This being the most important festival in the Christian calendar, one would have thought we could agree on a date when it would be celebrated. But no, there is a formula when it can and can't be. And this year, Easter is almost as late as it can be, some 26 days after the first new moon after the spring equinox (but not on passover, because that would mean celebrating on the same days as the Jews, and that would never do). So, we have Good Friday on the 22nd of April, and glorious weather all round, and it all being rather marvellous. The earliest Good friday can be is the 22nd of March, and it can be chuffing cold that early, but the British will still sit on promenades up and down the land trying to eat ice creams in force ten glaes whilst trying to convince each other that they are HAVING A REALLY GOOD TIME.
So, yesterday (and today) the day dawned with a glorious sunrise and clear blue skies and no wind to speak of, so we won't speak of it again! After a quick breakfast we climbed into the car to head once again to Kings Wood near Challock, as my little spies had told me the bluebells were now, at last, at their peak. And they were to be proved right.
The roads were quiet at half six in the morning, and by the time we reached the car park, the sun was quite high in the sky, but there were just three other cars parked.
In fact, even before we got to the car park, the woods either side of the main road were full of bluebells. So full it looked like a blue carpet. It may seem simple to say that, but there are really no other words to describe the scene.
As we walked deeper into the woods, the bluebells just got thicker and thicker and the colours blue deeper and deeper. Most stunning was when one looked along the line of a bank of bluebells, or where the rays of the rising sun fell through the woodland canopy causing apparently every shade of blue and purple to be seen.
Just when you though you had seen the most glorious scene, the next one was even better. And being so early, we had the woods almost to ourselves. We heard a large commotion amongst te trees, and expecting to see a gaggle of cross country cyclists coe crashing by, instead over 20 roe deer ran past, too quickly for me to raise my camera, and away they went.
after a couple of hours, we made our way back to the car and then back home, this time via Waitrose as we needed something for lunch and some salad stuff. As it happened, the bread and rolls from there is very fine, and so is everything really. On top of what we need, we bought mozzarella and huge tomatoes for lunch, which in the gloriously hot sunshine went down very well indeed.
I lay on the sofa as outside was too hot, and watched the Cardiff vs QPR game, the result going City's way as QPR get a late equaliser and our destiny is back in our hands.
And so after more coffee and another couple of saffron buns we headed out for an evening walk in the cooling air of a spring evening.
My hopes of snapping a butterfly or two would prove fruitless, but it was pleasant enough as signs of new growth were all around. We made our way to the cliff edge at Dover Patrol, and looked out onto the almost still Channel, and dozens of people out enjoying the scene as much as we did, and there were more than a few campers taking advantage of the free pitches overlooking the Channel.
A group of Hutterian Brethren were having a meal on the cliffs, thier woman dressed modestly with shawls on the heads, but they were full of joy. A well spoken older family from staffordshire were having a picnic, celebrating a birthday or two with a bottle of Champagne and some fine snacks. Nice that they envy us for living here; and we at least know how lucky we are.
we walk back through the village in the gathering gloom, and make it back in tie to put some chicken things in the over, prepare a salad and tuck in as the lights came on and the stars came out.
Today was just as warm and sunny; we lay in bed quite late, half seven, and then had a lazy breakfast before heading out to pick Nan up to take her for a drive, mainly to see the bluebells at Kings Wood, and then drive the leafy Kentish lanes, stop for an ice cram and a pint a little later.
We drove the same way he had the day before, the only difference being the much later hour. This was reflected in the overflowing car park at the woods, but as we were not planning to stop, this was not trouble for us. we drove on the Wye, stopped for an ice cream, and then decided to try and retrace our steps from the drive we had the week before.
we failed, but after passing may junctions with no signs, we headed to Elham where we knew there were at least three good pubs and the chance of getting a seat and a pint in one of them.
we did get our drink, and then time to head back as Nan had a dinner appointment at half two, and we were feeling hungry and in need of some lunch.
And so another lazy spring day passed quietly by, with just Mulder bringing in a fledgling blackbird still flapping and chirping in by way of a present. I put it back in the hedge and hoped it not too damaged by it's trip into Chez Jelltex.
Time then to put a joint of beef in the oven and rustle up a Sunday roast, and that really was it for another day.
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