Tag: general election

At Stockley Enclosure

For what it is worth we voted in the General Election at Milford on Sea Polling Station, although it rather seems as if our crosses won’t make any significant difference to the expected outcome. Nevertheless we decided to do our duty, after which we took a forest drive.

Attracted by a string of ponies on the moorland, we stopped off at

Stockley Enclosure near Brockenhurst, where a sawn trunk spoke to a nearby post alongside a barrier used by one pony as a scratching aid before stepping over to join the others. Behind the derelict trunk blackberry brambles soared aloft.

The verdant verges led to sunlit woodland along Brockenhurst Road.

Roadworks at the crossroads on Southampton Road leading into Lymington held us up enough for me to focus on

a plentiful cascade of hypericum draping a garden fence.

This evening, in order to continue watching the men’s Wimbledon tennis match between Jack Draper and Cameron Norrie, we enjoyed, in bowls on our knees in front of the TV, second helpings of last night’s sausages in red wine meal, with which I drank another glass of the Malbec.

The Fountains of Bergerac

It hadn’t been a good idea to sit up half the night watching the general election which resulted in a hung Parliament. Not when I had to make a start on putting together accounts information for my accountant. Not when we received a surprise visit from a prospective buyer for the house next door to discuss a boundary issue. Not when I had to deal with correspondence and phone conversations on that subject with the seller’s solicitor. Not when I was engaged in on-line communications of various other natures including reading and responding to followers’ comments. Not when all these activities were being juggled together.

I was beginning to wonder how I was going to summon the energy for photography when Sam came to the rescue.

When my son and his family left us in Portsmouth a couple of days ago they were en route to France where they spent the night in Caen and visited the Bayeux tapestry before going on to Sigoules to our house in that village. Because of the early morning trip to Southampton Hospital we managed to send them off without the keys. This necessitated my having to arrange for the estate agent out there to provide Sam with a set of keys, and to contain my anxiety until the handover had been accomplished. That had also interfered with my sleep the night before the election.

This morning the family explored Bergerac where the children enjoyed the fountains.

Malachi, Orlaith and friend

This one, where Malachi and Orlaith soon engaged with a little friend, is in the medieval Old Town. I have myself enjoyed many an ice-cream from the kiosk opposite while seated on that little wall.

Malachi and Orlaith 1Malachi and Orlaith 2Malachi and Orlaith 3Malachi and Orlaith 4

These further fountains must have been installed in the newer environs some time after my last visit.

In e-mailing these images, Sam had unwittingly saved my bacon. Given that Malachi’s new raincoat was also left behind in Downton it is just as well that they are clearly enjoying good weather.

This evening we dined on Jackie’s excellent beef casserole, new potatoes, carrots, green beans, and cauliflower cheese.