Today the air was cold; the cotton-clouded cerulean skies bright and sunny.
After lunch we took a drive as far as Hatchet Moor and back, enabling me to tramp over the
burnt gorse Nash battlefield beside the lake.
Beaulieu Road is lined with pools surrounding the rooted feet of trees which are generally dry in summer.
Walkers with dogs sought dry land and children sought pools in which gleefully to splash.
Muddy tracks surrounded this extension of Hatchet Pond and its environs, paradise to
stately swans exploring the tufted grasses.
Here is Jackie’s take on the swans as they preened and investigated the tussocks.
She waved from her vantage point on the far side of the water, from which she also photographed fishermen in the battlefield and “Where’s Derrick?” (4).
On our return a shaggy grey pony blocked the entrance to Gaza Avenue in East Boldre, opposite which her equine cousins grazed.
One bay crossed the soggy reflective terrain and was immediately followed by a slightly more mottled specimen.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s succulent beef and mushroom pie; creamy swede and potato mash; firm carrots, tender cabbage, and meaty gravy, with which she drank Hoegaarden and, having opened another bottle, I drank more of the Macon.
Lovely selection of photos to enjoy
Thank you very much, Sheree
Beautiful swan. Great series of pictures.
Thank you very much, Rabirius
Lovely photos as always, Derrick. I would love to try your wife’s cooking, it sounds so delicious! ❤️🇬🇧
Every time I read “meaty gravy,” I immediately want some!
🙂
Thank ou so much, John.
Fine prose and beautiful photos from you and Jackie. I love the clouds in the pools, and all those wonderful swan shots. It’s hard to pick a favorite.
Thank you so much from us both, Merril
You’re welcome!
Aww I love swans so beautiful. Lovely photos looks like a great day
Thanks very much, More.
You’re welcome Derrick
I can’t resist a good swan photo–and here was a multitude of riches!
Thanks very much, Liz. We are pleased to satisfy you 🙂
You’re welcome, Derrick. 🙂
The swans are so beautiful, Derrick. I loved Jackie’s take on them! Thanks for sharing all of your gorgeous photos from the day.
Your comments much appreciated, Jill. Thanks to you, too
Beautiful photos … lovely to see the swans 🦢 🤍
Thanks very much, Beck
You are not yet quite as good as hiding as Nugget. Mind you, he has a size advantage.
🙂 Thanks very much, Susan
Beautiful sir. Swans are always great to see.
Thanks very much, Gary. Maybe they will visit your temporary lake
Beautiful photos. I’ve never seen photos of moors before. I thought they would be more like grasslands with deep holes and lots of waterfowl. But it’s full of trees, isn’t it?
Our moors have both – and lots of gorse which has to be thinned out with controlled burning. Thanks very much, Jean
Is that why you used the term ‘battlefield’, Derrick?
This was a reference to Paul Nash whose paintings of the WWI battlefields depicting burnt trees were iconic
Thanks for this, Derrick
https://fisunguner.com/paul-nash-haunting-paintings-battlefields-war/
I wasn’t familiar with Paul Nash and his work. So sad!
Indeed
You had a beautiful sunny day there for your trip out, and I enjoyed all the photos, Derrick and Jackie. The swans are beautiful, and it is always good to see the ponies. 🙂
Thank you very much from us both, Lavinia
Water, water, everywhere Derrick… and wow I do adore your swan photographs… (maybe a poem !!)
I’ll look forward to it, Ivor. Thanks very much
Yeah… I’m nearly the poem Derrick… it’s called “Swan”… I’ll post in the morning…
🙂
Fabulous photos of the swans, both yours and Jackie’s, Derrick, especially the ones with reflections.
You are pretty easy to spot; the only person in that picture.
Thanks very much, Dolly – from us both
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Wonderful, wonderful pictures of the swans! Always a delight to see them.
Thanks very much, Laurie
The swans take my fancy as they are birds of the literature, music and culture I grew up with. We see very, very few here and then only in enclosed areas, such as the Korsman Bird Park in Boksburg. Seeing a real swan the first time I visited England quite took my breath away.
It is odd, Anne, but I never bothered about photographing swans, because many people consider them hackneyed over here, until I realised what a rarity they are for many of my readers. Thanks very much.
That was an engrossing tour to your neighbourhood. The burnt gorse and the swans mark the two far edges of exposure, each pristine in their inherent beauty. Where is Derrick is an easy one in which you are lurking towards the right off the centre. The fishermen are more camouflaged than the writer of the chronicles.
Perhaps we should have featured “Where’s Fishermen?” 🙂 Thanks very much, Uma
No. We must maintain the sanctity of ‘Where’s Derrick?’.
🙂
January doesn’t have to be a miserable month and your pictures prove it!
Thanks very much, Andrew. We are luckier than some
Cold here. I cycled to the post office and forgot my gloves. Ouch!
Ah
Jackie and Derrick,
Your photos bring me joy! Thank you!
I always feel honored to see regal graceful swans…and your photos of them are an honor to see, too.
The Where’s Derrick? photo is wonderful! Ha, your beautiful hair gives you away!
Aw! on the ponies! They are avoiding walking in the water, but becoming a beautiful reflection in it!
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thank you so much from us both, Carolyn 🙂 X
The shaggy grey pony looks like he’s on his way home from one hell of a party!
🙂 Thanks a lot, John
Love the shots of the ponies crossing the pools.
Thanks you very much, Brenda
So many beautiful pictures. We took a drive in the countryside yesterday and I had my camera. But its dry and brown here right now so it different than in the summer.
Never mind. I’m sure you will make some good pictures
Enjoyed your winter scenes
Thanks very much, Sherry. I hope you have your new specs.
Still waiting 😎
Ah
I think you both captured the water-logged winter’s day perfectly.
Thanks very much from us both, Sue. Keep up the recovery X
Thank you, Derrick.
Thank you so much, Ivor
such beauty in the post flow and you and jackie had njce takes on the swans
😉
Thanks very much from us both, Yvette
☀️😊
A beautiful post Derrick. Love the swans!
Thank you very much, Dwight
Your are welcome.
Love those swans.
Thank you very much, Arlene
Love those reflection on the water shots, and of course the swans. And beef & mushroom pie! Yummmm
Thanks very much, M.B.
Your photos of the swans and the bays take me to your side and help me enjoy your scenery. Thank you! So beautiful!! <3
And thanks to you, Jan X
Gorgeous photographs from both of you! That swan is so elegant 🦢
Thank you very much from us both, Ribana