Wednesday 15th April 2026

Wednesday.

I start each post with the day of the week so I can keep track, because, quite frankly, every days seems the same.

Were it not for the gym, football and bins day, every day would be the same.

I sleep to nearly six, though it felt like it was half seven. Light enough to be half seven for sure.

Jools had her fitness class at half seven, so I would stay home as there was rain forecast for most of the day. And they got that right.

While Jools is gone I decide to do chores, which included cleaning the shower and sink in the bathroom. I spray some stuff on, wipe it off, then flush with water and is done.

Looked good.

Outside the rain arrived and stayed for most of the day.

Jools was out most of the morning, but came home laden with two Cornish pasties for lunch, which we followed by the last two short cakes, thus we would sleep through the afternoon. Or struggle against snoozing.

Jools watched a couple of shows on TV. I watched train videos and wrote some.

The afternoon passed.

Dinner was minted chicken, new potatoes, steamed cauliflower and the rest of the creamed spinach.

The potatoes were then served with the leftover marinade from the chilli beef from the day before.

Was magnificent.

The evening was football on the wireless and TV. Arsenal didn't lose, so went through to the semi-final of the Champions League, while I watched Wimbledon v Stockport from the 3rd Division. Was poor.

COVID: six years on

I read my daily blog posts from years gone by most mornings, and so I am currently reliving the first wave of COVID from March and April 2020.

Two weeks ago, I read an article on Substack by Christina Pagel summarising the COVID inquiry, which has been sitting and hearing evidence for some time now.

"However bad the first wave was in England - and it was awful - the second wave was worse. More than twice as many people were admitted to hospital with Covid in the second wave compared to the first wave."

Lessons were not learned. Lessons of the first wave for the second, as Johnson did not allow a Lessons Learned exercise take place.

Mistakes such as the delaying of lockdowns, the lack of PPE, moving elderly people from hospitals to care homes meant that tens of thousands of people died before their time. And meant that health carers had to risk their lives each and every day in trying to treat their patients.

“The healthcare systems coped with the pandemic, but only just. On a number of occasions, they teetered on the brink of collapse and only coped thanks to the almost superhuman efforts of healthcare workers and all the staff who support them.” - Baroness Hallet,

"Healthcare workers and support staff were obliged … to work under intolerable pressure for months on end. Some patients suffering from Covid-19 did not get the quality of treatment they needed and some non-Covid-19 patients had their diagnoses and treatments delayed to the point where their conditions became untreatable"

Family members died alone and unloved because of lockdown, causing untold grief on those who survived.

"There’s been about 6 or 7 instances where he texted us to say goodbye. We would try and phone or text back but, you know, his texts, because he couldn’t hold his phone very well, were often a little bit confusing to us. The other thing was he was so weak at times, he couldn’t pick up his phone…he’s bedridden, he can’t move…he can’t access any forms of communication and they [healthcare professionals] were so busy when often he would press the bell, and nobody would come."

Even worse was the second wave, which was avoidable and Sunak's "eat out to help out" created hundreds of thousands of mass tranmission events:

"Professor Edmunds, who served on the SAGE modelling subgroup Spi-M, testified that the failure to act to control the second wave “was not because of a lack of situational awareness or knowledge of how to control it. We let this second wave happen.”2 . Professor McLean, now the UK’s Chief Scientific Advisor, described it as the worst period of pandemic, saying:

“We could see what was coming and could not understand why the government did not act upon the science advice by introducing effective interventions”"

The UK was the first country to introdice vaccinations against COVID, and had that second wave been delayed or made smaller, tens of thousands of people whould have survived instead of dying. But Johnson had to "save Christmas."

I cannot understand how it is tha Johnson and other Ministers and advisors are not being tried for manslaughter at least, if not murder, for the deriliction in their duties, who grifted rather than act in the interest of public health. Some, like Johnson, should be hanging from a gibbet on Ludgate Hill.

And yet the media are largly ignoring the inquiry and its findings, meaning the population, the public are unaware of the failings of those elected to protect us, to act on science, not jut the science they agreed with.

If we do not learn the lessons of the past, we will have to relive it. Over and over again.

Tuesday 14th April 2026

I received a message last week, asking if I could take a friend from Australia and her husband round some of the orchid sites before they flew back home on Thursday.

The weekend was out due to trains being replaced by buses, so the next fine day was Tuesday.

That was agreed.

And being a Tuesday, I would go to the gym first, then pick up Jools to take her to her class before returning home for a shower. Then picking Jools up at nine twenty before go to the station to collect Lisa and her husband.

It was a packed morning, starting with a five ten alarm, drinking coffee and being out of the house at ten to six. Drive to Whitfield, get to the gym, do my forty minutes, burning more calories than ever before. Rushing back down to the car, getting home to pick Jools up before dropping her off at the Duke of Yorks so she could walk into town, do her class.

I drove back home, had a shower and breakfast. Washed up and was all ready to leave at five past nine.

Phew.

I waited a few minutes for Jools to finish, then once she climbed in to Dover Priory, where there was no sign.

Turns out they had gone up to Folkestone Road to snap a view of the castle, but soon came back down and climbed in too.

First stop was Samphire Hoe, and knowing where the spikes were meant parking on the overflow car park, then walking something like five metres up the bank to where there was about a dozen spikes.

Tick number one.

Easy.

Back in the car and up through the tunnel, which they were thrilled about, then up the A20 to Hythe and turning off to go up Stone Street to Yocklett's.

Although there is much to see, target species here was Twayblade and Fly.

So along the lower track, with male Orange tips teasing us with nearly settling, but not quite, then up the down to the clearing. Behind the seat was just a single Fly, not quite in flower, but I knew were there might be.

Down the slope and there we found a large spike of Twayblade mostly open, and in sunlight.

So that was tick two.

And further along beside the fallen tree trunk were three Fly spikes open.

Tick number three.

We all got photos, and I wish we could have stayed longer, but the next leg was a long one.

Marden Meadow, has at it's peak, tens of thousands of Green-winged orchids flowering. This wasn't the peak, but I knew from posts to my FB group, some where.

Back down to the motorway and a twenty mile blast to Maidstone, turning off and along and up the narrow main road through Leeds.

A left turn to Staplehurst before striking out into the country again, beside the railway to the small car park.

We were the only ones there.

There were a few hundred (!) open or partially open spikes, more than enough to satisfy our orchid-lust. Though no white spikes, but a couple of salmon pink ones did delight.

Tick number four.

The weather, I should add, was perfect: sunny, little breeze and war without being too hot. All to show the orchids in the water meadow off to their best.

It was now one, so we go back to Staplehurst and find a pub, settling for the King's Head.

There was just one other table occupied, so we settled in and ordered lunch: the others all had a hanging garlic and tarragon chicken kebab, while I had a double smash burger.

It was all rather wonderful, and Lisa picked up the tab to say thanks for the fine day, which left us just enough time to get to our last stop: Stockbury.

The choice was either to go through Maidstone or double back through Leeds to get to the A249.

I chose the latter, and we made good time back through the village and its parked cars and timber-framed buildings jutting out into the road.

Up the North Downs, turning off down the narrow lane to the blocked off junction, parking next to the bollards. And to the right, the blue haze of a multitude of bluebells could be seen.

I take them in, then round the densest area, before doubling back along the narrow path, either side a violet shade of blue, like walking through a parted lake!

Lisa was thrilled.

But further along were several Early Purples.

Tick number five.

Before edging down the steep slope to the lower meadow, where, sadly, the Lesser butterflies hadn't made much progress.

Would my hope of a Lady orchid be in flower be realised?

Jools was in front, but missed a single spike with three open flowers just to the right.

I saw it.

Tick number six.

Full house.

We now had to get Lisa and her husband back to Dover for ten to five, as they had bought a cheap ticket that meant they had to get on that train. We had an hour for the 40 minute drive, we'd make it easily.

Back down the motorway to Faversham, then round the roundabout past Canterbury to Dover, down past the Castle to the station, where they were able to upgrade their ticket to get on a high speed train to whisk them back to London.

We drove home, just in time to feed the cats, where Scully was fine. And hungry.

For supper I cook the crunchy chilli beef again. Not quite perfect, but getting there.

Before finally, there was Ipswich on the telly again, but beaten by Portsmouth 2-0.

Monday 13th April 2026

The days, weeks and months just FLY by.

Can you believe its Monday agin?

Which means I get to lie in, if either my brain or body lets me.

They did let me unil, twenty to seven. Downstairs I could hear Jools getting ready for yoga. I get up, get dressed and go down. Jools was just leaving.

So I make coffee, check the news in the world, and am not that surprised that the Orange Shitgibon thinks he's Jesus, or a "doctor" as he calls it.

Jools comes back at half eight, so we have breakfast. And the matter of a haircut comes to mind.

I was going to leave it until the kids went back to school, but shocked to find that is on the 20th, and I might die of heatstroke before then, so down into town at nine to try to get a seat.

We park off Castle Street, and in my favourite shop there was a free chair, so I am shown in and he begins his magic.

I see in my reflection that I am now mostly grey, so should i use that "just for men" stuff, or just accept I'm getting old.

The latter I think.

Once I was shorn, I meet Jools in a new café on Market Square, have a coffee and a slice of pistachio cake. Because it was there.

Orchid season is beginning to ramp up, so off to Walmer to check on a small area of grass along the front where a couple of years back, a pair of Green-wing orchids appeared.

I parked nearby, and scoured the grassy area, but no spikes or rosettes seen.

And then to Kingsdown, to the SSSI to look for more Early spiders. Getting onto the site is difficult as the shrub is getting thicker year on year, but the site itself is fine.

I find two well developed rosettes with spikes, but fewer than the dozen or more seen a decade ago.

Then back home.

I was listening to a podcast, and I notice Scull was acting strange.

She got off the sofa by climbing through where the parts of it are supposed to join, but had come lose.

She was then wandering around the living room and kitchen, unsteady on her feet, and apparently nearly blind.

Another hypoglycaemia event.

I check her bloods: 2.5.

So, we try to get some crunchies in her, give her some sugar water. Half an hour later, her reading was 3.6.

More food, more sugar water.

She still staggered around, pupils dilated, but when pointed to food and water, she would eat.

Half an hour later, her bloods were still only 3.7.

More food, more water.

Jools had to go out, so I look after Scully. I turn round to find her no longer wandering around, drunklike, instead she was washing and lying just behind me.

I check her bloods: 7.8.

Out of danger.

She is off to the vet's on Wednesday, and so we hope to get some pointers.

Anyway, what brought it on was Scully not eating full meals, so the insulin acted like she had, so her sugars crashed.

So, something else to bear in mind in the future.

I spent the afternoon snapping pre-war postcards and photos for a possible donation to the Guard's Museum in London. But having done that it turned out most were widely commercially available and the museum had them already.

So, they will go back in the box until the house is cleared when we are no more.

I prepare dinner. Nothing special.

That left us the evening to fill. And there is football.

Of course.

Manchester United reverting to form and being outplayed by Leeds, who won at Old Trafford for the first time since 1981.

Hurrah.

So it goes.

Sunday 12th April 2026

Day two of the weekend.

Or Sunday as its better known.

And another day going to the gym, so set the alarm for six.

Get up.

Get dressed.

Feed the cats, make coffee.

On with the trainers, get the headphones, all to be ready for ten to seven.

I could have cried off, but things are going so well, I don't.

There were plenty of cars at the sports centre, more than usual on a Sunday, but the gym was empty, so most must have been there to get some lane swimming in before "family fun" began at eight.

After the session, we went to the café for a drink and a sit down, watching George power up and down the pool.

We had a drink there as we were to go to Samphire Hoe for some orchid chasing. The forecast wasn't good, best early on, so we drive down Jubilee Way and up the A20 to the turn off.

The way the wind funnels with westerlies along the cliffs beside the railway is something to experience when, foolishly, you only have a pair of shots and jumper on.

I would have walked all the way down, but walking into the teeth of such a cold wind numbed brains and legs alike.

We turned round at the second bench, having seen just one spike beside the path up to that point, but five in and around the overflow car park.

We met a couple of other orchidiots on the way, I told them where to go, then we stumbled back to the car, before driving to the tunnel and back home through the town and up Jubilee Way.

It was half nine. Time for a brew and breakfast.

Jools did some gardening, while I had a shower and prepared the vegetables for dinner.

Before then there was the Sunderland v Spurs game at two, which was long looked-forward to as to how Spurs's new manager would fare. Could he get a tune out of that squad?

No.

Only ended 1-0, but Spurs look a relegated team, and their senior management looked on from the stands. Expressionless.

Between the games I cook dinner: garlic chicken, creamed spinach, new potatoes and steamed veggies. All cooked, dished up and eaten by half four when Chelsea kicked off against Chelsea.

A dour first half, but that changed in the second when Citeh found overdrive and scored three. Chelsea had no answer.

And that was the weekend.

Some internetting in the evening, and to bed at half eight.

Saturday 11th April 2026

It's not just the weekend, it's Derby-day weekend.

But before then there was the usual stuff.

Like getting up, feeding the cats, drinking coffee. And then going to the gym, though only I went as Jools was going for a walk and a bit of tidying.

Weekends at the gym are the best. Certainly at seven before families are up, and the pool just has lane swimming, and the gym is mostly empty. Meaning I can get a parking space, go up to the gym and find all machines are empty, so I get on the bike and peddle.

Once I am done, having done another forty minutes at a higher level again, I go to Tesco for supplies, just to top up the fridge and larder.

Again, at eight its empty, so I whizz round getting stuff we needed, and on the way out top up the tank at the garage, with prices up 3 pence a litre in a week.

Back home where, for a change, I make sausage sarnies once the shopping was put away. Beef sausages.

Sausages made of beef.

Were good, not good like butcher's bangers.

A shower, shave and change of clothing, meant I was all ready for the game at midday.

Norwich lost to Ipswich last time out: the first defeat to them in 18 years. Last time they did the double over us was in 1992-93, so we were defending a 33 year record.

Norwich were really not up the the task. Town were better in all departments, but also helped when the referee gave the softest of penalties in the tenth minute.

Despite having over 60% possession and 17 corners, Norwich really never threatened, and Town scored a second just before the break.

City were denied a clear penalty, and on top of that, Nunez should have been sent off after three poor tackles after coming in, but the ref kept his cards in his pockets.

So, that was that.

Then were the main batch of games on the radio from three, with me sitting on the sofa with Scully while listening to the radio.

Pizza for supper, between the end of the games at five, and Liverpool game v Fulham at half five.

More sitting on the sofa watching that, listening to Stuart spin some Northern Soul and 80s soul tunes in place of Craig.

Thus ended the day.

Friday 10th April 2026

Friday.

Its the end of the week. Again.

We don't know where the days and weeks go, but they fly by.

And yet here we are, in the second week of April, Spring, maybe, has arrived, nights are shorter than days, birds are on the wing, as are butterflies.

Jools, obviously, was up at five so she could be out of the house shortly after six for yoga. I went back to sleep, and was awoken once when Cleo jumped on my legs to make a nest, and second when Jools drove off in the car.

There was the bins to do, make coffee and then check on the world, which hasn't got any better.

I had a slow start before I would follow Jools in walking up Station Road into the village, with she going for her "Knit and Natter" group, and me off to the doctor's for a blood test.

It was a brighter, warmer day than expected, but the walk up the hill was fine, stopping to take shots of various wild flowers in bloom.

In the village, the post box has been upgraded to one of them modern scanning ones, and I had wondered how the knitted toppers would cope with the change, to find a knitted garland draped around the box.

Then up the back lane past the school to the surgery, and once checked in I find appointments were running slow.

I had an appointment for half ten, I got in at quarter past.

I found I have lost a further 6 Kg, not as much as I hoped, but progress is steady and I am feeling better than ever.

I was 79Kg when I joined the RAF some 36 years ago. I might not see those weights again, but that is 24 kilos gone since last summer, that's 52 pounds, or close enough. I was doubting I was losing any more, but I was, so I will keep on keeping on.

My blood was red, but reluctant to come out, so both arms were jabbed, the right three times. Maybe not enough for all tests, but we shall see.

The nurse is pleased with my progress, so I left the surgery light of foot and spirit, for the short walk to the village shop for an ice cream.

Which I ate sitting on the bench judging people's parking abilities.

Once the ice cream was gone, I walk back down the hill, then up the other side to home, where ten minutes later Jools joined me on the patio for a brew and some shortbread.

Through the afternoon we watch the last two episodes of Beatle Anthology, which detailed the final two albums and the break up of the band, and finally the part reform and the recording of Free as a Bird.

Even as things were falling apart, the four of them continued to make amazing music, quite the achievement. And legacy.

I do the music quiz and win. As I was quickest on the keyboard.

Yay me.

Before we drove Steve from next door and our former colleague from the LFB, Brian to the village for a charity pub quiz. Though was in the village hall rather than a pub.

It was a fun night, we do OK, finish sixth, but our knowledge of modern TV show themes ultimately let us down.

We drank beer, ate snacks and laughed a lot, and had much to ponder as Brian told us of his battles with cancer over the winter, which he seems to have won.

Back home for ten, pooped and tipsy-fart. We soon go to bed.