I'll start with an apology for posting another story as I hadn't intended to continue to write about our adventurers. Then whilst out for a walk one day I saw something that made me recall a couple of posted photos, that was the beginning and it grew from there. So once again I trust in your indulgence in posting a different perspective on your excellent photographic work.
There are two important notices
1) Sydney appears by kind permission of Coolcat who also kindly and generously supplied the photograph
2) Lucky and Indiana appear with kind permission of Brian Sugden
I cannot copy the photo posts into my story, so whilst you read please do take time to view the wonderful images as without them there would be no story (hurrah do I hear you call?!)
STORY TIME part the second ---- continues here......
The party had been arbitrary divided between the three hot air balloons (A Trio of Balloons / John Liddle / Forum Challenge 188 / 15 Aug 22), and some were not best pleased at being aloft; they held onto the basket side and tried their level best to look cool and calm whilst inwardly shaking like a leaf in a windstorm. Vainly memories were searched for the instructions given on what to do when landing awkwardly, was it brace? Their compatriots however, tried to call out to each other and took delight in the wonders of the countryside appearing below.
Ahead they could see the forested hills partly obscured by low lying cloud (Autumn is here / Daisy M / Landscape / 11 Sept 22) and knew their balloon flight would very soon be at an end.
Thankfully everyone landed safely in a quarry park (To the Southern Alps of New Zealand from Halswell Quarry / Harewood / Landscape / 1 Oct 22) and they hurried quickly across the open terrain towards the boundary; for once luck was at their side, as not long after the sanctuary was reached a sturdy wooden bridge (Bridge of Stripes / Stackman / challenge 189 / 2 Oct 22) hove into view to help them cross a stream. At least this time there would be no wet shoes and feet.
The bridge led directly into the forest they had spied earlier from the balloons and our band were as one enchanted by lights the sprites had lit (Enchanted Forest Spots / Daisy M / Challenge 189/ 30 Sept 22); there would be no straying from the path at least on this leg.
Shelter that night was at an inn along the wayside.
One member of the group stood in the kitchen eyeing a spider on the floor (Kitchen Visitor / Lavenderhill / Small Creatures / 2 0ct 22)
“WELL DON’T JUST STAND THERE ADMIRING IT”, startled, he shot 6 feet in the air - not having heard the cook move softly across the floor to stand behind him.
“GET. RID. OF. THAT. SPIDER.” “OUTSIDE. NOW” the cook continued to bellow.
You did not mess with a cook, especially this one, so he hastily moved to obey only to find on opening the door that it was raining. Again. Sighing deeply, he trudged outside. Great. 3 shrubs, green, white or red. (Garden Flowers / Lavenderhill / Plants and Flowers 2 Oct 22) Which colour could a spider see, did it matter? He for one was not about to tell the cook just how vicious the spiders were in the forest (Filtered Sunlight / Kevin L / Landscape / 24 Aug 22) they had crossed a few days back.
Having deposited the spider he was dripping wet, cold and miserable, hardly noticing the rather ornate door hinge;(Door hinge / stackman / specialist subjects miscellaneous / 4 Jun 22) too ornate and out of place really for an inn such as this one purported to be.
Opening the door, he was almost bowled over by Lucky and Indiana, (Update on Lucky / Brian Sugden / Farm and Domestic Animals / 24 Sept 22) the two German Shepherd dogs who had adopted our happy band of travellers. Brave and strong, both dogs helped keep guard but really preferred to play, especially with a rather sorry looking broken frisbee. Now that was an idea, he could join both dogs on one central lead – and with their combined strength they could pull him along. Bit like a walking sledge really.
Brightening up a bit he recalled his beloved cat, Sydney [
] whom by necessity had to be left behind. Now there was one cat who really did rule the home; Sydney made sure of the best and sunniest spot for resting and nobody or nothing would move him………... except for a chicken roasting. Inhaling deeply, he could almost smell the chicken. Stop, that was real. Breakfast, he really could smell the aroma of breakfast cooking and fresh coffee brewing. A beaming smile lit his face as he hastened across the floor.
THE END
I hope you liked the story and enjoyed revisiting the photo posts I have used in its construction.
As always all comments and observations gratefully received.
Rose
There are two important notices
1) Sydney appears by kind permission of Coolcat who also kindly and generously supplied the photograph
2) Lucky and Indiana appear with kind permission of Brian Sugden
I cannot copy the photo posts into my story, so whilst you read please do take time to view the wonderful images as without them there would be no story (hurrah do I hear you call?!)
STORY TIME part the second ---- continues here......
The party had been arbitrary divided between the three hot air balloons (A Trio of Balloons / John Liddle / Forum Challenge 188 / 15 Aug 22), and some were not best pleased at being aloft; they held onto the basket side and tried their level best to look cool and calm whilst inwardly shaking like a leaf in a windstorm. Vainly memories were searched for the instructions given on what to do when landing awkwardly, was it brace? Their compatriots however, tried to call out to each other and took delight in the wonders of the countryside appearing below.
Ahead they could see the forested hills partly obscured by low lying cloud (Autumn is here / Daisy M / Landscape / 11 Sept 22) and knew their balloon flight would very soon be at an end.
Thankfully everyone landed safely in a quarry park (To the Southern Alps of New Zealand from Halswell Quarry / Harewood / Landscape / 1 Oct 22) and they hurried quickly across the open terrain towards the boundary; for once luck was at their side, as not long after the sanctuary was reached a sturdy wooden bridge (Bridge of Stripes / Stackman / challenge 189 / 2 Oct 22) hove into view to help them cross a stream. At least this time there would be no wet shoes and feet.
The bridge led directly into the forest they had spied earlier from the balloons and our band were as one enchanted by lights the sprites had lit (Enchanted Forest Spots / Daisy M / Challenge 189/ 30 Sept 22); there would be no straying from the path at least on this leg.
Shelter that night was at an inn along the wayside.
One member of the group stood in the kitchen eyeing a spider on the floor (Kitchen Visitor / Lavenderhill / Small Creatures / 2 0ct 22)
“WELL DON’T JUST STAND THERE ADMIRING IT”, startled, he shot 6 feet in the air - not having heard the cook move softly across the floor to stand behind him.
“GET. RID. OF. THAT. SPIDER.” “OUTSIDE. NOW” the cook continued to bellow.
You did not mess with a cook, especially this one, so he hastily moved to obey only to find on opening the door that it was raining. Again. Sighing deeply, he trudged outside. Great. 3 shrubs, green, white or red. (Garden Flowers / Lavenderhill / Plants and Flowers 2 Oct 22) Which colour could a spider see, did it matter? He for one was not about to tell the cook just how vicious the spiders were in the forest (Filtered Sunlight / Kevin L / Landscape / 24 Aug 22) they had crossed a few days back.
Having deposited the spider he was dripping wet, cold and miserable, hardly noticing the rather ornate door hinge;(Door hinge / stackman / specialist subjects miscellaneous / 4 Jun 22) too ornate and out of place really for an inn such as this one purported to be.
Opening the door, he was almost bowled over by Lucky and Indiana, (Update on Lucky / Brian Sugden / Farm and Domestic Animals / 24 Sept 22) the two German Shepherd dogs who had adopted our happy band of travellers. Brave and strong, both dogs helped keep guard but really preferred to play, especially with a rather sorry looking broken frisbee. Now that was an idea, he could join both dogs on one central lead – and with their combined strength they could pull him along. Bit like a walking sledge really.
Brightening up a bit he recalled his beloved cat, Sydney [
] whom by necessity had to be left behind. Now there was one cat who really did rule the home; Sydney made sure of the best and sunniest spot for resting and nobody or nothing would move him………... except for a chicken roasting. Inhaling deeply, he could almost smell the chicken. Stop, that was real. Breakfast, he really could smell the aroma of breakfast cooking and fresh coffee brewing. A beaming smile lit his face as he hastened across the floor.THE END
I hope you liked the story and enjoyed revisiting the photo posts I have used in its construction.
As always all comments and observations gratefully received.
Rose
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