bewilderment........... by jantan

bewilderment...........

(apologies and thanks to anyone who looked at and commented on the earlier versions I posted of this shot. You aren't going mad, I couldn't get the whites to behave, so deleted and re-edited twice - finished now - promise!)



........ where's the grass gone? Jack stood there for about five minutes, just looking and thinking.

Actually, the longer I have fostered Jack, the more I become aware that he is in fact a donk of very little brain, so I imagine the thought process would have gone somewhere along the lines of "erm...... something's different...... erm...... hold on a minute.... erm... it's all white...erm.... that's different..... erm...... the grass has all gone...that's not right.... erm...what am I going to do now......"

I have been wanting to get this picture, taken earlier this year, into my project. So waking up to another blanket of snow this morning was just the excuse I needed. More snow - Aaahhh! Not sure how that is going to impact the Donk's Palm Sunday gig tomorrow as I can't imagine the vicar and choir wanting to process around the village in snow and slush in their robes somehow.

I came downstairs to discover a line of freshly made human footprints disappearing up the garden towards the field. Such a welcome sight - it meant that Graham had gone out to feed the animals for me. What a treasure!

As I type this he and the boys are on the way to Twickenham. The Under 15 rugby team from Sam's school are playing there today in the final of the Daily Mail cup so a small delegation from our village are going to support the school, and more particularly our friends' son who is part of the team.

Personally, I am not sure that undertaking such an unnecessary journey in these weather conditions is a good idea, especially with more snow forecast throughout the day, but not surprisingly my concerns fell on deaf ears. At least Graham decided to take my gas guzzling, drafty, uncomfortable Landrover for the trip rather than his own poncy, comfortable, warm, free-fuelled company car. He has ended up with seven in the car due to some people not wanting to make the journey themselves, so it should be lively journey.

A big fried breakfast here for all of the people he is travelling with was followed by the usual task of trying to get the boys to wear something even remotely like enough clothes and sensible shoes for the conditions. Marginally more successful than usual, but still image has ruled supreme over sensibility. I can't say too much because I still harbour memories of putting my sensible gaberdine school coat into my bag as soon as I got out of sight of the house when I was a girl. I usually adopt the approach of "well, I've warned them, so if they get cold they might listen next time." It hasn't worked so far, and in truth I don't think it ever will, but at least I feel I have done my bit.

So I am now sat here looking at an enormous pile of post-breakfast washing up (a small price to pay for the animals having been fed) and listening to an interesting thing on the radio about Steampunk by Phil Jupitus, and wondering how I am going to spend the day - bliss!

.......will be happier when they all get back safely 'tho.

three good things:-

listening to teenagers chatting and laughing together over breakfast.

landrovers

husbands who feed the animals on a snowy morning
I like your picture and it is fun to read about "a day in the life!" Hope your family makes it home safe and you enjoy your quie day. Thank you for translating. You speak "donk" quite convincingly.
March 23rd, 2013  
A lovely shot. I'm sure you weren't expecting to be able to use a snowy scene at the end of March!

I wish I had a landrover so I could go home... I'm supposed to be photographed my tree, for it's monthly picture, today but drifts have closed all the roads here. There's 5 inches of snow on the main A road around Home. A landrover wouldn't really help today as the police are up there and won't let anyone through, but I've wanted one for years, I love them!
March 23rd, 2013  
Jan, I laughed so hard when I read the thoughts of your donkey! Thank you, it starts well my day! Within a year I will adopt a donkey so if you have any advice to give me to choose one I gladly take it! And by the way it's a lovely photo! (by the time I wrote that comment the picture disappeared so I wait and there it is again)
March 23rd, 2013  
I do that too (drives Bulldog MAd!!) I will comment again and fav this shot. WOnderful capture.
March 23rd, 2013  
Jack is so sweet! Love the composition.
March 23rd, 2013  
Beautiful photo.
March 23rd, 2013  
Beautiful
March 23rd, 2013  
Great title for this photo!
March 23rd, 2013  
I think he is majestic and thoughtful. Have to stand up for Jack.
Beautiful composition.
March 23rd, 2013  
i love this scene jan and your commentary. really makes it come alive!
March 23rd, 2013  
Your hubby sounds a lovely man - going out in this weather to feed the animals must be a bit of a chore! This capture is absolutely delightful and I love the thoughts of Jack! Fav. It is interesting to hear all about your families exploits and I hope they get back safely and don't get too cold!
March 23rd, 2013  
Poor donk - so perplexed, bless his little furry socks.
March 23rd, 2013  
Lee
A moment captured well.
March 23rd, 2013  
You could write a column in a magazine...'The Exploits of a Cotswold Wife' ..or some such title, perhaps the Farmers Guardian even!!
Beautifully thought out photo, well worth the trouble you took, you could create a lovely Christmas card for next year out of this even though taken at Easter you wouldn't guess!
Good luck to the adventurers to the rugby & enjoy your quiet day.
March 23rd, 2013  
Love the shot and really enjoy your commentary!!
March 23rd, 2013  
Love this shot. Think you got the white perfectly. FAV
March 23rd, 2013  
So sweet, poor little bewildered donk....and poor bewildered us too!! Hope the boys have fun and you enjoyed the peace and quiet!!
March 23rd, 2013  
Snow really is hard to photograph. I have been battling that issue all winter.
Neat capture.
March 23rd, 2013  
Have to say with the weather kinda no how he feels, confused and cold. Great shot how did the rugby match go!!!!!!
March 23rd, 2013  
Lovely picture, and cute donkey!
March 23rd, 2013  
A lovely capture!!
March 23rd, 2013  
Great shot. I'm very fond of donkeys
March 23rd, 2013  
Wonderful shot...I love the "thought" process of Jack...gave me a nice chuckle. Sounds like a good start to the day and I hope the game went well and everyone is home again safely.
March 23rd, 2013  
I couldn't understand the words 'unnecessary journey' but interesting text all the same. Hope they won.

Great donkey shot too.
March 23rd, 2013  
Ah bless! The title is perfect.
March 23rd, 2013  
OMG this is great, had to fav.
March 24th, 2013  
You write so well, it is a pleasure to read! A donk of very little brain, indeed! Winnie the Pooh described himself as such but look how much he has achieved - world wide recognition! I bet your breakfast was super and a good start to an active day!
March 24th, 2013  
Great shot, love the high key, looks like a Christmas card!
March 24th, 2013  
Aw thats I responded when I got up on Friday at 5.30am. Disbelief! Hope they got plenty of hay.
March 24th, 2013  
Oh this is like a Christmas scene. It's rather depressing for March.
March 24th, 2013  
very nicely done!
March 25th, 2013  
That's really a wonderful shot. Love that he's so reflective....
March 25th, 2013  
Title says it all.
March 25th, 2013  
Fabulous FAV
March 28th, 2013  
I do envy your big neighbourly catering efforts. I haven't had a crowd for breakfast in a long time. Well done to his school for getting to the Final - Warwick? In which case well done for winning! I think The Perse knocked them out of the quarter finals in 2011 - but they haven't done so well before or since!! We do come up against Warwick in hockey things fairly regularly though - no interest there?? I've been wondering about donk & Palm Sunday so I'm going to have to read on to see what happened... Love your photo!
March 29th, 2013  
@judithg Yes Judith, it is Warwick. They did very well, particularly as the Wakefield lads were twice their size. Sam doesn't play hockey, tho his best friend does play for the school team.
March 30th, 2013  
Aww, poor donk...such confusement.
It must be so hard for them to comprehend such a drastic change to their environment. I'm wondering how long he stood there. Hopefully not until it melted. LOL

Bless Graham for taking on the chore of feeding the animals. :-)
April 16th, 2013  
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