Saturday 4th April 2020

In an alternative universe, I would be spending Saturday travelling to that there London to watch Norwich take three points at the Emirates Stadium.

My tickets even arrived a couple of weeks ago, I wondered then what does the club know that the Government doesn't, but then some questions are best left unanswered.

There is no football, except in Ukraine, whose leader claims the country is too cold for the virus to exist in. I am not that desperate for football that I am going to watch Ukrainian Match of Day. Not yet, anyway.

Unlike last weekend, which was cold, cloudy and windswept, this weekend is going to be very springlike indeed, with two days of almost non-stop sunshine and almost warm temperatures.

So, the question for us, what to do?

We could go to visit the orchids out along Stone Street. But it would mean travelling, and then parking near where to people live. And that wouldn't be fair on them.

So, we will not go looking for Early Purple, Fly, Lady, Twayblade and GBO, but nearer to home, much nearer to home, there is a small colony of Early Spiders. Heck, they're even within the boundaries of the village.

Jools does some phys on the cross trainer, its another one of those rest days for me. We then have coffee, croissants and are soon ready to head out, dead on the stroke of half nine.

Or something.

And this time we were more ambitious than just going to Fleet House or the pig's copse. No, this time it was all the way down The Dip, up the other side, across the fields to the Monument, then down to Kingsdown and back. For a bloke carrying a few extra pounds and a bad back, this was brave. Or stupid. But orchids were involved, so go figure....

The usual route across the fields to the pig's copse, where a single porker was sun bathing after its breakfast. A few other walkers were about, so leaving the correct and approved distance between groups, we followed to The Dip.

As always, easy going down, admiring the views and taking snaps for it's international fan club. But standing in the deep ruts at the bottom, now hard as concrete as there has been so little rain recently, I look up and it is like looking up the north face of Everest. But we had all day.

I walk up taking frequent "photographic" stops, and giving my back chance to rest. One last push to the road and cycle path at the top, being careful not be be mowed down by the lycra wearing semi-serious cyclists.

And finally over the fields towards the cliffs, where the banks of sea fog rolled in. The bright sunshine was snuffed out and it became cold.

I find the colony of rare plants I had found last year. Still early for them, but their vibrant colours showing well against the green of wheat growing all around.

We reach the cliffs, I take a break on the bench staring out into the misty void.

It was cold.

Then I go to search for orchid rosettes, and find at least four, all with spikes forming Not long now.

We walked down towards Kingsdown, but I turned off back over the fields after a while, along a footpath, as my back was complaining, whilst Jools went to the next path, and the plan was to meet up on the way back.

I wander on, my gaze being taken by flowers, insects or whatever, sometimes just a nice view.

I rest on an old bench, half covered in ivy, looking so perfectly decrepit. I take a shot.

Then, the final push, up to the top of the down, then onto Otty Bottom Road, turn left onto Norway Drove and down, down to the Dip.

I could see Jools about ten minutes ahead, walking up the other side near to Fleet House, she turns and I wave, she waves back.

We both walk on, me down the slope then struggle up the other side, to find Jools waiting for me beside Fleet House, sitting on an old trailer.

And then one last leg, over the fields to home, a glass os squash, then a brew. And all was well with the world.

It was midday.

I get busy.

I make a batch of short cakes. Pop them in the oven. The make dough for a stuffed focaccia loaf for dinner, and finally fill rolls and make a fresh brew for dinner, timing it so that we finish the rolls just as the short cakes come out of the oven, so we can have one each noce and warm.

And that was your afternoon, really.

We listen to the radio, work in the garden, have regular brews. Once the dough had risen, I make it into two flat loaves, lay cheese on one then paint on some pesto and put the second one on top, seal the edges and let it rise a second time.

Dinner is caprese, with the bread. And it is splendid, especially with the pesto on the tomato and cheese.

We finish dinner, including the bread which was quite a monster, but too nice to leave.

Outside the sun sets and it gets dark. Jools beats me at Uckers, before Scully informs us that it was time for bed.