Easter Sunday.
As ever, we scoured the BBC website for the weather forecast, and what the day and Bank Holiday might bring, and it seemed that Sunday was to be the best of the remaining days of the weekend. So, after watching the football whilst we ate breakfast, we got our act together after nine and were soon on the road.
It was Jools who suggested that the car needed a run, or rather we needed to take the car out for a run, work out how all the knobs and switches work. THis triggered in my mind just one thing: orchids.
Of course.
Having checked one of the other Early Purple sites on Thursday, it seemed right we should check one of the others. This involved a drive up the A2 then the M2 to the Medway towns, then turning off before driving up a side road that very quickly changes to a single track country lane. And then up the hill and into the woods.
We park up, change into our hiking boots, so we could change back when we were done and not get the lovely new car dirty! In the wood we could see many anemones already open, and once in the wood, plenty of Dog Violets were in bloom too.
On into the wood, the the clearing, and there on the far side were dozens of rosettes, some with spikes, and a couple with very well developed spikes, not far from developing flowers. We walk on, through a carpet of bluebells, some of which were already beginning to open. Amazing to see them open so early, on 5th April. Further on, down the path which wound it was down the hillside, at another clearing, several Lady Orchid spikes too, many more here than I remember from last year. I snap all the orchids, and walk back up the hill to meet up again with Jools.
Our plan was head over to Sheppy, drive to Harty Church, and maybe end up at The Ferry Inn. Seemed like a good plan. So we drove back to the motorway turning onto the Sheerness Road and onwards to the island. Over the bridge, the weather was glorious and we were really looking forward to a walk to the nature reserve. Only to find the traffic stacking up at the roundabout on the island. We thought about it, and decided we did not need to be stuck in traffic, and instead drove back to the motorway and onto Medway Services for a bite of lunch, which can only mean one thing: Burger King.
We had a snack, rather than the meal we normally have, and are on our way home,however, we had noticed a jam heading east on the other side of the road, so instead of going via Canterbury, we took the road to Maidstone then along the M20 to Ashford and then home. At Folkestone the road had speed restriction of 40mph, due to operation stack. There was no way was I going to trundle along at that speed, so we took the road past our wedding venue at Farthingloe before driving through the town centre and up Castle Street and up the hill the other side.
Back home we have lunch, then we go outside to work in the garden. It really is looking a picture these days, and we cannot wait until the stuff we planted begin to grow and bloom and grow. Should be wonderful.
At four it is time for the Tyne/Wear derby on the radio. Depite there not being too much on it, bith sides should be safe, well, should be after as Sunderland won thanks to a glorious goal from Jermaine Defoe. We then cleared up the pasta and aubergine for dinner, which was wonderful as it always it, and it takes seconds to prepare.
And that seems to be the day for us. I watch a couple of shows on TV, and outside I also watch first the fox come to have something to eat, then just before ten, a small badger came calling too. But it was dark by then of course, and bed was calling. The weekend is slipping away, but then we have achieved so much, or so it seemed anyway.
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