Hang loose

The New Forest in beautiful Hampshire was today's destination. Audi chose it as the venue for the UK launch of the new Q7. After heavy traffic on the M25 and M3, the 'forest' was an oasis of calm with ponies and donkeys bathed in evening sunlight as they roamed free and cropped the grass.

I'd love to travel back in time and see the New Forest when it really was one, rather than the heathland most of it is today. It must have been a wonderful place when it was full of majestic oak trees from which mighty ships were built.

This fine swing seat hangs in a huge old cedar tree in the hotel that is our overnight venue. If only there were time to linger in it for an afternoon with a good book!