After a visit to the pharmacy in Milford on Sea, Jackie and I took a forest drive.
As we entered the narrow Shotts Lane at a point at which it has no passing space we approached a cyclist speaking with two pedestrians standing across the centre strip which doubles as a grass and weed bed because any vehicle’s wheels have perforce to span it. The bicycle and the three people hugged the hedgerow in order for is to wave as we passed by.
Further along, Jackie sat in the car on someone’s drive while I walked back to take this shot. Twice I needed to follow the example of this trio as I squeezed myself against the shrubbery.
Then the original cyclist, offering a second photo opportunity, whizzed smiling past me.
Cud-chewing camouflaged cattle and calves blended with Bull Hill’s browning bracken.
As it is Dillon’s birthday today we wished to surprise him with a meal at Pilley’s
historic Fleur de Lys. I therefore entered the 11th century pub to make a booking. Unfortunately they do not offer food on Sunday night so this wasn’t possible. I also learned the very sad news that the comparatively new management who took over just as the first Covid lockdown was imposed, and are now faced with the current catastrophic cost of living crisis, will be leaving after about two months. Consequently we will have to postpone our grandson-in-law’s introduction.
Tonight’s dinner was deferred.
That pub scenario looks as though it is going to be increasingly common unless the government can get its act together. I liked the recumbent cattle.
Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
It seems to be a common refrain, tootlepedal. so many ripples from that darn virus.
I really enjoyed the photos of the cattle in the bracken. I’m sure you must have posted similar scenes before, but these really caught my attention. Very nice.
Thanks very much, Linda. This year the bracken is browning early
Sad hearing about another small business falling pray to the times.
I was saddened to read that as well. My favorite independent bookstore was just getting a foothold when Covid struck. They had to close a few months ago.
Thanks very much, Maj
Love the pictures. How were you able to post them? Sorry about the deferred dinner. I looks like a really wonderful place. Happy Sunday, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Pat. SueW of Nan’s Farm has been helping. I send the images to her; she resizes them and sends them back as links; I post the links in the normal way. Sue is a great help and a good blogging friend
She should be appointed CEO of WordPress, and also CHE (Chief Happiness Engineer).
Absolutely
Haha, I like that idea – thank you very much, Yvonne 🙂
That is wonderful. What a good friend and I agree with the other comments that say she would be a huge improvement from what we normally get from WordPress. Hope you local guys can help you tomorrow or someday this week.
What a good friend. I agree with some of the other comments saying she should be given a leadership position at WordPress. Hope your local geeks can help you with this problem this week.
Thanks again Pat
Oh, I love that first scene with the cows, such a beautifully muted color palette!
Masterful alliterative sentence: Cud-chewing camouflaged cattle and calves blended with Bull Hill’s browning bracken.
Thanks very much, Liz. I did work on that a bit 🙂
🙂
He does like a touch of the alliteration, does he not?
Yes, indeed!
Happy Birthday to Dillon! 🙂 Stretch out his celebration and enjoy a delicious dinner out soon! 🙂
Sad to hear about the pubs woes. 🙁
Peaceful path. Comfy cows. Beautiful bracken. (As you know, I always love your alliterations…and try to come up with some of my own. 🙂
(((HUGS))) to all! 🙂 ❤️
I do like our joint wordplay, Carolyn 🙂 Thanks very much. X
How sad that this very old establishment will be closing. Happy birthday to Dillon!
Thank you so much, John
Such a shame about dinner. For a moment there I thought you were going to say you’d booked the wrong pub! 😂
🙂 Thanks a lot, Sue
I was just wondering whether those cows, all left to wander and mix together, breed only with cattle like them, or do they interbreed freely?
A good question. They keep to their own herds, so I don’t think there is any interbreeding
That’s so sad about the pub. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos today. Happy birthday to Dillon!
Much appreciated, Jill
Love those old pubs and the thatched roofs. Sadly, more businesses are likely to be lost or change hands due to the changing economic times.
Yes. The Wheel – our favourite Community owned pub – was the first to have to be sold. It is still good, though. Thanks very much, Suzanne
I am sorry about the deferred birthday dinner for Dillon, but I am sure he was not disappointed with anything Jackie served up! (although that pub does look very charming)
Thank you very much AnneMarie
So sad to hear about the pressure on small businesses because. Of COVID. Times sure are achanging … hopefully for the better in the long run 🙏💕💐
Thanks very much, Val
Oh, that’s sad news about the historic Fleur de Lys pub, it’s indeed an impressive building from the 11th century
Thanks very much, Ivor
Clever alliteration on the cows. I’m sorry the pub management will be leaving and hope something good works out for them.
Thanks very much, JoAnna
Much of the pressure after COVID has fallen on hospitality being the most businesses closed and restricted rules when they did finally reopen. It’s happening everywhere, including here in Australia. There is also a shortage of hospitality staff with the many deaths, changing jobs to survive and a whole lot more returning to studies to upgrade their credentials and better paid jobs.
I hope you get to celebrate Dillon’s birthday real soon.
Thank you very much, Chrissy
What a bummer, Derrick. It would have been a grand surprise. Your photo of the curved road with center strip was helpful in understanding your reference. It also brought back memories. As a child, the driveway from the street too ir back yard was the same, cementing two sides with grass down the middle. Thanks for the nostalgia.
Much appreciated, Steve
Wishing Dillon a Happy Birthday! I am sorry the planned dinner did not take place, and my heart goes out to the owners of the Fleur de Lys who are having to leave due to the cost of living crisis.
The bracken is quite brown. How has the temperature been?
Mid 20s now, Lavinia. Thanks very much
Sadly, the hospitality industry has taken a very hard knock all over this country too. I found this a peaceful post to read early in the morning of what is bound to be a busy week ahead.
Thank you so much, Anne
What a wonderful pub. You just encouraged me to research the oldest 15 pubs in the UK.
Thanks very much, Cindy. Here’s your starter for one: https://derrickjknight.com/2018/08/03/fleur-de-lys/
What a shame that the couple have fallen victim to the current financial situation. They were so wonderful! I’m sorry you had to postpone your plans. By the way, your photos today and the poetic prose to accompany them were magnificent!
Thank you so much, Jan
Sad…..but nice pics as usual
I love the cattle photos (and alliterative caption). Those photos look very autumnal.
Happy birthday to Dillon! It’s so sad about the pub, and his deferred dinner. I hope new owners will be found before too long to take it over. It would be sad if it closed permanently. How many 11th century pubs are there? And with that beautiful thatched roof?
Quite so, Merril. Thank you very much
Happy birthday to Dillon! I’m sorry to hear the place will close down! So many restaurants and shops are closing down unfortunately!
Thank you very much, Ribana. I trust you will be OK
Birthday wishes to Dillon and I’m sorry to hear about the closing of the pub. It seems to be happening more and more, unfortunately.
Thanks very much, Eugi
Most welcome, Derrick.
What a wonderful building. I hope someone takes over the pub and makes a real go of it.
Thanks very much, Nikki
Quite a narrow road you were on derrick! Love the photos of the cows! Sorry about the restaurant and dinner!
Thank you very much, Aletta
We saw a customer for the first time in 12 months – he has been involved in closing down his business – people aren’t using local shops these days. We will miss all these local services in years to come.
We will, Quercus. Thank you very much
I’m sorry to hear of your pub closing. We are beginning to see a glimmer of hope, with new restaurants or rieiterations of old ones opening on a fairly regular basis.
Thank you very much, Janet
I am sorry about the deterred dinner. The shots of the narrow path are marvelous.
Thank you very much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Pubs and restaurants are in for a tricky time.
Thanks, Andrew
We have two local village pubs that have shut over the summer months. Same thing. Just not financially viable anymore. Sadly once closed they tend to end up being sold as houses.
Thanks very much, Gary
COVID-19 made its mark on many businesses. As a former office worker with minimal production floor responsibilities, it makes me wonder if I could have been one of those lucky people who could have done most of his job at home, comfortable without shoes, socks, or slacks.
Here, another impact was having to pay people more to try to find sufficient workforce to conduct business.
As an immuno-compromised person, I became a bigger user of Amazon Prime, for example, and other internet retailers since I live in a part of the USA where anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers make being in public as potentially dangerous as letting it be known you aren’t a supporter of that disaster of a president, Donald Trump.
Even though things are safer now, if not over, I still find myself avoiding crowds and shopping in stores. Multiply my behavior times a population, and you get situations where favorite restaurants are forced to face economic reality and have to close. Tragic.
Bucolic scenes, as ever, are appreciated. Sad news about restuarants falling on hard times– everywhere.
Thank you very much, Cynthia