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Today’s sky was cloudless, the sun shone, and the temperature was hot enough for summer.
Most of our tulips are now fully opened.
The mirrors, like these beside camellias, now have blooms to reflect.
Heucheras and forget-me-nots are enlivening the rose garden edges.
Butterflies, including commas, freely flit about.
Now that the winter flowering cherry is thinking about shedding its blossom, others are coming into full bloom.
Naturally, we took a drive into the forest.
For most of the stretch of road between Burley and Bransgore we were treated to a generous display of shiny MAMIL backsides. It was difficult to construe the occasional cyclist’s veering across the centre of the road other than as designed to prevent any thoughts of overtaking the crocodile.
By contrast, the equestrian on the horribly pock-marked Snails Lane had the good sense to tuck in her steed and wait as we approached.
Perched on the backs of long-suffering donkeys at Ibsley, a clattering of jackdaws filled their beaks with the creatures’ soft, flexible, hairs pecked out for use in nest building. As I approached the scene, the birds flew off. Uncomplaining, silent, and motionless, this forlorn creature fixed me with a baleful eye.
Donkeys shared the road with cattle at Gorley Lynch,
but at Hyde they were reluctant even to share it with motor vehicles.
We lunched at The Hyde Out Café then collected a blood test referral form from our GP. This is for a post-hip-replacement follow up. There are no problems but I have been asked for this and the completion of a questionnaire because, in the years since my operation, involving a metal on metal replacement, it has emerged that that method has led to later difficulties for some people. My knees are nothing to do with that.
Paul popped in for a visit this afternoon, and we enjoyed our customary pleasant conversation. Modern life and its geography means that this is something that doesn’t happen very often now, and it is our loss.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s splendid chicken jalfrezi and aromatic pilau rice with which I finished the Shiraz