Sunday 5th May 2020

We wait all week for the weekend to roll round, and when it does, the weather is shit and we can't do anything.

Apparently.

But, we had agreed to meet with fellow orchidists at Sandwich Bay to show them the Marsh Helleborines, so we would be going out.

We just might get wet.

And another day in which the wind would blow. Hard.

I woke up with the rain falling gently, but soon being thrown around on the teeth of a near gale, and overhead clouds grew thick and heavy, and it was nearly dark enough to have the table lamp on. And we were going out to do macro photography!

We left home at half nine, after coffee, breakfast, second coffee, into a very windy and now dry day. And then as we drove along the Deal Road, the clouds began to clear and the sun shone.

We arrived at the observatory, before our friends had arrived, so we waited and checked the pond for dragonfly and dragonfly larvae.

None seen.

A car pulls up; its our friend. And they have a friend, another orchidist, but one of the cultivated kind, he also arrives.

Here's the truth, we followed their friend through Sandwich, driving at 20 mph. I ran out of patience and flashed him, and he pulled over. How funny, I said as the car pulled into the car park, if that was Jeff's friend.

It was.

Bugger.

Anyway, we all get out and say hello. No handshakes. Then walk over the road and into the meadow, which had been mowed since last weekend. But at least we know the estate know what they are doing, though it does look grim. There were Yellow Rattle and Southern Marsh Orchid seeds cases everywhere.

Along to the ringing area, which is how far Jeff and his wife got last week. Ten paces further on, the hundreds of Marsh Helleborine spikes could be seen. Jeff felt a little silly, but there you go. I told him where to go.

Thing is, the area was sheltered, and although windy, here in the meadow among the dune slacks, it was calm, macro was easy, although I had snapped the orchids before, there were dozens of butterflies around. Marbled Whites, Large Whites, Small Whites, Peacocks, Small Skippers, Large Skippers, Small Coppers, Common Blues, Large Heath, Comma, Red Admiral: I take many, many shots.

In fact, I got diverted and went back to snap more once our friends had left.

And I went to look for a couple of rare plants. I find one of them, Tubular Water Dropwort, growing in the course of a dried ditch.

Jools is laying on her back in the long grass, watching the fluffy clouds sweep over. She says she is fine.

Shall we go home for lunch?

We shall.

Jen was coming over for dinner, and I was cooking roast beef and all the trimmings. Life is getting back to normal, and Jen has been stuck in the house with her Mum since March 10th, and so to come out for a meal was a real treat, even if I was cooking.

The beef is seasoned and sealed, then roasted for an hour. Potatoes boiled, ready to be roasted nearer the time. Veg is prepped, and meanwhile the Prosecco is chilling.

Jen arrives, so she and Jools sit outside, talking, whilst I cook and drink beer. What could go wrong?

Nothing.

All is ready at twenty to three, three platefuls and foaming glasses of wine.

We eat very well. And drink, merrily.

As you do.

Jen has to leave straight away, and I am told to sit on the sofa watching football as Jools clears up.

I stay awake.

Just.

I have no idea what games I watch, there are so many now. Was it Villa v Liverpool? Liverpool score two late goals to win. That might be it.

There is Scotch eggs for tea, then #wildflowerhour on Twitter, and Southamptn v Citeh on BBC, so I do both. Saints win.

Norwich are so down now.

So it goes, so it goes.