Although by mid-morning it had now desisted despite the winds’ persistence, the precipitation from the steady overnight gales washed over Christchurch Road as we sprayed our way along to Efford Recycling Centre transporting ten more spent compost bags of garden refuse.
Late this afternoon we drove to Mudeford to catch the sunset.
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Strong winds whooshing through my ears rippling the low tide failed to drown the tinkling mastheads of yachts moored for the winter; the mewing of gulls; the hammering from a nearby building site; the cawing of rooks. Otherwise the scene was silent, while I perched on a
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bench waiting in vain for
the sun to emerge from behind the horizon-obscuring clouds.
Apart from her shot of me Jackie also photographed a gull, a yacht, and a stack of smaller vessels.
The world’s first postage stamps were the UK penny black issued on 1st May 1840 and the twopenny blue, five days later. While contemplating the pyramid of Remembrance Day poppies atop Mudeford’s rare Victorian post box of 1859 I wondered how many of those early receipts for payment had passed, adhered to letters and cards, through that unusual upright slot, now becoming as uncommon as themselves.
I would not expect to see this purple hebe currently in bloom.
This evening we all dined on plentiful portions of excellent food from Kings House Chinese Takeaway, only because the Hordle one is not open on this day. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I decided wine would not complement hot and sour soup.
It looks like the sunset was worth the wait. 🙂 I like people watching while down by the river as well as little areas of focus. Everyone else just rush by on their hurried walk with headphones on staring straight ahead. I often ask myself ‘why bother walking in a glorious location if you don’t see or hear the sounds around you?’ Remembrance Day was celebrated quietly in our home this year. Norm, though, led a Remembrance service a local RSL aged care centre on the Friday before the 11th.. In full summer uniform and wearing his medals of course. 🙂
Thank you very much, Chrissy. Good for Norm. I feel the same way about headphones, which I have never used
I also like to hear nature when I’m out walking. I would only use headphones at a gym or while traveling, so as not to bother others.
The light in the first photo of the beach in black and white is stunning. The sailboat in Jackie’s photo looks very similar to ours, but we wouldn’t have enough draft as close to the beach as this one is. I wonder whether your waters are deep enough close to land for sailboats not to shallow out.
That sailboat is always there, so I guess it has enough water. Thanks very much, Dolly
My pleasure, Derrick.
I am sorry about those clouds but they did give you some splendid rays.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
Very atmospheric prose and pictures.
Thank you very much, Pat
Picturesque indeed! And your prose wax poetically beautiful ????
No question marks! That’s WP saying it doesn’t recognize my happy face emoji!
Understood
Thank you very much, Jan
I have never seen a Post Office Box with a vertical slot … very intriguing Derrick
Thanks a lot, Ivor
I love the header photo and the crepuscular rays.
Thanks very much, Liz
That’s a very cool mailbox. It puts our boring ones to shame!
Thank you very much, Donna
Some great shots, so it was worth the effort. Nice post box. I could, if I were younger, become quite enthused about post boxes. 🙂
Thanks very much, Quercus
🙂
Lovely photos, guys, I wonder why the boats aren’t put in dry dock for winter. I read this morning that a huge storm was pounding Scotland with high winds. The postbox is in great condition considering it’s age. ????????????
Thanks very much, John
????????????????☺️☺️☺️☺️
Not my kind of weather 🙁
Thanks very much, Rosaliene
That’s a lot of garden refuse to compost. Thank you for recycling! Nice sunbeams coming out of those clouds. 🙂
Much appreciated, JoAnna
I’ve never seen a slot that way around either. It would make sense in a downpour!
Thanks very much, Susan
Our post office – never mind post boxes – is barely operational these days. Even though this sunset wasn’t as spectacular as your previous captures, the photographs are lovely and encapsulate your damp weather.
Thank you very much, Anne
The photo of you bench sitting is lovely! Your patience paid off…beautiful photos by you and beautiful photos by Jackie! The beaming sun amidst the clouds put on quite the show.
That post box is a cheery color!
The rarities are a treasure to find.
(((HUGS))) 🙂 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you very much from us both, Carolyn XX
Victorian postboxes are extremely rare and I’m sure that I read somewhere that at least one had been dug up and stolen, presumably by a collector.
Thanks very much, John
I love the image of you sitting on the bench.
What a magnificent postbox, it’s the first of its kind I’ve seen.
Thanks very much, Sue
A pleasant way to spend a day…Mention of the earliest postage stamp, took me back to watching my dear Dad: tongue between teeth…sketching his beautiful calligraphy around each of his special stamps – of which they were many. He left a wonderful collection to my youngest brother, and I have a half-filled collection to treasure. Cheers.
Much appreciated. Joy
I have boxes of old letters, now a thing of the past. I used to collect stamps and had one of the ones you mentioned.
Fabulous sunset
Thanks very much, Sheree
I love the moodiness of the first photo, and the postbox is majestic and looks to be in excellent shape.
Thank you very much, Eugi
You’re most welcome, Derrick.
I like the sun rays you got in the sunset and Jackie’s photo of you. Pensive. 🙂
Thanks very much, Merril
Wonderful photos amid our appalling weather conditions of late Derrick.. Sending Hugs to you both xx <3
Thanks very much, Sue X
At least you caught a glimpse of the setting sun. The photos were still pleasing, Derrick and Jackie.
A post box pillar from 1859! A tie to the past. That postal pillar has spanned three centuries and has seen much. If only it could talk! I hope it survives a good while longer. I like the little Remembrance Day poppy hat someone knitted for it.
Thank you very much from each of us, Lavinia
Gorgeous!
Jackie has quite the eye for photographing. That would be a great shot for a book cover, when you publish
Well, unless you want your face to show ^_^
I absolutely adore that telephone box idea.
Thank you very much, Gary
That rays of sun from behind the obscuring clouds are beautiful!
Thank you very much, Ribana
Some lovely shots.
Thank you very much, Rupali