Friday 16th May 2025

Friday is the day Jools does Yoga, goes swimming and does other chores first thing, while I put the bins out and drink coffee.

Only now I don't have to go to work at seven now, of course.

So, I messed around online, then sat on the patio having filled the feeders up, while Mulder and Scully laid with me until the sun got to warm for them, so they found a large plant to sleep under.

I had a touch of sciatica, but hoped that going out for a stomp to Bonsai Bank would help.

Readers, it didn't.

Anyway, once Jools returned at half nine, and we had a coffee together, I left for the orchid fields. Woods.

A fine day to be out, and traffic was light, out along the A2, then through Bridge, Petham before arriving in Denge Wood.

From Pennypot Lane its about a mile walk through the woods to Bonsai, mostly downhill on the way out, which made for a pleasant walk through the dappled sunlight. Before tackling the final slope up the bank.

You know you have arrived as there were a dozen Lady Orchids either side of the track, usually there is one or two.

Then into the reserve, and while laying down to snap a Lady Orchid, a Duke of Burgundy butterfly landed in snapping range, so I snapped it. So, in five minutes of arriving I had the shot I wanted.

But then there are the Lady Orchids.

Hundreds of Lady Orchids.

The best year there for over a decade I think.

I took lots of shots. Of course.

I walked to the far end of the site, then down and back to the start again. Lady, Early Purple, Fly, White Helleborine, Greater Butterfly all in flower, and Common Spotted close.

Orchid heaven.

And then the long walk back to the car. And did my back and legs complain. Yes, yes they did.

There's not much of a slope up from Bonsai, but I felt it yesterday, I had no choice but to keep going, and made it, of course.

Phew.

I stopped off at the Black Robin for a beer and crisps before going to Covet again to check for the Birds-nest Orchids I know were there as they'd been found.

The beer was good, then the short drive to the parking space, then a stomp in the woods.

They're by the tree with the sapling was the directions given.

I found no BNO, but I did refind the pure white Lady again. Only just beginning to open and looking like a Ghost (but not a Ghost Orchid).

My back was shot, so I walked back to the car, then drove home via Tesco where I bought some bread for dinner and ice cream.

Hazelnut Magnums.

Double Hazelnut Magnums.

Then back home.

We had a Magnum sitting on the patio.

Still better than working.

Supper was Caprese with real aged Balsamic which I had bought in Italy last year, but not best suited for Caprese, as the oil diluted it too much.

Then there was the comedy football evening as Spurs and Man Utd battled to be the 16th and 17th best team in the Prem.

Both lost.

Very funny.