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This morning, the temperature having dropped ten degrees, we lit the fire.
Barry the sweep has said he will expect to see smoke from the chimney when he drives by. Set against a misty, overcast, sky, he will perhaps have difficulty seeing this today. Our mix of coal and logs produced a really powerful heat.
I bought the cast iron coal scuttle in a Newark antiques centre almost thirty years ago. I used it in my study to keep coal. I have been unable to verify the dealer’s implausible and certainly impractical claim that it was an antique Belgian commode. Jackie will now have to find something else in which to store her potatoes.
By mid-afternoon when we drove out to Mudeford, the mist had persisted.
We diverted to Highcliffe Castle en route, for some atmospheric shots.
Although visibility was greater in Mudeford harbour, boats and houses looked rather gloomy,
as did beach huts
and associated buildings.
Buoys rested on slate.
Highcliffe Sailing Club and the masts of its yachts were somewhat obscured.
Dripping gulls looked somewhat under the weather.
Fishing paraphernalia displayed muted colour,
as did a group of hardy visitors. The mist did not desist.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s excellent chicken jalfrezi and mushroom rice with onion bahjis. I drank Château Plessis grand vin de Bordeaux 2014.
We are now about to watch the Six Nations rugby match at Cardiff between Wales and Ireland to be televised by BBC.