Early on this cold-bright morning, in readiness for a forest drive, Jackie scraped ice off the car windscreen through which
figures along the Milford-on-Sea promenade were silhouetted against the sky above the Isle of Wight.
Alongside Pilley’s Bull Hill cattle occupied the moorland
where, on the road to Beaulieu, sheet ice cracked its waterlogged surface.
Black-hued moorhens sought sustenance on one bank of Little
Hatchet Pond, while a white, reflected, egret waited, poised to dive from the other;
as I prepared to picture three cormorants engaged in similar activity on the main branch of the lake, one flew off.
As Jackie said “then there were two”.
Ponies wandered among the burnt gorse at East Boldre, where mossy
branches were reflected in another winterbourne pool.
This afternoon I watched the Six Nations rugby match between Scotland and Ireland.
Dinner this evening consisted of Jackie’s delicious chicken and vegetable stewp and fresh crusty bread, with which I drank Château Les Fermenteaux Bordeaux 2021.
Late this morning Jackie drove us to The Potting Shed café at Hyde for an excellent brunch.
Over the years we have been in The New Forest this café has undergone several changes of name and management; the current partners have completely turned it around.
For my very first time I have simply copied these extracts from their own website. I could not have expressed them better:
About The Establishment
“Welcome to the Potting Shed! We are so glad that you are considering stopping by, we strive to make each visit truly enjoyable, from the moment you walk through the door to the time you leave.
“We offer a true Forest Café experience with a cosy atmosphere and homemade food all sourced locally. Our menu is inspired by flavours of the season so you will find a varied choice, including firm family favourites and daily specials. Surrounded by the beauty that is the New Forest with the fantastic Donkeys, Ponies and Deer there is much to do nearby including scenic walks, cycling and a water park. There is something for everyone from the idyllic lazy-day stroll through to those seeking a little more adventure.
“We would love to see you and make your visit unforgettable. So come on, join us and let us spoil you.
Explore the New Forest
“Nestled in the heart of the breathtaking New Forest National Park. Our café is the perfect starting point for your next adventure, offering a warm and cosy atmosphere where you can fuel up before exploring the park’s stunning natural beauty. We’re passionate about the New Forest and its surroundings, and we’re proud to call this magical place our home. Our café is a reflection of our love for the park, and we’re excited to share its wonders with you. At our café, we believe that the New Forest is a true national treasure, and we’re thrilled to be a part of this special community. Come and see for yourself why our café is the perfect spot to explore this natural wonderland, whether you are looking for a quaint tea-room for a traditional afternoon tea in the New Forest or something more to prepare you for a hike across the heath.
“Here at the Potting Shed, we are passionate about growing our own veg, it might not look like the poster carrot, but it does taste so much better. We have spent hours growing our veg and herbaceous plants and we are so proud to be able to sell these direct to you from our café and in our food.
Locally Sourced
“Everything we do is for the community we know and love. Whether it is serving the friendly faces we have grown to recognise or using the produce around us. Ultimately, we believe that local is best. Fewer air miles, more heart and 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Homemade
There’s no place like home and, here at The Potting Shed, we firmly believe that a meal out should be a home from home for you. However, we want to do it better. We pride ourselves on being feeders and feeding people on only the best produce, cooked with love, by us, fresh for you.”
The warmth and pleasure expressed above are well matched by the attentive and careful service, as is the quality of the food.
I thoroughly enjoyed my The Full Works breakfast, while Jackie did the same with her Mini version.
Once I had cleared a little space on mine, revealing items at first
covered by the bacon, I photographed it again so further ingredients could be seen – note the tasty pork and leek sausage, black pudding, and hash brown. I had eaten the other half of tomato.
Whilst there is a cattle grid outside preventing direct access from the
donkeys that can usually be encountered around the corner, drivers do sometimes meet them on the way in.
Now for the drive:
The verges and fields were dotted with numerous catkins and
snowdrops, while ponies similarly stippled Blissford Hill.
As I disembarked to photograph alpacas in the Godshill farm they trooped off to collect their dinner.
Ponies, ignoring the fact that the bright sunshine belied the cold weather, soaked up what warmth they could on the Woodgreen common.
From Woodgreen through Hale Purlieu stretches a long straight road with ancient hedgerows. The mossy tree-roots must have witnessed generations of the joggers we often see on their runs, like the two we met today.
Ponies basked in the open woodland opposite the high banks.
The residents of Lover have cooperated with enthusiasm to celebrate the upcoming Valentine’s Day. This small gallery is mine,
supplementing Jackie’s longer one.
The thatcher of this cottage roof has, with the addition of colour, taken the traditional straw animals to a completely new level.
This evening we dined on Ferndene pork and apple sausages, boiled potatoes, parsnips, cauliflower, carrots, broccoli, spinach and gravy, with which I drank more of the Douro
Once storm Hermione eased off this afternoon, we took an optimistic forest drive.
Broody skies and damp, pool-laden landscape meant that we saw no
sign of wildlife except a few damp ponies on the outskirts of Burley.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s most tasty liver and bacon casserole; boiled potatoes; crunchy carrots; and firm Brussels sprouts, with which I drank Valle de Eco Malbec 2024.
This afternoon, taking advantage of a temporary cessation of the heavy winds due to return tonight, we took a drive to the North of the forest.
We couldn’t be sure about the theme of the latest yarn decorations on the Tiptoe Post Box, but the heart on the chest might indicate the upcoming Valentine’s Day.
As we approached Rockford Sandpit we needed to avoid a bale of hay which had clearly fallen off a farmer’s load and now occupied the middle of the road. When we returned an hour or so later it had been moved onto the verge and two forest ponies, their feet on the tarmac,
were chomping away and causing chaos to passing vehicles, one of
which was driven by Debbie Riley, who, perhaps because she works with horses, brought common sense to the situation.
As I said to her, even if I had thought of what she did I could not have managed it, because I would have lost my balance and fallen over.
Aware of the possibility of being bitten, Debbie lifted the bale, no mean feat in itself, carried it across the road and through the trees to the bank of the stream. Fortunately the strap was still attached. This meant that the ponies, their numbers certain to have been increased, could have continued their consumption, being safe in the darkness of the unlighted road.
These first two watched Debbie carry away their spoils,
hoovered up scraps, and wandered off, simply accepting that their find had been removed. We had both expected them to follow, but they didn’t.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s tasty pork casserole; boiled new potatoes, moist spinach; crunchy carrots; firm Brussels sprouts; and tender green beans with which she drank Diet Coke and I drank Viña Albali Gran Reserva 2017.
On a warmer yet overcast afternoon we took a forest drive.
Donkeys claimed the road at Cadnam;
ponies gathered at Bramshaw;
on Penn Common cattle, still and silent, lined up listening to sweet early Spring birdsong.
En route to Nomansland bits of blown tree neatly fell into place across the road.
Later, I continued reading ‘The Brontës’ until, This evening we dined on basa fish cakes, cauliflower cheese, boiled potatoes, carrots, and peas, with which Jackie drank Diet Coke and I finished the Fleurie.
At mid-afternoon today the moon vied with the sun for
sky-space as we set out on a forest drive.
Along St. Leonard’s Road shaggy ponies in their winter coats availed themselves of fence-posts for scratching. While I focussed on them
Jackie photographed a cock pheasant that had crossed the road.
Anticipating a decent sunset we dropped down to Milford-on-Sea. The first three pictures in this gallery are mine; the last two by Jackie
who also photographed a couple on a bench;
The Needles and their lighthouse;
and, leaning on the car bonnet, a sitting duck.
Earlier in the day I had read more of ‘The Brontës’.
This evening we dined on succulent roast pork with crisp crackling; boiled new potatoes; crunchy carrots, firm Brussels sprouts, and tender red cabbage, with which I finished the Shiraz.
Late on a dull, overcast, afternoon Jackie and I took an optimistic forest drive, finding nothing worth photographing until surprised at
seeing more ponies in the woodland of Bisterne Close than would normally have been expected on such a day.
The denizen featured in these last two pictures first pricked up its ears at a distant neigh to my right; answered it, then trotted off in response across the road.
This evening we all dined on tasty roast duck; crisp Yorkshire pudding; creamy cauliflower cheese; boiled and mashed potatoes; firm carrots and Brussels sprouts, with which I finished the pinotage and the others drank soft and fruity M & S rosé.
This evening we all dined on well cooked lean roast beef with horseradish, and bread sauce; crisp Yorkshire puddings; firm and tasty carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts; tangy red cabbage; and meaty gravy with which I drank more of the pinotage.
Today’s culling involved a few pictures from April 1969 – not these of Elizabeth feeding Matthew.
This afternoon we took forest drive.
Autumn leaves still clung to the trees along Holmsley Passage, where a few holly berries hung and trees were reflected in the rippling stream bubbling under the ford.
On Bisterne Close a mere handful of ponies, one wearing a bracken mask, wandered among the woodland
which Jackie photographed, including me.
Just before a somewhat cloud-obscured sunset I photographed a tree against the darkening sky.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s wholesome shepherd’s pie, firm flavoursome carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts with which I drank more of the Fleurie that involved opening another bottle.