Sunday 28th February 2021

The end of another month, and yet a month which has stretched back for a year since the beginning of last March, when life as we knew it was put on hold. It is appropriaye, then, that it is March again on Monday, a month which never ended, no matter how good the weather. Its all been March, all celebrations, parties and life events have either been scaled back, held online or not held at all.

Unlike last year, we spent the final hours of this February, trying to ignore the disaster that is happening around us. We did go orchiding just before the lockdown, but maybe not quite this early. But with another sunny day and warm, if not quite as warm as Saturday, forecasted, we had better get out and enjoy it.

Our desination was Yocklett's Bank, a nature reserve on a wooded down, all full of wonferful wildlife and botany.

And we were on a timer, as Norwich were on the tellybox at midday, and we had to get back for that, no?

Indeed.

We have coffee, and then I make toast with the remainder of the handmade loaf, with apricot jam for Jools, and tangy orange marmalade for me.

Once we were fed and watered, I got my cameras together, put on my coat and shoes, and we were ready.

Traffic is still light, so we made really good time driving along the A2 to Bridge, turning off and through the village, then through the rolling woodland to Stone Street, and down to the crossroads some 5 miles back south.

We turn off Stone Street, then turn off down a narrow track, just wide enough four our car, just, bumping down the lane, where tree roots had pushed through. And just when the lane breaks out of the wood, there is a small parking space, so I reverse in, and here we are, at the start of another season.

It is misty, but that would soon clear.

Some areas had been cleared, as without management the wood would become overgrown and the special plants we enjoy would be crowded out and disappear. So, the first year it looks like a scorched earth, but next year it will recover.

Up the gentle slope, which gets steeper as we reach where the Early Purple rosettes can be seen, all pointy and spotted, nestling in the deep leafy woodland floor like the green stars they are.

We come to the first clearing. Nothing moved, just behind the seat are a couple of Fly Orchid spikes showing well. We survey the valley beyond, a winterbourne shad spilled over and flooded the road that runs between Petham and Hastingleigh, cars and tractors splashed through the floodwater. I could sit there all day.

We walk on, down through the mature woodland, still looking for orchids and other interesting plants.

Over the road that cust the reserve in two, and on the other side, more clearance had been done, as before, needs to be done, but it looks wrong and thoughts go to the orchids and plants that got flattened.

It is a stern walk up to the upper glade, the path is now in the open as undergrowth was cleared last winter, still seems odd being able to look up to the open area from where used to be woodland.

At the top, out of puff, we sit down to take in the day. Birds flit about, a buzzard circles high above, but no butterflies were to be seen.

Anyway, time was getting on, we walk back down to the road, over the other side and back to the car, we saw nothing much new, but it feels good back in the countryside on the cusp of a new orchid season.

Back at the car, we drive back to Stone Street, stopping off at the garden centre to get some bird food, then back through Bridge, back onto the A2 and home, getting back at half eleven, just in time for a brew before kick off at midday.

Norwich were playing Wycombe, a top v bottom game, but no result is assured, and Wycombe gave City a hard game, all high intensity press, no room to play our natural game, until just befor ehalf time when one of their defenders gets too close to Emi, he is turned inside out, a pass to Pukki, a sidefoot shot and a lucky deflection and the ball was in the net.

Yay.

We socred a second in the second half, from a corner.

Double yay.

As soon as the game finished, I pop the topside joint in the oven and prepare the veg, boil the potatoes and mix the batter for the pudding.

Jen comes at three, we eat at four, with fizz.

I am getting even better with roasts now, and it was really rather good.

As soon as it was eaten, onto the sofa to watch Man Utd play at Chelsea, which ended 0-0, and was as dull as it sounds.

We play cards. I win. Yay. And by then it was half seven, Jen went home to watch snooker, I had photos to post for #wildflowerhour, and in short, the weekend had slipped through our fingers.