Sunday 17th May 2026

Sunday.

And a day of rest.

For most.

However, it is a phys day, and my brain had me awake just after five anyway, and up at half past, so may as well get some in.

Sunday is the best day in the gym. Few people are up and about at seven, and with the pool closed for a gala, the carpark was almost empty.

We park, walk to the entrance, still chilly in the early morning air, though summer is going to arrive either Thursday and Friday, at which point it will be too hot.

Of course.

I do forty minutes, though the last five took half an hour. Or so it seemed.

Then began the great cheese quest, as we were out of mature Cheddar. We went first to the petrol station. They didn't sell cheese, so we went to Whitfield, to One Stop, and they had cheese. And Minstrels.

Back home for a brew.

And I felt the need for some orchiding.

Well, I am leading a multi-site visit for the Hardy Orchid Society in June, so have to check the sites for orchid numbers and whether they'll have gone over by then.

I set off for Sandwich Bay at half eight, traffic was light, except those going to the Boot Fair at Tilmanstone. We have no need for more junk, our house is full even after a decade of decluttering.

Into Sandwich, through the modern housing and to the Bay Estate, where there was no one on the barrier, so the visit was free.

It was bright, and winds were light, so I set out over the meadow and across the slacks to the golf course. I crossed the three fairways after checking there were no golfers about to launch a ball at me, and out onto the Strand.

There were spikes. But numbers are well down on 2024, last year's drought reduced Lizard orchids by 80 to 90%. But those that have survived looked in good health.

I also found the nationally rare Bedstraw broomrape, which is a parasitic plant feeds on the roots of Bedstraw species, and most in good shape.

Finally, I walked back over the golf course, and turned south to the meadow to check on the Southern marsh orchids I was expecting to be showing, as I had seen shots of them out from around the country.

The purple spikes I did see where Green-wing orchids, and in very good shape, meaning the SMO were small rosettes, and maybe a month from showing.

I walked to the Observatory, but found it deserted. Apparently they all had gone chasing a Turtle dove seen nearby.

I waited, and soon John, who ran our tour to India arrived. So I wet inside and had a cuppa with him, as he told me about his latest tiger tour, from which he returned from a couple of weeks back, travel made worse thanks to flights not using Doha, thanks to the Orange Shitgibbon in Washington.

Anyway, it was a good meeting, as we last saw John at two in the morning on Station Road as we unloaded our cases from the mini bus.

I bid John farewell, and get back to the car to drive home, somehow it was nearly midday, so I thought a drive to Deal and back home along the Strand would be grand.

And indeed it was. The sun was still shining, though all parking spaces were taken, as families took in the air beside the seaside, beside the sea.

I was back home in time for the first game of the day: Man Utd v Forest, which was notable for the clear handball in the buildup for Utds second goal, which after VAR was given.

I have no words. The handball and offside rules are now so buggered I can't tell if a goal should be given or not.

Newcastle played West Ham, with the Hammer needing to win to have a chance of avoiding the drop so send Spurs down. Their cause wasn't helped by giving up two goals in the first 15 minutes, and it was uphill from there. It ended 3-1, and West Ham need a miracle, and for Chelsea to beat Spurs on Tuesday.

By that time it was half seven and the day gone again.

Time for a large glass of sloe gin to see the day out.

Cheers.

Saturday 16th May 2026

It am the weekend.

I look forward to Fridays to Mondays, as either they're rest days, or for the weekend days, an hour later start at seven when te gym and sports centre open.

It is somewhat frustrating then, for my mind and body to have me awake at half four, then lay awake for the alarm, which doesn't come at ten past five, as its set for six.

So I get up. Jools is already up, and so by half six we are ready for the day, sipping coffee as outside the sun climbed in the sky.

We went to the gym, and if I'm honest, my legs were tired, and I could have bailed, but instead did half an hour, which was enough. My right knee had a twinge, its just two years since I tore the cartilage in it, so best take care of it.

We head back home to rest, and make a brew for breakfast.

Jools was going out to visit a friend to help her declutter, so after breakfast, I would have a shave, shower so be all fresh and nice for the day. And then do chores in the house and garden, including watering the newly planted plants, topping up the wildlife pool.

I saw a flutter, and sure enough there was a butterfly: the first Painted lady of the season, which came back twice, thus enabling me to get my camera and chase it round the upper beds.

We have early lunch, so I could sit and watch the finale of the Scottish season, and hopefully see Hearts win the title.

The sporting Gods clearly don't like Hearts, playing at Celtic, all they had to do was avoid defeat. After taking the lead just before half time, all seemed set for them, but then Celtic got another dodgy penalty, and in the second half as time ran out, Celtic scored, despite the scorer having been in a clear offside position. But apparently, he wasn't interfering with play. Despite scoring.

Then the FA Cup Final: El Cheatico, as the two teams either convicted of cheating, or waiting for 115 cheating charges to be heard. Is it possible to want both teams to lose?

Citeh beat Chelsea 1-0, thanks to a fine goal, but I had slept through most of the first half.

Maybe Norwich can get to the final next year? Ha ha ha.

And that was that, really.

We have supper, then retire to bed to read as the day fades, and finally rain arrives in east Kent, and gave the garden a proper soaking.

Friday 15th May 2026

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a shot of a Duke of Burgundy on Bluesky.

I received a message: could I show someone where they were?

As Jo is a botanist, I also had to point out the site is the best in Kent, and therefore the UK, for Lady Orchids too.

The only rouble was fixing the day, a day that the forecast would say the sun would shine at least a little, and be warmish.

Two days were suggested, and we would pick Thursday or Friday once the forecast firmed up, and we would choose the best day.

All was well until both days had 70-80% chance of rain and would be cool too. Possibly Friday looked better, and as I had the appointment at Canterbury Cathedral on Thursday, Friday was chosen, and a fairly late start to allow the day to warm up, and for me to take Jools and her friends to knit and natter at the library.

In the end, Thursday afternoon offered a bit of all kinds of weather, but ended with warm sunny periods once we were home.

Friday still looked poor, and little chance of spotting a Duke.

Friday dawned clear and cool. Not quite a frost, but not far off.

As usual, Jools went to yoga, I did the bins and the rest of the chores on a Friday. I drank my coffee and didn't injure myself, which counts as a good start.

Once Jools came back, we had a brew and breakfast. I had charged the camera battery, the forecast at least said no rain until the afternoon now, but no sun.

We left the house in broken sunshine. Clouds skidded across the sky. We picked up Janet from along the road: she has early dementia, and is a worry to her family and friends. But she has ways of coping.

Jill lives near the library, and her street is being dug up for gam main repairs. She hadn't put on her shoes or taken her tablets, so we had to wait ten minutes. Janet chuntered about the delay. But we were early.

Jill was ready, they got in the car and in 30 seconds we were outside the library. Got out, and I could get to Barham.

Traffic was heavy as a ferry had just arrived, but I made good time, and once I turned off the A2, through Bridge and out through the fields of fruit, I knew I was going to be on time.

In fact I was five minutes early, and Jo and Ian and their friend had been out botanising already, but were near the car.

We shook hands, I explained there is a mile walk to the Bank, and with the weather being breezy and cool, chances were slim. But among the coppiced bushes, wind might be less, and if the sun came out, there might be a chance.

We set off down the track through the trees, and we chatted about plants, butterflies and Norfolk. Where they, and I, were from.

We reached the bottom of the bank. It seemed cold still. At least there would be the bonus of dozens of Lady and Fly orchids to enjoy.

Opposite the entrance, six flowering spikes of Lady stood on a bank, so they were photographed.

We entered the reserve, down the stops, and went hunting for Dukes.

The sun did break through about 50% of the time, and in among the bushes it was almost warm and still when it was sunny. But no Dukes were seen. No butterflies at all in fact.

But they delighted in the orchids. The Lady were at their peak, so we set off along the top path, stopping to snap and record what we had seen. Plenty of Fly in flower too, though they are starting to brown off, but White helleborines were just coming into flower.

I failed to find the Greater butterfly in flower from last week, probably trodden by a butterfly chaser, but after a ten minute search, the single Man orchid was found just before we reached the other Duke lek.

It was almost warm, so the search began. Walking through the short grass and Primroses will flush a Duke out, then watch where it flies and lands, as it won't be far.

Jo shouts that se has found one, so we all gather, and there on a dead leaf was a male Duke with wings three-quarters closed, but it's underwings on show.

The Duke of Burgundy likes to bask, or the males do, to attract a mate. While this is good, the Duke is a small butterfly, so you have to get close or have a long lens to snap a good shot.

In the end we find and photograph for males. They would have been happy with one. So with that, we walk to the far end of the reserve and began to long walk back to he car.

We drive in convoy back to Petham, then to Bridge and to Barham, turning off at the pub and along the long lane, only to find the parking space full with three cars.

Not seen this in fifteen years coming here.

So we park on the hard standing, then walk back along the lane to the track leading to the wood.

Our primary target here was a white Lady, but the consolation of bird's-nests.

Six weeks ago I had seen maybe two hundred rosettes of Lady. And if you look they're still there, hidden by Dog's mercury. And the 10% flowering spikes of two weeks ago was now down to a handful, probably munched by deers. It was a real search to find spikes, though I guess there was twenty to thirty.

Jon and her friends were happy with seeing Herb paris, and the wood has two large colonies. Then to hunt for the Bird's-nests.

I find some. And then some more. And more. And more and more.

Some fifty eight spikes, with more to emerge. It was incredible to see so many, more than I have ever seen at a site before, and my friends were as thrilled to see them as I was.

But time had run out. I needed to get home, so we bid each other farewell, they to go on to Yockletts, and me back to Dover.

No drama on the way back, for a change. And once back it was time for lunch.

It was simple and summer-like Caprese with the rest of the crusty bread form the previous day.

It was all done in fifteen minutes, so we sat down, me with a glass of Italian primitivo.

Cheers.

And very good it was too, doubly so as we had pistachio Magnums again for dessert.

Cats were tested, jabbed and fed. I did poorly in the music quiz.

And that was that.

In the evening, Villa ran rings round Liverpool, running out 4-2 winners. It should have been ten.

And that was that.

Thursday 14th May 2026

Fourth day of the week, and it being Thursday means up and attem at ten past five so we could leave for the gym at ten to six. Though we were a little behind.

We arrive, find a place to park, and rush to the entrance, as although it is the middle of May, temperatures at night plunge and there are air frosts.

I struggle to do my forty minutes, though once over halfway its easy, downhill from there.

Once done we head to Tesco for supplies.

It was a big shop, and end up spending one hundred and sixty quid, which came as a shock. And yet there were no really expensive items.

Back home for twenty to eight. We pack the shopping away, make brews and breakfast.

Main issue of the day was a railtour going through the county, and because of an appointment at two, there would be a small window in which to snap the tour, and as the last time I looked, it was ten minutes down, so I made the decision to bail on that.

I spend the morning by cooking two pots of stuff for freezing. First up was a huge pot of ragu, which I start at nine, and soon is bubbling away, reducing down, so I could go about making a smaller pot of Boston beans.

That was put in the oven to cook for four hours, so was just ready when we had to leave for the city.

The morning flashes by, and soon it was midday, and time to go to Canterbury, for our two o'clock appointment at the cathedral.

We arrive at the car park opposite St Augustine's Abbey with half an hour to spare, then walk to the Buttercross and the Christchurch Gate. We pay our entrance fee, and enter the Cathedral Precinct, enter the Cathedral for a few minutes before leaving and waiting at the shop for the tour to start.

We had booked on a tour of the Cathedral's library, and I was expecting a Mediaeval chain library, where tomes written with quills on vellum would be secured to shelves by chains.

But little did I know that thanks to Good King Henry, the ancient and Catholic, books had been mostly disposed of, and the library now was a bequest from two benefactors, the Howley-Harrison donations.

As we were taken round, the history of the cathedral and its books was shared, and how the collection we see now are mostly two private collections.

That being said, it was interesting, and brought to life by our guide and librarian, who told us of the stages of the collection's history, and its disposal thanks to Henry VIII.

Several interesting books were on display for us, and their interesting history, and why each was significant.

I took lots of pictures you'll be glad to know.

We were done at quarter past three, well past lunch and well past opening time. We fix both issues by entering The Old Buttermarket pub, ordering two drinks and packs of pork scratchings.

All that was left was to walk back through the city centre, over the inner ringroad back to the car. Pay the charge, and leave, back along Old Dover Road to the A2 and home.

I portion out the ragu into dishes for freezing, then warm three ladle-fulls for dinner, along with boiling water for pasta.

In half an hour it was done. Seeded bread sliced and buttered, so by half four we sat down to eat, making sure we had fed the cats before, so we would not be interrupted.

And that was that.

We had pistachio Magnums as a dessert, which went down pretty well.

There was football int he evening, but I was shattered, so bailed at half time, so missed the only goal of the game as Bolton beat Bradford.

Wednesday 13th May 2026

Wednesday.

And a quiet day, with no phys for either of us, as it was a rest day for me, and for Jools' class was cancelled.

So, in theory, we could lay in bed all morning, other than Scully would have to be tested at five in the morning.

But we are up early enough. I do snooze for half an hour, but am all up and dressed for six.

Just not much to do.

Jools is crocheting a new cardigan, and has got to the point where the two halves are joined. Or something. So while she is upstairs, I am in the living room listening to podcasts.

Which fills the time.

We have an early lunch, as we are going to Jen's for the resumption of cards after an eight month break. So I cook bangers, mash and beans for lunch, so that come ten to two, we can drive to Whitfield for hostilities to be rejoined.

The reason for the break is, well, not worth entering into here, but the break has done Jools and I good, and for the first hour, conversation was a little staid.

But it soon picked up, though the situation wasn't helped with Jools winning at Meld, the scooping all pots half an hour into Queenie, meaning our pot of pennies was literally overflowing.

Mike was there, and in a gap in the showers, cleaned the skylight window, so I thought it best to take his picture as he looked down on us.

We leave at four, missing rush hour and back in time to test Scully at five.

Supper was some KFC: the chicken pieces were fine, but the burger was very poor indeed, and not worth the advertising campaign money.

Football in the evening, but the wrong teams won, so best not speak about it.

Bed at ten, with there still being some light in the sky away to the west.

Tuesday 12th May 2026

We are at the time of year when there are orchids and butterflies everywhere, and despite being retired, not enough time to get round them all.

Coupled with the fact the weather is turning unsettled for the next week, so walking up downs, through woodlands and across pastures isn't so much fun with rain hammering down. No matter how much the garden needs it.

So, thoughts turned to a new site for the year: Lydden and Temple Ewell Down, and the annual hunt for Burnt (Tip) orchids.

Or orchid.

Jools had fitness class, then knit and natter in town, so I asked if Iain fancied a walk up on the downs, and if he did, could he drive?

Yes to both.

So with the plan for the day set out, I could rise at ten past five and be on my way to the sports centre forty minutes later, with the weather being clear blue skies and the promise of warmth later.

I do my forty minutes, then go to fill the car up at Tesco. As I turn right at the roundabout to enter, I see a young lady wanting to cross, so I stop to let her over the road, and some twat in an ancient Peugeot crashes into the back of me.

I had slowed down under control, so no fault on my part.

After shouting at me for stopping, I point out I was letting a pedestrian cross the road. He quietens down.

I inspect the damage: the bumper of our car is cracked, hardly noticeable, and I suppose I could have claimed against his insurance, but his whole bumper had disintegrated, and shards of it littered the road.

I picked up the pieces and hand it to him, get in the car and go round to the filling station.

Sigh.

Sixty quid, and the car wasn't that empty. Thanks to Trump.

I pay and drive home, so that Jools can take it and go into town, leaving me with two and a half hours to have breakfast, get showered and dressed.

Which I do.

For the last two years, Lydden Down has been my Everest. In that two years back I had my town cartilage, and last yar I did not try to get up it until ALT season in August, so that's just halfway up.

So this would be another test of my improved fitness and lythe figure.

Ahem.

Iain came at half nine, and he drove us to Temple Ewell, for there it is a climb through the lower wood, beside the lowest meadow, up through the second wood, through the stile into the open downland, across one meadow, up through the second and then to the top going round the scar that separated the two reserves.

News is that although I did huff and puff, and stop several times for a breather and stretch my back, it wasn't anyway near as bad as its been in previous years. Even once at the top I could feel the coolness of the breeze in my face as we dropped down into Lydden Reserve.

Sadly, the weather had changed. It was cloudy, the wind had built, so we saw no butterflies until we reached the Burnt orchid site, where I found a single Small copper sheltering among the long grass.

No Burnts found, though further up the down I did find three colonies of Early spiders, two I knew about, the last a surprise, and many spikes were in good condition still, so we stop to take shots on the way back.

The climb back is gentler, and so not much stopping, so I felt the breeze even more, and Iain said he wished he had put another coat on. I was just wearing a t shirt.

Back down at the car, he drove me home, dropping me off at the end of the road, so I could walk home the final few yards, and my knees could scream at my brain why we had done 14k steps before midday.

Lunch was, when Jools returned a bit of a mix: Chilli crispy beef (my best attempt yet, fried mash, and the remainder of the nachos.

It went together well.

I tried to find something to watch on TV in the afternoon: hundreds and hundreds of channels, and nothing worth watching. Apparently. Not that there is a functioning TV Guide to help, just a doomscroll of Sky's recommendations, none of which look the slightest bit interesting.

I listen to a podcast and try to stay awake, which I just about manage.

For the evening there is play-off football, though I grew tired as the game neared the 90th minute, and it became obvious there'd be extra time, so went to bed.

Monday 11th May 2026

I began what I rather grandly call the "Kent Church Project" in July 2009 when we visited Postling.

Since then I have visited nearly 400 churches of various denominations and other religious buildings in the county, and so now it is the urban churches, and those in west Kent.

Or hard to get into and urban churches mostly in west Kent.

I did visit Tonbridge before Christmas 2024, but the parish church was locked, although I did a fine Victorian one near the station. So, being a man of leisure now, I thought I would arrange a visit.

I chose Monday as the weather was going to be poor, but on the day it dawned clear and would be sunny, though cool at first.

I could lay in, but my brain had me awake at half five, but lay in bed as Cleo snuggled up and I enjoyed her movement as she washed and made a next in the duvet.

Up, and what I thought would be a lazy morning, and was, until Jools pointed out that my train was in forty minutes, she wasn't dressed and I was only halfway through breakfast.

Panic!

We were out in ten minutes, and Jools drove me through the rush hour traffic to Dover Priory, I bought my ticket and had ten minutes to wait before the train came in.

A direct train to Tonbridge, so I could settle into a seat on the left as usual, and enjoy the hour and twenty minute ride through Kent, passing by Marden Meadow on the way, where the colour of the army of orchids could be seen from the speeding train.

I got off, walked up to street level, turned left and walked up the High Street.

Last time I was here my back hurt so much I took three or four goes at walking up it with breaks taken on seats as I walked up. Not this time, just up the street, no pain, just looking for a barbers that had no queue.

I found one next to the Old Chequers pub, and was shown into the chair, and I was shorn in twenty minutes, thus once done, the church would be open for visitors. I hoped.

I explored the back streets near the castle and fund a former Fire Station, now a café, so I went in and had a cuppa and their last cookie. Was good. Lots of clapboard houses in the area, and some with peg tiles too.

I took pictures.

A two minute walk, then dash across the busy road, down Church Lane, where I could see the west door open, and the warm lights inside.

Ss. Peter and Paul is a large and handsome building, and has history, or the site has, back to Saxon times. The current church dates back to the late 11th century, but the Victorians were busy here.

The church seems to have neew flooring leading to the Chancel, and to the south of the arch there is the equipment for a band including drums set up ready for use.

Not one for the traditionalists.

There is also a projection screen above the instruments too, with a projector towards the north east corner. Most glass is clear, with two exceptions. One in the north wall of the Chancel has some Victorian glass in the upper tracery, but in the large east window is a fine modern window of Christ in Majesty surrounded by angels.

On the exterior walls there are monuments dating back to the 17th century, and in the porch, a fine monument to Lady Philadelphia Lyttleton, who died while accompanying Queen Catherine on a visit to Tunbridge Wells in 1663.

There is a fine, if dark Royal coat of arms on a balcony on the west end of the Nave, with two hatchings, one on each side.

The church was busy, as the Tonbridge School south chapel has been turned into church centre and was hosting a Mother and toddlers group, or something similar.

Overall, its a church that hides it treasures well, among the modern embellishments. Clearly the parish church of a town that was monied, as its size and decoration showed.

I received a warm welcome, and the Chancel lights were switched on for me.

I leave the church and walk back down the high street. I had forty minutes to kill, so against my better judgement I went into a 'Spoons and ordered a pint of Sussex mild. But when it came it was clearly a weak IPA, it was so poor I couldn't be bothered to complain, so after drinking half of it, I leave and walk to the station to wait on platform 3.

The train came on, and despite there being dozens of schoolkids getting on, there was room for all, so I sat on the right hand side so I could see Marden Meadow when we went past.

Back in Dover for one. Jools was waiting, so she took us home and once inside, I cook lunch.

And so to the afternoon where we had the task of selecting a route through France to Val d'Isère where we are to meet up with an orchid tour, then south to Spain for the eclipse on August 12th.

We pick towns or cities, and find cheap places to stay on the edge of two, giving us ten days or so to get to Val d'Isère then just over a week to get to Spain.

Route agreed and hotels booked.

It is done.

We'll be screwed if there's a fuel shortage, of course, but we shall see.

Dinner was breaded chicken, buttered new potatoes and asparagus. Springlike and good.

There was football in the evening: Spurs v Leeds, and a Spurs win could have put West Ham on the brink of relegation, but it ended 1-1, so still all in the balance.