The Rain Kept Off

Today was forecast to be another of sunshine and showers, so we drove out early for a brunch at Hockey’s Farm Shop. In the event, although rain threatened on the way out

through Walkford,

along Ringwood Road,

along flooded and reflecting Gorley Road where skies were blue, and maple leaves sunlit;

and on our post prandial return along Roger Penny Way,

Lyndhurst Road,

and from sun-tipped clouds above Lyndhurst we felt none, although leaves swirled about like golden showers and acorns and other mast clattered upon the car roof.

The clear water at Ibsley Ford sped under and over the bridge,

offering vehicle drivers the opportunity for a free car wash, while

a sunny interval dappled the nearby woodland.

Gleeful Gloucester Old Spots at North Gorley, joined on the road by a friendly equestrienne, rejoiced in collecting much of the earlier mentioned mast in the continuing pannage season.

After enjoying her Laura’s favourite meal Jackie satisfied herself with photographing the cakes and hollyhocks at Hockeys, before visiting the aviary and focussing on some of the residents, namely

a zebra finch, a cockatiel, several diamond doves, and three cuddly budgerigars.

Needless to say, I didn’t manage to finish reading Priestley, but I did cover a lot more.

This evening we all dined on Jackie’s succulent, well filled beef and onion pie beneath firm short crust pastry; crisp roast potatoes; carrots, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts, well timed to arrive al dente together, and meaty gravy with which the Culinary Queen drank Peroni and I drank Chilean Reserva Privada Malbec 2022.

70 comments

  1. Wow! What a wonderful post, Derrick. I wonder how many cars might have gotten stalled trying to get through that flooded way. Beautiful photos of, well, everything!

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  2. Gleeful Gloucester Old Spots! Thank you, Derrick! I was hoping to see more of them before they go back to their individual farms for the winter.

    The forest scenes are beautiful. Still a lot of high water where you are. The ponies will have plenty of seaweed soup to graze on. I hope you do not get any more severe storms this season.

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  3. The sun gave you some lovely autumn scenes. I particulary like the one with the barbed wire. Were the doves as plump as they looked, or are they fluffing their feathers?

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  6. Such a variety of photos with your trademark witty prose. It’s hard to pick a favorite. I’m glad none of the cars got stuck at the carwash. I hear warnings here all the time not to drive through flooded areas. I’m glad the weather held for your outing.

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  7. I don’t think I need to go for a walk today. Your photos gave me such a variety, I feel like I went on the outing with you. I love the Spring photos where trees lined lanes and roads ways. I love bird photo too.

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  10. Some of the pics are not showing in my app. Nevertheless beautiful pics. Lots of pigs and ponies. No dogs? I loved the rain filled sky and the twirling path way going where? Inside the woods? Countryside is so beautiful.

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  12. Wow, so much to cover in this potpourri of a drive. Who was Roger Penny? We are regularly warned during heavy rains about the potential problems of driving through deep standing water, but free ‘car washes’ are always a good reason to ignore the nervous nellies. First, free roaming ponies, now, hogs. How quaint (and funny). You are such a lucky man to have Jackie and her fab meals. Thanks for the tour, Derrick.

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  15. Glad you got to see some blue patches of sky with the beautiful autumn leaves and happy pigs. No matter what the weather, you know how to make the most of every day.

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    1. It is, but in fact not as much as when we first came to the New Forest a dozen years ago. Thanks very much, Arlene

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  21. What a lovely assortment of photos, accompanied by your delightful prose, Derrick. It seems you enjoyed your day despite the rain.

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  25. Hi Derrick – the weather is so cold here and now and Ijust might need to make a beef pie – mmmmm – Jackie’s sounds so good
    —
    also, Roger Penny Way is a wonderful drive and that water seemed like a good car wash – haha

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  26. It certainly looks damp, given the rain held off! There have been drought conditions in Mississippi this year and that car wash would come in very handy here. Your meal sounds so delicious today. I can’t work out how much is due to the Culinary Queen, how much to your description and how much to me feeling hungry!

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