Saturday 30th May 2026

This is Saturday, Watch and Smile.

TISWAS.

Only the Phantom Flanflinger and Spit the Dog didn't have to go to the gym at seven in the morning. Then I don't either, but I do.

No slacking for this gym rat.

Up at half five, coffee made and drunk, then off to Whitfield for my usual session, listening to The Bugle.

Hello Buglers!

And back home before eight, and go along the street to check on the Bee Orchid. Not an Early Spider, as if it was, it would have flowered six weeks ago.

I have made the walk up the street each morning for a week, and each day the spike got a little longer, the flower head formed, then on Thursday the green of the flower had a white colour. On Friday it was pink.

So was close.

And on Saturday the Bee was open, the sepals bright pinky-purple. I grinned as I alays do when I see a Bee Orchid.

I take the sign to re-write it now the orchid has been identified and has flowered.

Later I go to the owners, and instead of coming with me to see the orchid, I was asked to go round the back.

In a broken plant pot was not one, but two Bee Orchid spikes, both a couple of days from flowering!

I thought they looked the same as the one out front, he says.

Indeed they are.

I walk back home, smiling. And go for a shower.

Lovely.

They day is hot, not as hot as earlier in the week, but still too warm to sit on the patio until the shade covers the seat.

There is football.

Then there always is. Scotland played their last home game before flying out for the US for the World Cup: they win 4-1.

Then at five the Champion's League final. Arsenal v PSG. The best attack v the best defence.

Arsenal scored in the 6th minute. And that was the only shot they had on goal in the 120 minutes of the game. PSG never really threatened Arsenal, but won a penalty in the 2nd half, and scored.

1-1 after 90 minutes. And no goals in extra time either.

So penalties. Arsenal miss two, PSG just one. So, so near and yet so far.

And yet PSG really had no answer to Arsenal's defence, until that penalty. But Arsenal were defending their lead, not attacking, so one goal was never going to be enough.

Sportswashing won out again.