Sunday 30th July 2023

Summer seems to have been broken.

It is, we're told, due to the jetstream, being in the wrong place.

Wat it means for us in Kent and the rest of Britain is unseasonably wet and windy weather.

Rain is forecast every day this week, and on Sunday after a sunny morning, things would also get much wetter.

So, we went hunting for Broad Leaved Helleborines, Yellow Birsdsnest and Violet Helleborines.

But because of the wet conditions, we saw lots of autumnal fungi, in July.

This is the most stunning, Amethyst deceiver. And yes, it really is that colour.

In order to beat the rain, we were out straight after coffee and before breakfast, heading along the A2 away from the port, turning off an heading into the ancient woods.

First stop was to see the Yellow Birdsnest. Its a five minute walk down the track, through the woods, but at the end we found three small spikes just beginning to emerge. And on the way back we found about a dozen Broad Leaved Helleborines, about half in flower, and with light good enough to grab some shots, even under the woodland canopy.

We walked back to the car and drove along the valley, parking at the foot of the bridleway. We were expecting mud, lots of mud due to the heavy rain we have had, but truth is, it was pretty firm underfoot and no need to change shoes back at the car.

What we did see, however, were hundreds of fungi, most still emerging, but these are a good six weeks early, brought on my the rain I guess, most were not worth snapping, but the usual Fly Agaric were also emerging too.

At the top of the path, we broke up to look for the Violet Helleborines, and after some searching, we found about 30 spikes, but none in flower. This, despite those in north Kent having been in flower over a week.

Oh well.

And that was that.

We were hungry, so we walked back to the car, seeing even more fungi on the way back.

And do back in the car, back along the valley and along the A2 back to Dover, getting home just after ten where the morning's exercise called for a fresh coffee and some breakfast, quickly followed by a second coffee and second breakfast.

It was all downhill from there as it clouded over, wind picked up and the rain began, so I felt less guilty at three sitting on the sofa which Scully to watch the All Ireland Gaelic Football final.

I can't claim to know all the rules, then few seem to, apparently, but it was fast and furious with a nailbiting end.

Dinner was spiced lamb, fresh corn and lefovers.

I did the trick.

And then it was half seven somehow, and time to prepare lunches for the week and get our collective heads down.

Phew.

Forever culture wars

As I reported about a week ago, one of the apparently defining issues in the Uxbridge by-election, was the expansion of the ultra-low emmissions zone.

This lead forst of all the Labour Party to pressure the Mayor of London to reverse some of that, and now here come the Conservatives, linking diectly the labour Party with Stop Oil protests, and now are planning on going back on net zero commitments made during COP 26 and elsewhere.

Not only that, Sunak says he is going to issue new licesnces for drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea, and is looking into the 2030 ban on manufacturing new petrol and other fossil fuel cars.

All the while, of course, southern Europe and North America are literally burning due to unprecidented heatwaves and wildfires.

All this to win votes of a handul of mouthbreathers who want to drive their 4.2 litre ancient Jags around.

Suppose they gave a culture war and no one came?

Well, if polls are correct, the public want net zero, want to save the environment and planet. Its actually a vote winner.

And would be the right thing to do.

We only have one planet, and we have to save it.

To not at least try would be madness.

All this, of course, coming from a billionaire Prime Minister wh won't use public transport, insteads seems to get around the country borrowing a doners helicopter. Of course the Government will meet its net zero commitments, he lied.

Saturday 29th July 2023

Saturday. And well, a kind of between seasons kind of day. There are orchids to seek out and snap, and there are churches to explore, but with a keen breeze and rain expected, coupled with the usual summer queues into Dover port meant we had little planned other than some hunter/gathering at Tesco. We got just two bags of stuff, and yet it came to £88, fifteen of which was for the bottle of limoncello, but even still, that's still a lot. It seems not that long ago that a light shop like that would have been about £30. Inflation maybe be falling, but that just means that prices are increasing less slowly. Back home where we have breakfast, coffee and second breakfast of bacon butties, when the bell goes at the front door. It was Kay from next door, asking if we wanted a cucumber from their crop, as they had been snowed under somewhat. I I took it, the vegetable weighed 2.2 pounds, and was a whopper.

I thought I could make some Tzatziki. Only problem was a lack of Greek yogurt, and either mint or dill.

No problems, I would go into Deal, even though their carnival was on. I had checked the traffic, it looked OK.

Jools came too, and we drove into town, past the fair on Walmer Green, by the bandstand, not get going, so the rides were in sleep mode.

We found a place to park, then wondered where would be best to go. We decided on Sainsbury's, so across the main street, and to the station where it was busy with more hunting/gathering going on.

They had mint but no dill, so made do with that, got yogurt, and we were done. Waiting at the till took longer.

Back to the car and out of Deal, into Walmer, and a detour to The Berry where they had a beer festival.

Beer festival!

I had been rather tempted by the pint you see here: ice cream porter, and once I had got a pint from the bar in the cellar, we went to the courtyard and at at a table in the shade, and supped.

It was a mighty pint, doubly so at only 4.5%.

We order a burger and fries from the chap who supplies them at the pub, and I refill my glass with a pint to Hobson's Mild, which was good, but the flavours of the porter somewhat overpowered it.

The burger came, which we made vanish, by which time I had drunk enough, so Jools drive us home, getting back in time for me to follow City's final pre-season game, the cricket and fall asleep on the sofa with Scully.

Who says men can't multi-task?

I made the Tzatziki, which we ate smothered on slices of bread along with the Spanish meat I had gathered in Tesco.

All rather yummy.

And that was Saturday.

Friday 28th July 2023

On Monday my boss returns, so this was my last day in charge.

Phew, its been tough!

In reality, its been quiet really, with just one issue keeping my eye off the ball.

Being a Friday, Jools was up early and off to yoga at six, so I could then put the bins out.

The day started out damp and cool, but was due to clear up and get sunny. Which would be nice.

At half nine, I watched England women play Denmark in the World Cup, that played on my laptop while I worked on my work machine, attending meetings and the such.

Lunch was the remainder of the leftover fritters and garlic aioli, which was every bit as good as the day before, but it did leave my mouth with dreadful breath. I cleaned my teeth and have some oatcakes with marmalade just to take the rest of the flavour of the garlic away.

I wrapped up work at two, put the computer away, then went out to carry out the butterfly count for Butterfly Conservation. Hundreds of thousands of people over a three week period take 15 minutes to count how many butterflies and of which species they see in 15 minutes.

I strike gold with six species, including a new species for the garden: Small Heath, though I get no shots of that before it flew off.

I was luckier with a female Common Blue (brown form),

A Red Admiral sheltering from the wind,

And a fine Comma resting beside the pond.

Sweet.

When Jools comes back, we have the last slice of lemon tart before I do the music quiz so we can then go to Jen's for cards. We had chicken tenders and spicy breaded shrimp for supper before clearing away and playing.

In a turn up, I win the pot at the end of the evenig, 30p the richer, which I promise won't change me.

We leave before nine as the A2 was to be closed for more work on the new bridge, so we slip by as the cones were being placed.

It am the weekend.

Thursday 27th July 2023

Pay day.

I meantion this, as it is the only reason, or anyone really, goes to work. Some might love their job, a few more might like it, but right now I resent mine, but appreciate the things the pay makes possible.

It was going to be yet another cool, grey and breezy day, as the jet stream is sending the settled weather further south, where it has been baking southern Europe with temperatures of up to 46 degrees. Nothing like that here, in fact seeing the sun these last two weeks has been something of a rarity.

Jools went swimming again, while I stayed home and was still in charge. But of what was not clear.

My time as head of the department comes to an end on Monday when Tna returns, so I will be able to escalate issues through her.

Again.

Other than that, not much to report, the day dragged, so I listened to podcasts over breakfast and lunch, while keeping an ear on the work computer.

I sat outside in the afternoon in the weak sunshine, while Scully purred beside me. Doesn't take much to make her happy, just your undivided attention and some food, and that does it.

Dinner is fritters, and in them I add the leftover corriander I had fogotten to use on Sunday. Worked well, but then everything has I have added to the dozens of batches of them I have made.

The journey back home was tricky for Jools because of queuing traffic leading to the port, but she gets back only ten minutes later than usual, having gone through Capel and then into town.

We eat, drink and are merrie.

And that is another day done, Friday tomorrow and then the weekend. And maybe some sunshine?

We hope so.

Wednesday 26th July 2023

It was a warm, bright still morning. So nice that after checking the internet for news, I took what was left of my coffee out to the patio, and after filling up the feeders, sat with Mulder and Scully, soaking up the rays and watching the birbs.

Wasps have taken to coming to the wooden seat to munch on the wood fibre to make cells for their hive, wherever it is, so I seat there and a wasp is munching away, making wood pulp.

Of course it could be paper for the new version of Macbeth they're working on.

In an infinate universe, everything is possible.

The clock ticks round towards seven, so while Jools has a shower, I set up the office and log on.

Nothing had happened overnight.

Phew.

The day before, I had seen a Dahlia that Jools had bought, flower in one of the raised beds, I was waiting for a sunny day to snap it, and today was that day.

Snap.

And back into the house for breakfast, more coffee and work. In which I try to make sense of the agenda I have been handbagging for ten days straight. Instead of thinning it out, I have increased the scope by 10%.

And that's progress.

Meanwhile the day clouded over, wind built, though no rain fell. That would come just after dark, apparently. I looked into the garden, and the fox was waiting for dinner. His fur has improved, and despite being small, he seemed in good spirits. I went out, as he was eating peanuts, to put to packs of the chicken flavour cat food our cats won't eat. The fox retreats, but not too far, as he knows this well by now.

And having filled his bowl up and walking back to the house, Mr Fox approached the dish and eats. With Scully looking on, he eats his fill and slinks off.

I pack up the office and listen to a podcast, it all seems under control.

Jools was going with Jen to see the Barbie film on the way home, so we would be eating late. I have a coffee and find something to watch.

When she does come home, its ten past eight, the film was great, apparently. We have the last of the bread dipped in flavoured vinegar with the lemon tart and a coffee for desert.

By the time we tidy up and Jools prepares for her early start in the morning, its ten past nine, rain is falling outside, and Cleo sits on the stairs, waiting for us to go to bed so she can snuggle.

Tuesday 25th July 2023

After the first coffee of the day, while Julie buzzed around inside, I sat on the patio looking at the day beginning over the garden.

Jools was away before six, heading to the pool for her early morning swim. I had a task too: repotting the basil we bought at the weekend.

A few months back I watched a YouTube video on how repotting supermarket bought basil will create lots of smaller, healthier plants that will produce leaves all summer.

The first attempt did not provide leaves all summer, but as each plant got leggy and bolted, I bought a new pot and transplanted them yesterday.

Sure, they look weedy and all over the place now, but soon each pot will have a healthy, leafy, vibrant plant and produce leaves until into the autumn.

I put them backon the long tray, watered them and put them all on the windowsill next to Nobby the Meercat.

That done I could make a second coffee, log oonto work and begin the task of reviewing the final document before updating the problematic audit agendas. It is now six weeks before I travel and this needs fixing.

So, there went the day. Me working away and swimming against the tide of resistance. By three, I was at the point of deciding, I was right all along.

As usual.

Meanwhile the sun of the morning had turned wet and breezy agan, but not as cold as Monday. But there was no walking to be done, no gardening, just looking out the window as the rain drifted in sheets across the valley behind the house.

Kent is one of the driest counties in England, but this year, we have had lots of rain.

At odd times.

January and February were dry, so dry tracks around here had no mud, then March was the wettest ever, or close to it.

April and May, we had a northerly wind that just blew for week on end.

And now, we have rain and two summer gales that are most unusual.

Anyway, after the bright start yesterday, it clouded over and although no thunder again, the clouds threw close to an inch down.

And that was that.

Dinner was choroizo hash, which I decided was worthy to have cracked open the last "spare" bottle of Chimay Grande Reserve 2022. Needless to say, it was all delicious.

I had also made another Crostata Al Limone, which wasn't really for Tuesday as it needed to be chilled, but we had a slice anyway for supper with the last coffee of the day.

Perfect.

Monday 24th July 2023

Up at half five to check the traps, and I was rewarded with 5 (five) Elephant hawk-moths, among other LBJs and stuff yet to be identified.

I put the Hawks in foliage, so they could fly away safe when the rain came in the afternoon, I took shots, then went up to have coffee before working.

Starting working.

Turning the laptop on.

Another day spent looking at the storm radar for the four hours of thunder we were due to get, and that never arrived.

Again.

Work is deader than flares, if I'm honest, I nearly created an IT ticket so I could talk to someone.

The rain came in the afternoon, and got so dark with the low clouds, I turned the table lamp on, it got so chilly windows were closed and we even contemplated putting the heating on.

As we had over half the haloum and chipotle bread left, dinner was Caprese again so we could use the bread to mop up the oil and balsamic.

Yummy.

A quiet day ended with a quiet evening, and me reading in bed before it was dark.

I used to go out, meet people.

Against the grain

In April, we visited Spain on a butterfly chasing tour, where I can tell you that the rain no longer falls on the plain.

Or plains.

Winter 2022/23 was very warm and dry, meaning that there was insufficient water for the crops, so by the time we were touring round, crops that should have been knee high were still at ankle level. All growing out of dust.

Since then, Spain has experienced its warmest ever Spring temperatures, and now like the rest of southern Europe, is plagued by wild fires.

The Grocer website posted a story this morning that harvets are to be 60% down on last year, and will be the lowest since 2007.

What makes 2023 far worse is the situation in Ukraine.

Last week Russia scrapped its deal to allow grain shipments to leave ports, and began bombing warehouses.

If we think how this will affect prices and supplies in the forthcoming winter, then bread, flour will skyrocket, taking into luxury foods for many.

Michael Gove promised there would be adequate food, will there, though?

Sunday 23rd July 2023

Part tw of the weekend, and the overnight storms coninued to rage through the morning.

I wasn't going anywhere, but Jools went swimming after coffee.

And then I started to make lunch, as I had invited Jen to come over.

I was going to make lamb and venison susage tagine along with another of the haloumi and chipotle spied bread.

Sausages cooked, lamb browned, then the tagine stew made, and all put together and popped into the oven at 11.

Bread dough made, spices and cheese added, then left to rise before baking and all done by midday too.

If nothing else, the kitchen smelt wonderful, and there would be meals for several days, or some pots to pop into the freezer.

Jen arrived at one, just as the tagine was done. I griddled some spiced lamb steaks just to finish the meal off, and dished up while Jools poured the fizz.

After eating, we sat and chatted, about nothing and everything.

Then, with Le Tour coverage due to begin at half four, Jen slipped away. We made a coffee and I sat down to watch the remaining riders cruise into Paris, then zoom round and round the centre eight times, before it all ended just after half six.

Phew.

I have only watched a third of it this year, but that last week has been amazing, great sporting battles and the triumph of (Danish) youth.

And then, of course, it was supper time, then #wildflowerhour and time for bed as the weekend had slipped by once again.

By-elections

Last Thursday there were three elections caused by Conservative MPs, including the former PM. Polls shows that Labout were likely to win 2 and the LibDems the other one. And on Friday the results came in.

The LibDems did win theirs, and Selby went to Labout in the single largest swing in UK election history.

All three results, when taken together, saw the vote share for the Conservative Party drop, on average, 23%.

But it was the result of the Uxbridge by-eection that caused most debate and most mistakes.

The Conservatives retained the seat with a majority of just over 400.

The seat they expected to lose.

Turns out that the Conservatve winner fought it on a one issue basis, that of the Ulta-low Emmission Zone to be introduced by the Labour Mayor of London.

Much Labour hand wringing about green plicies and how they affect all levels of society, and that Starmer asked the Mayor to reconsider.

But.

But the ULEZ charge was a pre-condition from the Department of Transport, lead by Minister Grant Shapps, for additional funding to save TFL after revenues plummeted during COVID.

So, the truth of the matter was, that the emmission zone expansion was a policy from the heart of Central Government, a letter from Shapps to the Mayor was widly shared on Twitter, so the Conservative candidate was campaigning against a Central Conservative policy.

Though no newspapers or the BBC news reports saw fir to mention this fact.

Instead, talking of Labour's apparentnt failure in the by-elections, rather than on the disaster that was the Tory's results.

So, while there was talk of cancelling new zero policies, the islands of Rhodes and Corfu are being evacuated due to wild fires caused by climate change. And last year a coroner directly linked traffic pollution in the death of a 5 year old girl.

But sure, let people still be able to drive dirty twenty year old diesel Range Rovers on the school run.

History will not loo kindly on us.

Saturday 22nd July 2023

Its the weekend again, and with the orchid season racing towards its finale, it was time to go to Maidstone to see the BLH there, as I had received reports that the site is recovering well after a few fallow years from site clearance.

Needless to say, we went to Tesco, having to check the traffic radar both there and back, as school holidays have begin, and this was going to be the busiest day of the year.

It was fine going to Tesco, and half an hour later, we also got back without trouble, but by quarter to nine, Jubilee Way was jammed halfway down, so we went via the town through Castle Street, where we only just got to the London-bound carriageway of the A20.

But from there it was easy going. Though Operation Brock is back in place to keep queuing lorries and trucks from Dover, getting them to wait in line on half the motorway. All in all there must have been ten miles of queues before Ashford heading to the port, then all of the A20 from The Roundhill Tunnels was closed too because of waiting traffic.

Getting back would be a challenge.

But first there was the orchids.

We waited at Jade's Crossing for the others to arrive, just tree this time, but that's fine.

We set off up the lane and into the reserve, along the path beside the meadow, where we found no plants.

But inside it was a different matter, spikes everywhere, including a very small but pale one that Jools found.

Noice.

We walked to the lone tree which once again was surrounded by dozens of spikes, many quite dark.

Finally, from the lower path we spotted some large clumps of dark BLH, so we went back in, and strode through vegetation that came up to my shoulders in some places. Round some scrub to where the orchids were, and were just about worth the effort.

One last thing to see were the Yellow Birsdnest in another part of the reserve, just four small spikes seen, but better than last year when the drought meant they failed here and at Barham.

We bid the others goodbye, and from there it was a short drive to Bredhurst where there was a church I had yet to snap.

Luckily for me, it was open and preparing for a wedding, meaning I rattled around and got my shots in ten minutes, not as good as I wanted, but it'll do for now.

I had seen the pub on the way to the church, so we stopped. They were only serving bookings, odd as they seemed to have close to 200 tables and hardly anyone yet sitting down to eat. Maybe the wedding receptions was to be here?

So we left, and decided to stop at the services on the motorway for Burger King. Just as well we did, as I found the motoway was closed just beyond the next junction, so once we had eater our whoppers, we drove back down the A249, past the orchid site agan, and onto the M20 to the coast.

But our troubles were not over. The A20 from Folkestone was closed, Jubilee Way was closed, so it took some creative directions from Jools to get us home.

We turned off at the Channel Tunnel, but took the slip road out onto the M20, then up the Elham Valley road, before cutting across the down via Acrise and Swingfield.

Once in Dover, up to the Castle, then along Reach Road on the cliff road back to St Maggies, and back in time to see the last 100km of Le Tour.

I sat with Scully to watch, Jools made brews and we could relax.

The Tour was magnificent again, and more thrilling than we deserved.

Just the last day left now, tour round Paris and the sprint to find out who will win the very last stage. We already know who had won, Vingegaard has over seven minutes of a lead.

We had dinner of pizza and beer, all the while to a funk and soul soundtrack from Craig. Meanwhile, outside, the wind picked up and built itself into another unseanal gale, with winds in excess of 50mph.

With the wind howling, it sounded like winter, but was still warm and humid insode Chez Jelltex.

Friday 21st July 2023

Nearly the weekend.

We spend most of the time between 18 and when we retire, wishing our days away hoping the weekend comes quickly.

When I retire, every day wil be the weekend, and I plan not keeping track what day of the week it is. It is possible that football will be the only way I will know as what is a weekday and what is a weekend.

I have 25 months left in work.

25 months left to change the world.

One step at a time.

And so, to Friday.

I slept through the weekend, as I do most week days. I get up, Jools is about to leave for yoga, leaving me with the bins to do, once I work out which ones they are this week.

Time for coffee.

More coffee.

Listen to a podcast.

And begin work.

Most of Europe still on holiday, so there is no mails or calls to deal with. I do the end of week admin and have breakfast.

Outside it was a glorious day, so I have breakfast and lunch sitting out on the patio, for which, Scully was so happy I thought she would hover with the loud purring.

I finish at one, read a magazine, then see a few more butterflies in the garden. I failed to snap a Peacock, but a Comma was quite obliging, in the end, posing at me with wings open, looking glorious.

Jools was late back, she had gone to visit our friend Sean who had an argument with an angle grinder in his garage, and had to have his severed tendons in his leg fixed. He is on the mend, lots of stitches and an impressive scar by all accounts. The moral is, never to leave a power tool on the floor connected to the mains.......

Jools does come back, we had the last slice of the second Italian lemon flan I had baked, then once I lost the music quize, we went to Jn's for supper and cards. But John wasn't there, he had "the squits", so was staying home. We rattled through a game of Meld once we had eaten burgers for supper, finishing at quarter past eight.

We left for home, coming back home the back way via Guston due to more work being done on the bridge over the A2 at Whitfield.

Phew.

Thursday 20th July 2023

Thursday.

And the week nears its end.

Work is still quiet as most of the European arm of the company is on vacation, and will be, it seems, into August.

I am my own boss, literally this week, so I have tasks to keep me busy, and later I can take the laptop and sit on the sofa to watch Le Tour.

Without the cycling, I would have gone for a walk I think, but with the closing stages, it is too tense to miss an hour of the run in to the finish.

Summer broods of various butterfly species fill the garden, lots of Gatekeepers, Large Whites going from plant to plant, making up for the dearth in numbers from Spring.

The hydrangea is out, having now settled into its new place, but inspection of the gooseberry bushes show just a single berry turning red. So I pick it and pop it in my mouth.

And that is the day, really.

Le Tour finished late, so just time to prepare dinner: breaded chicken, with defrosted lentil curry, creamed spinach and some fresh steamed corn.

Was a very tasty and vegetable-filled meal.

It now gets dark towards nine in the evening, but before then we were yawning well, so we head to bed at quarter to.

Wednesday 19th July 2023

Halfway through the week, and the day on which we booked our next adventure, to south west Iceland to see the Northern Lights, we hope, next February.

Work continues, I have few folks to talk to as most of our European division is on holiday, on a beach or in a summer house in the country.

Another day in which we were supposed to get thunder, and there was none for over 200 miles.

I work through the day, reviewing documents, making notes, then attending a meeting at which I have to expain to someone much more senior than I why what she was doing was wrong. She didn't get it, but another director on the call did.

That was in the morning, so at midday I could take my work computer to the sofa and watch the final Alpine stage of Le Tour. And what a stage it was. 5km of vertical climbing, including a 29km mountain to end the stage on, and by the end, everyone was hurting.The racing and scenery was spectacular, and myself and Scully beside me, enjoyed it greatly. And I wondered if my friend in NZ was watching the same shots I was, though in the middle of the night.

Once that was done, I prepared the air fryer for its first use, cleaned it and tried to get the parts to fit. For the first half of cooking the fries, I could not get the basket to roate, fixed it midway though cooking, so while they browned, I griddled the steak, boiled the fresh corn and suateed the fresh mushrooms.

We were having steak and fizz so we could toast my Dad, whom I outlived on Tuesday. We don't have steak every week now, as we used to, just an occasional treat.

Dad would have loved our life, and the trips we take: the eclipse, Japan, Chicago to New Orleans by train, and now Svalbard.

The steak was wonderful, as were the corn and shrooms. The chips will take some working on, though.

Next adventure booked!

Yeserday we paid the deposit for a week in sunny Iceland for next Febrary, including three nights at the Northern Lights Inn, where we hope to see, well, the northern ights during each night's 17 hours of darkness.

As well as that, we will see the Winter Lights Festival in Reykjavík, do the grand tour, swim in the blue lagoon.

And relax.

And the plan for later in the year is a sow car tour through some parts of France, to see some of the places, and eat the food that Rick Stein saw in his Secret France series, which bewitched us during lockdown in 2020.

There might be trips to Ireland and Norfolk for orchids.

But that is it.

Excited about 2024 already.

57 years, ten months, three weeks

I have written about the day my Dad died, way back in April 1996.

What I didn't realise was that he died exactly five weeks short of his 58th birthday. I mean, I knew he was 57. And that his Father had also died aged 57. Also of a heart attack.

So, this, my 58th year was one which I had not looked forward to, but despite needing to lose weight, I feel fine. I have aches and pains, but then most do by now.

And then, a few weeks back, a school friend posted on FB that he had outlived his Father that day, so got me thinking, and so it turned out that the 18th July is the day when I would outlive mine.

It seemed important, but in the event, the idea of sitting up and toasting the old fella didn't happen. I did think of him all day, and what he would have though of our life together.

I think he would have approved.

Tuesday 18th July 2023

Yesterday morning, Jools dropped me off in Westcliffe, so I could walk back and get some steps in.

Last time I did this it was on March 16th, just as it was getting light, and was mighty chilly.

Tuesday, it was damp underfoot from the previous days rain, but lit by the warm light of the rising sun.

Cars zoomed by taking their drivers to work, I was also heading for work, though back home.

I reached Station Road, turned down the hill to home, making it back inside by twenty past six, more than enough time to make a second coffee and sit on the patio with Scully to drink it

And then a long day at work, I'm still in charge, though not much of any import happened. I reviewed documents, or would have but the IT failed, and by the time it was fixed I had lost interest.

There's always tomorrow. And no extra meetings to attend, but when I sat down to check on Le Tour I found it was time trial day, and they were talking about switching from a TT bike to a racer for going up hill and whether it was worth the effort.

I decided two hours of the same scenery and such discussions could go on without me, so I switched the tellybox off and went and sat in the garden for an hour or so.

I then made a new Italian lemon tart, with a new pan we bought at the weekend, and also baked a haloumi and chipotle spiced loaf to go with Caprese.

Both were triumphs.

Monday 17th July 2023

Monday.

Back to work.

And the BBC weather said there was about a 15% chance of showers.

Mother Nature clearly doesn't read the BBC website, so we had three hours of torrential rain along with thunder and lightning out at sea.

I took a break from work and stood in the back door looking out as the rain hammered down, clouds overhead drifting by slowly blown by light winds.

Come the afternoon the day brightens, ending the afternoon in bright summer sunshine, with temperatures rising.

I am alone in work, at least in the European part of the department, and in reality I am the defacto head of global quality. As all layers of management are out on at least two weeks holiday.

For which I get no extra pay.

Of course.

By the time the rain eased, it was too wet to go out, but promised myself an early morning stroll from Westcliffe on the morrow.

I prepared dinner, poured beer, and waited for Jools to return from a hard day in the metal purchasing business.

Sunday 16th July 2023

Like Saturday: no work and less wind.

So, what to do?

Well, Richborough Roman Fort reopened after a renovation and construction of a new visitor centre, and in its grounds there is the foundations of a very early church: The Chapel of St Augustine.

It has been many years since we last visited, long before the Kent church project really got started and when the nearby power station was still standing. In fact it was September 2009. 14 years ago.

Jools went swimming first thing, while I tried to wake up, only getting up after she had left for the pool.

Coffee made things better.

And once Jools came back, more coffee, breakfast, and then out laden with cameras.

The Gateway to Britannia.

Rutupiae.

Before the Medieval period, The Isle of Thanet was a literal island, separated from the rest of Kent by the Wantsum Channel. And so the hill on which the site now sites, instead of leading down to the main railway line as it does now, instead were low cliffs leading to the Wantsum and that in turn lead to the open sea of The Channel. It was safe anchorage, so used for landings, invasions and departures for centuries, until the Wantsum silted up and Thanet was no longer an island.

And at either end of this Channel the Romans built forts. At the northern end was Reculver (Regulbium) and the southern end was Richborough (Rutupiae), both guarding the sheltered passage through the Channel.

Not only that, Richborough was the site of the second invasion by the Romans in AD43.

Later, in AD597, St Augustine would land here, to bring Christianity back to Britain, despite the fact it endured in Northumberland, at least.

A chapel was built to commemorate St Augustine's landing, and I was here to photograph its ruins.

The ruins pretty much are just three low piles of stones and a concrete outline of its foundations.

That being said, there is a great new visitor centre to look round, an EH shop and a small army of volunteers to guide you.

It was less windy, just, than the day before, and the sun was shining, and being there early meant we had the site to ourselves, which was nice. On the way back to the centre, I put on the macro lens to snap some plants, and discovered a new site for a plant called Fiddleneack, which I have submitted to the recorderes.

And that was that.

We drove home, getting back in time to listen to Desert Island Discs, and afterwards, just time to nip to Jen's to say goodbye to Sylv as she was to go back to Bury that afternoon.

Things will be quieter, for sure. Which can be both good and bad.

Then back home for an afternoon of watching the cycling, with the race heading up and down and up and down and up various Alps, and the riders being so tired, falling off at regular intervals.

Phew.

And by the time that ended, and we had supper, it was gone seven and the weekend had slipped through our fingers once again.

Bloc by bloc

This weekend, the UK joined the Pacific centric trading Bloc, CPTPP.

By the Government's own figures, this MIGHT increase the UK's GDP by up to 0.08% over 15 years.

This does in now way make up for the 4.00% drop in GDP a result of Brexit. Agan, using the Government's own figures.

It would take 100s of such deals to fully compencate for the damage done by Brexit

And yet, the Sunday Express trumpeted today that the deal will bring £12 trillion benfits to the UK. But, and this is the kicker, the figure takes the total value of the GDP of the 11 other members and then pretends that all of this GDP will transfer to the UK.

Which is, of course, a lie.

More lies. From which powered Brexit itself, of course.

But pointing this out to the Trade Minister, Kemi Badenoch, is apparently taking Britain down, and the Express accused the BBC of more anti-Brexit bias. They'll be complaining about reality next.

However, it seems that the EU themselves is in the process of doing a trade deal with the CPTPP.

Of course the contradiction here is that one trade bloc, the EU is bad, but CTIPP, is good.

The EU this week negotiated its own deal with New Zealand, but unlike the UK, didn't sell out their farmers.

Tat'll teach us.

Saturday 15th July 2023

The weekend.

And a kind of lull in the orchid season between the main part and the time of helleborines, though they are coming.

And the pause before the start of the new football season in just three weeks time. Let me say once again, there is too much football, there neeeds to be a bigger gap between seasons when there is no football, like in the NFL, so we can really look forard to the new season.

As it is, last season ended just over a month ago, and its just not enough.

And as Saturday was windy.

Very windy.

No point in going too far lest we couldn't get back, if only there something worth watching on the tellybox to take my mind off the long bleak teatime of the soul. Something sporty, exciting, and maybe with lots of fine countryside and history to absorb too.

If only.

We went to Tesco, made more difficult with the A2 being closed for the installation of a new bridge, we could get to Tesco, but all port traffic would be using the roads in the industrial estate in Whitfield, so would be busy.

So, we went early. Just after seven. And as the first span of the bridge had been installed, and best views were from Tesco car park, we took shots before going in to hunt and gather.

And once back home, we had breakfast, put the shopping away and then what?

Church.

One nearby church I had no revisited in over a decade was at Ripple, and when I looked at Google it suggested the church was open 24 hours/7 days a week.

Was Google telling the truth?

I would find out. I went to Ringwould, then turned by the windmill, over the fields to The Plough, turned up Church Lane. Parked outside. Went to the door. Turned the handle.

Locked.

The notice board said the key was available from a house nearby.

I went, and they were out.

By then the wind was really getting up, and I was worried about trees being brought down, so made my way home via Martin and Martin Mill, over the main road to home.

Back home we had Caprese agan, because its summer. And then to the sofa for Le Tour.

And typical of me, I pick the greatest day of racing for years to rejoin the TV audience.

The afternoon sailed by. Scully sat beside me, very happy with that turn of events.

For the evening, we listened to the wireless, that nice Mr Maconie had been asked to curate an evening of Northern Soul at The Proms, and it was quite magnificent.

Two more hours flew by.

I drank more sloe port.

Then we went to bed.

Friday 14th July 2023

Friday at last.

First week of being in charge, and as has always happens, the sky will always fall in on a Friday.

Like that time when I was duty armourer in the dump at Marham and the USAF crashed a nuclear convoy on the roundabout at Kings Lynn.

That was a Friday, just after the grown ups had gone home.

Or when there was the emergency evacuation from Albania when their pyramid scheme failed and there was going to be civil war.

That was a Friday too.

And on this Friday, well, the sky fell in again. And who is in charge? Muggins here.

So, meeting after meeting after meeting all on the same thing, which once the third one happened that I was already aware of the problem, helped.

That sorted out. life went back to normal, or as close to normal as this life can be,

Other than that, well, bins, breakfast, coffee, lunch and finish at three. And although it was bright enough, too windy for much macro, so I did other things like sit in the garden with Scully and edit more shots.

As this is the last weekend Sylv is down here, we went over to Jen's early, even of the early start on cards didn't happen because of tennis. And the weather meant that the men-s semmis took place one after each other rather than the same time, so when we arrived at half five, Jen and Sylv were watching the second match.

From where I sat, the ball was invisible, so it looked like the two players were throwing themselves around the court for no reason at all, while the crowd oohed and aahed.

After supper of pizza, we played cards. John won. Again.

By which time it was the weekend.