Friday 1st May 2026

Friday.

And the first of May.

The year now rushes forward, with days tumbling past us and our next adventure coming over the horizon.

That being said, it was Friday, and that means bins.

Jools had been suffering from a pain in her side, so missed yoga, just in case, meaning we were home together as the sun climbed.

Overnight there was supposed to be rain. But none came, meaning we have had little rain for two months now. But what we had over the winter is keeping the winterbournes flowing.

Jools did go to knit and natter, and once she had gone, I took my camera out to hunt for Holly blue butterflies.

The orchid at the end of the street still hasn't flowered, but a spike is forming. I knocked to tell the house owner that progress is slow and if they could keep the mower off for a while longer.

She said yes, and that the orchid is the subject of lots of conversation between neighbours and the passing dog-walkers. I just hope they won't be disappointed when it does finally flower.

Though I suspect it might now be a Bee orchid.

I would have walked further, but there were three dog-walkers about, and it looked like to of the dogs were fighting over the fields.

I turned back and managed to snap a Holly blue as one settled on some ivy, and paused long enough to get a shot.

I came home for a brew, then sat in the sun on the top patio watching the birds and insects. Another Holly blue landed near me, so I snapped that too.

And that was the morning.

We were hungry, so as soon as Jools came back home I cooked chorizo hash, taking nearly an hour to cook as the potatoes took their time to brown.

At two we sat down to eat, toasted each other and we tucked in.

And that was it really for the day.

We sat in the garden to soak up some rays and be pestered by cats. It grew chilly as the shadows lengthened, so we went inside.

No music quiz this week, so it was straight to the evening football, as Leeds put Burnley to the sword, winning 3-1. I went to bed ten minutes from time, happy that there was no way back for Burnley.