On another dismal but drier day, Elizabeth left early to transport Mum to her respite care home in Netley.
A little later Jackie and I drove to Ringwood where I collected some printer inks while she did some Christmas shopping. We met in
Café Aroma where we lunched to our satisfaction.
I chose Italian ham turkey and mushroom pie; roast potatoes and veg,while Jackie’s meal was a jacket potato with tuna and salad.
Santa has learned that hobbits have moved into Ringwood where they have constructed a purpose built chimney. Here he is testing it for size. From the length of his legs he won’t be able to stand up in a hobbit’s house.
Some of the shops have entered into the spirit of the season.
Edinburgh Woollen Mill lies across the road from the café;
a couple of doors away is M & Co.
Ringwood Fabrics brightens The High Street,
as does Townhouse Hair Co.,
across the road from which Roberts Jewellers
rather appropriately rubs shoulders with Anna’s Bridal Gowns.
Arcade Flowers
warrants a second image.
On our way home we took a diversion through the forest.
We were led along the road between Ibsley and South Gorley by string of forlorn looking bedraggled ponies
wrapped in towels, apparently having just got out of the bath.
Even I, after stepping from the car, was able to keep up with them as, heads down, they trudged along the centre of the tarmac.
They wandered hopefully into the driveway of Mockbeggar Cottage, but came away unsatisfied. I imagine they are often provided with lunch there.
They were restricted to their usual trampled fare on the village green.
At Ogdens I was rash enough to open my passenger window to photograph a pair of donkeys on hedge cutting duties at the verge.
This is always a signal for these delightful, gentle, creatures to stick their heads through the window silently asking “what’s for lunch?”. I was quite grateful that they do not slobber.
Having seen what we had for lunch it is only to be expected that Jackie and I dined this evening on small portions of her delicious beef pie meal. Elizabeth will be home later.