Sunday 17th May 2026

Sunday.

And a day of rest.

For most.

However, it is a phys day, and my brain had me awake just after five anyway, and up at half past, so may as well get some in.

Sunday is the best day in the gym. Few people are up and about at seven, and with the pool closed for a gala, the carpark was almost empty.

We park, walk to the entrance, still chilly in the early morning air, though summer is going to arrive either Thursday and Friday, at which point it will be too hot.

Of course.

I do forty minutes, though the last five took half an hour. Or so it seemed.

Then began the great cheese quest, as we were out of mature Cheddar. We went first to the petrol station. They didn't sell cheese, so we went to Whitfield, to One Stop, and they had cheese. And Minstrels.

Back home for a brew.

And I felt the need for some orchiding.

Well, I am leading a multi-site visit for the Hardy Orchid Society in June, so have to check the sites for orchid numbers and whether they'll have gone over by then.

I set off for Sandwich Bay at half eight, traffic was light, except those going to the Boot Fair at Tilmanstone. We have no need for more junk, our house is full even after a decade of decluttering.

Into Sandwich, through the modern housing and to the Bay Estate, where there was no one on the barrier, so the visit was free.

It was bright, and winds were light, so I set out over the meadow and across the slacks to the golf course. I crossed the three fairways after checking there were no golfers about to launch a ball at me, and out onto the Strand.

There were spikes. But numbers are well down on 2024, last year's drought reduced Lizard orchids by 80 to 90%. But those that have survived looked in good health.

I also found the nationally rare Bedstraw broomrape, which is a parasitic plant feeds on the roots of Bedstraw species, and most in good shape.

Finally, I walked back over the golf course, and turned south to the meadow to check on the Southern marsh orchids I was expecting to be showing, as I had seen shots of them out from around the country.

The purple spikes I did see where Green-wing orchids, and in very good shape, meaning the SMO were small rosettes, and maybe a month from showing.

I walked to the Observatory, but found it deserted. Apparently they all had gone chasing a Turtle dove seen nearby.

I waited, and soon John, who ran our tour to India arrived. So I wet inside and had a cuppa with him, as he told me about his latest tiger tour, from which he returned from a couple of weeks back, travel made worse thanks to flights not using Doha, thanks to the Orange Shitgibbon in Washington.

Anyway, it was a good meeting, as we last saw John at two in the morning on Station Road as we unloaded our cases from the mini bus.

I bid John farewell, and get back to the car to drive home, somehow it was nearly midday, so I thought a drive to Deal and back home along the Strand would be grand.

And indeed it was. The sun was still shining, though all parking spaces were taken, as families took in the air beside the seaside, beside the sea.

I was back home in time for the first game of the day: Man Utd v Forest, which was notable for the clear handball in the buildup for Utds second goal, which after VAR was given.

I have no words. The handball and offside rules are now so buggered I can't tell if a goal should be given or not.

Newcastle played West Ham, with the Hammer needing to win to have a chance of avoiding the drop so send Spurs down. Their cause wasn't helped by giving up two goals in the first 15 minutes, and it was uphill from there. It ended 3-1, and West Ham need a miracle, and for Chelsea to beat Spurs on Tuesday.

By that time it was half seven and the day gone again.

Time for a large glass of sloe gin to see the day out.

Cheers.