Friday 11th July 2025

Back home, and a day of relaxation.

Jools left for yoga before I was awake, but she was back soon as the door to the venue was locked, so she could not get in.

By the time she was back, I had done the bins and was watering the garden.

So, we have breakfast of yogurt and fruit and another brew, before we consider the day.

Jools had her social knitting class at the local library, so I was alone for a few hours.

Jools had mentioned that there were lots of butterflies in the field edges near to Fleet House, so I put the macro lens back on the camera, and off I went. At half eleven, just before the hottest part of the day.

But its not that far along the track and over the field.

No Clouded Yellows yet, though there is just one field of lucerne left, and the plants are not quite fully open yet.

There were Common Blues, Large Whites flying about, but I pressed on.

The old glade is now totally overgrown, but further on the farmer has abandoned some ploughs, and between the rusting hulks, a wildflower meadow has sprung up.

Red bartsia just coming into flower, rare this side of the Dip. I head for the Marjoram where I see dozens of butterflies chasing each other off.

More Common blues, A Green Veined white, Brown Argus, Wall browns, Meadow browns.

In the hedge, I see a large insect: a Hornet mimic hoverfly. A large wee beastie.

I get shots so close I could see a reflection in its carapace.

It was hot.

Darn hot.

So, I turned back and headed for home, and on the way back over the field, a small clump of Dense flowered Fumitory, though accurate ID in this family can be difficult. St Margaret's is the stronghold of it here in Britain, pops up most years.

Back home I was hot. I take the bins back down, then pour a glass of iced squash, and wait for Jools to come back.

At two, Le Tour coverage began, so we both sat down to watch. And as they were hammering along, there was only 90 minutes or so to go.

We had a chippy tea, Jools going out to collect them, and then more women's football with Spain and Italy battling for top place in their group.