Early this morning we received our Spring Covid booster vaccinations. In order to give the jabber easy access I wore a T shirt, then was surprised to discover that the day was warm enough for this to be sufficient clothing for me to read much more of ‘After the Funeral’ until we decided it was too hot to sit outside after lunch.
This afternoon we took a forest drive.
Silver blackthorn has been prolific for a while. This row is alongside Hordle Lane.
22 carat gold gorse glowed on all landscapes like this alongside
Holmsley Passage, except for the burnt section camouflaging a pony.
Oak foliage is usually the last to appear and the last to fall. This tree outside The Queen’s Head in Burley has suddenly burst into leaf.

At Ibsley ford we waited for a young woman carrying play equipment in one hand and guiding a little cyclist with the other.
A little further along we needed to slalom around cattle on the road.
Ponies gathered on the green and drank at the rapidly drying pool. The last one was responsible for me picking up my pace when she hopefully followed me back to the car.
As usual, donkeys, casting shadows, shared this venue with the larger equines. In the first of these pictures two employed different methods of having a good scratch.
This evening we dined on chicken Kiev, boiled baby potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, Brussels sprouts spinach, with which I finished the Fleurie.