Nibbling the willow.
Jago
Toby
He’s been nose down in the straw feeder.
Bramley’s
A bumper crop, almost ready for picking.
Donkeys
Interested to smell the sheep Clik
Sedum
Attracting the bees and the butterflies.
Black Sheep
Walter, making the most of the hay that’s left.
The Thames
View towards Westminster from below The Eye.
The Mall
Empty after the events of the last few days.
QE II Birthplace
Briton Street, Mayfair
Green Park
Flowers everywhere for The Queen
Piccadilly Circus
Shrouded in black, 19th September 2022
Queen Elizabeth II Funeral
Walked miles trying to see or hear the parade, watched it all in a pub in Bruton Street.
Sunset
Hi
Clik
The sheep were corralled into the Avenue and the hurdles moved to gradually make the space smaller. They’ve all had a pink stripe of Clik to guard against fly strike. A cool start to a sunny day.
Grazing
Under the Union Flag with the sheep windsock at the top of the mast. The grass is looking greener after the rain, and the donkeys are enjoying the morning sunshine. Many of the leaves on the trees are starting to develop their Autumn colours, but the oak blossomed later, so maybe they’ll hang on for longer. A chilly start to a warm, sunny, day with a lovely sunset.
Wasps Nest
Spotted a few wasps flying in and out of the compost heap that’s ready for emptying so hacked at it with a rake. Disturbed the nest and was lucky to get away with one sting. Have since treated the area with ant powder and I think the surviving wasps have left the nest, which is good. A cold morning with rain showers, some sunshine in the afternoon.
Sheep
Pixie reaching for a freshly cut Hazel branch, cut from the Laneside hedge. The donkeys will eat whatever is left tomorrow. Picked cucumbers and tomatoes and stewed the Bramley apple fallers. A cool start to a sunny day.
Apple Twigs
William and Toby enjoying Bramley apple twigs, they snap the twigs in half and then munch the twigs from the end, leaves sometime drop off and are eaten later. A wet day with late sunshine.
Cycle
From Rushmoor to the top of the ridgeway and back in time for lunch. The donkeys and sheep spent all day in the paddocks. A warmer day than expected with light winds.
Proclamation
The formal accession of King Charles III is acknowledged in Salisbury, a band players hymns and The National Anthem and the assembled crowd promised to support the new King. I signed the Book of Condolence and look forward to the Coronation next Spring. A warm, sunny, day with light winds.
Digby
King of the Castle for a few minutes, the rain of the last week has drained away and the grass has started to show signs of green growth. Picked tomatoes, cucumbers and apples for the donkeys. A cool, cloudy day with a brisk wind.
Windsock
The six meter high mast now has the Union Flag half way up and the sheep flying from the top. The donkeys had to stay on the hard standing after a night of torrential rain showers, and the paddock has started puddling in places. A sunny end to the day.
Queen Elizabeth II
Died today. I was born in 1952, so she was the only monarch I’ve ever known. A sad day. Long live the King.
Bramley’s
Looks like there’ll be a good crop, made a crumble from the windfalls. No pears this year but plenty of eating apples, Beauty of Bath and D’Arcy Spice. Picked tomatoes and cucumbers. A day of heavy rain and thunderstorms, the donkeys stayed on the hard standing for the first time this summer as the paddock puddled.
Fireworks
The last of this year’s displays from the pier at Bournemouth, a loud and very bright display. The goats grazing on the slopes of the clifftop must have been surprised. A warm, breezy day
Sunset
The sun managed to get through even though it was still raining, have had a deluge which will make the grass grow. The donkeys didn’t mind getting wet but did stand under the willow during a thunderstorm, the sheep all ran into their shelter and stayed there. Picked tomatoes, cucumbers and the last of the plums.
Red Arrows
A stunning display over Bournemouth Bay as part of the air festival. The team is flying with seven Hawks instead of the usual nine, but still look great. The Typhoon was rib-rattling at full power and it was good to see the Battle of Britain group, Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane still flying. A breezy sunny cloudy day with the odd shower.
Donkeys
Watching what’s going on in the paddock, they’ll have their fly masks put on before they go out. The straw covering this area has been taken away and the compost underneath is being relocated to the raised beds and the garden as a mulch. Hope it’ll help the runner beans do better next year. A day of heavy rain showers and fresh winds.
Donhead Fete
The dog show had 42 entries and lots of potential winners for the most handsome, the sausage dog won. Successfully bid for a load of cutlery in the silent auction and enjoyed a pint of Gritchie while walking round. The tombola came up trumps as well with two bottles of wine. A sunny, cloudy, showery day with strengthening winds.
Greeting
Jago and Pixie gently head butting each other during their early evening runaround. Their fleeces are growing and the lanolin content is increasing as the nights get cooler, but no rain to speak of so the grass is still crispy and the standing hay in the paddock is gradually being eaten. A warm, sunny day with a fresh wind.
