Monday 30th March 2026

It is the end of March, and in Devon, Early Spiders have been flowering, in low numbers, for about two weeks.

Last week, a friend found an Early Purple Orchid flowering in north Kent.

Being a fine Monday morning, if we were to go to the best Kent site for the species, would we get lucky?

We shall see.

Before then, Jools went swimming, so left home at six, and did her 40 lengths.

I, however, fell back to sleep and was woken by the car going up the drive.

I had enough time to get up, make coffee, and check on the world and do all the things that make my morning routine.

When Jools came back just after eight, we had a brew and a chat. Then Jools asked did I want to go to Samphire Hoe now, or being dropped off at half nine when she went out?

As the weather was sunny and still, now seemed like the best idea, so we put on our boots, I grabbed my camera and we were off.

Right into the peak of rush hour. But someone let us out onto the Deal Road, then through the town, over Western Heights to the Megger roundabout, then a quick blast to the turn off.

We had to wait two minutes for the traffic lights, giving time to check the verge for orchids up there. But none seen, so when the light went green, down through the tunnel we went and found just one other car parked near the centre.

Whilst Jools went to pay, I strode off down to the sea wall, then along to where it turned to approach the base of the cliff.

This new fitter me ate the distance up, doubly so when there was the chance of an orchid at the end of it.

Under the barrier, down the steps to the foot of the cliff, and to the steps leading to the beach and rocks, though those were covered as it was high tide, and the waves lapped against the chalk cliff.

I looked.

And looked, then about twelve feet up I saw one spike, then a second, just about in reach, and both in flower.

I tried to climb up to get a clear view, but slipped back, until I got a foothold and managed to get shots with the camera and phone.

Job done.

It might only be two, but Late Spiders in March is remarkable, and a sign of how messed up the climate is. Some years it can be May before an orchid is seen on the Hoe, some six weeks later than this.

We walked back to the car, we had time to check alongside the railway, but I had what I came for, and Jools could have a brew back home before she went to Deal with her friend.

So I drove us back home, the A20 and Townwall Street were almost deserted, so we got home in double quick time, and once inside I put the kettle on.

Jools went out, and I did what I do when I'm alone: sit with Scully, watch train videos and listen to podcasts.

We have lunch when Jools get back. It had turned grey and cold in the meantime, so the back door closed and the heating turned on.

Dinner was garlic chicken, boiled new potatoes and a mix of peas and sweetcorn.

Simple and nice.

And once washed up and put away, there was Alien Earth to watch, with more ripping off of Bladerunner and grisly deaths by a series of aliens, not just the xenomorph.

With no football to watch, we listen to some music, then to bed at nine, as we begin to plan the summer road tip to the Alps and Spain. We'll be in the Alps the same time as Le Tour, imagine how exciting that might be!?