Bed Head And Bum Flossing

On a warm and sunny morning we drove to the pharmacy at Milton on Sea, and on into the forest.

Starry sun reflecting from a window on the Isle of Wight sparkled on the Solent,

as it gently lapped against the sea wall and Hurst Castle in the distance.

The eroding cliffs, speaking of many more turbulent seas, bear more sturdy rocks, part of the never-ending human efforts to build defences.

Another photographer briefly left his vehicle to make his own photograph.

A large number of ponies kept the grass down for visitors using the Holmsley Car Park.

The more creaky of my readers will recognise the need for this pony to roll backwards and forwards,

acquiring a bed head, in order to rise to its feet.

Nearby, another, in need of a scratch, was practicing the delicate art of bum flossing, as it is known locally, when using posts of a certain height for the purpose.

This was clearly not adequate for complete relief, as further efforts were required until the animal was able to settle down to chewing grass rather than the lingering irritant.

After lunch I cut the grass.

This evening we enjoyed more of Jackie’s delicious sausages in red wine; creamy mashed potatoes; firm carrots and cauliflower; and tender runner beans, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Cotes du Rhone.

91 comments

  1. Bum Flossing….what a great description of what’s going on. The next time our dog drags her bum across out carpet I’ll say she’s bum flossing. 🙂

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  3. Bum Flossing, love it! Great photos as always, Derrick. I’ve never heard an American using that term. The internet has brought some very British words and terms across the Atlantic to the States. People here use the term Spot On! 🇬🇧

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  4. The sea is beautiful in the sunlight. Y’know, I can’t recall ever, and I do mean ‘ever’, flossing or having my bum flossed. I just need to find a fence that’s not too high, I guess. Enjoyed the photos and the thought of having sausage at your table. All my best.

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  6. That’s quite a bed-head the poor old pony has! And the idea of bum flossing is rather intriguing! I also enjoyed the first shot, and the one of the several ponies all lined up as they trimmed the grass!

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  10. I picked up on what we would say “bed hair” but “bum flossing… that’s a new one on us.

    I hope no one holds or leans on any railing “posts of a certain height”. Ick. I remember seeing the post where all the signs were bent. They are a smart animal.

    I do love the bed head pic. That one needs to go into a photography competition somewhere.

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    1. Thank you very much, Chrissy. Visitors often do lean or rest on the posts – I first learned the term when reading a newspaper article pointing out this fact 🙂

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  14. I hope the Bum Flossing exercise didn’t leave any splinters on the poor pony’s behind.

    You could put music to some of the scratching that goes on here. And just to be clear I’m referring to the animals!

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  16. HA! Bed head and bum flossing…I snort-laughed! 😀 Oh, a day in the life of a pony! 😉 😛
    Sometimes we just gotta’ scratch that itch…even if we are in public! 😮 😉
    And…uh…er…that wild bed head on that pony…I might have that same hairdo some mornings, too. 😉
    As for YOUR grass cutting…were the ponies your inspiration?
    I’m glad you didn’t say “For lunch I cut the grass.” HA! 😀 With the delicious meals Jackie serves you should never be eating the grass. 😉
    All of your photos today are lovely…but that first one is just spectacular! It make me say “OH!” out loud! 🙂
    (((HUGS))) 🙂

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  17. PS…the photo of the pony with wild standup bed hair is making me think of some rockers in the 1980’s who had hair like that…Rod Stewart, David Bowie, Jon Bon Jovi, and some Hair Metal Bands who needed some hair bands to control their wild hair! 😮 😉 😛

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      1. LOL. I have one on my keyboard. Don’t know why. Problems with Macs is they don’t really have ASCII codes. Mine is right next of the P. Now you can find those “weird” characters, using the “option” key, let or right of the “command” key. Press it and type on every key. That’s how I found the German ß: “option B”.
        Cheers.

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  21. A great action sequence of the pony rolling in the grass. When I was a youngster our family’s horse trainer told me that if a horse could roll completely over he/she was worth $100. That was a lot in late 1950’s. I remember a mare of mine “bum flossing”, but I used a term not nearly as delicate for her action. I really enjoy seeing your photos of the Isle of Wight.

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  22. I like the sparkly water and totally understand about the need for this pony to roll backwards and forwards. Bum flossing is resourceful considering what ponies have to work with.

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  27. Such a great photo. Pony with bed hair and bum scratching. It is the cover of a book for sure. Time to find a publisher for your photographic efforts.

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  28. Those are engaging reflections on a seaside, capturing momentary proceedings of happening over an eternity. The bum-flossing sequence is hilarious.

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  29. I enjoyed your time on the Solent and in the forest. The sparkling light on the water are quite beautiful!

    Bum flossing may be due to a bad case of intestinal worms like Timmy Tapeworm, Ronnie Roundworm and Percival Pinworm. 🙂

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        1. I forgot to send it, Lavinia. I completed it before we ate, intending to post it afterwards, then staled down to TV. It’s done now. Sorry to have caused concern – for which I thank you.

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  31. Animals can be so resourceful can’t they! The pony having a roll must have been quite agile to get up.

    Your first picture, of the light on the sea, is quite tantalising.

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  37. So funny, Derrick. Bum flossing is definitely a new term to me. 😀
    That horse had quite a bed head.
    You got in a full morning before cutting the grass!

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