Rain Reigns

After dinner yesterday I watched the highlights of the second day’s play, shortened by bad light, of the third test match between England and Sri Lanka.

Today the sun briefly pierced the cloud cover which regularly showered the garden with ever increasing crescendos.

After a shopping trip to Lidl where we splashed through puddles to load the dripping car I took advantage of a couple of sunny breaks to

photograph the glistening garden – front

and back.

I finished reading https://derrickjknight.com/2024/09/08/a-traitor-to-his-own-flesh-and-blood/ and published

This evening we dined on succulent chicken Kiev; boiled new potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, and green beans.

Plastic Water Bottles

Honeysuckle berriesCrab applesWater droplet on rose hiprose peachrose CompassionA tumultuous thunderstorm during the night had left pearls pendant on autumn fruits and sprinkled on roses and other flowers.
landscapeBoat on The SolentI took yesterday’s walk in reverse. There were no shafts of sunlight piercing the clouds this morning, but cliffs towards the West were picked out, and a lone boat sailed the sparkling Solent.
Hawser protectionWater bottle and fuchsiaOn the coast road, a bright green plastic drinks bottle seemed to be protecting the metal link gripping a hawser grasping a cable post. This put me in mind of our head gardener’s recycling of our mineral water containers. Jackie cuts the bottoms off these and embeds them into the earth to ensure that the roots of her plants, like this fuchsia Army Nurse, receive an adequate supply of the life-giving fluid.
Young lady at bus stop - Version 2Young lady at bus stopA sweet young lady waited for a bus at the bottom of Downton Lane. She was pleased with the photograph, and said it was ‘fine’ for it to appear on my blog. Zooming on the portrait, which is already a crop, gives an idea of the quality of my Canon SX700 HS camera.
This evening Jackie drove us to The Firs where we joined up with Mum, Elizabeth, and Jacqueline and went on to Durley to dine at The Farmer’s Home. The meals were all very much enjoyed. Mine was a mixed grill followed by Durley Eton mess. I shared a carafe of Chilean merlot with Elizabeth. At 10.55 p.m. it is too late for me to bother about detailing other people’s refreshment, except to say that Mum, who is not supposed to eat very much, put away a steak and kidney pudding, new potatoes, and vegetables, followed by creme brûlée.