Traffic Control Duties

On the morning of a very dull day we cleared much more of the wisteria arbour. We have now realised that the plant itself held the posts in check, thus protecting the greenhouse and the potted plants. Jackie carefully extricated the beams from the clutches of the heavily pruned wisteria, and, apart from a couple returning the security service,

we transported them to the stack we have at the far end of the garden beside the orange shed. The very long one required two of us to carry it. On the way along the Gazebo Path I lost my balance and fell to the ground. My unharmed right elbow landed on the border stone and sent a shock up my arm to my shoulder. After lying on my back for a while I managed to get to my feet with the aid of a chair Jackie brought me. I shifted another couple of beams then called it a day. My shoulder hurts so I am looking after it.

After lunch we drove to Streets ironmongers in Brockenhurst where Jackie bought firelighters and a few other items. We continued further into the forest.

Despite the pewter dome placed over the autumn colours of the woodland, they were not to be dimmed.

Evidence of the very recent breaking of a splendid beech tree was presented in the form of recently sawn logs and their dust around the roots.

Ponies at East Boldre were on

hedge clipping,

grass cutting, and traffic control duties.

The waterlogged corner at St Leonards Road still provides cold soup for the animals.

This evening we dined on pork spare ribs, hot and spicy prawns, and Jackie’s flavoursome omelette-topped savoury rice with which she finished the Chardonnay and I finished the Douro.

96 comments

  1. Oh, no! 🙁 So sorry to hear about your fall. 🙁 I hope your shoulder will heal with just some rest and care. Keep us updated. Will include you in my meditations, prayers, and bestest wishes for healing. <3
    The the pewter dome needs to realize Autumn colours are impossible to dim! 😉 The colours are so vibrant and bright in contrast to the rest of nature's November colours. 🙂
    YAY! The ponies are on the job! Working hard! I hope the cold soup is a nice reward…Hmm…Should we call it Gazpacho for the Gallant-Ponies. ???
    (((HUGS)))

  2. I do hope that your shoulder stops hurting soon. It sounds as though you did great work today, closing the garden’s season – as well as capturing the beautiful sights and colours of Autumn so wonderfully.
    That pony seems to be drinking deep… perhaps concerned that the water will freeze over next week in the cold snap that is promised. All together, today’s post seems to focus on ‘fall’, as well as the gentle traffic calming indicated in the title…

  3. You have my sympathy. I’ve had a few of those falls, and it always surprises me how quickly they happen. That bit of time between the moment we realize we’re falling and when we actually hit the deck isn’t very long. I ought not laugh, but “My shoulder hurts so I am looking after it” is just so “you” — understated, reasonable, and filled with the sort of wisdom that comes with our age!

  4. Your poor shoulder! I do hope it feels better soon. I smiled when I read about your wisteria and the posts you extricated today. It was only after I had finished cutting away all the twisted dead clematis stems recently that I realised that the clematis montana (severely damaged in the ice and snow in the late winter) had been holding up the trellis and not the other way around.

  5. I hope you’re feeling better and glad you rested on your back for a while after the fall. Lovely autumn colors and ponies. Maybe the beech tree will make it back.

  6. You have clearly taken the fall in your stride. I hope your shoulder heals fast. The wisteria arbour wears a revolutionised look. The autumnal photos are exquisite.

  7. The bright autumnal colours are very pretty, as are the horses and ponies. They are a fine reward for hard work (and a fall – ouch) in the garden. I look forward to seeing the fruition of Jackie’s plans for that demolished arbour come spring.

  8. Take care of that shoulder, and try not to fall over again…..easier said than done as I’ve found out the hard way! Just look at that sports car. 4 LDC. Who’d have thought it. Leonardo di Caprio in the New Forest.

  9. I hope your shoulder is feeling better today, Derrick. I’m also glad you didn’t break any bones in your fall.
    You still managed to take some lovely shots–I like the autumnal woodland (under the pewter sky) and the ponies, of course. ?

  10. Most people have to pay for landscapers, but you and Jackie do it at home and the pretty ponies do it out on the streets! Such a good deal.

  11. Gravity does catch up with us, and emphasizes that getting old is a pain, then another pain, etc. We’re grateful no serious injury resulted from your fall. Your description of the “pewter dome placed over the autumn colours” is magnificent, as are your photos of same. Take care and take rest.

  12. Sorry about that fall. A funny coincidence…I fell yesterday, flat faced on the pavement. Luckily, I didn’t break a tooth or anything else. For some reason I thought of you. And then I read that you fell. Weird! Glad you didn’t break anything.

  13. I’m sorry to hear about your tumble, Derrick, and wish you a speedy recovery. Thank you for sharing your lovely pictures of the forest and the ponies.

  14. It’s never good to fall, particularly onto concrete! Do take care and stay upright, Derrick — trips to Urgent Care (a half-way spot that is for non-life-threatening urgencies) are no fun at all! And nor are the results of most falls!

  15. I love the little blue shop building in one of your photographs, Derrick! And reading about your fall hurt my elbow and shoulder a little. I’m glad you weren’t injured badly. Have a wonderful week! 🙂

  16. Derrick, I’m so sorry to hear of your fall. I’m surprised that you had the gumption to go out photographing after that. But so glad you did. Wonderful photos (and captions!). I hope you’re feeling well.

  17. I had missed this post somehow, {{{Derrick}}} – so I had to go back and find out how you hurt your shoulder. Sorry about your fall!! Did you go have a doctor look at it to see if you have dislocated something? If not, you should. Do not suffer in silence! Continued prayers for your comfort and no permanent damage there!! <3

  18. All right. (If I may say so). Nothing broken then? Pain should subside soon. No swelling? No – major – difficulty in lifting or turning the arm? (Just sound like my MD daughter now) ? Though as you know, if pain goes on a little while an X-ray should put your mind at ease.
    Sorry for that inconvenience. It’s when one hurts something that one realizes how often we use that something…
    Prompt healing. ??

    1. Thanks very much, Brian. Raising and stretching forward are problems, otherwise use is not bad. Very reminiscent of a similar rugby injury 60 years ago. (Less trouble typing now)

      1. Rugby now? Never played, though I had many friends on the rugby team, and we went to games often. If you take it easy you should probably be fine in a couple of weeks… All the best.

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