This morning I watched a recording of last night’s rugby World Cup match between New Zealand and Italy.
Later, Jackie and I took a forest drive, stopping at Hockey’s Farm Café for brunch.
Ponies enjoyed ambling ahead of traffic at Bramshaw, or standing in its way at North Gorley.
Donkeys were everywhere: ahead of ponies at Bramshaw;
blocking the road at Nomansland;
engaged in mutual grooming at Piper’s Wait;
and wandering Fritham’s woodland,
along with what I think was an Old English Game chicken.
The usual grunting Gloucester Old Spots snuffled in haste competing for mast at North Gorley. The sign in the first picture in this gallery warns visitors that pigs are roaming free.
Later I watched the matches between Argentina and Chile and between Fiji and Georgia.
This evening we all dined on roast pork, sage and onion stuffing, Yorkshire pudding, boiled new potatoes, carrots, and broccoli, with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Grenacha Old Vines.
Great animal shots! Looks like a nice day.
Thanks very much, Pat
So many animals on the roads, that would be frustrating. I hope they aren’t hit and killed. Dinner sounds so good! ????????❤️
Unfortunately a number of the animals do die. They don’t bother us because we are so seldom in a hurry. Thanks very much, John
Your local animals are absolutely magnificient!
Thanks very much RR
I love pannage season and all the pigs, ponies and animals roaming about. The mutually grooming donkeys are adorable! Nothing like a good scratch! The Old English Game rooster is a handsome fellow. I looked them up. They are very beautiful specimens of the chicken world. And of course my favorite Gloucester Old Spot pigs. Watch your trousers, Derrick! 🙂
Thanks very much, Lavinia 🙂
Like the pannage pigs. Like the roast pork and stuffing. Win-win from the porcine pint of view.
Thanks a lot, Quercus
🙂
And roast pork for dinner? Perfect end for a pannage day, I’d say…or did I go too far with that comment?
Not at all. The signs outside Hockey’s will soon be advertising pannage pork – it changes the flavour a bit.
You have had a feast of rugby to watch. Has it been any good? I watched half a one sided Scotland game today.
They have been a mixed lot. Fiji v Namibia was two halves; those one-sided games are inevitable in the pool stages, of course. Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
“Donkeys were everywhere” … what wonderful sight Derrick
Thanks very much, Ivor
I love all the donkey, pig and pony pictures and the Old English Game cockerel is very handsome indeed.
Thank you very much, Clare
The rooster was unexpected!
Thanks very much, Liz. It was.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Sports, good food and a nice drive sounds like a perfect day! Thanks for sharing your lovely photos, Derrick.
Much appreciated, Jill
I know there are signs encouraging people to go slow and watch out for the animals, but I still worry a bit. If I lived there, I’d probably be advocating for large billboards. WATCH OUT FOR THE ANIMALS ON THE ROAD!
There are some of those, too – with figures of animal deaths. Thanks very much, JoAnna.
Rugby paradise ( at least it is for the Welsh man), rugby everyday
Thanks very much, Sylvie. It is looking pretty good for both the French and New Zealanders, which should please you 🙂
Not so good for the All Blacks, but we’ll see
Lovely, lovely pics. Do you take the pics from inside the car or get down in between halting the drive?
The yellow plated cars are commercial taxis? In our country, commercial cabs and taxis have yellow number plates.
Why the warning about pigs? Do they attack?
Too many questions.
But again very beautiful pics giving glimpses of serene and scenic English Countryside.
Thank you very much, Geeta. Sometimes, like the first ponies, shots are taken through the car windscreen on the move – otherwise I disembark. Yellow number plates are fixed on the rear of all cars. The pigs don’t attack, but they can cause havoc running about the roads
Thanks Derrick. You answered all my stupid questions. ????????
Why only the pigs, even the donkeys are roaming free. However, I am intrigued by the lone chicken meandering the woodland proudly and wonder where did he break free from.
Yes, Uma. Me, too. Someone’s farmyard, I guess. Thanks very much
Well, I’ve certainly never seen such a concentration of domesticated animals as there is in these photographs!
Thank you very much, John. I stopped taking donkeys because there were so many.
I approve of the number of brunches you and Jackie go out for 🙂 🙂
Thanks very much, Anne. 🙂
It must have been Donkey Day…Ha! So many of them! A coffle, a band, a herd! 🙂
I enjoy the pigs and the ponies, too!
And Mr. Rooster looks large and in-charge! I wonder if he crossed any roads. (wink, wink) Ooh…or maybe he took the road less traveled. 🙂
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much, Carolyn X
What an absolutely brilliant day for photographs.
Supper sounds delicious too.
Thank you very much, Sue
I must go and drive through those villages. Would love to see all those animals.
Thanks very much, Kim
What beautiful encounters so difficult to enjoy for those who don’t live in the countryside!
Thank you so much, Luisa
My pleasure!
Your title did not lie. So many wonderful photos. I love the donkeys, and the Old English Game chicken looks like he knows how handsome he is.
Thanks very much, Merril
Love it! The animals may slow the people down, but I think it’s great!!
So do we, GP. Thanks very much
As always, I am amazed at how many animals are running free.
Thank you very much, Laurie
Are the pigs aggressive, Derrick, or just large and potential traffic hazards?
The latter, Alys. They are very excitable and small enough for drivers not to see them with their noses to the ground. Thanks very much.
Ah. Thanks for explaining. From what I’ve read, pigs are highly intelligent creatures. I think they’re adorable. That said, horses, cats, dogs, birds, pigs, and on and on, have no frame of reference genetically for the automobile.
What a lovely day and stunning photos of the animals and the chicken. The colors on the chicken are stunning.
Thank you so much, Eugi
You are most welcome, Derrick.
A lot of livestock for you to capture.
Thanks very much, Andy
You’re welcome.
It’s so amazing to see the spotted pigs roaming wild.
Thanks very much, Susan
I always enjoy your animal pictures.
Thank you very much, Robbie
In my memory, it is the first time this colorful chicken made an appearance among other fauna captured by your camera, Derrick.
That is right Dolly. They have some at Hockey’s, but in a wire pen
An escapee?
Possibly.
Full of life all around 🙂
Thank you very much, Ribana
Love that rooster! Cock-a-doodle-doo!!!
Thanks very much, Jan