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On a dry, but much duller, day we spent the morning on largely abortive outings. First we drove to New Milton for a visit to the bank, to seek a lavatory seat, and to investigate wardrobes. The bank was satisfactory, but boring. We couldn’t find a throne (slang for a lavatory seat). We thought Bradbeers might stock wardrobes, but its outlet in Station Road didn’t have furniture.
OK, we thought we would put the wardrobes on the back burner, turned round, and drove in the opposite direction to Lymington where that wonderful hardware emporium, Knights, was bound to have a range of the required seating. Unfortunately Knights was closed. Permanently.
Back we travelled to Old Milton where there was a street I thought might have a suitable furniture shop. And blow me, there was Bradbeers furniture outlet with a wide range of wardrobes. We will be able to find something there once we have measured up.
Milford Supplies did have a limited range of toilet seats, none of which, we thought, suited our requirements.
By this time we needed to stock up on petrol, which, in the event, was all that we bought. How ridiculous is that?
Jackie has begun to transfer her hanging baskets to cold frames for the winter. In offering most minimal assistance, I noticed a self-seeded pansy pushing through the patio paving. It is a winter one of course, but there it sat beside an autumn leaf.
Outside the back door stands an orange poppy, normally long gone by autumn.
Still thriving geraniums merge with autumn-hued hydrangeas;
clematis Star of India is one of several blooming again;
foxgloves refuse to die back;
and flowering nasturtiums trail tendrils everywhere.
Approaching the middle of November, how ridiculous is that?
This evening we dined on Jackie’s excellent lamb curry, onion rice, and cauliflower bahji. The Culinary Queen drank diet Pepsi, and I finished the malbec.