Saturday 20th July 2019

50th anniversary of the moon landing or Apollo 11.

There was quite a bit about on TV and radio. And in the papers too, probably, but we don't have newspapers any more.

Jools had been shopping, and so we had a house full of food, nothing to go to Tesco for, so we could laze around the house. I could, Jools went on the cross trainer, made the beds, fed the cats and so on. I made coffee. And prepared the fruit for breakfast.

There still the chance of storms, so we decided to hold fire before going out for some orchiding. Jools went swimming, then to down into Dover and then to Deal to buy some wool to make a cardigan.

And I stayed home listening to Huey.

I found out about an archaeological dig going on at Lyminge church, and there was an open day with an optional tour, so I said we would go there first, then up to Bonsai Bank to look for orchids.

Perfect.

Lyminge is one of my favourite churches. It looks ancient, and is, but not in the way you might think. The plaster dressing was stripped away, revealing the stonework behind, sometimes in the Victorian era, something that the church never looked like. But, the church has a long history, built on an abbey founded by Queen Ethelburga in the 8th century, and the church we see today, Normal and medieval, was built on the remains of the original church.

And it was that Anglo-Saxon church, or the remains thereof, that were being looked for.

We parked outside the church, the usual path under the single flying buttress holding the south-east corner of the Chancel now out of bounds, as the path beynd was where the dig was happening.

We went through the other gate, round the back of the church, and up to a viewing platform, and there, below, jutting out from the porch was the nave and apse beyond, maybe three layers of stone high, showing the footprint of the church.

And that is it. Some more digging is going to happen, maybe finding other artefacts. The grave of the Queen, who was made a Saint, was found in the 19th century, beside the wall of the existing church, but in digging that, the wall and side chapel of the Saxon building was destroyed. We didn't need to do the tour, so we left before it started, declining tea and biscuits.

A twenty minute drive across the downs and up Stone Street took us past Park Gate Down through Petham and from there to Denge Wood.

In late April and through May the area is busy with orchidists and butterfly hunters. In June and July, hardly anyone comes here, just a few dog walkers.

We walk down the long woodland walk, amazed at how the path is so overcrowded this time of the year, so much so that two people couldn't walk side by side.

Along the path were all sorts of flowers and plants: lots of Rosebay Willowherb, Greater Willowherb, Hogweed and Giant Hogweed and many, many others. And the air was full of insects. Lots of butterflies; Gatekeepers, Ringlets, Peacocks and several species of dragonflies. Further along habitat changed, and Marbled Whites could be seen, many of them infected by mites.

Further along we see our quarry, four spikes of Broad Leaved Helleborines. But just one in flower, but a fine colour it was . I think it was worth the walk to see this, but then I'm an orchid nerd.

We walk back through the reserve to snap a few Lady Orchid spikes long gone to seed for a friend, then back along the woodland walk to the car.

The sun was still high and warm, and that was enough. So, once back at the car, we drove back to Petham back onto Stone Street to Bridge and then via the A2 to home.

Phew.

Back home we had the last of the stinky cheese I had brought back from France last week, then followed by gooseberry crumble and custard. Which was very nice indeed.

And that was our day, we chilled in the evening, listened to music, and at en past nine, went to bed.

Phew.