Tuesday 21st April 2026

And so, the orchid madness begins.

Yes, for the next three or four months, days will be spent in woods, in meadows, on downs, in dune slacks, all looking for orchids. Photographing orchids.

So just as I have finished editing and posting shots of churches, just in time for endless pages of orchid shots.

I was taking Fran out again, as she doesn't have a car at the moment, so to get phys in, drop Jools in town for her class, get back home for breakfast, and then a shower. Every second would count.

I could have skipped the phys, but I did it. Listening to A Word in Your Ear podcast, then zipping back home to collect Jools, drop her off at the Duke of Yorks so she could get some steps in, then back home for a shower, and a rushed breakfast, ate standing as i washed up.

I said I would collect Fran from Hern Bay, so ended up driving up past Sandwich and across Thanet in rush hour. I was delighted to find new roadworks on Thanet Way, delaying me further, then in Herne Bay, the school run under way, and an endless stream of Chelsea Tractors up and down the roads I tried to get along.

But, once I picked Fran up, back to Thanet Way, and a pleasant drive to Chatham, then down the A249 back to the M20. Fran was fine with skipping Stockbury, so we reached the motorway, turned south for one junction, and turning off so we could go up through Leeds. Though traffic was lighter than last week, so was pleasant enough.

Finally down through Sutton Valence, past the King's Head turning west in Staplehurst and to the reserve.

Marden is a wonder. An ancient water meadow that is home to several thousand Green-wing orchids, and this is just about the point when they're at their best. Maybe perfect in a week.

Anyway, we were here. Had the reserve to ourselves, so we got our cameras out and set out along the first meadow, then round the main meadow, where more unusual colour variations were now flowering, including a pale pink spike, and a pure white one.

Just so many orchids, not knowing which ones to snap and which ones to pass by.

We look for a couple of rare plants, Water avens and Water violet, both known at the site, but not for some years. No surprise to not find a trace of either.

We walked back to the car, then retraced our steps back through Leeds and onto the motorway.

Traffic was light, the weather was great, it was almost pleasant.

We drive up Stone Street, up past the garage before turning down the narrow lane to the "secret" parking spot.

The sunshine from Marden had now been replaced with cloud, and although it was breezy, in the wood at Yocklett's, the trees stopped most of it.

Orchids are thin on the ground, with just six Early Purples seen, and no more than a dozen Fly. The two Lady on the path to the upper track weren't yet in flower, but on the bank above, one spike had three flowers open.

Over The Gogway I see my friend, Terry: Oi Oi, I shout.

We shake hands and swap news, he tells us there is a Lady spike almost fully out at the top of the steep path. Last time I climbed it, it was with a walking pole, gammy knee and was very difficult.

So, I asked Fran if she wanted to go up. I'll kill terry if its not out, I say. I'll kill what's left she replied.

Anyway, nowhere near as bad as feared, and with my new fit legs and improved balance I make light work of the climb, and waiting for us was a fine Lady Orchid, as described, nearly in full flower.

But it was only one of two spikes, where a few years back there would be more than a dozen.

Very troubling.

We took it easy back down, back over the road, and through the wood and lower meadow back to the car.

Our last stop was to be Samphire Hoe, so it was back to Stone Street and down to the motorway, stopping off at the filling station for a drink and an ice cream.

We deserved it.

Down the motorway, past Folkestone and past Capel, going round the roundabout and back to the exit for the Hoe. Where, while waiting I spy six or so spikes on the grass near the cabin.

I shall return to snap those.

Once at the car park, we go to explore and go all the way down the track beside the railway. We find about a dozen spikes, but photography was all but impossible in the keen wind, so we give up and walk back to the car, into the jaws of a cold easterly.

I drop Fran off at Dover Priory so she could get home, then drive home, back up Jubilee Way where a fresh brew was waiting for me.

As odd as it may seem, at least to me, is that the Football League season will be over next weekend, the last games on 3rd May.

All the excitement, disappointment and so on, and suddenly it will stop. At least for those not in the play-offs. The Prem will go on three more weeks, but issues are being settled, like Wolves having their relegation confirmed on Monday with West Ham drawing.

Norwich played Derby, whose players had been fed raw meat for a month, apparently, as they saw Norwich players as weak gazelles and they lions, as tackles flew n, and I was surprised not one of their players was sent off. We missed a penalty, then scored, and dominated the game until a defensive mix up in the middle of the second half gifted Derby a leveller.

Five minutes later Norwich score the winner, and so win again. Though too late for the play offs, they are still the best team in the division since New Year, it was those first three months that did it for us.

Oh well.

Monday 20th April 2026

Monday again, apparently.

On Fridays, the weekends and on Mondays, I can lay in until six (weekends) or beyond on the other two days. Sad, then, that either my brain or my body has me awake at half four for some reason.

I have learned to go back to sleep. That is until Cleo jumps on the bed, climbs on my feet until I am laying in a place she is happy with.

I am then pinned to the bed.

So, I get up moving my legs around her, so not to wake the little raggedy cat, get dressed and go down to have a coffee and see what the world can throw at us this week.

Jools went swimming over the weekend, so had a day off on Monday, but there was a tip run to do, as one of the water butts had sprung a leak.

So the new week begins.

Jools took her friend to a café in Walmer, which she does each Monday now, so I go out for a walk.

I used to go out for walks all the time until I knacked my knee because I wasn't walking enough, so I would go out, with camera, and see where my feet would take me.

I go over the fields, after checking that the Early spider orchid along the road was OK. It was, and the sign I made still in place.

No butterflies about due to the keen wind, but under glorious blue skies with fluffy clouds, it was rather wonderful.

I went down past the farm, and up the down to the secret bench, where I rested for half an hour, looking over the dip to the golf course where the bespatted ran after golf buggies and generally ruined a good walk.

I walked on.

I toyed with the idea of going through the wood, but the sun trap along Green Lane was too tempting, so I turned down there. Only for the sun to be too warm, so the butterflies that were about were very flighty.

At Windy Ridge Farm I turned into the wood, mainly so that their dog would lose sight of me and stop barking. It did mean that I stumbled across a Speckled Wood butterfly on a branch, and it rested long enough for me to rattle off some shots.

Out of the wood, and down the track past the paddocks each with a horse, one grey mare came to say hello and eat brambles.

I took her picture.

Before climbing the short hill back to Collingwood and then back to our street and home. Finding Jools home, she made a brew for my weary legs, and we sat outside enjoying the sunshine, in the lea of the hedge.

Lunch is pan fried asparagus in butter with crusty bread and parmesan shavings.

We know how to live.

We nip into Deal in the afternoon so I could check on the Record Store Day leftovers, and treat myself to a splatter vinyl version of The Stranglers "Rarities".

We buy a pasty for supper, and we come back home.

As Jools pricked out her seedlings, I made a batch of short cakes as we had nothing sweet in the house, and had them cooling on a wire rack in under half an hour, all ready for supper.

There was football in the evening, Palace v West Ham. A good game, but ended 0-0, with neither team having a cutting edge.

Sunday 19th April 2026

Sunday comes around again.

And this week really merits the title, Super Sunday, as there was a game at the top of the Championship, a or the Merseyside Derby and the title decider between Arse and Citeh.

But before then, much to do.

The usual: get up, get dressed, have breakfast and go to the gym for seven. Do my forty minutes, get hot and sweaty.

Finish.

Before driving to the National Trust's place on the cliffs for an orchid hunt.

Friends had visited the week before and said there were plenty of Early Spider spikes, so it was our turn to hunt them.

At ten to eight the entrance isn't manned, so we don't have to pay, and were the only car parked overlooking the port.

I get the camera out, and despite wearing just a t-shirt and shorts, it wasn't cold, so a walk down to the top of the narrow path and down it was pleasant.

I see just one spike on the way down, badly trampled and not in flower. Further on under the frame I find just one spike at first, but a second all the way along, on top of a chalk wall with a dreadful drop to the rocks below an inch or two beyond.

I'd tackle that on the way back.

Further on there was one flowering spike a metre down a sheer drop, so I just looked. I checked until where the platform of flattened grass marked where the Cliff Road turned inland, so I turned back.

With the sun at my back, spikes would be easier to see.

I hoped.

I came to the spike on the chalk wall.

I carefully crept along the sloping chalk face, that faced towards the Cliff Road so was safe, then inched on my belly to the spike.

I imagined my friend, Tony, having kittens as he watched me get my shots.

All I had to do was get back down.

I crawled backwards.

Which is when my footing slipped on the damp grass, and down I slid, grazing my right shin causing me to swear loudly.

I landed in the long grass, safe and sound, with just my stupidity for company.

I walked to Jools who had found three spikes on the edge of the Cliff Road just beyond where the narrow path started. And then on the path we saw a good half dozen spikes we had missed on our way down.

All that was left then was the walk up the sloping chalk meadow, through the gate, up the steep steps, up one more meadow back to the car.

We would have gone home for breakfast, only it was still only nine, and maybe Ange and Sean would be on the beach swimming.

And as we drove down Castle Hill, Jools asked if it was a good day for breakfast.

That it be.

Anyway, no sign of our friends down on the beach, so we drive back round to Castle Street, park and walk round to Chaplins, only to find it closed for the weekend.

No matter, just around the corner is another café, on Market Square, so we take 30 seconds to walk round, get a table and order our food.

Now what I will say is that you never know how big a new place's breakfast or meal might be. So, I order an extra sausage, Jools had tomatoes and black pudding. So, when our meals arrived they were huge.

I must remember to order meals for my current appetite not what it was a year ago!

I fail to finish the mushrooms and toast. Jools leaves her hash browns.

We were full to bursting.

Back to the car then, drive home for another brew, sitting on the patio to watch the birds in the warm sunshine. Until it was time for a shower, to be all clean come midday when the football began.

Ipswich v Middlesborough to start with. Boro' leading 2-1 going into the last few minutes when Town got another "soft" penalty.

So it goes.

Then the Merseyside derby, with Liverpool scoring late on through Virgil to take the three points at the Dicky Hill.

And finally, the big match. Citeh v Arse. And not a bad game, though Arse really didn't have a shot on goal, were chasing the game 2-1 and never looked like scoring.

And didn't.

A quiet evening, wildflowerhouring, and to bed at nine. Tired from doing nothing.

One year ago

On this day in 2025, we flew, as part of the tiger tour, back to New Dehli for most to fly back the next day, and for four of us to continue on the extension.

I reread my post of the day, and make no mention of what happened that day, but it was a day I thought I was going to die.

I mean, that might sound over the top, but when you have grown up just assuming your body works when you want it to, when something doesn't, it comes as a shock.

And when what didn't work was my lungs, it was bloody frightening.

I am sure I have written about this before since, but here goes again: I was walking off the plane via the air bridge, and was struggling, I went to breath deep, and there was no more oxygen to take from my lungs.

Jools had hung back, helped me breathe to calm me down, but from then to the end of the tour I struggled with hills and stairs. It was a shame that the next part of the tour was to the mountains, and the hotel was reached via three flights of stairs from the car park, though there was a lift.

I was mindful not to slow the others down, so I stayed back first night at the hotel by the lake.

On top of that I had ulcers on my legs, that required Jools to dress daily.

In short I felt I was falling apart.

It was the lowest point, though there would be a couple of other events that showed I had to change. And change I have.

I have lost 25Kg, 52lb, or something close. And am able to walk for hours without needing to sit down. I can climb hills and stairs, slowly, but get it done.

I wouldn't have done it all without Jools who has been a rock, and has provided a kick up the backside when needed.

I hope more weight loss, more phys, and more enjoyment out of life this year too.

Saturday 18th April 2026

It's the weekend again!

That means up, not so early at six. Drink coffee and go to the gym.

I gym it, whilst Jools swims. I struggle to do my forty minutes, but get it done, though am hot and bothered by the end.

I wait for Jools in the café, so then we can go home.

Home for brews and breakfast, before its time to test Scully again. Her insulin has been reduced, so we have to keep an eye on her.

We have the radio on, Huey playing great tunes, then a shower, all to be done for half twelve when the football begins.

An afternoon on the sofa; first watch Portsmouth beat relegation-threatened Leicester 1-0, then listen to the radio as Leeds beat Wolves 3-0, while Norwich came from behind to beat Bristol City 4-2 at their place.

There was still time for more football: Spurs v Brighton. And Spurs had not won since the 28th December, and are now staring relegation in the face.

They went into injury time 2-1, only for Brighton to level with the not quite last kick of the game.

The stadium fell silent, Spurs players fell to their knees.

So it goes. So it goes.

Friday 17th April 2026

It's Friday again.

So I go back to sleep after Jools gets up to feed the cats and get ready for yoga.

I was awake again at ten to six, Jools was opening the curtains in the other rooms upstairs, I so get up, and get dressed.

I make a coffee, drink that before taking the bins out.

Back inside to warm up as it was chilly, make a tea and check on the world.

It's going to hell on a tea trolley. But it's been like that for decades, only the Shitgibbon makes it worse. So much worse.

Once Jools comes back, I take the keys to do some hunter-gathering at Tesco before the crowds get there. With their kids.

It's not I don't like children, I mean I was one once, but I like my peace and quiet and space.

I go round getting what we need, trying to buy less food as we want to use stuff out of the freezer, but it's hard when you're hungry walking along aisle after aisle of food. I break and buy a bag of ridged salt and vinegar crisps, which would not last the day.

And back home to unpack, have breakfast, by which time Jools set off to walk to the library for her knit and natter group, leaving me to repot the new pot of basil I had bought, as the last lot done, was going mildew due to overwatering and me using the wrong soil.

This task was made difficult by Scully's blood ready at ten being low, so I have to force her to have some honey under her tongue, which she spent a minute gagging on until she had swallowed it all.

But half an hour later her sugars were climbing, and crisis over.

After lunch of pork pie, slaw and crisps, I was out again to snap a railtour, having been reminded of it by my friend Andy.

As I am now healthier, I decide to go to the footbridge to Shakespeare Beach, so drive to Aycliffe, park on the road before going through the underpass under the A20, then down the steep path down to the bridge.

And finding no one else there.

Though four people did arrive, two Japanese gentlemen just a minutes before Clan Line showed, so plenty of room for us all.

I snapped two Southeastern units as practice, then checking with RealTime Trains site, I saw that she left Dover three minutes late and was on her way.

I heard her feint whistle before we saw the smoke. Huge clouds of smoke as she turned the sharp bend by the Lord Warden Hotel, then accelerating along the side of the beach to the new viaduct.

Me snapping on auto like a machine gun all the time.

Then she was upon us, and in a cloud of smoke, under us and heading to the portals of Shakespeare Tunnel, and was gone.

All that was left was to climb the five flights of steps back to the path at the top of the cliff.

Deep breath, and here we go.

I reached the top, nowhere near as it would have been a year ago. And then a simple walk back through the underpass, up one final set of steps back to the car.

We had dinner once I got back home, before the rest of the afternoon waiting for six and the music quiz.

The mystery album was Rubber Soul by a young beat combo called The Beatles, but the clues so cryptic, only six people guessed it.

Finally, watched Coventry get promoted with a draw. Though whether Frank Lampard will still be their manager come August remains to be seen.

It's not that I have anything against Frank. Well, I have. He tried to get the Norwich job after Farke was fired, several newspapers ran the story he had been offered it, but hadn't.

And its not just that. With Frank, in the media, the club loses some of its identy as you become Frank Lampard's, in this case, Coventry City. As if over 100 years of history doesn't count.

Well, he's in the Premier League again, but I think he'll be poached by Chelsea, probably. Again.

Thursday 16th April 1026

30 years since my Dad died.

Doesn't seem possible.

It's Thursday again.

Apparently.

And so the alarm had been set, and went off at ten past five.

Cats were fed, kettle boiled, and coffee made. We had just enough time to drink that before we were out of the house.

Early mornings don't seem so early when its getting light again, but it is early.

So early the doors to the sports centre were not open when we went past, but the queue had gone by the time we parked and walked round.

I did another forty minutes at level fifteen, and getting nearer the 400 calories burnt in that time. 376 this time, and although it is getting warmer, and the session was tough, I got through it fine.

Back home for a relaxing cuppa. Then breakfast, and a shower after that.

Feeling human again.

An old friend of Jools's was coming round, Jude, for a chat, so I would retire upstairs so not to interrupt.

I read more of the last edition of Word magazine, now some 14 years old. The writing is supurb.

Of course.

Once Jools leaves I made a quick dinner of insalata. I had prepared garlic butter earlier, so the bread was sliced and put in the oven, cooked until golden brown and stinky. I also added some cheese to the butter for an added bang of flavour.

Then there was the chore of trying to stay awake for the rest of the afternoon. I made the mistake of going upstairs where it was warmer, and soon nodded off.

The expected rain didn't arrive in the afternoon. And instead it brightened up for a fine end to the day.

League 2 football in the evening; Bromley v Cambridge, with both teams going for promotion, it was an entertaining game, though goalless.