On another dull, yet warm, morning which had been very wet, Jackie and I took a short forest drive, returning home just before another deluge descended.
We travelled by way of Church Lane alongside which
horses and ponies occupied sodden fields. While photographing the ponies I ascended a sloping verge covered in a thick carpet of fallen leaves. Hidden by the foliage were thin bramble tendrils, one of which I tripped over and fell once more onto my right shoulder. As I sat wondering how I was going to stand up, three passers by helped me to my feet, one mentioning that he hoped I had no more than a wet bum. I exclaimed that I certainly had one of those.
So did the ponies, and those we saw later outside the Pilley Community Shop.
This afternoon Jacqueline and Elizabeth visited for coffee, Tunnock’s Tea Cakes, and reminiscing.
We had each attended the same primary school, albeit some years apart. Some of our teachers offered each of us the benefit of their services. It was perhaps natural that we should swap stories about these. Those readers who have not already read https://derrickjknight.com/2012/11/01/maureen-potter-and-plasticine/ may care to follow this link for some enlightenment. When, in describing Miss Flaxman’s treatment, I reached the phrase “on the backs of your legs”, Jacqueline said it for me.
This evening Jackie, Becky, Ian, and I enjoyed second helpings of yesterday’s Indian takeaway meal with which I drank more of the Merlot-Tannat and the others shared Pedro Jimenez Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Sorry about that wet bum! Love those pony pictures!
Thanks very much, Jan. I won’t pester you with questions about Bob, but please know that we are thinking about you both. X
Thanks, Derrick. Bob is recuperating here in Placerville – and is breathing a little more easily today. Your healing thoughts are appreciated.
That is good to know. Your book was much appreciated over the holidays. X
I’m glad you enjoyed the book. We certainly enjoyed and appreciated our time with you … in spite of the weather (or maybe because of it…?? It gave us more time inside with you & Jackie!) <3 <3
XX You are right
Hope you’ve not done a mischief to that shoulder…the ponies look moody but if you’ve unable to towel dry, I guess they have to put up with rain.
Thanks very much, Catherine. Shoulder recovery set back a bit. The ponies tolerate whatever is thrown at them by the weather
I think it’s the firsts time I see a barn or shelter for the horses in the pictures.
Thanks a lot, Bridget. Some people do keep the ponies in fields and provide a shelter, but I tend mostly to feature them in the wild.
Those sneaky little roots and brambles can cause some trouble. I hope your wet bum was the worst of it, and that you didn’t do real damage to your shoulder. I learned my lesson (no damage, though) when i began prowling the east Texas woods. What looks like a clear path sometimes isn’t. Those leaves can hide a lot!
Thank you very much for the solidarity, Linda. The shoulder recovery has been set back a bit
I had to reread “Maureen Potter And Plasticine.” Just as good the second time around.
Thank you so much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
I’m certainly glad that the passerby’s helped you out. You might have been in a sticky wicket otherwise. And that you still felt well enough to download the pony pictures!!
So nice that you had company and happy memories to share!
Thank you very much, GP. I wasn’t going to let you down š
Well – THAT made my day!!
Those hidden brambles are very pesky. I have had several ‘moments’ with them. You have my sympathy.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
A wet bum is easily fixed. Not so easy to fix a bung shoulder. Hope it healed up okay
Thanks very much, Amanda. The shoulder will take a while.
Rest and Ice is a good prescription
I’m sorry about the wet bum, but more concerned about your shoulder, is it okay?
I enjoyed the pony images but going back to the first set, the pony on the left, and in the close up in second image is giving you a right old once over with that stare!
The pony certainly was. Maybe he put the hex on me as I mounted the verge to get a better angled shot. Shoulder progress set back a bit. Thanks you very much for your concern, Sue.
Maybe we will get some rain in the next few days Derrick … it’s been consistantly warm/hot here, during the Christmas and New Year holiday season ..
Good luck, Ivor. Thanks very much.
Watch those falls! I am glad you are alright. The ponies look wet, but very sweet. š
Thank you very much, Lavinia. I’d rather be watching those falls š
I went back to re-read your earlier post. I did remember those stories once I started reading, and I remember commenting at some point how our teachers would never have been allowed to punish us that way. It’s good some kind people helped you and your wet bum!š
Wonderful pony photos, but I also like Church Lane. It looks very mysterious.
Thank you very much, Merril. It was the norm over here in those days
I’m sure it was in some schools here, too.
So very glad you weren’t terribly hurt. As I am still recovering from my fall in November, I winced when I read this post.
Thanks very much, Laurie
On bedraggled damp days humour is so important. Hope your fall doesnāt have any aftermathsā£ļø
Thanks very much, Val X
I’m glad you weren’t hurt, Derrick. Please be careful! I fell in late October and I’m still having some issues. We have your wet and dreary weather.
Thanks very much for your concern, Jill
Hope there is no lasting damage to your shoulder. Glad you had assistance in getting to your feet.
Thanks very much, Pat. I can still cross my fingers š
Love your response. I’ve fallen and I can’t get up is no joke.
I hope a wet bum was the extent of the damage. We must be careful on those sloping verges. Who knows what might be lurking under those thick carpets of wet leaves? I like the textures of wet pony hair.
Thanks very much, JoAnna. A little early to say yet, but shoulder recovery probably set back a bit
A wet bum is worse if it’s because you were bent over in a koala enclose to pick up a broken branch… Yes, the koala had moved to a place just above me. At least it wasn’t my hair. š
š I’m pleased to have prompted that memory, Chrissy š Thanks very much
It is fun spending time reminiscing about a shared past.
Yes. And this is the season for it. Thanks very much, Anne
Try to be careful, Derrick, you’re not a rugby player any more. The ground is a lot further away now than it used to be.
That must be it, John. Thanks very much for your concern
When I read about your fall, it scared me! š® š
How is your shoulder doing? I hope all you did get was a wet bum. So glad there were people there to help you up. Please take care of you!
The ponies are so sweet! Love those faces! I wonder if wet pony smells something like wet dog! š š
It IS fun to reminisce about those primary school days. š
Love your header photo (wet hide) AND your Church Lane photo today! So artistic! š
(((HUGS))) š
Thank you so much for your concern, Carolyn.
Sorry, Carolyn – pressed send too soon. Wet ponies have no apparent aroma. X
Bright sunshine here in the east, I took the grandchildren to the seaside and it was like a summer day.
I love your photos of horses , we don’t see them here. Thank you.
A wet bum is not very pleasant! I hope youāre ok š
I’m sorry for your accident. Beautiful photos.
I enjoyed reading āMaureen Potter And Plasticine.ā I never was paddled by a teacher. In my day, if a child was extremely unruly, the parents were called to pick him or her up at the principal’s office.
I had a PE teacher (I was 13 at the time) and she was very tough and brash. I lived in Florida and our PE class was held outside in the 90 to 100 F heat. The teacher got angry because we were complaining of the heat and had us carry bales of hay up a hill to the archery area as our punishment. I came home with scratches all over my arms and after I told my mom what happened she was at the principal’s office the next day. The teacher was fired. If that happened today, the school would have been sued.
We’re finally having a brush with winter today with temps at 35 F. Some of the areas a little to the north of us are seeing snow.
Take care of that shoulder.
Excellent photos, Derrick. Take care out there – we don’t bounce as well as we used to. š
We don’t, AnneMarie š Thanks very much
I hope that shoulder is ok.
Thanks very much, Lindsey. It is taking its time
The tree picture is beautiful.
Thank you very much, Mrs W
You’re welcome.
Quite a soggy adventure! How is your shoulder, Derrick?
Still painful, but I can do more with it. Thank you very much, Dolly
I wish you a full and speedy recovery, Derrick.
X
Charming ponies–but sorry for that fall. At least you fell on wet earth, not a hard place! Best to you for healing up and getting out once more.
Thanks very much, Cynthia