On a largely overcast yet dry day Jackie donated some property to one Charity Shop in Highcliffe before lunch and we both did the same with two small filing cabinets to the Oakhaven Hospice shop in the afternoon.
We then took a drive into the forest.
On the first green at Bramshaw a couple of donkeys shared their pasturage
with a sheep and two lambs.
I photographed Jackie’s attempt to catch me focussing on the most inquisitive of the donkeys which, when I left them for the sheep, stuck its head through Jackie’s window.
Further along the road was claimed by cattle including our old friends Splash and Blackie the Highland Bulls. Jackie produced the close-ups of these two fearsome beasts.
A solitary pony perched precariously on the slope of the verge.
Another bovine group trampling the woodland at Furzley reminded us that this is about the time that cattle who have been kept under shelter during the winter are generally released to roam.
This evening we dined on succulent fillet steaks; chips, roast tomatoes, and garden peas with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Bordeaux.
Those donkeys look disturbingly familiar. Any day with a forest drive is a better day. 😎🌳🌳🌳
Thanks very much, Pat 🙂
The donkeys are cute, I’m not familiar with letting farm animals run loose. ❤️🇬🇧
Only here in the New Forest 🙂 Thanks a lot, John
I see, thanks.
What an interesting variety of animals seen on your drive. It seems you have both enjoyed a satisfying day, ending off with a fine meal. What could be better than that!
Thank you so much, Anne
I’m still amazed at how animals roam around there–especially the cattle!
The donkeys are so cute.
Thank you so much, Merril.
You’re very welcome.
Those bulls are impressive, but I was rather taken with the brown and white cattle in the last photos.
Thank you so much, Linda
The donkey had obviously heard about Jackie’s culinary skills!
Jackie had her back to the window trying to make her ballpoint work when she felt its breath on her neck. 🙂 Thanks very much, Sheree
that sounds too close for comfort, breathing of those proportions on ones “neck” … obviously social distancing not on his agenda!
😎
The Highland cattle look a lot fiercer than they are…….hopefully !
Yes, they are gentle creatures, John
I love every one of them!
Thanks very much, Cindy
Oh, I love Splash and Blackie. You got a real show today. Last night I got fillet steaks out of the freezer for tea today. I think I might add roast tomatoes to my plate, I picked a lot of multi coloured cherry tomatoes this week. (Norm won’t eat tomatoes of any kind)
Thanks very much, Chrissy. Ours were the cherry variety.
I like the cherry variety especially the yellow ones. I have a purple variety this year too.
Amazing. I thought all Highlands were “red”. Some are are black too?
Blackie is the only one I’ve seen, Brian. Thanks very much
So Blackie is an exception. Thanks Derrick. Have a nice week.
You, too, Brian
The nosey donkey was certainly that! We got a kick out of the Highlands sauntering past the Bentley dealership. Jackie scored very nice closeups of them.
Thanks very much from us both, Maj. I wondered who would spot that car dealership I the middle of nowhere.
I love the donkey with his muzzle in the window. In the photo next to that one, the donkey looks like Bottom in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”!
Nicely observed, Liz. Thanks very much. Jackie had her back to the window trying to make her ballpoint work when she felt its breath on her neck.
You’re welcome, Derrick. Sudden donkey breath on one’s neck must be very disconcerting!
🙂
The cars are losing that battle with those beasts.
They have no chance, Gary. Thank you very much
It’s nice to see animals free to roam in a relatively quiet place. I especially like the shaggy ones
Thanks very much, JoAnna
I love the curious donkey! Great shots today, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Jill
Whenever I stayed on a dairy farm in Denmark I was fascinated by the behaviour of the cows once they were let out of their winter stable. They definitely had their preferred friends.
Thanks very much, Gwen
Haha … I love Jackie’s curious donkey photos …
Thank you from her, and thank you from me, Ivor.
My pleasure guys
Those donkeys made me smile.
Thanks very much, Laurie
I love Splash. I have never seen a bull with such Hippy Dippy personality. 💞
Thank you very much, AnneMarie 🙂
That inquisitive donkey is really cute ☺️
Thank you very much, Ribana
Your adventures always have interesting animals.
Thanks very much, Mrs W
You’re welcome.
This must be the favourite time of the year for the cattle, although I suspect donkeys are free to roam all along the year. Those bulls look formidable, armed as they are with cutlass like horns. You have both captured interesting subjects.
What beautiful donkeys, sheep, cattle, and ponies!
I especially like the sweet donkey that just had to find out what Jackie was doing! GREAT photo! 🙂
HA! At least the donkey didn’t have any fierce horns! 😮 😀
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn 🙂 X
Good to see those bulls are passive and not riled by the cars.
They really are. We have been friends for two or three years
I imagine that if you ran into Splash and Blackie that the car would be a right off.
Definitely. Thanks a lot, Andrew
Beautiful photos of the animals and love the nosy donkey!
Thank you very much, Eugi
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Those donkey faces are priceless – I love the one with Jackie in the background. And I love the one with his face in the window! The bulls are “fearsome beasts,” indeed
Thanks very much, Jodie. Actually those bulls are gentle creatures 🙂
I guess they must be, roaming about like that.
I enjoyed seeing all the animals, Derrick and Jackie. Splash and Blacky seem pretty comfortable wandering about unattended. The donkey peering in the window is priceless!
Thank you very much from us both, Lavinia
Love All the four legged Derrick… Did you have your lasso at the ready?? 😉 lol 🙂 Great photos 🙂
Thank you very much, Sue 🙂