Sunday 13th August 2023

And just like that, the orchid season is nearly over, as once the Violets are done, then there are just the ALTs to see, they're already flowering.

As usual, an meet for those in the Kent Orchid FB group to see the Violets, just one member too up the offer, we we would meet them at half eleven, as I had to be shorn before then.

And we would meet our photographer friend from Folkestone, Mary, who would also come along for some light orchiding and a walk in the woods.

We got up very late, too late to have a bacon butty once we had finished the first coffee and fruit, and too late it turned out to go to Temple Ewell for an ALT hunt, leaving home with just enough time to get to Folkestone, park the car and walk to the barbers.

We parked the car to the side of town Mary usually parked, so she parked the side of town we usually parked, meaning we both were thinking of each other.

Once we had parked, we walked to the barbers, the door was open, so Jools walked to the top of the Old High Street where Mary was waiting.

I was shorn, and ten pounds lighter, and several degrees cooler. Which is nice.

I then walked to meet Mary and Jools, catch up and have a cup of java before it was time to leave for Barham.

Jools went with Mary, and I was on me todd, whizzing up through the town and on to Hawkinge, to Denton and Barham, past the church and out into the woods.

The guy wasn't waiting, but I guess I was 25 minutes early, so I waited.

And waited.

Mary and Jools arrived, then walked to look for the Yellow birsdnests, while I waited some more.

And waited.

Just gone half eleven they arrive. Steven and Sally. So after greetings and introductions were done, we walked up the lane only to be told by Jools that there were none.

We carried on, and after 30 seconds scouring the undergrowth I find one spike which was going to seed, if that's what this species does.

Back to the cars to drive in convoy to the hard standing, then when we were all ready, walk up the path into the woods and using the what3words I had saved from two weeks back, we went from clump to clump, snapping the spikes in flower.

Job done, easy peasy.

So we amble back to the car, chatting, and when we arrived, we were greeted with a cloud of at least 50 Migrant Hawkers, circling the glade, hawking. It looked magical, and I wish now I had taken a video of it, but as it was, we stood for quarter of an hour, mesmerised.

And that was that.

So we drove back to the A2, then back along to Whitfield and home.

Time for brunch of bacon butties and two brews, an hour later crackers with cream cheese.

And did I mention there was football?

Yes there was.

Spurs at Brentford followed by Chelsea v Liverpool, neither game was really as good as it should have been, with three of the teams in transition and Brentford without their striker.

It did pass the afternoon though.

Dinner was koftes and warmed up chips from the night before, still crispy and yummy, washed down by a bottle of fizz too.

And that was the weekend done.....