have been quoted as examples.