Despite our recent sunshine The Head Gardener remained convinced that Jack Frost had not yet kept his icy fingers out of reach of the garden.
Early this morning she took her camera outside to prove her point.
Later, Callum of Metro Rod brought his specialist camera to investigate a blockage in the drainage to our septic tank. His diagnosis was that the tank needed emptying. There was no additional obstruction. We are normally on an 18 months rolling cycle for clearance, yet it is only nine months since it was last emptied. I telephoned CSG, increased the frequency of the pump out, and booked one for next week.
The temperature was warmer this afternoon when we drove into the forest.
Blackie, photographed by Jackie,
and Splash, by me, two Highland bulls to whom I have been introduced, with their herd, occupied the green at Bramshaw. After a good scratch the red bovine let me know what he thought of me.
Among the others on which I focussed,
one sported a mud pack by rubbing the grass of well-placed mound.
Jackie also captured me at work, refusing to accept that it was a portrait of the muddy cow I was making, and not the other creature’s bum.
Moving on to Nomansland, an assortment of ponies were employed on keeping down the grass in the cricket outfield.
Today, most primary schoolchildren in England, have returned to school after the latest Covid-19 restrictions.
Those in the village of Hale share their playing fields with ponies on the green. The school bus driver had to shift the pony from the path in order to pick up some pupils. Meanwhile families gathered, safely distanced, to collect their charges. School was out.
I believe this was a herd of English White cattle on a hillside outside the village.
Primroses now line many of our verges, like those beside the field above, beyond which
stretch extensive landscapes.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s spicy pasta arrabbiata, and tender green beans, with which she finished the Sauvignon Blanc and I drank Primitivo Solento 2019