photographing a few snowdrops on the circuit round the garden, I practiced with my Nordic walking poles through icy drizzle, taking the same route as yesterday, this time turning back at No. 19 Downton Lane during a total of 14 minutes.
Later I carried out a little iPhotos culling, retaining just three from
I have decided that, even when a day is like today, overcast, very cold, and not conducive to leaving the house that, in order to keep my legs moving, I should practice using my Nordic poles. I therefore took a circular tour round the garden, down the Back Drive and along to No. 17 Downton Road and back. This took 15 minutes.
I then continued with my picture culling.
I have saved only Carrie and the Hang Gliders from
This evening we dined on chicken Kiev; oven chips; green beans; fried peppers and mushrooms; and cauliflower with its chopped up leaves. To drink I finished the Douro.
Late this morning Jackie drove us to The Potting Shed café at Hyde for an excellent brunch.
Over the years we have been in The New Forest this café has undergone several changes of name and management; the current partners have completely turned it around.
For my very first time I have simply copied these extracts from their own website. I could not have expressed them better:
About The Establishment
“Welcome to the Potting Shed! We are so glad that you are considering stopping by, we strive to make each visit truly enjoyable, from the moment you walk through the door to the time you leave.
“We offer a true Forest Café experience with a cosy atmosphere and homemade food all sourced locally. Our menu is inspired by flavours of the season so you will find a varied choice, including firm family favourites and daily specials. Surrounded by the beauty that is the New Forest with the fantastic Donkeys, Ponies and Deer there is much to do nearby including scenic walks, cycling and a water park. There is something for everyone from the idyllic lazy-day stroll through to those seeking a little more adventure.
“We would love to see you and make your visit unforgettable. So come on, join us and let us spoil you.
Explore the New Forest
“Nestled in the heart of the breathtaking New Forest National Park. Our café is the perfect starting point for your next adventure, offering a warm and cosy atmosphere where you can fuel up before exploring the park’s stunning natural beauty. We’re passionate about the New Forest and its surroundings, and we’re proud to call this magical place our home. Our café is a reflection of our love for the park, and we’re excited to share its wonders with you. At our café, we believe that the New Forest is a true national treasure, and we’re thrilled to be a part of this special community. Come and see for yourself why our café is the perfect spot to explore this natural wonderland, whether you are looking for a quaint tea-room for a traditional afternoon tea in the New Forest or something more to prepare you for a hike across the heath.
“Here at the Potting Shed, we are passionate about growing our own veg, it might not look like the poster carrot, but it does taste so much better. We have spent hours growing our veg and herbaceous plants and we are so proud to be able to sell these direct to you from our café and in our food.
Locally Sourced
“Everything we do is for the community we know and love. Whether it is serving the friendly faces we have grown to recognise or using the produce around us. Ultimately, we believe that local is best. Fewer air miles, more heart and 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Homemade
There’s no place like home and, here at The Potting Shed, we firmly believe that a meal out should be a home from home for you. However, we want to do it better. We pride ourselves on being feeders and feeding people on only the best produce, cooked with love, by us, fresh for you.”
The warmth and pleasure expressed above are well matched by the attentive and careful service, as is the quality of the food.
I thoroughly enjoyed my The Full Works breakfast, while Jackie did the same with her Mini version.
Once I had cleared a little space on mine, revealing items at first
covered by the bacon, I photographed it again so further ingredients could be seen – note the tasty pork and leek sausage, black pudding, and hash brown. I had eaten the other half of tomato.
Whilst there is a cattle grid outside preventing direct access from the
donkeys that can usually be encountered around the corner, drivers do sometimes meet them on the way in.
Now for the drive:
The verges and fields were dotted with numerous catkins and
snowdrops, while ponies similarly stippled Blissford Hill.
As I disembarked to photograph alpacas in the Godshill farm they trooped off to collect their dinner.
Ponies, ignoring the fact that the bright sunshine belied the cold weather, soaked up what warmth they could on the Woodgreen common.
From Woodgreen through Hale Purlieu stretches a long straight road with ancient hedgerows. The mossy tree-roots must have witnessed generations of the joggers we often see on their runs, like the two we met today.
Ponies basked in the open woodland opposite the high banks.
The residents of Lover have cooperated with enthusiasm to celebrate the upcoming Valentine’s Day. This small gallery is mine,
supplementing Jackie’s longer one.
The thatcher of this cottage roof has, with the addition of colour, taken the traditional straw animals to a completely new level.
This evening we dined on Ferndene pork and apple sausages, boiled potatoes, parsnips, cauliflower, carrots, broccoli, spinach and gravy, with which I drank more of the Douro
Having eaten at The Smugglers Inn in Milford-on-Sea 9 days ago and thoroughly enjoyed their Burns Night menu, we returned for their Chinese New Year spread yesterday evening.
We arrived early enough for me to photograph inside without invading anyone’s privacy.
“The High Street pub – dating back to the 1700s – served as a customs and excise office before being converted into a tiny bar called The Crown – only changing its name approximately 30 years ago.
The original bar, which included a barbers, was extended 60 years ago using old ship timbers, which along with dimmed lighting, wooden tables, cupboards and plush brown sofas, gives this pub a cosy rustic atmosphere.” https://visitmilfordonsea.co.uk/food_and_drink/the-smugglers-inn/
After a plate of prawn crackers with spicy plum sauce more plates and bowls kept coming so that we couldn’t quite finish it all.
Three chefs who had not cooked Chinese food before did so well that when the head man came into the bar for a drink at the end of his stint he was giving a resounding clap by all the customers.
Service was friendly, efficient, and attentive.
I spent the afternoon on ‘The Brontës’.
This evening we dined at The Britannia Thai in Milford-on-Sea with Becky and Ian. Our daughter and son-in-law had been held up in a traffic incident on the M27 and could not say when they would arrive. We had booked for 6.30. Even though they were otherwise fully booked they offered to keep our table until we arrived, as long as it would be before 9.00 because they closed at 10.00.
In fact we arrived not long after 7.00 and enjoyed a pleasant evening’s conversation with excellent food and friendly, efficient, service.
We shared starters of pink prawn crackers, duck spring rolls, and vegetable tempura; my main choice was sea bass Pad Cha; Jackie and Ian both chose tamarind duck; and Becky, special fried rice. Ian and I drank Singha Beer, while the ladies drank Diet Coke.
A dull, overcast, morning made way for a bright, clear blue sky afternoon, early on which we drove to Ringwood’s in-excess for Jackie to buy a present.
We diverted to Sopley Mill where rippling reflections enhanced the shallow waters, and
a female pheasant failed to keep out of sight.
While Jackie carried out her shopping I stayed in the car and noticed
that someone had lowered the tone as
I inspected the view of the landscape down Poulner Hill seen beyond a lichen covered tree.
An exploration was under way on Rockford Sandpit.
This evening Elizabeth joined us at The Smugglers Inn in Milford on Sea for their Chinese New Year celebration menu. It is now too late and I am too stuffed to do it justice, so I will feature it tomorrow.
referred to in the above post link. Those who do not know it may not be surprised to know that I have retained all the pictures.
Later, I read a little more of ‘The Brontës’, until Elizabeth visited for a cup of tea and a chat.
As my sister was leaving, the crescent moon was paying his respects to Venus.
This evening we dined on breaded Southern fried chicken, baked gammon, cauliflower cheese, carrots, and runner beans with which I finished the Fleurie.
Having watched the opening match of Six Nations Rugby Tournament 2025 between France and Wales yesterday evening, today I watched the matches between Scotland and Italy and between England and Ireland.
This evening we dined on second helpings of yesterday’s baked gammon meal, with fresh potatoes, runner beans, and spinach. We drank the same beverages as before.
I spent a gloomy, wet, afternoon making more progress on ‘The Brontës’.
This evening we dined on tasty baked gammon with parsnips presented on a bed of fried onions, leeks, and green beans; boiled new potatoes; piquant cauliflower and broccoli cheese; and crunchy carrots, with which the Culinary Queen drank Diet Coke and I drank Patrick Chodot Fleurie 2023.
Early this morning a team from Wessex Internet began laying Full Fibre Broadband cable along Christchurch Road reaching past our house. The very friendly gentlemen were happy for me to photograph
their work.
This afternoon Jackie drove me to Sears Barbers for a haircut, after which we took a forest drive.
The skies above Holmsley Passage and Mill Lane were less moody than yesterday;
Mill Lane’s stream rippled its way under the road and reflected the lichen-covered trees above. Further along the rain had brightened the moss coating fallen branches.
By dusk the skies had adopted a more varied aspect.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s wholesome liver and bacon casserole; boiled new potatoes; crunchy carrots; firm parsnips and Brussels sprouts; and tender green beans, with which I finished the Malbec.
