Category: Uncategorized

I Remained In The Car

This morning first Max then Nick of Peacock Computers took remote access to my computer to resolve some issues with the landline phone.

Later on this cooler and greyer afternoon we drove to Milford Pharmacy for repeat prescriptions then to New Milton for a repair to Jackie’s specs at Boots.

A hold-up in traffic caused by the centre traffic lights returning to red

enabled me to focus on Station Road shops and shoppers.

Like us, a motor cyclist waited for his turn to travel on.

Around the corner a cyclist in Ashley Common Road risked entangling her dress.

Regular readers who recognise how narrow, winding, and potholed is Holmsley Passage will understand how difficult it was to negotiate a family car surrounded by children and mother while father knelt changing a punctured tyre. It seemed unkind to photograph the very tempting scene, but one little boy on one side was called to the other in order for Jackie to risk the car’s undercarriage while spanning a deep dip between nibbled tarmac and undergrowth.

I settled for a shot of the bracken and heather moorland.

The paucity of ponies noticed on our trip suggested that they may know something we don’t. It was certainly rather gloomy when we

met these ponies on the verge just outside Burley. One creature seemed to be sheltering behind a car, while the other two had no need for the head to tail protection from flies.

It will possibly be apparent that in the interests of taking it easy I remained in the car throughout.

This evening we dined on Ferndene Farm Shop pork and chives sausages; flavoursome Portobello mushrooms; creamy mashed potatoes; firm carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli; tender spring greens, and meaty gravy.

Swimming

My head has been swimming all day. Now just a headache. I hope to sleep it off.

Fly Whisk Technique

I spent the morning completing my reading of The Nibelunglied.

On a warm, sunny, afternoon we took a forest drive on which ponies were out in force.

On the road outside Brockenhurst I disembarked to visit ponies on the verge.

One indulged in a scratch, while another pair, taking advantage of the

shade of trees practiced the fly whisk head to tail technique.

When I stood a bit close for their comfort, they crossed to the other side of the road, testing the patience of drivers, but not cyclists who can skirt round them.

This year’s foals are growing into their gangly legs.

On the way into Burley another cyclist rounded ponies on the road.

On our return home I published

The Nibelungenlied

This evening we dined on second helpings of Jackie’s cottage pie, fresh carrots, cauliflower, broccoli stems, and green beans with which I drank more of the Malbec.

Drinks On Patio

After a momentous yesterday this was one for resting. I spent much of it almost finishing The Nibelungenlied, which I will review tomorrow.

This evening the weather was so temperate that for the first time this year we enjoyed our evening drinks on the patio.

Jackie produced this first gallery;

I produced this one.

We then dined on Jackie’s wholesome cottage pie with firm carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, with which I finished my Uco Valley Malbec 2023.

BCG

We spent another very hot morning in cooling air conditioning – in the car to and from Southampton Hospital, and in the hospital for my post procedure follow up. We normally need to allow two hours for the hospital trip – today it took an unheard of 46 minutes. This meant we were very early and our wait was two hours.

The news was good. The tumour has not gone away completely but neither has it gone anywhere else. It is serious and needs to be removed. What has proved successful is the BCG vaccine which eradicated TB in this country years ago. This is intended to reduce the chance of the cancer returning and progressing. Taking that option I will receive weekly installations for 6 weeks followed by shorter maintenance treatments at 3-6 monthly intervals for up to three years. I will need another cystoscopy first. These will all necessitate insertion by plastic tube following the same route as before which won’t be pleasant; there will also be some irritation of the bladder which will most likely increase micturition urgency.

We celebrated this evening by dining at Rokali’s where the welcome, efficiency of service, and exemplary cooking, were as always. My main meal was duck jalfrezi; Jackie chose paneer shashlik; we shared sag rice and plain paratha. Even the paratha is fried in ghee. I drank Kingfisher and Jackie drank diet cola.

Rusty Water

On another energy-sapping hot and humid day with a threat of thunderstorms that did not arrive it was not until mid-afternoon that, if only to benefit from the Hyundai’s air conditioning, we ventured out on a short forest drive.

Before then I had read more of The Nibelungenlied.

Vita Heathcote, born in Lymington, is a 22 year old athlete representing Great Britain, partnering 39 year old Chris Grube, starting on Saturday 3rd August at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 470 Mixed Dinghy class.

Our anonymous yarn postbox decorator wishes her well on Pilley Street.

Pilley’s lake has reacted to our recent intense weather by turning such shallow water that currently remains a swirling rusty red.

For the scientifically minded https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/red-alga has a detailed analysis of the red algae that cause this phenomenon.

Almost the only ponies emerging from the shelter of the forest trees we saw today were those

vying for position at the East End crossroads bus shelter. Note the salt stains on the flanks of the solitary animal.

This evening, from tables in front of the TV we dined on breaded chicken, chips, peas, and baked beans while watching the Olympic Women’s all round Gymnastic finals, then Andy Murray and Dan Evans’s quarter final tennis doubles match against Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz.

Cattle, Ponies,Donkeys

A couple of weeks ago I had not even been able to reach Elizabeth’s Bed against our southern fence, such was the jungle beyond

the Shady Path.

In addition to all else he managed yesterday, Martin completed his

clearance of this area, around which I walked with ease on this cooler, breezier morning. The top centre of the last image shows that he has also continued into the Rose Garden.

This afternoon, after buying a cucumber and other vegetables at Ferndene Farm Shop, we continued into the forest.

Burley was swarming with both ponies and tourists.

How, I wondered had this grey received slashed flanks.

Jackie produced this image of a foal sleeping beside the War Memorial.

We followed a veteran vehicle along Gorley Road until it turned off in the direction of Fordingbridge.

The donkey family at Hyde hadn’t moved far since our last visit.

Ponies in traffic at North Gorley amused a pair of cyclists who had to ride round them.

Cattle, ponies, and foals shared the green, although

the soggy pools were left to equine adults.

This evening, seated on the sofa while watching the Gold Medal Olympic rugby sevens competition between France and Fiji; then the highlights of the second day of the third Cricket Test match between England and West Indies, we dined on pizza and plentiful salad with which I finished The Reprobates Italian red wine.

Damp And Hazy

After stocking up on sausages and salad ingredients at Ferndene Farm Shop we ventured into a soggy forest where steady rain fell in an ever increasing crescendo keeping windscreen wipers in work.

The weather was nevertheless sultry enough for the few ponies we

encountered, despite being decidedly damp,

to continue to be plagued by flies.

Headlights gleamed in the haze of Pound Lane, as heather on the verges did its best to brighten the dreary views.

Later, I published:

The Prose Edda

This evening we dined on pork spare ribs in BBQ sauce from Tesco and chipotle from Lidl, with Jackie’s mushroom and onion rice and tender green and runner beans, with which I drank Castellore The Reprobates Italian red wine.

Cutting In

Today Nick applied the second coats of paint to the east gable end wall, thus completing this stage of the work.

Cutting in is the term for lining up two levels of paintwork which most people I believe would use masking tape to ensure a smooth line.

As shown in these images Nick uses his hand and eye to produce

this clean line.

Later I began drafting the next section of Legends of the Ring which I expect to publish tomorrow.

This evening we dined on Jackie’s Butter Chicken frozen after our last meal with the Grandfamily and Special Rice and paratha brought back from our recent visit to Rokali’s, with which I finished the Malbec.

Look How He Holds The Brush

This morning we transported another car load of garden refuse and entomological stowaways to the Efford Recycling Centre.

There was no further rain and the day was rather cooler, so Nick was able to make an early start and spend an uninterrupted day

applying the first coat of paint to our east gable end. When I observed how he guided and controlled the brush with his fingers he replied that he didn’t know he was doing it, especially after 40 years.

This evening we dined on chicken Kiev; creamy mashed potatoes; tender spinach and green beans; firm carrots and cauliflower, with which I drank more of the Malbec.