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Today Jackie made much progress on weeding, planting, and watering. I did some tidying up and composting.
Later this afternoon we drove over to East End to see how the thatching was coming along.
The craftsmen have started the ridging. Readers will have noticed reeds left sticking up on top of the roofs. These have now been strapped in place in readiness for the sculptured topping.
In a far corner of the back garden a summer house is also receiving a new roof.
The scaffolding shadows converse with the leaded diamonds of the traditional windows.
We moved on to Beaulieu where a gentle white pony mare suckled her little black foal.
The mother decided I was paying too much attention and took her offspring across the newly surfaced road to join a group of grazing cattle.
The cattle weren’t too keen on the idea and repaired to the other side. All this movement, of course, gave the car drivers something to think about.
Further on, lining Lodge Lane and the roadside at Sowley, lay fenced off bluebell woods.
Our next stop was Tanners Lane where a motor boat buffeted along the Solent against the backdrop of the Isle of Wight.
In the field alongside the shingle beach, a pair of donkeys basked.
One nudged his partner as if to say “Get up and come and look at this”. Throwing back her head and propping up her pregnant bulk with her forelegs, the mare awkwardly found her feet,
and staggered across to have a look.
This evening we dined on succulent chicken thighs marinaded in barbecue sauce, served with Jackie’s very special egg fried rice. She drank Peroni and I drank Louis de Camponac Cabernet Sauvignon 2015.