Friday 15th April 2022

Good Friday

33rd anniversary of Hillsborough.

No work.

Again.

We had shopping, although we were running out of fuel, so, the day was ours, what should we do?

Well, I had planned on going to Samphire Hoe on Thursday, but it was closed until ten, so we would try again. And best to go before nine when dogwalkers and maybe park runners would fill the place.

I like the Hoe, the fact it is made from the spil from the tunnel, but then they don't look after the orchids very weel, they are not fenced off, and the wardens would rather tell photographers off for getting too close than inform the public who just wander off the track and stamp on the tiny plants.

Yes, that happened to me.

So, this will be the only visit I make to the main colony. Just up and down the track, once to take shots, the other to count spikes.

After coffee, we were ready to go. It was also good to go early before any port traffic built up, though the worse days for that seemed Thursday. Jubilee Way is still closed, so through the town to York Street, then back onto the A20 up the cliffs to the tunnel.

On the other side of the road, lines of trucks stretched all the way back to Folkestone, waiting their turn to get to the port. Many would have already have queued up to 36 hours in Operation Brock on the M20. Poor guys.

Once down on the Hoe, we pay for an hour's parking, and split up, me going to the track along the foot of te cliff, and Jools wanering along the sea wall.

I soon found the first spikes, one just coming into flower with a tiny spider on top. A spider of a Spider you might day!

And then more and more spikes, about a dozen in all is what I countered on the way back.

We were hungry, so we drove up the A20 to Capel, then down the Old Folkestone Road the Farthingloe Farm to try their fayre. Good news was that it was warm enough to si in the courtyard, and I can confirm the food was indeed, tasty and plentiful.

We drove back home up past the Castle, then along Reach Road back home, where our main task was to stay awake after that fine meal. I read some while sitting in the garden, and Jools did some gardening before we changed jobs.

I had wanted to mow a small area of the meadow, but the mower woudn't start, so I had to get the toolbox out to fix it, by which time the motor was flooded and there was no starting up. But I was all hot and bothered.

We have saffron buns and a brew, then while away the afternoon until it was time to head to Jen's for cards.

After supper of fishcakes and devilled eggs, John won heavly, so much so we only have a few pence left in our tin.

Outside, the full moon had risen, and was shining cold and blue down upon the town.