The New Forest

The New Forest in Hampshire, South East England, is a large area of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest, that was proclaimed a royal forest by William the Conqueror in about 1079. It was first recorded as Nova Forest in the Domesday Book in 1086. More than 900 years later it is still known as "New".

The last day of our week's holiday was spent in this National Park in torrential rain. We had planned to walk and watch the roaming ponies and pigs. We shelved the idea of a long rainy walk and unfortunately only saw a few ponies, not a single foraging pig and sadly one dead cow lying by the side of the road. These road casualties are a frequent occurrence as the animals roam freely at all times.

We went to Lyndhurst and visited the museum to escape the depressing greyness, coldness and heavy rain. There was a display of Alice in Wonderland books as apparently the girl who was the inspiration for Lewis Carroll's Alice, lived nearby as an adult, and her ashes are interred in the church at Lyndhurst.

I love the illustration on the cover of this old book that was in a display cabinet and think it an appropriate contribution to Silly Saturday Challenge . Thanks to Admirer for continuing to challenge us to seek out the funny, the Silly and the incongruous. What better way to spend a very wet Saturday?