Ramblings
On this grey-drizzle day we arrived at Tanners Lane beach
just as the intrepid kite-surfers were packing up for the afternoon.
These friendly gentlemen were happy to talk about the wind and the weather while I explained that in producing my daily blog I accepted whatever I was given.
This evening we all dined on Jackie’s delicious, wholesome, chicken and vegetable stewp.
This is the view that, a couple of days ago, prompted me to wander round the garden with a camera. By the time I got around to it the sun had fled along with its shadows.
So I had another go this morning.
In particular I was keen to capture such blossom as had survived last week’s gales. These include the towering Amanogawa cherry; a more normal pink one; and burgeoning crab apple.
After lunch Jackie and I took a forest drive where there was not much
sign of life until we came across a trio of somnolent donkeys adorning the verge of Tanners Lane.
All bore small patches of skin exposed from torn tufts of hide;
one carried a cross upon its back.
I wandered a little further down the lane, photographing
blackthorn and
bluebells on a bank beneath a tree from which emanated sweet birdsong, the ambience being somewhat soured by the oppressive pong of muck spreading.
The most awake donkey ambled down to join me in the shade.
This evening we all dined on moist roast chicken; flavoursome pork and apple sausages; crisp roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding; soft cabbage; crunchy carrots; firm cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, and tasty gravy, with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Côte’s du Rhône.