Thursday 7th August 2025

Thursday.

A busy day.

Well, in retirement, anyways.

A week back, I went up Temple Ewell Down looking for the final orchid species of the year, and drew a blank. But it was time to look again.

So, up early and once coffee had been drunk, I was out in the car, through Whitfield to Temple Ewell, parking behind the old George and Dragon.

Once you're up on the down, its a fabulous place. Thing is there's the climb to get up there. In the scheme of things, not that far, but to an old guy with short fat legs, its a hike.

First, up the stops into the lower wood. Some of the recut steps are large indeed, not so bad going up, but a pain going down. Then along the edge of the large meadow before turning up along the path through the upper wood and finally thorough the swing gate out onto the down, before the last climb up the first paddock, through the second gate and along the fence.

Then, one I turned down the slope, I could begin to hunt for the tiny orchid spikes.

The slope was quite lush, with lots of Squinancywort and its tiny flowers sent to confuse.

I got to near the bottom, having found nothing, so turned up and began the climb.

In ten paces, I saw the first spike. This was about two inches tall, with flowers open on the lower third of the spiral. Nearby, I saw a good four or five spikes not yet in flower.

And further up I found more. Then, nearly at the top, ad near mature spike with a fine spiral of flowers nearly to the top.

I snapped that.

The sunny intervals forecasted were mainly brief flashes of sun, and a keen cool breeze blew on the upper slopes meaning there were no butterflies there.

On the way down, I did encounter and snap a Chalkhill Blue and Wall basking in the sunshine, but the 18 species I was hoping for were roosting in their safe places.

Down the steps back to the car and to home, where Jools was making breakfast, so we were soon tucking into bowls of fruit and yogurt.

The U3A new group website went live at midday, and a torrent of mails started with people who want to join the group. Soon the group was full, but the mails kept coming.

So begins the admin for the Churchcrawling group.

I sent out a welcoming mail to the lucky 11, by which point it was quarter past one, and I was late.

Late for a train.

A steam railtour was coming through, and I'd already missed it at Shepherdswell, so would have to snap it at either Dover Western Docks, or at the site of the Old Town Yard, beside Shakespeare Beach.

The second was for the best for shots, but involved climbing down via steep steps, then back up the cliff. It had been some years since I was down there. But its there I would go.

I parked on the road in Aycliffe, walked through the underpass to the cliff path, along to the top of the steps.

Did I really want to do this?

Yes.

So, down I went, one step at a time, with the footbridge visible to the right and far down below.

I made it down, knees sore. I took my place to the left of the tracks, so to get side on shots of the locomotive when she passed by.

A few others came to see the tour, so there was six of us on or beside the bridge.

A Javelin went first at five to two.

Snapped.

Five minutes later, Clan Line rounded the corner near the Lord Warden Hotel.

And once three quarters round, with the snake of carriages still on the curve, the driver opened the regulator and black smoke puffed out of the chimney, and the sound of the hard-working pistons echoed off the cliffs.

In a matter of seconds she was nearly on us, I swapped the DSLR for my mobile, and filmed he as she passed and entered Shakespeare Tunnel, sounding her whistle as she went.

And then came the long, or not so long climb back up. I didn't stay to see the Electrostar pass, but allowed everyone else past me on the steps, while I pretended to look at the view.

Once back on the road, I saw a guy waiting in the bus shelter: do you want a lift into town? I asked.

Shane seemed amazed that someone would ask, and kept asking me if I was sure before getting in.

Instead of dropping him in town, as I had to go to Tesco, I was driving past the end of his street, so dropped him there. Shane had walked from town, up Eastcliff steps to the NT place, then back down, along the prom and beach to the footbridge, getting wet feet due to high tide.

I dropped him off with two hand shakes, before I went to Tesco to buy potatoes and ice creams, then speed back home.

Jools and I have an ice cream and brew in the back garden, then potatoes were peeled, boiled, drained, steam dried before plopped in hot oil, basted and roasted for 90 minutes, so they were super crispy.

Steak and Stilton pies were cooked, fresh runner beans from the garden were steamed, and the gravy warmed up.

A stunning dinner with Presidents XV to wash it down with.

9,000 steps done, half uphill too. I was pooped. We listened to the radio before clearing up and heading to bed at half eight for a shower and bed.