Five Go To Itchen Abbas ...

Hello there! Many "Thanks" for your comments on my last post. It has been a busy week here - KP has been busy revising for a French Exam. It's an oral exam and I've been trying to help her with what little French that I remember from my schooldays. Remarkably I remember more than I thought! The human brain is an amazing thing. The last time I had anything to do with learning French was over 30 years ago! Where does the time go. It really does seem to fly.

On Sunday we went for a walk and a picnic along the River Itchen.

Having had to duck in and out of the rain last weekend, it was great just to walk casually along without fretting about the ominous looking rain clouds overhead.

George spent most of the time in the water chasing his ball. At one point on the walk, he just without a moments hesitation dived in - to retrieve what he thought was a ball but in actual fact was a feather! An easy mistake to make, not! He had jumped in at an area where the river was fast flowing and we thought that the OH may have had to wade in after him as he was struggling against the current. With a lot of coaxing of "Come on, George!" he finally managed to get back to the bank.

Despite this escapade a few minutes later in an area where the current wasn't so bad he jumped in again. They say that spaniels are stupid - there's the proof!

 And then completely out of character Charlie jumped into the water too. The look on his face was priceless! "Get me out of here, like NOW!"

The walk took us along the River Itchen but also into some villages.

With fab-u-lous cottages. Oh, to win the Lottery.

"Hey, Mum that branch looks like a swing!"

We sat and had our picnic just a short distance from this super house - only a field away from the river.

After his jump into the river Charlie was once again as stubborn as ever refusing point blank to look at the camera. There was nothing in particular for him to look at in the direction he is looking but I've learnt that this look is par for the course! Absolutely anything is better to look at than that black thing in front of your face!

Just after I took this photo I saw in the distance something that caused the water to splash. I couldn't make out what it was and then a few seconds later - no more than 10 feet from where I was standing on the bridge two red deer jumped into the river. I called out for KP to come and look as she had already crossed the bridge and had her back to the deer. She quickly turned around and saw the deer - they stood startled at seeing us and then legged it as fast as they could. If only I had the forethought of calling KP and to take a photo at the same time!

Look at this gorgeous house which we espied through the hedge. I would love to take a peek inside this one.

We came across two donkeys in a field. They are Poitou donkeys from France. The one on the right was very skinny. We came across a lady who was walking along the lane with a beautiful white horse and she told us that they were rescue donkeys being looked after before they could be transferred to the Donkey Sanctuary in Devon.

Despite the look of neglect the donkey came up to the gate to say hello and be stroked.

And then we saw the pub and went and had a pint of cider in the late afternoon sun. KP collected some daisies and as we supped our cider and KP her water (she doesn't like fizzy drinks) as KP and I made daisy chains.

A perfect end to a perfect day.

Until next time,

June.