First day of rest.
Only no one told Mulder, who decided at five in the morning, that would be the best time to try to get into the wardrobe. Now, we know he's not the brightest spark, and so lacking thumbs with which to grip the handles, he just banged the door. Again and again. Sometimes he just wakes us up to attention, which is nice. It is getting light, which means I give up sleep, and lay in bed listening to the birds waking up outside, before the clock ticks over to six and it seems time to get up.
Coffee. More coffee and croissants make the world seem better. And then I look at the the weather forecast. Outside it is glorious, the sun shines from a clear blue sky, but the BBC reckons it will cloud up soon. So, abandoning the idea of a lazy morning, we get dressed and dash out to one of the lesser know orchid sites, as, well, best check on spring's progress in the world of orchids. The A2 is quiet, but even still it can be a bit of a racetrack once the duel carriageway opens up after Lydden, but we turn off, head down the valley below, up the other side, across fields, through the empty arch of the old Alkham Valley line, across more fields, through a wood before finally arriving at the parking place.
Desperate bleating fills the air, and a small flock of sheep are heading our way; what could it mean. The stop ten yards away, all bleating loudly/ One yew comes forward, and two small black lambs scamper from the lea of the hedge in front of us, they want to suckle, but their Mother wants them well out our hungry gaze. The bleating stops, and we turn and walk up the bridleway and up the hill.
Everywhere thousand of bluebells are shooting up, soon the wood will be carpeted by them. But soon enough the spotted rosettes of Early Purples and I think a few Lesser Butterflies can be seen. The Early Purples number in the dozens, and having not seen the display here until they had pretty much died off, we want to come back once they are in their prime. Or at least I do.
As we walk back down the hill, the sun goes behind a cloud and it is like someone has turned the colour knob down on a TV, as everything suddenly becomes so muted. I had decided that we should go back through Barham, a bit of a diversion, but I wanted to see ith the Nailbourne was still flowing, as it seems ages since we have had any rain.
It seems that this is the pause before nature burts forth in full spring mode. The colours are vibrant, at least of the grass, but trees are still mostly skeletons, although the tips of the smallest branches have a hint of green growth, giving a hint of spring. Next weekend the clocks go forward, with it we will have lighter evenings, and darker mornings; at least for a time anyway, as the seasons change ever quicker.
In Barham, indeed the Nailbourne is still in full flow, maybe a foot or so deep, and flowing fast. I stop to take a few pictures. Not that different from this time last year, exept the water isn't coming up through the playground of the school and there are no sandbags around. In fact with the daffodils out, and the sun back out, it looks wonderfully spring-like, and a place that would be wonderful to live, a little way away from the Nailbourne though.....
We go back via the pet store, as we are out of birdseed. We do enjoy seeing the wild birds in our front garden, and the badgers when we are up when they call, so somehow we spend £80 on peanuts, sunflower hearts and other stuff.
Back home we unload the car, have yet more coffee, whilst outside, as predicted the skies cloud over and soon a light drizzle is falling. I have the radio on, Danny Baker, Fighting Talk and then the live football begins, and it is also the last weekend of the six nations egg chasing. So much sport. In the end it is a wonderful afternoon's sport, with three great games of rugby, England just missing out on the title thanks to a resiliant display from France. Ireland with the title, having scored more points than both England and Wales.
In the football, City were playing Forest, and with just 8 games to go, and playing another team in the top 6, this was a must win game. City play really well, and run out 3-1 winner to be end the day three points behind the leaders and in 4th.
We have more pasta salad and cold sausages for dinner. All prepared and served in less than 5 minutes. It is great. And after washing up, it is dark outside and nearly eight in the evening: where has the day gone, and why am I so tired?
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