And on the 7th day, God looked down on St Maggies and did say, verily, that looks mighty green. Let me send the sun to shine upon it. And indeed that is what happened.
We got up, and for the first time in a week the workmen were not due to hammer 9 bells out of the house, and in celebration the sun did shine upon all. After coffee, we got on our walking boots and headed out with the intention of walking to the cliffs, along the usual route.
Now, despite being home two weeks, without once in the meantime climbing on an aircraft to head to a meeting or audit, I have failed in getting back on the healthy path. Even with the best of intentions, I failed to either go for a walk each evening, or get on the cross-trainer. And with the humidity of the days of high summer, all that seemed to hit the spot is sitting on the patio sipping beer or wine.
Anyhow, we headed out along the path at the end of the road, only to find that the fields had been harvested after all. All that was left were acre upon acre of stubble and/or ploughed fields. We made it to the pig’s copse, to find the small piglets I had last seen some three months ago are now well grown pigs, and noisily tucking into breakfast.
We headed down the dip and up the other side, the sheer depth of the colours of the field of grass was stunning. I took several shots, but these don’t do justice to the scene. At the top of the dip[, we were met by a welcoming committee of two horses who just wanted some attention. And we were happy to ruffle their manes, although we were unable to give them anything to eat as we came out without carrots. Again.
We walked to the cliffs inbetween the harvested and ploughed fields, it really does feel like the year is getting on in a rapid manner. Indeed it was already the 3rd August, and summer will soon turn into autumn. As if to underline this, I found a spike of an Autumn Ladies Tress in the short grass, this is my 28th and final orchid species seen in Kent this year.
The field next to the cliffs had just been harvested, and the bales of straw still littered it, so I took some snaps of the scene with the sea in the background as tractors rushed round loading the bales onto trailers. After looking over the cliffs at the sea below, we head to Bluebells for a cuppa and as it turned out, a slice of Victoria sponge, which although sweet was very nice indeed.
We spit up, Jools heading to the Droveway to inspect the hedgerows for autumnal fruits, and me to look for more butterflies, as I had already snapped several species on the cliff edge, including a Chalkhill Blue, my first of the year.
The walk back home was long and hot, and by the time I got to the butterfly glade, it was too hot even to hunt them there, so I decided to head straight home and there waiting was Jools with a huge glass of iced squash. Lovely.
We had a quiet afternoon, but at 5 I got the Weber out and lit the coals, ready for a small BBQ. We had it down by the shed, out of the stiff breeze, the burgers and sausages were great, as was the cold beers.
Once again the sky began to darken although the moon was now half full, and already high in the sky as darkness fell.
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