Yesterday evening I reached a point past nine more of Charles Keeping’s illustrations to “Nicholas Nickleby”. and scanned them today. Keeping depicts such movement in ‘The animals were no sooner released than they trotted back to the stable they had just left’. ‘A female bounced into the room, and seizing Mr Squeers by the throatContinue reading ““He’s Just Found He’s Got Legs””
Tag Archives: gorse
Answering The Call
After a light overnight frost this morning was sunshine-bright and somewhat chilly. I reached Florence at Fiveways in my weeding of the gravelled Gazebo Path, while Jackie sat on her kneeling stool to continue her clearance of the Pond Bed. Immediately after lunch we toured garden centres in search of a strong wooden bench toContinue reading “Answering The Call”
Slow For Ponies
Today the weather was sun-bright-clear-chilly-cold. We began by purchasing vegetables at Ferndene Farm Shop, then drove into the forest by way of Beckley Common Road where Jackie parked, a jogger passed, and I pictured the surrounding woodland where the harsh squawking of disturbed pheasants interrupted the melodic birdsong. The next parking spot was a lay-byContinue reading “Slow For Ponies”
Avian Camouflage
This afternoon of an overcast day, slowly brightening with brief sunny periods we visited Ferndene Farm Shop to purchase salad items, eggs, and vegetables to accompany this evening’s second sitting of Jackie’s excellent cottage pie. These were carrots, cauliflower, and beans which would be cooked to perfection, and accompanied by Hoegaarden and more of theContinue reading “Avian Camouflage”
Woodland Denizens
The weather temperature has plummeted. Early this morning Jackie photographed ice on the new water features. Beginning mid-morning I wasted four hours and my frayed nerve ends wrestling with an on line banking problem arising from a regular heating fuel supplier who had changed their bank details, and a system which could not adequately copeContinue reading “Woodland Denizens”
Anyone For Croquet?
A drowsy morning was necessary for me after yesterday’s exertions, although the Head Gardener did plant a number of seeds in the greenhouse. This afternoon – cold with sunny intervals – we took a drive into the forest. A game of croquet was in progress on the green at Nomansland. The players were unfazed byContinue reading “Anyone For Croquet?”
Gorse, Golf Course, Heath, And Woodland, Maintenance
Feeling rather dispirited by struggling in vain to carry out some tasks I have been happily managing before WP’s latest improvements, my mood was lifted by a drive into the forest. Jackie drove us up Holmsley Passage and across Burley Road where she parked the Modus so I could walk back and photograph woodland withContinue reading “Gorse, Golf Course, Heath, And Woodland, Maintenance”
Sunny Intervals
Early in the day I watched Channel 4’s transmission of the enthralling second day’s play in the Test Match between India and England. The forest was still overcast when, this afternoon, we set off for a drive. Lanes like Bockhampton Road were quite clarty. Beside this one a whiteness of swans occupying a field attractedContinue reading “Sunny Intervals”
Leaping The Ditch
By 9.30 a.m. this morning an early haze was beginning to lift. In an attempt to catch it we set off at that time on a forest drive. When we reached Holmsley Passage the weak sun was soon swimming in swirling watercolour washes of ochre and indigo. It remained beneath them for the rest ofContinue reading “Leaping The Ditch”
Head To Head
On a bright, crisp, afternoon Jackie drove us to Bisterne Close, where she parked and sat in the car while I wandered into the forest with my camera, rustling the dried autumn leaves, across which the low sun cast long shadows. One lone cow wandered off into the distance. Golden gorse glowed; a few beechContinue reading “Head To Head”
