Having taken many more photos of the colourful spring flowers in the walled garden at Mottisfont, I decided to have a pause and sat on one of the seats helpfully placed near the newly constructed and planted vegetable garden.
I soon noticed a man sitting on the next seat along. He had a little whippet on his lap. As so often happens, when I come to write up a stranger's encounter, I am now not sure who looked at who first and made eye contact. Suffice it to say that in a few minutes, I found myself standing up and walking along to this gentleman and asking if he would mind me taking a photo of him and his dog. He was quickly agreeable to my request. I wondered if the dog would mind and he said she would also be happy with that.
Meet Tony and his little whippet, Poppy.
I did then explain my portrait project and introduce myself, before taking a few shots. In response to my request for some information about him to accompany the portraits, Tony told me that he is retired from his career as an estate agent and that he is now involved in land development and restoration of old properties and his whole family participate in this work with him.
His first meeting with Poppy took place in a back garden where he discovered her in a wooden box with just a piece of old carpet. In her owner's defence, Tony explained that he had problems in his life and was struggling to look after Poppy but only let Tony take her when he realised his great affection/love for dogs (more than for people, Tony told me).
Tony was waiting for his wife, Sue, who soon came out of the walled garden and suggested that she would look after Poppy while he had a quick look at the flowers. We had a little chat and she told me that her father had been a professional photographer for film companies, taking stills such as those used to promote their films.
When Tony reappeared, much to Poppy's joy who had been anxiously watching the entrance/exit to the walled garden in his absence, we said goodbye and I gave him my card and thanked him.
See this and more photos of Tony and Poppy in The Human Family group:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/150442566@N07/33900624238/in/dateposted-public/
