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Towards the end of yesterday afternoon Jackie drove us to Emsworth to join in Ian’s birthday meal at Nicolino’s restaurant.
A month ago, I had photographed white doves in the morning light on and around the bell tower of St James’s Church. Yesterday a few remained on the roof basking in the evening light. A certain amount of interbreeding with pigeons appeared to have been going on.
Becky
and Ian were on their balcony to greet us.
We were joined in the restaurant by Ian’s friends Keith and Kirsty. The two men enjoyed reminiscing about their schooldays. The tilt of the picture behind her fiancé niggled Becky so much that he was required to straighten it.
I haven’t traditionally been over-keen on Italian food. Nicolino’s, in serving quite the best I have ever tasted, has provided the exception that proves the rule. I can’t remember what my starter was called, but, like all the others, it was a meal in itself.
The calzone that followed was a fresh, firm, parcel with succulent contents.
I didn’t really have room for this splendid summer pudding, but I forced myself.
My wine was Le Focaie sangiovese Maremma Toscana 2012. It didn’t come by the glass, so I brought half a bottle home. I suppose if I stretched my brains I would be able to name some of what the others consumed, but I really can’t be bothered.
Jackie drove us home on the M27 afterwards as she had done on the outward journey. This had been when our curiosity was aroused by the unusual sidecar passenger of a vintage motorcycle.
We just had to overhaul the biker.
Who was the intriguing little chap,
gradually coming into view,
looking this way and that?
Could it be?
Surely not?
Yes. A dog. Strapped in a seatbelt. I do hope the motorcyclist saw the thumbs up sign and the camera lens I poked out of the window as we passed.
My title pays homage to Mark Haddon’s superb little novel, required reading for anyone involved with autism, ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime’.
P.S. My thanks are due to Barrie Haynes who put this on a Facebook comment: ‘This is a nine year old retro Triumph Bonneville (Yankie type with high bars.) It is still in production and named after the Utah Salt Flats where the company had some success. Those panniers would have set him back a pretty penny and, according to the signs, the sheepdog is Scottish! There is an urbane myth about why this section of the M27 was originally laid in concrete sections? They say that it was because of the ‘Oil Crisis’ around that time. Hope this is of help.’
The dog certainly looks happy enough.
It was wonderful, watching the wind ruffling its ruff
Superb novel, superb play, and superb post, Derrick.
Many thanks, Ann. I have to agree 🙂
From a Happy Birthday Ian to a happy dog with the wind in his fur – sounds like a really good day!
Thanks a lot, GP. It was, rather
Love the pictures, the food looks amazing, and the dog is hilarious 🙂
Many thanks, Margaret
My pleasure :):)
Emsworth’s a lovely little place. Nice sidecar. In rural areas, you often see sheepdogs riding quite happily with farmers on quadbikes and tractors.
Thanks a lot, Mike. I’m sure. I wasn’t sure, but I thought this was a collie
Great motorcycle photo! And that book is so good.
Many thanks, Leslie
I would have trouble eating that dessert too – so I hope you left some for me.
🙂 Thanks a lot, Bruce
Ironical that sign in the second picture — I paid a visit to our GP today with a back pain shooting down legs, arising from a trapped nerve. At least that is what sciatica is supposed to be about, I gather.
Funny, the only ‘Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ I have come across is the Sherlock Holmes story. It has long been one of my favourite illustrations of a significant non-event. I have now acquainted myself with the Haddon version arising from the quote.
The sidecar is a more respectable spot than the perch on top of my motorcycle petrol tank my first German Shepherd was accustomed to!
Many thanks, Leslie. The Haddon can be read in an afternoon well spent. I do hope your pain subsides
Nice!!! Kisses <3 <3 <3
Many thanks, Nilma X
What a happy day! 🙂
Yes. Many thanks, Amy
That’s one cool Scot with his dog 🐶
I like that you noticed that, Val
Loved your title. Have you seen the play, too? Very cleverly done.
We missed the play, Jenny. Many thanks
LOL! I’ve never seen a dog on a motorcycle…great shot, Derrick!
Many thanks, Jill
The photos of the motorbike/sidecar, bought back many memories, thanks Derrick…
Many thanks, Ivor. That’s good to read
what better way for the dog to travel. We see it up here often enough. Dog after all is our best friend/companion….. I was impressed that you actually refrained from getting at your food .. to take pictures. =^_^=
Thanks very much, Dymoon. I had a bite of the starter first 🙂
I just love every image. And a beautiful post it is.
How are you? Hope you are doing well. Will glad to have you at my site and your words at my latest post. Thanks!
Thank you, Purva. I have responded with pleasure
The afternoon light on the church is fantastic. Interestingly, the brickwork looks like little pegions aligned into the facade. The puzzlement with Italian names is a familiar experience, my daughters are quite the connoisseurs though.
The book you’ve paid homage to is sitting on my bookshelf for a while, untouched by my eyes. But I have read The Red House by the same author and enjoyed it too. He has this unconventional style of writing dialogues that might test one’s patience in the initial pages.
I loved the biker with the dog in the buggy as the duo grew upon me in successive frames.
Thanks very much, Uma. You’d finish the book in an afternoon. Haddon gets right into the unusual mind. The brickwork is well observed
We have a vendor at a local farmers market who appears every week with his dog in a sidecar. I have no idea how he gets his produce there. The food looked fabulous!
Many thanks, Elizabeth
Great photos once again! The Scottish sheepdog, mmm….saving on muscle power, maybe? Thoroughly enjoying him/herself it appears! 🙂
Many thanks, Rob
Nice post – that is one of my favorite books! Also, I’m sure you really suffered through that dessert, what a sacrifice – ha! Looks like a great meal.
Many thanks, Karen
A love the images of the dog in the sidecar (and your clever homage to the book)–but somehow it doesn’t seem too safe for the dog.
I missed some of your posts, so now I’m working backwards. 🙂
Thanks very much, Merril – for this and for catching up
Love that book and also saw the play when I was in London.
Wow. We missed the play. Thank you very much, Mary.
This was a great way to share the fun sight of dog in the sidecar. As well as the wonderful birthday celebratory meal, Derrick. The dessert and the prawns or shrimp look delicious.
Very many thanks, Robin
Surely you jest! Italian food is far superior to the French, equal to the Greek, and second only to mine!
Nah – too much pasta and veal.
When I was first introduced to Italian food by the Crown Prince of Australian Dings in Perth, back in 1966/67 pasta and veal was not often on the menu.
The War Office aka my wife assures me that pasta is very good for you; probably because she likes itl but I cook it rarely.
A belated Happy Birthday to Ian. Sounds like a good time was had by all! 🙂
Many thanks, Lavinia. I will pass it on
Looks like a good day. This could be the start of a new photo series – animals in sidecars. 🙂
I’ll bear that in mind. Thanks, Quercus