Monday 14th January 2013

Good evening; welcome to Monday. And at least it is nearly over. And if you are reading this in NZ (Hi, Tony) it is already tomorrow. Outside, it has turned from a winter wonderland into the usual grey and damp winter’s day that are so typical of a winter in England.

Yes, we woke up this morning to find several flakes of snow had fallen and turned our dull and grey neighbourhood into a scene from Santa’s grotto. During the day, snow flurries turned into sleet which is now just plain, everyday rain. It may snow again tonight, which could make the trip into the office tomorrow morning interesting. By interesting, I mean screaming obscenities at other drivers for their stupidity.



So, the weekend is your oyster; what are you going to do to fill it up? Oh yes, chase streams that only appear once every seven years. The alternative route from Dover to Folkestone takes you along the Alkham Valley. Like all vallies, it must have been formed by water, but now you come to mention it, there is no river or stream running along it to explain the erosion.



When the water table gets high enough, a spring, a winterbourne flows along the valley. According to local lore the Drellingore flows one every seven years. In reality this happens only when there is enough water via the water table. It comes as no surprise after last year’s rain that most winterbournes in East Kent are in full flow at the moment.



My plan was to head to Alkham to snap the Drellingore, then maybe head to Barham to snap the Nailbourne. Before then, Jools had to have a haircut, so we were in the centre of Dover for half eight, then by nine parking up in Alkham marvelling at the dry culvert, or normally dry culvert was two feet deep in a torrent of water. We snapped it, then went out onto the main road to snap the whole scene before heading to Barham.



In an odd move, the bourne to the north of Barham was dry, but south of the village it was two feet deep and flowing well. We ended up in Lyminge, as I thought Jools might like to see the wonderful church there. Turns out it is my favourite Kentish church and she was not with me when I visited it a few years back.



Anyway, we found the Priest Door open, with a warden giving it a polish. So we take our shots and after some fine chit-chat move on. We do stop of at another church, but I shall not reveal its identity, as it is the subject of a GWUK on Flickr, and folks have begun to read these words. So no clues, guys.

We ended up heading home for lunch and then me snoozing on the sofa whilst I pretended to listen to the football on the radio. Before settling down to a long hard serious session of scanning family photographs. Norwich struggle to a 0-0 draw with Newcastle, and so are without a league win since before Christmas. I cook steak and ale pie for dinner which goes down very well.



Sunday, we should have gone to London to snap steam trains on the Underground. I baulked at the cost and what could very well have been a waste of time on a whole day of our weekend. I think we chose right, seeing a team locomotive on the tube would have been great, but little chance of getting any shots. What with the threat of snow hanging over the whole country, we decided to stay in Dover and maybe have a lay in.



During the week we had taken delivery of a couple of bean bags with which to support our cameras when we were snapping wildlife, so we went out to the Monument to snap the birds. I think the shots were better which justified the cost of the bags. Our plan to head out to the beach at Samphire Hoe to have a look at the Lydden Spout (another bourne) went unfulfilled as it was cold outside and we stayed inside and I fell asleep listening to the football on the radio.

And so ended the weekend.

This morning I had an appointment with the doctor to discuss my blood test results. Seems like I am just allergic to dust, and so there is no drugs that can be proscribed other than anti-allergy ones. I walked to the surgery over the fields taking shots as I went. And then back home to get back to work on my laptop…….

And finally, another name from the High Street vanished as Jessops closed it's doors for the last time on Friday, it's bankers having run out of patience and added 1600 to the jobless totals.