Wow, where did that week go? Seems like it was only yesterday it was yesterday. Or last weekend.
Having gotten home on Friday morning, it gave me the opportunity to aclimatise back home before the serious business of the relaxing began in earnest. And as what has come to be the usual stuff for a Saturday, I drive to Sainsbury's to bet some essentials. I say essentials, its really just beer and asparagus. Which is two of the main food groups.
That done, I come home to make breakfast, bacon butties, because I did also buy some smoked streaky for just that purpose.
Once that is done, the washing up is complete, I can hear the orchids calling. And where to go? Well, to Barham.
But before that, we have to go into Canterbury to get a blower. A blower. Over the past few weeks I have managed to get some dust and dirt on my camera sensor, and short of having it professionally cleaned, there is the cheaper option, get a puffer brush and try to clean it myself. And in these new, modern times, the choice of camera shops is small, especially now that Jessops has mostly closed, but there is a small independent shop on the edge of the city.
Canterbury on a Saturday, heck any day, is a nightmare for traffic, the mix of the cathedral and other places of interest, and the legacy of ancient streets and traffic is a toxic and slow moving mix. We get into the city just before nine, find a car park close to the shop, and in doing so, I finally find the entrance to St Augustine's Abbey, where I shall return over the summer. At some point. The shop is open, I ask for the puffer, they have one, I pay the bill, they put it in a back and we walk out. 2 minutes. Speed shopping.
Back to the car and time to get outta the city and into the countryside. At least we have a short drive, back to Bridge on the main road, then turning north to Barham, and then via various country lanes and tracks to the familiar car park. We can't hear any other traffic, just birdsong fills the air. The clouds have parted, the sun comes out, and all is right with the world. And despite the recent rain, the ground seemed quite dry, so we decide not to put on the walking boots.
Up the bridleway, until the bluebells start, and about a hundred yards further on, we make out the rosettes of the Early Purples. At first just the rosettes, as it seems that all the spikes have been eaten by rabbits. But in a while there are flowering spikes, and very soon the orchids are densely packed. On both sides. I see some very pale pink orchids, but I am looking for the pure white variant, but it is Jools who calls out, one single pure white spike, looking glorious.
On the other side of the track, the orchids are very dense, and very tall, an impressive sight for sure, and I snap many of them, and more general shots of the orchids in their woodland setting.
On the other side of the road, we explore the extensive wooded hillside, and find many rosettes, and a few spikes beginning to open, especially a few Lady. And with many more to come. Fly are close to opening, and the thousands of Twayblade are open or nearly fully open. Then there is White Helleborine and Common Spotted, still a few weeks away.
A short drive away is another orchid site, very small, but a prime place for Birds Nest Orchids. I had seen on Flickr some were open in Sussex, so though I would check out here, and was rewarded with four spikes emerging through the leaf litter, and one of the White Helleborines is near to opening too. Its all happening!
However, there was serious business afoot, with the Championship play-offs, and City v Ipswich kicking off just after midday. So, we dash home, put the radio on as the players have just walked out. Its tense stuff, not many chances, City take the lead on half an hour, but Town pull level with a scrambled goal before half time. The second half was also scrappy, but I guess City will be happy with the 1-1 at full time, and the second leg next week.
In the Prem, where the season has three games to run, Burnely go down, QPR need three wins to survive, but Sunderland win at Everton, and Newcastle break their eight game losing streak to draw with WBA. All exciting stuff.
In the evening, we break out the Broadchurch DVD at last, and are soon enthralled, and having our own theories as to who did the deed.
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