I have been without a watch for a day or two. My Tissot needed a new strap and my Longines a battery. This morning Jackie found time to drive me to Robert Allan Jewellers in New Milton to have replacements fitted. We left the timepieces in the shop and drove into the forest before collecting them later from this excellent establishment which does the job quickly and efficiently.
Pastel skies streaked over the browning moorland flanking
the ever-crumbling Holmsley Passage
alongside which wild rose hips
rise above the rippling, reflective, stream.
From the passage we crossed Burley Road into Bisterne Close beside which the woods took on a decidedly creepy persona.
Beech nuts lined the forest floor.
The ditches
and the verge pool are filling up with the heavy rainwater we have been receiving lately.
A Travis Perkins lorry delivering bags of sand brought us to a halt. The driver was most apologetic. He had driven as close to the house entrance as he could, and would only be a few minutes. He underestimated how long it would take to tote one bag at a time up the drive. Having once been stuck on a verge with a similar drop to the one she would have to risk if we didn’t wait, my Chauffeuse reversed the Modus and took a longer back to New Milton.
This afternoon Dave, the plumber, visited to advise us on the replacement for our macerator which seems to be developing a death rattle; and Anne from Kitchen Makers advised that the handles we had chosen for some of our various new cupboards were not available and invited us to choose alternatives. After ordering the masticator of human refuse from Screwfit we called in on Anne and selected alternative grips.
This evening we dined on oven fish and chips, baked beans, and cornichons pickled in chilli. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Fleurie.
There is a sense of freedom that comes with being ‘watchless’. Beautiful photographs that reflect your keen eye for colour, detail and texture. Hats off to Jackie for reversing along that narrow road!
Thanks very much from us both, Anne. We often lose track of what day it is – never mind the time 🙂
Beautiful photos–and the woods do look creepy as they’re inhabited by the tree root creatures who also live in the water.
I had to look up macerator—and then wish I hadn’t. 😏
🙂 I’d never heard of one before moving to the sticks. Thanks very much Merril. I’m pleased you noticed the link between wet and dry creature habitats
You’re welcome, Derrick. 😀
You nailed it with creepy. Otherwise, it looks like an enchanted woodland.
Thanks a lot, Pat
Yes, creepy is the correct adjective. Glad you got your watches fixed quickly. Alas, the last family jeweler in our small town closed last year due to a well deserved retirement.
Thanks a lot, Maj. I hope ours keeps going for a while yet
There’s that fall landscape color palette I like so much!
Thanks very much, Liz. I had such a job loading this set into WP that I am even more pleased you liked them
You’re welcome, Derrick. Mr. WordPress seems to be getting more and more cantankerous.
Those are beautiful photos from your forest drive, and I love the old gnarly tree with exposed roots. I was reminded of artist Rowena Morrill’s painting “The Unknown Five”. Here is a link to the New Britain Museum of American Art:
https://nbmaa.wordpress.com/2014/04/01/bringing-life-to-what-goes-bump-in-the-night/
Thank you very much, Lavinia – especially for the link. Rowena’s work is stunning and the text engaging. Such skill in others is why I didn’t pursue book illustration 🙂
Oh my gosh, Fish and Chips with beans, sooo delicious! Jackie is a wonderful cook, Derrick! The passage over the stream does look a bit worn out. Your black and white photos make the forest look like a scene in a horror movie, well done! A Macerator must be what we call an Insinkerator or Garbage Disposal. Fun differences, have a great weekend. 🇬🇧😎
Thanks a lot, John. More fun differences. In parts that passage is only just wide enough for our wheel span
How convenient – you got your watches repaired and an interesting little drive to boot!
🙂 Yes. Thanks a lot, AnneMarie
It’s starting to look quite wintery in your splendid selection of photos.
Thanks a lot, Sheree. Yes, although with the cloud cover it is warmer once again.
That’s something at least
Love the ripply reflection photos!
I find the woods beautiful and magical. But your B&W photos bring textures, shadows, wonderings…and a creepiness, for sure. 😮 Ooh, wonder what lays amongst the trees! 😮
YAY! Lots of good workers in your life today!
(((HUGS))) and glad you know what time it is again! 😉 ⌚️
PS…
“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” – Henry David Thoreau
Thanks very much, Carolyn. Another lovely quotation. X
I particularly enjoyed the twisted tree roots.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
An appropriate poem I wrote 14 months ago Derrick ..
“A Tree Roots’ Exposed Colours”
During the blustery tempest light night
The wolves were howling with fright
And the arctic winds blew and blew
But the raging storm did not phase you
Even though your footings were open and bare
Skinless bones exposed to the cold air
Yet still you steadfastly resist the blizzards’ abuse
Defiant and strong, no matter what the news
Valiantly nurturing your mother-tree with true colours
And then daringly feeding your sisters and brothers
Thanks a lot, Ivor. Appropriate indeed.
My pleasure Derrick
The Travis Perkins lorry delivering bags would make a fun, yet difficult puzzle. Funny, I used to never be able to go without wearing a watch. Now that I think about it, I haven’t worn one in five or six years. Fish and chips! Yummy!
Thanks very much, Jill. With computers and mobiles we don’t really need watches, yet while without one I constantly found myself looking at a bare wrist
You’re right. It took many months for me to stop checking my wrist. But now I don’t have to worry about the batteries.😉
I like being able to see into the water at different levels. Cool tree!
Thank you very much, JoAnna
Definitely dark and eerie. Love the black and white and shades or grey. 🙂
Thanks very much, Chrissy
Are the beech nuts the same thing as the “beech mast” that the pigs and other animals eat?
Yes – but, interestingly there are no pigs about at the moment – it seems there is a shortage of acorns. Thanks a lot, John
Thank you for taking us along with you by sharing all the beautiful photos Derrick.
And thanks to you, Lakshmi
Ah, so is this where Hobbits are originally from? 😵
Yep
I love the gorgeous autumn colours in the the image on Holmsley Passage.
We had quite a few nuts on one of our horse chestnut trees but the other had none. I was waiting for them to drop so I could collect them but I think something got there before me because all I’ve found is one!
I don’t like spiders and was told that a few conkers in the house would keep them at bay because they don’t the odour. I usually rely on spider repellent spray, they don’t like that either.
Your supper is making me think about my lunch – perhaps I will have the same.
Thanks a lot, Sue. Good luck with the spiders
Thank you, Derrick.
Deliciously spooky photos! Woods and old trees have such a feel.
Thank you so much, Laurie
Creepy is the perfect adjective for the tree roots! Makes one wonder what and who dwells in those dark shadowy crevices.
I’m pleased, Eugi. Thanks very much
Initial landscape images are very nice but the woods take a definitely creepy hue. It seems to have been a day for repairs. Good that most things were resolved.
Thanks a lot, Uma
Looking after a house never ends, does it!
Afraid not. Thanks a lot, Helen
You are definitely well into autumn now, Derrick. I do love the cheerful colours.
Thanks very much, Robbie
Beautiful pictures.
Thank you very much, Mrs W
Your welcome.
I agree with you. Beautiful forest photos. I can almost smell the fungi🙂
Thank you very much, Sylvie
A busy day but that walk into nature always makes the day better 😉 Gorgeous photos!
Thank you very much, Ribana
Reading about getting your “watch attended to” made me think about whether you could even do that right now in Auckland with our lockdown – I don’t wear a watch but I thought if I did, it probably couldn’t be attended to. A whole raft of things can’t be attended to!
I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone and we talked about a whole gambit of things “we can’t get done…” including earlier in our lockdown, she went to use her car and the battery was dead! One hellva of a performance to get that attended to – and now she tries to drive it weekly, somewhere of course – not really very far as “we shouldn’t” … I don’t have a car.
Thanks very much, Catherine. At the moment we can enter most shops reasonably safely.
Quite a day you had! And so poetically described. I can see you at your computer, brain bubbling with beautifully blogged words- ah I love your alliterations! – “ rise above the rippling, reflective, stream.” I hope the photo uploading was easier last night than the ones before.
Thanks very much, Jan. It is good that you can now envisage me at work. I’m still not having any luck with the uploading.
Can’t click “like” on this! Praying the upload problem is resolved somehow – soon!
Your mention of the need for watch batteries and etc. reminded me that I stopped wearing a watch when I began varnishing, primarily for safety reasons; there’s too much on a boat that can catch rings, watches, and so on and do damage. Now, I haven’t worn one in thirty years or so, and don’t miss it at all. As my grandparents said, I work from “kin to cain’t” — from when I can see by daylight until I can’t. What the hour is makes no difference at all.
Wonderful, Linda. Thanks a lot
The opening photo of the sky is breathtaking…
Thank you very much, msw
“death rattle” and “masticator of human refuse!” oh my goodness, Derrick.
🙂 Thanks very much, Crystal