Thursday 21st May 2026

Another week has nearly flown by. Summer had arrived the day before, and for the next week and a bit, at least, it would be warm and sunny.

What better way then to spend the morning, than by climbing up and down downs hunting for orchids?

And so phys before at six in the morning. Then go to Tesco, where due to the fact we had not used our money off vouchers, we had £88 off the shop which included some Belgian beers.

Of course.

Phys was hot and bothersome, but I did 38 minutes until the podcast ended, and not enough time to get a new one started, so I stop and go outside to cool down.

Then to Tesco, and back home for twenty to eight for a shower, shave and get dressed. Have breakfast and a brew, so we could meet Fran off the train at quarter to nine.

There was barely a moment to catch our breath.

Fran was waiting outside Priory Station, so once she had climbed in, we headed up Old Folkestone Road to Capel, then on the A20 to the motorway.

Some sites are more secret than others. This is fairly secret, and the second time I had been here this week.

We park, then walk up the track which then blends into the meadow as it climbs, then into a valley between two downs, where on one side is a small colony of Late Spiders.

I say small, this year it is thriving. Fran said she wanted to visit, so after making our way through the long grass, chasing butterflies as we walked, we reached the foot of the down, and there a few feet up was the first of the orchids.

We saw more and more as we walked along, and then I spied a smaller orchid than the rest, its lip a different shape and with patternation not quite right for a pure Late Spider: a hybrid between Late spider and a Bee (orchid).

We all got shots of that, and of other more robust spikes, as the weather turning warm really suits this mostly southern European species.

We don't go far up the slope due to nesting birds, so happy with what we saw, we walk back down to the car, and then drive to the next site.

A short drive away is Park Gate, and a blast down the Elham Valley then up the six-foot-sixer brought us to the reserve, and no other cars or visitors about.

From experience, Park gate is a couple of weeks later than other sites, even after my visit two weeks back, there hasn't bene much movement.

The Early purples are still OK, well, some of them, and just a handful of Monkey spikes were to be seen. Though a couple of them looked like they were already going over due to the "dirty" colour of the flowers, but I could be wrong in that.

We snap all the Monkeys, then look for Fly and Greater butterfly.

Most of the latter were still just rosettes or the spikes had been damaged, the one partially in flower had deformed blooms, and looking very sad for itself.

Jools found a single Fly on the slopes, and that mostly burnt to a crisp.

The lone Lady has shown again this year, but no spike is showing, so will probably be blind.

Because of the above, no point in looking for Musk, as it would be way too early!

Next up it was back to the Bird's-nests in the wood. But on the way we stopped at Barham post office and village shop for ice cream and a sit in the sun.

Then into the woods. Parking at the crossroads, and walking along the path before climbing the bank, into the greenness under the complete canopy.

And there, among the Dog's mercury was dozens of splendid, nay perfect, Bird's-nests, just there.

In groups of four, five and more, scattered among the green, odd brown spikes, leaching off others for their sustinance.

Back to the car for the long drive back to Herne Bay to drop Fran off. But on the way we stop off in Barham to check on the colony of White helleborines I found two years back, but driving round the car park there was no sign.

On a hunch we went to Woolage, and in the tri-angular wood I hoped to find more Bird's-nests, but White helleborines too.

For the last two years there have been no orchids in the wood, but this year, hundreds of White helleborines have returned. Many in flower, and some of large size, one nearly 18 inches tall, and full of flowers.

But no Bird's-nests.

Maybe next year....

So then to Herne Bay, cutting across country through Wingham, Preston, Stourmouth to join Thanet Way to Herne Bay, then along narrow streets to Fran's house. Drop her off and back to Thanet Way.

On the way up I noticed a greasy spoon, and realised how hungry I was. Should we call in for lunch? I asked Jools as it neared two.

Yes.

So, in the longest lay-by in England, we pulled up beside the van.

I ordered sausage and bacon roll, whilst Jools had a cheeseburger.

We ate sitting on an old tree trunk, a kind of bench, talking with the owner about walking, Orchids and life.

From there it was a slow drive to Ramsgate and then to Sandwich and home. Getting back at three and so putting the kettle on for a well deserved brew.

Phew.

What with the snack at the greasy spoon, there was no need for dinner, other than the half pack of biscuits we dunk in a fresh brew.

It was a glorious afternoon, I tried to sit in the garden, but it was too hot, even if sweet Cleo did jump on my lap and lick my arms.

I pour a bottle of La Chouffe and take it to the bottom patio, but a fly tried to get in the glass, and I'm not sharing my beer with anyone, so I down it. Making my head spin.

There was no football on the telebox, so off to bed at eight, and asleep by half past, too pooped to read or listen to a podcast.

Wednesday 20th May 2026

We made it to the middle of the week.

I get to lay in. If, my brain and body lets me. But I was awake before five, so use the bathroom and lay in bed snoozing until just before six.

Jools was up. The cats were fed and the coffee was brewing.

This was the Wednesday of the month when Jools travels to Bromley for another knit and natter group, so I would drop her off in town at eight, then rush back home for a guy with a ladder to come round to fix the guttering.

It was a cool but bright morning, but the promise was of warmer weather "soon". In fact it would come quite soon.

After dropping Jools off, I went into town to go to M&S for some bread when it opened, so was there to witness the local soaks sitting outside the church tugging on cans of Special Brew and letting out rasping laughs.

Others crossed the road to avoid them, but 'Spoons opened at eight too, so they wandered off up the alley beside the church to get their first rounds in.

I go to St James and into M&S, and find that a pack of chocolate covered shortbread rounds also fell into the basket.

With my swag, I scarper to the car and drive home for a cuppa and breakfast.

When the sun shone, it was almost warm, so had the back door op. But when it clouded over, I closed the back door to keep the warmth in. So, the morning passed with me opening and closing the back door.

I texted the guy with the ladder asking what time he might be round. Be there in forty five minutes he chipped.

So I made a fresh brew and found something to listen to. It was just before one, and it looked brighter.

He turned up at quarter past one. He looked up at the guttering and said "your swan's neck is loose!"

He got his son to get the ladder out, selected the tool, put up the ladder and was up like a weasel in a rabbit hole. But up.

Three minutes it was done, he came down and filled in the paperwork, and was gone.

I sat in the garden ready the WSC World Cup Guide, with Cleo fussing around me, jumping on my lap and grooming me.

Its just cupboard love.

Summer, it turned out, arrived some time between three and four, as the wind changed and became warm, so temperatures soared.

There was a railtour coming through, so at half four I head down to Martin Mill to take position up on the platform, snapping a Dover-bound Electrostar as I arrived.

I went over to the up platform, and took position opposite a mother, grandmother and child, he barely four years old. But excited.

I told him to listen for the whistle as it approached Cold Blow Lane, that meant it would be in sight within a minute.

We heard the distant whistle.

Show time!

Despite was real time train times website said about it being on time, she appeared some four minutes late, Braunton making a whole load of smoke.

She was working hard up the bank, so the camera motor went Whrrrrrrrrr, as I rattled off 200 shots in about ten seconds.

And so was past us, into the haze of a summer evening, the train soon lost in the haze and its smoke.

Job done.

Back up the hill in the car to home so to test and feed Scully, then the rest of the posse.

Jools got back on the six fifteen train, so I was at Priory station to meet her, and whisk us home up Jubilee Way. Dinner was Caprese with warmed up focaccia from M&S and for me, red wine.

Cheers.

For the evening there was European football, now part of our TV package, so watched Aston Villa win their first European trophy in some 44 years, and former Norwich midfield genius, Emi, score a worldie and set up another goal.

Tuesday 19th May 2026

Water! Falling from the sky!

These are the last few days of "spring", with, according to the Met Office, summer will be arriving on Friday, and by Saturday it will be 29 degrees.

By which point we can all complain about how darn hot it is.

But until then, it is cloudy, with frequent heavy rain showers, a keen breeze, and we need the heating on.

Not that it was cold, just felt cold.

Anyway, it was Tuesday. Which means getting up at ten past five, getting dressed, making and drinking coffee so I could leave the house at ten to six to head to the gym.

I know I do this every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. But repeating it shows how committed I am in keeping pumping lard, and not wanting to slide back into bad habits.

I do my forty minutes. Chat to a couple of blokes I see from time to time, and discuss health issues and how mad we are to be here before seven in the morning.

The pool was crazy busy, with lots of school kids probably preparing for some gala or swim or something. The carpark was rammed, with kids in dressing gowns and shawls wandering around heading to the entrance.

I drive back home, and Jools had the kettle boiling so I could have a brew, she could make a coffee before she heads into town for her keep fit session.

Jools leaves, so I am alone. I have a shower, get changed and feel 100% better. And smell better too I suspect.

The rain continues outside, so I listen to podcasts and somehow spend the morning in a generally unproductive manner. Which is pretty much ever day now, if I'm honest.

Lunch/dinner was garlic breaded chicken, pan fried asparagus, peas and and corn, and some grains for carbs.

Cheers.

Jools nearing the end of her second cardigan, so heads upstarts to do more crochet. I put a New Order CD on the hi-fi, so the house is filled with the sound of euphoric yet mournful electronic music.

There is football in the evening. Bournemouth v Citeh, and if Citeh failed to win, Arsenal would be crowned champions.

Bournemouth ran rings round what looked like a very tired Citeh, and the home team took the lead early on. Then missed a hatful of chances. Citeh levelled in the 94th minute, but the winning goal wouldn't come.

Pubs around the Emirates and Islington exploded with joy.

Meanwhile, Spurs needed a draw to send West Ham down, playing at Chelsea. But managed to slump to a 2-1 defeat, so it all comes down to the last game on Sunday.

And then there is the Southampton and "Spygate 2" drama, the Saints being kicked out of the play off final.

Good to bed, football. You're drunk.

Re-litigating Brexit

It is the policy of the Lib-Dems to rejoin the EU. And now, two of Labour's possible leadership contenders also are calling for closer ties and possible eventual rejoining.

This has caused the usual suspects, yes you Nigel, and the Daily Hate Mail, to claim Brexit betrayal, as this seem to be the only word they know.

There is no doubt the UK needs to have a conversation with itself about Brexit and whether it was worth it, and where to go next. But as some Brexiteers are claiming its been a success or just not done hard enough or even that the Civil Service Sabotaged it.

As I have written many times, there is just one way to rejoin, and that is through the Article 49 process, which is long and difficult. Even if the UK were to go through that, there is no guarantee that the EU would accept the UK, not without broad political support for rejoining in the UK.

And then comes the fact that the UK now has five main parties, each capable of obraining between 15 and 25% of the vote in an election. But the foibles of the First Past the Post system used here, can throw up wildly different results with pnly a swing of one or two percent either way.

Labour had a disaster in the recent local elections, but lost votes to both the Greens and Lib Dems, but the lost votes meant that even though they had a reduced vote share, Farage's party gained 1200 councillors. But, as usual, in a month over 25 have had to resign or be removed due to racist or anti-semetic posts on social media.

Farage, however, might not be as keen to re-litigate Brexit as most might think. As his comments and promises as to what Brexit would mean to the UK would be dug up and presented to him in interviews. Farage backed Johnson's Brexit deal to the point he withdrew all candidates where the Johnson's loyl Brexiteer MOs were standing, to ensure a result that made Brexit happen. Having done that, how could he claim now that Brexit wasn't done properly then, or be done differently and/or harder?

Starmer is a dead duck. Parliament no longer trusts him or his adminstration on National Security matters in the wake of the Mandleson scandal, when the PM tried to invoke National Security as a reason for not releasing documents to show the vetting process. Parliament instead voted itself to be in charge of the review, and had the Foreign Office release files to their committee.

Normally, a PM so mortally wounded would have resigned, but Starmer bumbles on. Doing it is whatever he does.

Rules for replacing a Labour Leader is different form the Comservative Party, but the usual left v centre-right battle will be rejoined when the contest starts. If it starts. Sadly, most possible contenders seem to be wedded to trying to lure Farage voters by talking about ever more extre immigration policies, even though up to this point, such promised polices have shifted nay votes Labour's way.

As it did with the previous 15 year's under Conservative rule, Labour's time in power has drifted, and despite having a majority in the Commons, Labour has done little of any substance to improve the nation or people's lives. Labour has three years to change that, or suffer possible extinction like the Conseervatives under Kemi Badenoch.

But Farage's talk of closer links with the US and Trump look fatally flawed after the first 18 months of Trump's second presidency, so at some point a decision will have to be made to have closer links with the US, the EU or something else. But the liklyhood is more drift, as in the age of social media, governing the country now seems beyond all UK political leaders.

Monday 18th May 2026

The orchid season can be a mad time.

I once thought that being retired meant there would be time to get round all sites, and explore new ones.

But the weather gets in the way, as does life, but it is still good to get out and see what's about.

Jools asked me once why we keep going back to the same sites? Well, in case something rare and/or interesting pops up.

And this week, something interesting did pop up.

It was a Monday. Jools no longer goes swimming as it was too much before her keep fit class on Tuesdays, so in theory we could have a lay in. But we're both up just after five, feeding the cats.

I had an appointment in Deal at half eight, so Jools said she would walk there and meet up at nine. So she set off at six, just as the heavens opened. As the rain got heavier, I thought she might turn back, but she kept on going.

She went down The Dip then along Otty Bottom Road, no pictures of that, as I was home washing up and making myself a brew.

Eight came, so I drove to Deal, and nabbed a parking space on the main road near the Castle, walked to the clinic and waited.

My feet were checked, rubbed, sanded and creamed. All fine.

By which time Jools was waiting at the car, so I ambled back to the main road, and took us home where we both had a brew.

Despite the forecast being for showers, it was bright but breezy, and there seemed little sign of rain.

So I took a chance, hopped in the car to one of the secret orchid sites I can't name.

Through town, up the A20 to Folkestone, then onto the downs to a remote car park.

I walked through the gate and up the farm track, climbing gently until after five minutes there's a steep hill, then down again.

A few hardy butterflies were about, including a Small heath, I managed to get a shot of.

One the side of the down opposite are the orchids, if you know where to look. I went over and found the first of about twenty spikes.

But I was looking for one special pale plant, which I found after about half an hour.

Due to a genetic mutation, the lip is a pale yellow colour, yet still patterned. This is the only "named" variety of this species, and the first time I have seen it.

I take lots of shots, but so to be careful of other plants yet to emerge, and ground nesting birds, I leave the down, and walk back to the car.

Job done.

On the way back I call in at Sainsbury's in Folkestone for some decent olive oil for Caprese. Half a dozen other items also fall in the basket, but we have food until the weekend now.

And I resisted the beer aisle.

Back home up the Alkham Valley, where the Dellingore is now but a memory from the dark days of winter, as a field of broad beans now spreads over its dried bed.

I get back home, I make a brew as Jools says her legs are stiff. I would think so, 14,000 steps before eight in the morning will do that.

We don't have a meal through the day, instead have a snack for lunch, then nachos for supper. In the making of which, I find a jar of "fruity" habanero chillis.

How hot could a little sliver be? I thought testing before putting it the salsa might be an idea.

Even a sliver was like eating lava, my friends. The rest of the jar went in the bin, and I used the remainder of Jesper's hot sauce from a couple of years back.

Football in the evening: Arsenal beat already relegated Burnley 1-0, though it was far closer than expected. If the Gooners win their last game next weekend, then they'll be champions.

Help! (1965)

August 1965 saw two major releases. At the beginning of the month saw the soundtrack to the second Beatles film released, and late in the month, Jelltex was born in Great Yarmouth. I'll leave you to decide which had the larger cultural influence.

In 1964, The Beatles, had met Bob Dylan, and he had introduced the band to cannabis and earlier that year had been introduced to LSD.

The film was again directed by Richard Lester, but shot in colour, and was less focussed. The soundtrack was critically acclained, and even nominated for the Album of the Year at the next year's Grammy's.

The album features ten Lennon/McCartney originals, two by Harrison and two covers. And the album further explored techniques that could be used in the studio, like multi-tracking. It also features the most covered song in popular music, Yesterday, the tune which McCartney was sure he heard somewhere else.

Side 1

1. "Help!"
2. "The Night Before"
3. "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"
4. "I Need You"
5. "Another Girl"
6. "You're Going to Lose That Girl"
7. "Ticket to Ride"

Side 2

1. "Act Naturally"
2. "It's Only Love"
3. "You Like Me Too Much"
4. "Tell Me What You See"
5. "I've Just Seen a Face"
6. "Yesterday"
7. "Dizzy Miss Lizzy"

So many of the tracks on this, and the following albums are going to be so familiar. But what is clear from the first track, Help, is that this a very different beast to what became. A Lennon lead vocal, and through the verses a McCartney harmoney in front of the lead vocal, and then the chorus kicks in. It is a remarkable thing to hear, and ponder that it is just 18 months or so after Love Me Do. If this was the highlight of the record, then it would be something, but there are even better known songs to follow.

The Night Before starts off like a throwback to A Hard Day's Night Period, what the NME might have described as a mid-temp foot-tapper. I mean, there's nothing wrong with it, but it's not a great leap forward. Still OK, and might have been a single a year previously.

"You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" is so simple. But then the best things in life are. A tamborine on the beat, an accoustic guitar backing Lennon, a wonderful lyric and a flute outro. I would have given up at this point, as surely nothing could top this?

"I Need You" is a Harrison vocal on a Harrison original. Again, no great shakes, but that Harrison was the back up songwriter is an amazing thing, in a four piece to be the third best songwriter, though I'm sure some would argue different. Mi-temp, mid-period Beatles. No one comes close.

"Another Girl" rattles along in a most pleasant, Beatle-llike manner. Again, doesn't overstay it's welcome, arrives, jangles along with Paul singing, and ends before we get bored. Freddy and the Dreamers would kill for a song like this. And yet, average by The Beatles.

"You're Going to Lose That Girl" starts off as a frindly warning, but then changes into a threat by the chorus. A Lennon vocal, wonderful harmonies. Another stunning song. And passive-aggressive.

David Hepworth says, rightly, that listening to an artist's output now, when it was released years, decades ago, is that you don't get to appreciate the progression. I have grown up with The Beatles singles and some of te better known LP cuts, but putting them in order, or listening to them in order, really helps understand how groundbreaking the band and George Martin were. "Ticket to Ride" could have been released yesterday instead of nearly 61 years ago. It's timeless, and yet modern. And totally wonderful. My baby Don't Care.

Side 2 kicks off with the first of two covers: "Act Naturally", with vocals by Ringo. It don't mean a thang if the song don't twang! Ringo sings this really well, and is a good choice for a cover. Another bittersweet track, somehting the Beatles did so well.

"It's so hard, loving you," maintains Lennon on "It's Only Love". This is peerless Beatles. Sounds like something thrown together to make an albums -worth of material, and yet, again, is bitter-sweet and pop perfect. Ideal for a Lonnon vocal.

Harrison gets a second composition on the record, and sings lead too on "You Like Me Too Much", the ending has something close to a honky-tonk piano plonking away, which makes this a most pleasant track, showing it wasn't jus the primary songwriters were were evolving.

"Tell Me What You See" comes next. A shared Lennon/McCartney vocal, and is rather wonderful. Again sounds timeless. Never outstays its welcome, and has sme nice rolls flourishes from Ringo towards the end.

"I've Just Seen a Face" is the 12th track. Is a mono-tempo accustic track, sung by Paul, and again is rather wonderful. You have to remember this is the first time I have heard most of The Beatles album tracks, and certainly from the presceeding Beatles for Salem there's really not a duff track, and most would have been great singles for almost any other band.

We have been building up to "Yesterday", voted twice, the best song of the 20th century. A standard to stand beside My Way and others as a pillar in which pop itself is built. There's not much I can add to what you or anyone else might thing. I just wonder what it must have been like to hear it for the first time on the record, the second to last track. No released as a single in the UK until 1976, as the other Beatles didn't think it appropriate. There are over 2,200 cover version of the song out there. But only one Beatles. And Paul.

The album closes with a cover of "Dizzy Miss Lizzy". I get the impression the band liked to let their hair down on these rock n roll covers. Lennon sounds like he enjoys it, with a vocal that breaks in a similar way to Twist and Shot.

In all, Help! is indeed a masterpiece. Not really a bad track on it, something for everyone, and showing progression in playing, songwriting and use of the studio to create what their imaginations could think of. I am really looking forward to the next two records, ones that Anothology skipped over to get to Sgt Pepper, but I am expecting some amazing things.

See you next time.

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.