Choices

Made a trip to the New Forest today, although I guess that is not all that unusual seeing that the boundary of the National Park is only 200 yards from home.
But this time we were visiting the Forest proper on the hottest day of the year so far, to enjoy lunch out.
In the tiny hamlet of Nomansland there’s a choice between a typical village pub and an up-market French restaurant. And they stand side by side!
Not surprisingly both looked busy and parking nearby wasn’t easy. Yet surprisingly prices, like for like are very much on a par, although you might be hard put to compare like for like because the menus are totally different, and the restaurant has a certain French chic panache that you won’t find in the pub.
Nevertheless on this occasion we opted for the pub, although right at the outset our entrance was barred — by two donkeys blocking the door, maybe looking for water to drink, maybe taking advantage of the shade of the building,  or maybe being just plain obstinate!
Either way, Mrs F was a trifle hesitant about trying to barge past. Fortunately, after a few moments they decided to move on.  Although we noticed during our meal that they kept returning and when we finally left they were still only a few yards away.
But this is the New Forest and you get used to animals roaming free. Here today, it was donkeys and at least one Forest pony, in some parts it might be cattle.  Or pigs, and more likely than not, deer as well, although the deer are more likely to be found deeper into the Forest.
There is a cricket ground opposite the pub and restaurant, and at weekends this becomes the quintessential English village.

Today the choice was between a French bistro or English pub.  We chose the pub, but having done that, Mrs F opted for an Indian dish while I went for Italian!  Ah well!