Monday 13th July 2026

Monday rolls round again.

And as ever, my brain has me awake before five, though I lay back down after checking the time, and fall back to sleep.

A nice quiet morning in which to wake up, drink coffee, before being dropped off in Deal by Jools at half seven, as I had an appointment with the pediatrist.

So, with fifty minutes to kill, Jools dropped me off near to where The Berry used to be, so I could cut across the grass to the promenade, and walk towards the pier, looking for botanical delights to snap.

Most people out at that time are dogwalkers and joggers.

And me.

I am careful when I cross the cycle-lane to check both ways lest be run down or be shouted at by some lycra-clad buffoon.

But nothing exciting happened to recount.

I walked to the castle, past the fishing fleet grounded on the shingle beach before turning inland towards the clinic.

My feet were checked, nails cut and the rest, while I talk about moths to the nurse.

Jools had suggested I might like to catch the bus home rather than wait for her, as she had to take Cleo and Poppy to the vets for their six-monthly check-up.

I said I'd think about it.

But needed a hair cut, as our trip to southern Europe is a week away, and I didn't want to be wearing a bearskin in forty degree heat.

The first barber I came to had a seat free, so I go in, tell him to make it short, and he gets to work with his shears.

Not as meticulous as the one in Dover or Folkestone I go to normally, but the aim was to be shorn, and shorn short.

C/out satis.

I went to Greggs to get something for lunch: a four pack of sausage rolls would do, then wander to the small bus station.

I say bus station, its a double long bus stop, that clearly used to be busier, but now just has services to Dover or Sandwich, and buses to St Maggies leave hourly, or is it two-hourly?

Anyway, it was due to leave at ten.

It pulled in a two minutes to ten, and five of us got on it, costing me three pounds, for which I got a mystery tour round the housing estates of Walmer.

Which was nice.

Back home for a late breakfast and a fresh hot brew, and then time for some light orchiding.

The season is drawing to an end, but with four more species, possibly, to see, we would be heading back to Barham.

First of all, we stop at Hearts Delight Lane, and walk up hoping to see some Broad-leaved helleborines. There used to be dozens here, but we found just one in flower, with several blind spikes in the undergrowth.

But no Yellow birdsnests.

Further along we stop at the dog-walker's wood, and after some searching find about eight Yellow birdsnest spikes, though most were already going brown soon after emerging.

Then to our favourite wood, and the long walk up the path up the down, with gnarled old trees on the left, and majestic beech trees reaching for the sky on the other.

One last push up the steep slope, then began the hunt, using coordinates from previous years after not finding any, I do find three spikes near to where they had been previously.

Further searching revealed three more clumps, the last one with an upright spike with flowers just beginning to open.

We drive back home, getting back at just after one. But what is this? No cycling or football?

Le Tour is on a rest day, and the semi-finals of the World Cup begin on Tuesday.

Outside the wind turned to the north east, clouds rolled in, and it got almost chilly. Doors were closed and thoughts about putting a jumper on.

We had a snack for tea, and to be honest, I was pretty tired. So at eight went for a shower and so went to bed.

It was dark by quarter to nine, and I was asleep soon after.