Wednesday 2nd July 2025

After the red hot temperatures of the weekend and the first half of the week, the hot snap was due to break Tuesday night.

And indeed it did.

I heard heavy rain on and off through the hot and humid night, but we woke to sea fog and mist, shrouding us and the village.

From Dover Harbour, the fog horn sounded.

Through the day there was supposed to be rain, so best get up early and do stuff.

After coffee I dropped Jools off for her class at eight, and I went to Lydden Hill to visit another roadside reserve.

Through Lydden as the village was waking up, and people leaving home for work or the school run. Here the mist was not so think, but still night and cooling.

I parked on the hill and went through the gates to find there were no orchids left, all had died off due to the hot and dry conditions. I saw a single spindly Pyramidal halfway up the bank.

I left it and returned to the car, so will return next year.

I met Jools in town at ten, so we could have breakfast at Chaplins now it had reopened.

On the way, big fat raindrops began to fall, and by the time I was down past the Castle and parking, it was raining hard enough to need a brolly.

I walked to the café, and inside Jools was waiting. We knew the menu by heart, so ordered, then chatted.

Breakfast was, ever, excellent, and very filling.

Outside, the rain was still falling, so we tried to walk and be covered by the umbrella, but it wasn't quite big enough, nor us have the coordination.

Back into the car, then back out of town, up Jubilee Way to home, as the window cleaner was due. And I owed him money from when we were away.

He came at half eleven, and we chatted as he did the windows. He moved across the village to have a house almost with a sea view.

Almost.

But nice and quiet down there, as long as you don't try to drive through the village during the school runs.

We had to take Scully and Mulder for their annual jabs, and for Scully to have her monthly check up.

Her blood sugars were high, not as high as last month, but high enough.

But she is happy enough, and as she is still losing weight, we are to feed her more.

She will be delighted.

Storms spread up the Channel all morning and early afternoon. But faded out as they mostly see to do. It was still misty and humid, but not hot.

The sun did come out after three, sending the temperatures sky high again, but not as hot as the weekend. Either way, dinner was pork pie salad and Jersey Royals in salted butter.

Not bad at all.

And for the football fans among you, you'll be glad to hear the women's Euros began and will be on for the next month.

I end the day shaping a new RAF beret. Something I didn't think I'd be doing again.

However, as old soldiers and airmen begin to fail, younger ones have to step into their soes, and an appeal went out for ex-RAF Armourers to volunteer to participate in the Remembrance Day Parade at the Cenotaph in November.

I said I would, so am now on the list.

So, come November, watch your telly screen closely as you might just catch sight of me.

Marching again.