Fairly early in a drizzly morning of gloom seeping from still rain filled skies we set off for a shopping trip to Lyndhurst.
This was Vaggs Lane. The smudged trees on the left hand side were beyond the reach of the windscreen wipers.
Father Christmas now stands upon the Tiptoe postbox on Wootton Road.
The moorland alongside the A35 to Lyndhurst looked decidedly hazy.
The High Street did not look tempting for shoppers,
yet some stalwarts persevered,
even if only, briefly, to window shop.
A Big Issue vendor seemed to have given up on finding customers. (The Big Issue is a rather good newspaper focussing on the issues of housing and homelessness. The profit goes to the homeless vendors).
The postbox decorations outside the Lyndhurst Tea Rooms, where we brunched, were also serving a fundraising purpose, in an attempt to preserve the Foxlease Activity Centre, more information on which is given on the site at the bottom right of the banner.
The Fox & Hounds pub alongside featured seasonal window boxes and The Forage across the road strung a garland of baubles.
A black bird watched from above, no doubt rejoicing in the fact that it did not have to
dice with death walking across the road.
In the interests of conveying the nature of the weather I have resisted the temptation to brighten all these images.
This evening we all dined on Mr Pink’s crisp fish and chips, pea fritters, and Mrs Elswood’s sandwich gherkins. Once she had prised
her bread and butter pudding from the top rack in the oven, Jackie’s dessert was to follow. I finished the Côtes du Rhône.
Rough shopping these days, eh? Today through Monday, our roads will look like yours! I wanted to get some shopping done too, but Yuck!
Lovin’ the decorations on the mailboxes.
That’s quite a meal you had!!
Thanks very much, GP. I had to pass on the pud
Cloudy and dismal here, but not raining…but not really full on daytime quite yet. Gardener with his mowers here…a bit too early to my liking!
Thanks vert much, Catherine
Festivity and fundraising–it’s the season! I liked the blackbird on the roof and chuckled at your comment.
I hope it didn’t take too much effort to get the oven rack to release the bread pudding. 🙂
Thanks very much, Merril. It soon caved in 🙂
🙂
Such a dank day today, the photos look just like Michigan this time of year. At least people are out and about though. ????????????
Thanks a lot, John
You’re welcome. ☺️
We have been dealing with wet, cold, misty, dark here – rain off and on – getting out to go to doctors and shop for groceries. Always nice to be back in the warm home!
Thanks very much, Ed
These photos show the reason for the season of lights and ornamental baubles outside and inside shops and homes. We need holiday lights to brighten up the grey season. Happy Holidays, Derrick, to you and yours.
Your good wishes reciprocated, Pam. Thank you very much
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My favorites are the hazy landscapes. That bread pudding sure looks good.
Thanks very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Even a rainy day looks nicer with Christmas Decorations.
I am gluten-free, so sadly the wonderful bread pudding would be a no for me. I know it tastes as good as it looked. I could almost smell it.
Thank you very much, Bridget
Your welcome matches ours today.
Thanks vert much, Andy
You’re welcome.
I think the weather has been pretty gloomy in many parts of England recently Derrick.. Those poor drenched knitted Christmas decorations on top of posts box’s look a little droopy… But Jackie’s Bread and Butter Pud, definitely brought Good Cheer.. 🙂 xx 😉 <3
Thank you so much, Sue X
The combination of miserable weather and constant exhaust fumes makes me happy that I wasn’t shopping there.
Indeed. Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
Gloomy but still Christmassy, and I love all the Postbox adornments Derrick
Thanks very much, Ivor
You have conveyed the nature of the weather admirably, yet the holiday spirit is still felt through the decorations.
Thank you very much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Great pictures and a delicious dinner. Day looked overall dreary.
Thank you very much, Pat
I love the hazy images, they are so dreamy. Shopping is probably down all over. That bread pudding looks amazing!
Thank you so much, Dale
It looks such a busy place. Done purchasing gifts online. All I need now is to shop for some veggies that I will use on Christmas day.
Thank you very much, Arlene
It was fun to peek in windows across the ocean from the comfort of my own home. The post box decorations are adorable.
Thank you very much, JoAnna
The post box decorations are a delight! Do the creators reclaim them later or do they join a depository maintained by Royal Mail? I think they would make a great museum item! Do you know how and why this practice started?
I don’t know anything about it, Doug, except that it seems to have begun within the last ten years. Thanks very much.
It’s a charming practice!
Your Foxie’s reminded me of a certain Foxy’s, a very popular (and my favorite) beachside bar in the islands — specifically, Jost van Dyke. It was a fascinating place, not only because of Foxy himself, but also because it was filled with cruisers from all around the world. There was lots of story-telling there!
Thanks vert much, Linda
Yesterday was gloomy – sans the rain – giving the day a wintry feel. Fortunately the sun has come out cheerfully this morning and I am planning to swim shortly. Congratulations to Jackie on the bread-and-butter pudding which has risen beautifully: this has been a favourite of mine since childhood!
Thanks very much from us both, Anne. I hope you had a good swim
Oh dear Derrick. How gloomy it is in the forest. A fine day in Lincolnshire but still too wet for golf.
Thanks very much, Andrew
And just the bread and butter pudding to brighten the darkness of a gloomy day!
Thanks very much, John 🙂
You’ve captured what is so December to many of us. 🙂 The weather-mood can be gloomy and cold, but the people, the lights, the decorations all bring me great joy! 🙂
I really love the lone blackbird pausing for a break from the hustle and bustle. He is a reminder we all need some rest, a few breaks, maybe even some alone-contemplative times this busy holiday season. 🙂
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much, Carolyn XX
I can almost feel the chilly damp air when looking at your gloomy images. That kind of day makes you want to rush home to the warmth and a favourite chair.
After a damp start, we enjoyed a dry day yesterday at 5°C. It was a relief to have felt a little warmer and dryer than usual. We are to expect the same today.
Good luck, Sue. Thanks very much
It’s been a bit more dry over here in Berkshire. The ground is still too wet and slippery for country walks though.
Thanks very much, Kim
Wonderful captures of dreary weather, Derrick. At least there are the Christmas decorations to liven things up.
Tanks very much, Eugi
You’re welcome, Derrick.
The misty moors have their own beauty. Not long until Christmas now, then the march forward into the new year. This one has gone by so fast!
It has, hasn’t it, Lavinia? Thank you very much
Gosh, that bread and butter pudding looks perfect for warming a wintry evening.
Thanks very much, Lindsey
Hi, Derrick – I love Father Christmas on top of the postbox. And that dessert in the oven looks amazing. I swear that I can smell it from here!
Thank you very much, Donna
Miserable weather, great Post Box toppers and a wonderful pudding. Life looks good!
Thanks very much, Quercus
We went round the local market town. It was similar, wet grim and so unappealing.
Thanks very much, Gary. But Hawklad managed it, it seems?
What wonderful street scenes!
Thank you very much, Cindy
That’s a splendid pudding! AS always love the knitted decorations on the postboxes. There are so many that there much be a group providing the wooden bounty.