On this temperate morning we drove into the forest and picnicked
looking down at distant ponies and cattle in the view from the heights of Abbottswell.
A pony and foal were at home on the moorland beside Holmsley Passage.
Although no rain fell today
many roads were awash after the heavy overnight rain. Vehicles drove through pools at Stuckton, and the ford at Frogham harboured a swift-flowing stream.
This horse-drawn trap must have avoided the roadwater at Stuckton.
Deer dotting the slopes of Blissford Hill appeared to feel happily safe. This gallery is mine; the next
is Jackie’s showing the landscape including the deer and a garden.
The Assistant Photographer also pictured a lone thrush, a trio of hares,
and at North Gorley the same number of donkeys.
Needing to find a local Indian takeaway to replace Red Chilli, we chose to dine this evening at Rokali’s in Ashley in order to check out the food. This turned out to be good decision.
The atmosphere and service was very friendly, the food well cooked and plentiful – in fact ordering both onion bahjis and paratha was a dish too far for us.
We were early enough for Jackie to take interior photographs without worrying about privacy.
Here is the bar and the menu wallet.
We always make the paratha test when visiting a new restaurant. Rokali’s passed this. Real roses embellished each table.
Our shared special rice , onion bahjis, paratha, and salad were all very good. Chutneys were left with us. Shiny perspex studs decorated the chairs.
Jackie enjoyed her steaming ponir shaslick, as did I my prawn Bengal, although the photograph was not in focus. She drank Diet Coke and I drank alcohol free Kingfisher.
We were treated to the music of Bollywood emanating from the kitchen radio.
