Ready For Her Close Up

This morning we drove Jan, Bob, and DeAna to New Milton station for the next stage of their journey to Switzerland. Jan e-mailed me three photographs taken on the platform for Waterloo.

Jackie and Jan by De;

Jan and Derrick by De;

and Bob and De by Jan.

A brief inspection of further storm damage revealed that Jackie’s favourite view from the stable door has been ruined by

a wind-blown lurch of the Wisteria Arbour.

Jackie had laid down the chairs on the decking, but simply closed up the parasol which had been lifted clear of the table through the centre of which it normally stands, and gently placed against the fence.

Plenty of flowers have, however, happily survived.

This afternoon we took a forest drive, intending to take the route to Pilley via Undershore.

A large tree had, however, been thrown across the now puddly path, so a reverse sweep was required on a lane requiring a numerous point turn.

As can be seen the day began with strong sunshine. This rapidly deteriorated into one of bright, brief, sunny spells forcing their way between dark, heavy, showers pattering on the car roof; spreading racing, rippling, rivulets such that the wipers could not keep pace to provide clear vision; and turning my T-shirt into a wet dishcloth when I stepped out at Pilley lake to photograph its current condition.

The water was now filling up, so that the lone pig which had a couple of weeks ago been part of a group that had frolicked over the dry bed must have been disappointed as it

stood on the surrounding landscape.

Rain now pelted where porkers had pootled.

On Cadnam Lane ponies reflected on pools; sheltered from the rain; or failed to dry their hair after another downpour.

Pigs were unperturbed by the elements, one was certainly ready for her close up.

This evening we sat at our lonely table and raised our glasses, containing more of the Sauvignon Blanc, and Chevalier de Fauvert Comté Tolosan Rouge 2019, to absent friends while reprising last night’s repast of sausages in red wine.

92 comments

  1. Ohhhhh! Such a lovely set of photos! And I chuckled out loud at the sentence “Rain now pelted where porkers had pootled.” ? Thank you again for such a wonderful three days with you and Jackie. You were the perfect hosts! Biiiiiig hugs to you both! ❤️❤️❤️

    1. You were soooo easy to have as guests! an absolute pleasure. Truly missing you all. XX

  2. Glad you had a good time with your visitors. All three of the platform shots are wonderful. The results of the storm are a bit frightening as we have seen our share of storm damage. And the portrait of the spotted porker makes an excellent header, resplendent with ear tags and nose rings.

  3. Great shots as you dropped your visitors off for the next leg of their trip! That was a nice visit! I’m so sorry to hear about the wisteria arbor — can it be repaired, or will it need to be torn down and replaced? I’m so glad you took a drive into the forest to see some of the damage done there as well!

  4. I wish your dear friends safe travels to Switzerland! What a wonderful visit you all had together!

    I am sorry for all the storm damage. Those winds were pretty destructive. I am glad you were not driving by when that big tree fell.

    I love the piggy portrait! You have done a good job of impressing Miss Old Spot, Derrick. She is giving you doe eyes and her very best smile. Even her snout is reasonably clean. 🙂

  5. I like the idea of a numerous point turn. I have had a few of those in my time. Your winds must have been quite worrying at times.

    Fine pig pictures.

  6. I agree with Andrew, you really have had more than your fair share of storms.
    Well done for being the perfect host to your guests. I wouldn’t have expected anything less.

  7. “Rain now pelted where porkers had pootled” made me snort-laugh! 😀
    OH! Continued great travels to Jan, Bob, and De!!! 🙂 So glad for the good time had by all! 🙂 I know you and Jackie put out the red carpet for them and were amazing host and hostess to them!!! 🙂
    Oh, my on the wind and the damage it caused! 😮 🙁
    I always love your rain photos!
    Oh, that piggy looks hip and cool…with all of those nose…er…snout rings! 😉 😀 😛
    (((HUGS))) 🙂

  8. Wow … that’s a lot of rain and wind Derrick … and again we are in for more unseasonal strong winds and rain this afternoon … .

  9. Pilley lake looks like a lake again! Your weather effects look like Carolina after a hurricaine. I’m glad some flowers are okay. The photo of the Japanese anemones is beautiful, and I love the ponies and the close up pig’s brown eyes. The pigs I volunteer with have interesting eyes, too.

  10. You brought the bursts of rain to my screen through your vivid description. The lake is being recorded faithfully. The porker posing for the portrait seems to be enjoying the swirl of elements. I learnt a new word, pootle.

  11. A beautifully alliterative piece – a joy to read as the morning turns to a light grey.. A good sign that we may get rain – if we do it will be the lightest of drizzle – a sharp contrast to your storm!

  12. The wind can do anything, but lifting a parasol out of the table and placing it gently against a fence is very impressive. Good use of movie quotes, by the way, Derrick.

  13. Oh, what fun to see your blog now in 3-D having been there! I love your alliterations and the details of the scenes you choose to capture. So sorry about the damage to your garden and the downed tree. Hopefully the winds will subside and the arbor can be repaired without too much trouble. Have a good day, D & J. It’s a beautiful travel day here – we’re about to get on the bus for Heathrow.

    1. Thank you very much, Jan – for this and for being you. I hope the rest of your trip is as delightful as you made this one. After an overnight thunderstorm we are due respite today, but 50+ m.p.h. winds tonight. X

  14. Lovely to have had WP friends to stay – a wonderful opportunity to get to know them better 🙂
    Those pigs look so fine – I trust that your sausages were locally produced?!

    1. Dammit, Emma. I was only a day ago saying I had to be careful if I posted pigs and ate pork the same evening because someone would be bound to pick it up. And, of course, you would have realised they were pork 🙂 Thank you so much – it was a wonderful visit.

  15. Despite the absent friends, you certainly had fun with writing this post. Seeing that downed tree, I’m glad you didn’t have more damage and that your garden is mostly OK. And glad, too, that Jackie managed the many point turn.

    That pig–definitely ready for the close-up!?

  16. Isn’t it strange that storms that can lift an umbrella, but leave delicate flowers unperturbed!! Love the pictures and your descriptions!!

  17. Such a wonderful visit you had with your friends. I love your photos of your farewell!
    The pigs are very photogenic! Beautiful shots all around!

  18. Oh, Derrick, you have such a way with words and pictures too. I am sorry about the damage to your garden. I just love those pictures of you and your friends – such happy smiley photographs.

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