This morning’s sun shone blindingly bright in clear skies; the temperature was finger- tingling chilly. Because the meteorologists had predicted rain this afternoon we drove out early to Mudeford Quay.
I had never seen the normally tranquil harbour water as choppy as it was today.
The high tide surged back and forth over the shore line leaving bubbles clinging to driftwood;
gulls bobbed among the undulating surface oscillations,
occasionally taking to the air
and settling on the grass
until scattered by hastening motors.
Leaving a pair of brisk joggers to their exertions I walked over to the quayside with its
rougher seas and bouncing buoys.
A solitary jogger trotted past two women progressing at a gentler pace, while
an eager dog towed its owner along the pool sprinkled promenade.
From a safe distance an animated baby seated in a buggy was being shown
waves battering the sea wall.
Jackie photographed me
photographing her. How’s that Pauline?
As we prepared to move on the Assistant Photographer showed me an image she had produced of
yacht masts and a bench, and related the story of the day.
Before my Chauffeuse had moved over to the quayside a young woman had emptied a carrier bag full of food onto the grass in front of Jackie’s car. Within seconds
a squabble of seagulls swooped seeking sustenance and set about each other scavenging insatiably.
It was all over in a flash.
At Avon the eponymous river had spread itself across the neighbouring fields,
encroaching upon calves’ feeding area.
We continued on to Hockey’s Farm shop for brunch, where we were disappointed to discover that the café was closed because a new floor was being laid.
The straggly-damp alpacas in the pasture might have appreciated their own new floor.
A thatcher’s pig has flown up onto the roof of the cottage repaired last summer.
The hair of a group of ponies at South Gorley may have been dry, but now it needed a good shampoo.
Others a little further on seemed to have had one already.
We returned to the excellent Café Aroma in Ringwood for our plentiful brunch, then travelled home facing oncoming driving sleet.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s watercress soup and rolls with which I finished the Costiere de Nimes.
Wonderful pig!
Thanks a lot, Marina.
You always seen to capture the most wonderful images of nature Derrick.
Thank you very much, John.
That’s choppy! Had we set out to sail under these conditions, the boat would list so much as to “move sideways,” as my husband calls it.
Please educate me, Derrick: what is that pig doing on the roof?
koolkosherkitchen you are about to be seriously amazed by Derrick’s response – I was! 🙂
Can’t wait!
🙂
Am I missing something?
I think you’ve seen my explanation now, Dolly.
I have, Thank you.
🙂
It’s super cool isn’t it! They look so lifelike – and here’s me thinking for years how did that pig/goat/donkey get on that roof? 😀
I had thought the same – how did they get the pig on the roof?
Do you know the expression ‘pigs might fly’ ? 🙂 Seriously they have scaffolding and special ladders they lay across the thatch.
I am visualizing a live pig climbing ladders…
🙂
🙂
🙂
It is made of thatching materials. The thatchers use them as a signature – We see pheasants, ducks, donkeys etc…. Thanks very much, Dolly.
Amazing! I went back and enlarged that photo; it looks so natural.
Thank you for explanation, Derrick.
🙂
I have enjoyed today’s outing with you both.
Thank you very much, Anne.
A splendid photo narrative, Derrick. I enjoyed the dueling photographers. 🙂 And that pig is marvelous. What fun!
The sea definitely looked choppy. I’m glad you got home safely in the sleet.
Thank you very much, Merril
Splendidly done you two – the photographers photographing 😀 Jackie’s photo of the gulls swooping on the food is wonderful – they are so quick and quarrelsome too. Siddy is terrified of them! I’m joining in with the floor replacement woes. My bathroom floor is about to be hauled up and replaced due to the hot water cylinder developing a slow leak – it does rather make life a little inconvenient…….
Damn the leak. I hope it’s not too disruptive. So pleased you enjoyed the post 🙂
I’m sure I’ll mention it in a post when something actually happens …..
🙂
What a day! You two certainly know how to enjoy each other while enjoying the country!
Thank you very much, GP 🙂
Okay…you almost got me with the pig, Derrick. It looks so real!
🙂 Thanks a lot, Jill
I love the seagull pics. I have a mob of turkey pics similar that I love.
Thank you very much, Mrs W
Your welcome
It was most definitely bracing today Derrick. Great images my friend. 🤗
Thank you very much, Sue
Stunning photos sir
Thank you very much, Gary.
Loved the alliteration!
Thanks a lot, Sheree.
The gulls are having a great, gaudy, glorious, gull-rific day! 😀
I guess pigs are now flying! 😮 😛 🐷 Wonder what will happen next?!?! 😉
Love the alpacas, calves, and ponies! They can all get a mud bath or make mud pipes to sell! 😉 That photo of the calf and it’s refection is lovely! 🙂
So glad The Great Photographer took a photo of The Assistant Photographer taking a photo of him! 😀
HUGS!!! and stay warm, dry, and clean! Ha! 😉
Thank you very much, Carolyn. Glorious alliteration. X
That pig on the roof caused me to do a doubletake! In the first two seagull pictures, the water has an interesting indigo hue to it.(Or is it my monitor?)
I liked the flying pig. There are several things in the current political scene that bring that image to mind. The photograph of the photographer photographing the the photographer who was photographing the photographer was very modern art.
Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
I enjoyed your chilly outing today.
Full of cold, I stayed home in front of the kitchen log burner listening to the dog snoring and watching the first snow of the year begin to fall. It was short-lived and very soon meltedl
I hope the cold will be equally short-lived
Thank you, Derrick, this morning I feel as though it’s on the turn.
🙂
I love the thatched pig on the roof! Yes, those ponies need a good bathing after all the mud. Seems like you had some good photography weather before the sleet on the way home. our weather has been variable as well.
The morning was perfect for photography – and the afternoon brightened up, too. Thanks very much, Lavinia.
Nice captures as always Derrick and Jackie seemed to enjoy taking pictures too.
She does, Arlene. Thank you very much.
Everyone seems to enjoy the sunshine more after the cloudy weather.
Yes. Thanks very much, JoAnna
I’m so confused about the pig. Is it real?
No – it is the thatcher’s signature mascot. Most
of them put a bird or animal up on the roof when finished. They are made of thatching materials. Thanks very much, Lisa.
Oh okay! Gotchya!
It looks like it might be starting to dry out a little!
It does, but there is more to come next week, John. Thanks very much.
I like the ‘sort of’ selfies!
🙂 Thanks very much, Andrew
I love the stories you tell, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Ann
A squabble of seagulls and a flying pig. Never a dull moment in your part of the world. 😉
Thanks very much, Laurie. We hope not 🙂
As opposed to seeing our ever-growing homeless population covered in mud and trying their best to stay dry under tattered tents and tarps, after more than a week or rain over here, I find your muddy cows and ponies quite charming. We had a moment of sunshine yesterday, and it felt sooo gooood! Love the pig on the roof! Does that have any special meaning, or is it just for fun?
Thanks very much, Anna. The figures on thatched roofs – e.g. also horses, donkeys, pheasants, ducks, etc) are the thatchers’ signature creatures.
Oh, I love that! Thanks for the explanation, Derrick!
Lovely fresh air and muddy horses!
Thank you very much, Val
Wonderful! Especially Jackie photographing you photographing her. That made me smile:)
Thanks very much, Cheryl 🙂
What a great way to start the morning! You two photographing each other are cute 😉
Thanks very much, Ribana 🙂
Thatched animals seem to be making a comeback. All sorts of thatched cottages that were palin in my childhood are sprouting animals and birds now. It is a trend to be encouraged as it makes life more fun. 🙂
It does indeed. Down here they are companies that make them to order for the thatchers. Thanks a lot, Quercus.
A whole new industry I never knew existed.