Late yesterday afternoon Jackie had photographed the porcine weather vane on Bull Hill. Gloomy as it was there was no mist.
We began the day by visiting the Royal Mail Delivery Office very early. Jackie parked outside on Lymington High Street while I entered the office to do battle about the non-delivery card featured yesterday. This related to a package which had not born sufficient postage. I plonked the card on the counter, simply stating that I had followed directions and posted the card to them only to receive it back in our own letter box the next day. Saying nothing, the gentleman I had spoken to walked away and returned with the ‘package’ which bore no postage at all.
When I expressed surprise at what this was I did receive an apology and was not asked to prove my identity. Returning to the car I handed Jackie the item and made my sister Jacqueline’s morning by, through gritted teeth, thanking her kindly for her Christmas card which undoubtedly cost us more to collect than it had cost her to buy.
While waiting for me Jackie had photographed a foggy High Street.
She pulled over at Undershore Road while I continued my conversation with my sister and
photographed some boats on Lymington River.
A pack of cyclists emerged from the mist on South Baddersley Road.
We diverted to Tanner’s Lane
where I stepped out to photograph the beach and its environs, including a flotilla of geese and solitary silent gulls. The honking of the larger birds drew my attention to how quiet the morning was. The only other sounds we heard on the whole trip were the mournful notes of foghorns and the plops of mizzle moisture dripping onto soggy leaves.
Jackie photographed a corner of the beach, and me on the silently sliding shingle.
The drips rippling the eponymous Lake made no sound as we made our way along Sowley Lane.
We drove along St Leonard’s Road to the relics of the Grange. Cattle peered through the gloom, and pigeons perched on the roof of the barn.
Our familiar group of ponies with their Shetland acolyte trotted briskly past, close enough to become more visible.
Those at East Boldre remained obscured.
At East End the thatcher’s fox still kept its quarry in sight.
It was not yet 11 a.m. as we returned home along Southampton Road.
For dinner this evening we enjoyed another helping of Jackie’s delicious beef pie served with similar, fresh, vegetables to yesterday, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Tempranillo.
Reet gloomy… glad it was Derrick 1 PO 0
Thanks a lot, Geoff
š
The fog makes the countryside look ethereal and beautiful. Do all cars have a yellow license plate on the back, and a white one on the front? Some states here require a front plate, others don’t.
Yes, John. Thanks very much
Sometimes a gloomy day can be uplifting to explore. Glad you had such a nice warm meal to come back to!
Actually the temperature was mild, Lisa. Thanks very much
These pictures are great, you two! They could have easily been used in “Twilight Zone” episodes!
Thank you so much from us both, GP
I love the porcine weathervane photo with its shades of gray. I also really like the first “Trees in Mist.”
Choices to please us both, Liz. Thanks very much.
You’re welcome, Derrick!
Derrick we love the shot of you “emerging from the mist” like the narrator at the start of a documentary! So sophisticated! Is the fog a common occurrence in your area?
A sea mist is not unusual, but this was nationwide and not so common. Thanks a lot, Maj
Iām currently reading Mexican Gothic and have Gothic novels on my mind. You have a wonderful setting for one.
Thanks very much, Crystal
Love the misty water colored photos. That fluorescent green really pops out. Nothing less satisfying than an unfulfilled bout of righteous indignation. š
Thank you so much, Pat
Even the mizzle has its own beauty,and you have captured it well. It is grey but dry here today.
Thanks very much from us both, Lavinia
You and the assistant photographer did very well to get so many interesting images out of such a dull day.
My late 1800s etiquette book is quite firm on the subject of correspondence. “DON’T, through laziness, neglect to ascertain that the stamp you are affixing to the envelope is of sufficient value to defray the postage of the letter…Nothing is so annoying as to receive a letter, and to have to pay extra on the postage because of the negligence of the sender…”
You just knew that book would be handy, one century!
My aunty gave it to me when I was about eleven. I think I was already a lost cause by then. But it sure does make interesting reading!
I’ll remember that, Gwen. Thanks very much
Must inform your correspondent?
Oh, no. Yvonne’s suggestion is much more fun š
Yes, I see where you are going with that. Lots of fun indeed. One to pass on to the grandchildren to continue as long as there is a postal service š
š
Wonderful photographs – both of you! They tell the tale of the weather and the moods and the area so well. So evocative.
Thank you so much from us both, Jodie
<3
Jackie and Derrick,
What marvelous misty morning mizzle photos! (Was it cold out?)
Love the trees in the foggy mist and the geese and cattle! š Looks like the pigeons on the roof are social distancing. š And the AP’s photo of the GP is wonderful! š
Glad the mystery of the mail was solved. š A story to tell during family Christmas gatherings in the future. š
(((HUGS))) š
PS…the foggy misty days remind us that life isn’t just black or white. š
PPS…your descriptions and alliterations always entertain! š
Thank you so much from us both, Catherine. Your close reading and comments are always appreciated. In fact it was quite mild in temperature.
Gloomy, ghostly and a bit ghoulish
Nice one, Sheree
š
It is the thought that counts.š That was a pretty thick fog. It doesn’t seem like a great day to be out bike riding. Is that a road that vehicles drive on?
š Yes, AnneMarie, one of the busier roads. Thanks very much
What? All that trouble and not even a pair of socks? Well, thatās a poor do.
I should tell Jacqueline not to bother with a card next year, she can wish you a Happy Christmas in person during your pre-Christmas meal! š
Or, bring the card with her.
Tell you what, Derrick should send it back to her next year, sans postage. They can start a family tradition!
Haha, great idea, Yvonne!
š
What a marvellous idea, Yvonne
My sister (In Canada) and I (in Australia) had a birthday card that read “From your sister to my sister” which we kept going for many years. I still have it, from its last exchange.
Please do it. š
Will do š We have a bottle label that travels between us and Flo since she was about 10. It was peeled off the bottle in Ben & Jerry’s and after a certain amount of sticking on bodies our granddaughter slapped it on our windscreen. It has been smuggled in various containers backwards and forwards for years. It now resides with her in Kentucky………
Brilliant response, Sue š Thanks a lot.
š
Not my favorite kind of weather. Well, at least the postal mystery has been revealed.
Thanks very much, Rosaliene
You both did a great job with the photos. I’m usually not a fan of dense fog, but these shots are beautiful. Not the greatest driving conditions…please don’t risk life and limb for your fans! š
Thank you so much from us both, Jill
The heavy fog seemed to force the drivers to slow down ao the highway Derrick…
https://youtu.be/45CWjwQ5IUI
Thanks a lot, Ivor. Unfortunately the video is unavailable
I am writing an abstract foggy haze poem at the moment Derrick, and I might use one of your āfoggyā photos , if that is ok šš
Of course it is OK. I’d be as pleased as always.
Thank you Derrick ..
Beautiful pictures even in the gloom.
Thank you very much, Mrs W
Your welcome.
You’ve conveyed a dense feeling of mystery in these photos. The moist air would be welcome since ours is very dry here. Tanner’s Lane sure needs some work. I have a feeling it may be like that for a while longer, though.
Bright sunshine today, JoAnna. š Thanks a lot.
I’m glad you got to enjoy the variety.
And…did you step in the puddle or jump over it?
I’m neither young enough to jump in it nor over it, Bridget – but thanks for the thought š
My bet is, he went around it.
Correct, Yvonne. Bridget is having a laugh about me jumping over it.
Bridget is a meany!
š
This set of misty photos exemplifies English weather for me, even though I am fully aware that the sun does make appearances, albeit infrequent.
Thanks very much, Dolly š
You are very welcome, Derrick.
I laughed aloud at your successful (?) run to the post office. Actually, you should count yourself lucky. I’m still waiting for a Christmas card from a Canadian friend that was mailed in 2020!
š Thanks a lot, Linda.
Gosh, so even the shingle was sliding quietly! Isn’t it odd the way fog/thick mist mutes sound. What an anti-climax to discover your mysterious package was a Christmas card.
It was, rather, but given who it was from gave us all a laugh. Thanks very much, Anne
The lovely streak of musical alliteration in the title has carried on into the post ahead. It is fascinating to watch the surroundings under the veil of mist, the busy streets and waterways and the woodland. The photographer too.
Thank you so much, Uma
That is certainly a very misty day. I don’t think we have had such weather here in Nottingham for a good while, and I can’t remember any proper fog for years. Ending the burning of coal has had a great impact in cities.
Thanks a lot, John. I think you would appreciate this post: https://derrickjknight.com/2013/01/06/london-smog/
A magnificent interpretation of the murky misty morning. As for the Christmas card …. š¬
Thanks a lot, Sandra š
I was sort of hoping that when you finally received the package it was not for you but for a next door neighbour.
The misty fog is very atmospheric. I enjoyed the pictures.
Thanks for that, Andrew š
That’s a lot of fog.
Thanks a lot, Arlene
Oh, I love the pictures of the trees surrounded by the fog, and mist.
Thanks very much, Betty
Ah, there is my favorite word, mizzle, again. I included it in one of my poems and received several thumbs-up comments plus one of my fellow bloggers highlighted my poem in her blog.
A mizzly day –
mizzly and grey, the
sullen day brought on a smile
beneath the rainbow
Lovely, Eugi. Thanks a lot
Thank you and you’re welcome.
These are splendid photos of the fog. I especially like the weathervanes and the cattle in the mist.
We rarely see mist like this here, Derick. It is quite interesting and creepy.
Thanks very much, Robbie. We see frequent sea mist where we are – but this was exceptional and lasted all day.
It looks like a scene out of Great Expectations.
Yes, indeed. š
What a gloomy day! Iām wondering what happened to the postage? š§
No stamp. Thanks very. much, Ribana