For the last six days, The Daily Mail has been running "stories" about what it calls pizzagate, where Keir Starmer was supposed to nave broken COVID guidance and had beer and pizza in a Labour Party office.
This was September 2021, when such things were not against the law.
So, the police will not investigate further.
To back this up, the Mail published photos of Starmer eating pizza with Frank Fields.
Who died in 2019.
Which is before COVID.
The meal took place in 2015.
This is just throwing shit hoping some will stick, because it is a total non-story, and yet the Mail has strung it out for six days. Quite the creative writing course.
Of course, today is the local elections, and so anything to cast doubt on Labour is seen as good as the Tory vote is expected to collapse. Local Conservative associations have rebranded themselves as "Local Conservative", to distance themselves from Johnson and the Parliamentary party.
Quite the move.
Wednesday, 4 May 2022
Tuesday 3rd May 2022
Back to work.
Another three day weekend gone like that.
May is going to be odd, in that it is peak orchid season, and I am going to be out evey minute possible, then have a week in Denmark, a week on holiday chasing more orchids, three days back at work and then ten days off in "Operation Avoid Jubilee".
But before then there is work to do.
Sadly.
I woke up with my shoulder less hurty, but my back much more hurty. Is this what getting old means?
In fact my back gets worse during the day, and with each spell in the office chair meant lifting myself up and the pain kicking in.
I get up to the soundtack of moans and groans.
Jools was already up and dressed and heading out to go swimming when I surfaced.
Bye then.
I have a coffee and stare at the news from the interwebs.
And, the world is still mad as fuck.
So, there you have it.
I have all week to complete a final draft of the procedure I have been working on. But forst sort out the inbox, and people screaming for attention, and quickly lose my enthusiasm. So I have breakfast and some toast.
No, still up get up and go has got up and gone.
My back is painful each time I get up, but with the sun breaking through after lunch I had determined to go for a walk.
I do, but I have pins and needles in one leg, and not really enjoying myself. Not much to report either, just banks of Alexanders going to see and Cow Parsley goming into flower along the path.
I reach Fleet House and turn from home, again snails overtake me along Collingwood as my back and feet compete to say who was having the worst time.
I get home to see two Orange Tip butterflies on the wing in the sunshine, I manage to get shots of the female, but the male never really settles. But happy with what I got.
We have the leftover vegetables with steak and ale pie and the remainder of the gravy. I am feeling down, so decide to have wine. So, open a bottle.
Dinner is splendid, like a midweek roast, but wrapped in puff pastry. All crispy and buttery.
Cheers.
The biggest game of the week was Bournemouth v Forest, with the home side promoted if they won. They score the only goal with three minutes left, and the crowd went wild. And then invaded the pith on the final whistle.
Another three day weekend gone like that.
May is going to be odd, in that it is peak orchid season, and I am going to be out evey minute possible, then have a week in Denmark, a week on holiday chasing more orchids, three days back at work and then ten days off in "Operation Avoid Jubilee".
But before then there is work to do.Sadly.
I woke up with my shoulder less hurty, but my back much more hurty. Is this what getting old means?
In fact my back gets worse during the day, and with each spell in the office chair meant lifting myself up and the pain kicking in.
I get up to the soundtack of moans and groans.Jools was already up and dressed and heading out to go swimming when I surfaced.
Bye then.
I have a coffee and stare at the news from the interwebs.
And, the world is still mad as fuck.
So, there you have it.
I have all week to complete a final draft of the procedure I have been working on. But forst sort out the inbox, and people screaming for attention, and quickly lose my enthusiasm. So I have breakfast and some toast.
No, still up get up and go has got up and gone.My back is painful each time I get up, but with the sun breaking through after lunch I had determined to go for a walk.
I do, but I have pins and needles in one leg, and not really enjoying myself. Not much to report either, just banks of Alexanders going to see and Cow Parsley goming into flower along the path.
I reach Fleet House and turn from home, again snails overtake me along Collingwood as my back and feet compete to say who was having the worst time.I get home to see two Orange Tip butterflies on the wing in the sunshine, I manage to get shots of the female, but the male never really settles. But happy with what I got.
We have the leftover vegetables with steak and ale pie and the remainder of the gravy. I am feeling down, so decide to have wine. So, open a bottle.
Dinner is splendid, like a midweek roast, but wrapped in puff pastry. All crispy and buttery.
Cheers.
The biggest game of the week was Bournemouth v Forest, with the home side promoted if they won. They score the only goal with three minutes left, and the crowd went wild. And then invaded the pith on the final whistle.
Tuesday, 3 May 2022
Monday 2nd May 2022
Bank Holiday (UK)
Despite not being socialist, mores the pity, the Monday after May 1st is always a bank holiday here, where in the more radical Europe, it is not. Only when on a weekday.
Well, I for one will enjoy our day off while my colleagues toil and earn their crusts.
I would spend the morning, at least, orchiding.
Of course.
The sunshine that was forecast, again didn't appear, so any hope of seeing a Duke of Burgundy or two would hinge on the sun breaking through. Jools said she would stay at home, so after coffee and croissants, I set off.
Nothing really oon the road, until I got near to the Lydden Hill circuit, where there was a queue of a couple of miles from London for a day of "drifting" or something. Most of the cars were modified, souped up or something. The unexpected jam lead to a couple of accidents, lots of broken plastic body parts lay on the hard shoulder.
But London-bound it was fine. I cruised on.
I turned off and went through Bridge, to Lower Hardes and finally through Petham to the familiar parking slot outside Denge Wood. I just had to wait for Terry and Ian to arrive. I had given them a post code near to where I was waiting. Near, but not close enough.
They were due to be there by half eight. The parking area lay in a dip surrounded by trees. It was a mobile phone dead zone. I could receive no calls, nor make any. The four cars that drove past in the next hour contained neither of my friends.
So, I set off to walk to Bonsai, sending a message when the track turned left, and then I recieved the messages from Ian. They were walking towards the reserve, we shall meet there.
Perhaps.
So, from different directions we walked to Bonsai. I sent Ian the what three words location for where I was.
And waited.
And waited.
I checked and no Dukes were seen at all.
I could hear voices.
It was Ian and Anna, who were the other side of the fence, and out of sight. Gor (your) left to the end of the path, turn sharp left and I will be waiting.
I was waiting, but between us a lady with two dogs almost the same as Ian and Anna have.
Woof.
We finally met, and we went hunting for Dukes.
None found.
But we did find the White Spotted Sable Moth, tiny and perfectly formed, and snapped.
Lots of Early Purples, but few Lady Orchids already in flower, but lots of spikes.
Two hours later we were done, no Dukes, but two species of moths seen, and lots of orchid rosettes seen.
I bid them farewell and walk back to the car, my back grumbling as I went, with snails overtaking me as I groaned my way up the gentle slope.
I went home via Lydden to see the Man Orchids.
Not as many out as I hoped, but a fair few partially open, with many more to come. I snap a few, then gird my loins to haul my sorry ass over the style and drive home. It was half one, and we had a tip run booked.
We had toast for lunch, then load the car up with junk, including two crates of empty beer bottles. Farwell guys, we had fun.
Back home in time to watch some football, though I did cook dinner, fritters, though I made too many, which we eat and would regret that well into the wee small hours.
Man Utd played Brentford, and was pretty dull. I went to bed at half time, and slept long and well.
Despite not being socialist, mores the pity, the Monday after May 1st is always a bank holiday here, where in the more radical Europe, it is not. Only when on a weekday.
Well, I for one will enjoy our day off while my colleagues toil and earn their crusts.
I would spend the morning, at least, orchiding.
Of course.
The sunshine that was forecast, again didn't appear, so any hope of seeing a Duke of Burgundy or two would hinge on the sun breaking through. Jools said she would stay at home, so after coffee and croissants, I set off.
Nothing really oon the road, until I got near to the Lydden Hill circuit, where there was a queue of a couple of miles from London for a day of "drifting" or something. Most of the cars were modified, souped up or something. The unexpected jam lead to a couple of accidents, lots of broken plastic body parts lay on the hard shoulder.But London-bound it was fine. I cruised on.
I turned off and went through Bridge, to Lower Hardes and finally through Petham to the familiar parking slot outside Denge Wood. I just had to wait for Terry and Ian to arrive. I had given them a post code near to where I was waiting. Near, but not close enough.
They were due to be there by half eight. The parking area lay in a dip surrounded by trees. It was a mobile phone dead zone. I could receive no calls, nor make any. The four cars that drove past in the next hour contained neither of my friends.
So, I set off to walk to Bonsai, sending a message when the track turned left, and then I recieved the messages from Ian. They were walking towards the reserve, we shall meet there.Perhaps.
So, from different directions we walked to Bonsai. I sent Ian the what three words location for where I was.
And waited.And waited.
I checked and no Dukes were seen at all.
I could hear voices.
It was Ian and Anna, who were the other side of the fence, and out of sight. Gor (your) left to the end of the path, turn sharp left and I will be waiting.
I was waiting, but between us a lady with two dogs almost the same as Ian and Anna have.Woof.
We finally met, and we went hunting for Dukes.
None found.
But we did find the White Spotted Sable Moth, tiny and perfectly formed, and snapped.
Lots of Early Purples, but few Lady Orchids already in flower, but lots of spikes.Two hours later we were done, no Dukes, but two species of moths seen, and lots of orchid rosettes seen.
I bid them farewell and walk back to the car, my back grumbling as I went, with snails overtaking me as I groaned my way up the gentle slope.I went home via Lydden to see the Man Orchids.
Not as many out as I hoped, but a fair few partially open, with many more to come. I snap a few, then gird my loins to haul my sorry ass over the style and drive home. It was half one, and we had a tip run booked.
We had toast for lunch, then load the car up with junk, including two crates of empty beer bottles. Farwell guys, we had fun.
Back home in time to watch some football, though I did cook dinner, fritters, though I made too many, which we eat and would regret that well into the wee small hours.
Man Utd played Brentford, and was pretty dull. I went to bed at half time, and slept long and well.
Designed to fail
After seven years of anti-immigration rhetoric, it seems that the Government decided when the Ukraine war started and refugees started flooding Europe, that not many Brits would volunteer to have any stay in their house.
So, a system was devised that meant that only those who had somewhere to live would be allowed in, and people had to volunteer then jump through numerous hoops to qualify to host refugees, it must have seemed to Johnson and Patel that once the hoops were cleared the war might be over and none would want to come.
250,000 people applied to host, flooding the system, which apparently either through accident or design could not cope with the numbers. Those that did get replies wanted more and more details about the hosts of their houses and so further delayed visas being issued.
All the while, Johnson could say that the country was welcoming of refugess and doing all it could, so while Germany had allowed hundreds of thousands in, the UK had issued just 6,000 visias.
And its not much better now. Johnson makes speeches about it being Ukraine's finest hour, while it is our most shameful.
Actual refugees are taking the Home Secretay to court about her awful immigration system.
This really echoes the experience of those wanting to flee Kaul, with the Taliban surrounding the airport, the desperate had to apply for visas first.
And then time ran out.
And we left, and they didn't.
Dominic Raab was on holiday at the time, in charge.
But you can't work from home because it'll affect your productivity.
So, a system was devised that meant that only those who had somewhere to live would be allowed in, and people had to volunteer then jump through numerous hoops to qualify to host refugees, it must have seemed to Johnson and Patel that once the hoops were cleared the war might be over and none would want to come.
250,000 people applied to host, flooding the system, which apparently either through accident or design could not cope with the numbers. Those that did get replies wanted more and more details about the hosts of their houses and so further delayed visas being issued.
All the while, Johnson could say that the country was welcoming of refugess and doing all it could, so while Germany had allowed hundreds of thousands in, the UK had issued just 6,000 visias.
And its not much better now. Johnson makes speeches about it being Ukraine's finest hour, while it is our most shameful.
Actual refugees are taking the Home Secretay to court about her awful immigration system.
This really echoes the experience of those wanting to flee Kaul, with the Taliban surrounding the airport, the desperate had to apply for visas first.
And then time ran out.
And we left, and they didn't.
Dominic Raab was on holiday at the time, in charge.
But you can't work from home because it'll affect your productivity.
Policy is hard
The problem, or one of the probles, in having a Cabinet full of shit is that they really don't know how to do anything.
Sure they can make grand announcements like "levelling up" of "getting Brexit done", but with an actual plan and making it happen, levelling up is no further forward today than 24 months ago when Johnson was made PM and first announced it.
I mean, something could have been done, one or two actual policies or actions to level up the country, instead the only thing the Government did do was to cancel the eastern leg of HS2 and cancel the northen rail powerhouse. But at the same time promising that journey times would be halved. They didn't say which routes or how, but all journey times cut.
This was always a lie, and has been proven as such, but stayed mainly in the rail industry world, the news agenda moves on and the promises made last week are forgotten and so the cycle begins again in a different policy area.
The cost of living crisis that has only just begun was long forecast, but Johnson and his Goverment did nothing.
It could, as the French Government did, impose windfall taxes on energy companies and use that the keep rises low.
Instead it allowed the energy companies to keep all their record profits, pay shareholders dividens, while the public get to pay 50% more for the energy that their taxes had made it possible to be produced.
And it will get worse with the war in Ukraine, another 50% rise in the autumn looks only too possible.
And the Government doesn't like scrutiny, so is planning on selling Channel 4, which is self funding, mainly because C4 News is critical of the Government. Minister responsible, Nadine Dorres, was unaware of how Channel 4 or Channel 5 was funded, once in a select committee, where she had to be corrected. She now plans to end the BBC licence fee.
Johnson et al like to proclaim the UK's power across the world, and yet fail to understand that power is now mostly soft, but the creative industries and the BBC doing more to promote the country than a half billion "yacht" which Johnson wanted so spaff more cash at, to promote power.
Thing with a boat, its not good at getting to countries without a coastline, like Ukraine. The BBC, however, when it became clear that Russia was controlling the media in the area, the Corporation switched on short wave transitters so the real news could be broadcast to those under fire or living in fear.
A yacht can't do that.
But its all about gestures. And no substance.
All culture wars, knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
Sure they can make grand announcements like "levelling up" of "getting Brexit done", but with an actual plan and making it happen, levelling up is no further forward today than 24 months ago when Johnson was made PM and first announced it.
I mean, something could have been done, one or two actual policies or actions to level up the country, instead the only thing the Government did do was to cancel the eastern leg of HS2 and cancel the northen rail powerhouse. But at the same time promising that journey times would be halved. They didn't say which routes or how, but all journey times cut.
This was always a lie, and has been proven as such, but stayed mainly in the rail industry world, the news agenda moves on and the promises made last week are forgotten and so the cycle begins again in a different policy area.
The cost of living crisis that has only just begun was long forecast, but Johnson and his Goverment did nothing.
It could, as the French Government did, impose windfall taxes on energy companies and use that the keep rises low.
Instead it allowed the energy companies to keep all their record profits, pay shareholders dividens, while the public get to pay 50% more for the energy that their taxes had made it possible to be produced.
And it will get worse with the war in Ukraine, another 50% rise in the autumn looks only too possible.
And the Government doesn't like scrutiny, so is planning on selling Channel 4, which is self funding, mainly because C4 News is critical of the Government. Minister responsible, Nadine Dorres, was unaware of how Channel 4 or Channel 5 was funded, once in a select committee, where she had to be corrected. She now plans to end the BBC licence fee.
Johnson et al like to proclaim the UK's power across the world, and yet fail to understand that power is now mostly soft, but the creative industries and the BBC doing more to promote the country than a half billion "yacht" which Johnson wanted so spaff more cash at, to promote power.
Thing with a boat, its not good at getting to countries without a coastline, like Ukraine. The BBC, however, when it became clear that Russia was controlling the media in the area, the Corporation switched on short wave transitters so the real news could be broadcast to those under fire or living in fear.
A yacht can't do that.
But its all about gestures. And no substance.
All culture wars, knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
Monday, 2 May 2022
Sunday 1st May 2022
Nearly a decade ago, I set up the Facebook group for Kent orchids so that my photographer friends could come and snap them too, maybe for competitions, or maybe for fun. IN all that time, none took up the invite, and in due course I changed the group to attact orchidists from all over the county and country, and after suggesting for friends for years that they might like to come for a nature walk, our friend, Mary, said she would be thrilled.
So, we arranged for us to pick her up from her house in Folkestone at half eight.
And we left it at that.
We were up in time, had breakfast, and we outside her house at quarter past eight, I left it ten minutes before knocking, and she opened the door in her dressing gown.
She had forgotten!
Oh noes.
But no worry, she was dressed and ready in ten minutes.
We drove out of town to the motorway and headed for the Hythe exit, only I was so into telling Mary about my trip to Rhodes, I drove past the exit, so we had to drive to Ashford, take the final exit from the roundabout and drive back east.
We took the turning and drove noth up Stone Street, taking the turn off to the wood,a nd then down the narrow lane, down the down. We reversed into the parking space, and the morning was ours.
We saw noting remarkable to be honest, just the usual plants, a little bit further on than last time we were here. Many more Fly Orchids out, and Lady Orchids too. As we walked, we pointed out the plants we saw:
Herb Paris (aka One Berry)
Greater Stitchwort
Yellow Archangel
Bugle
Lesser Celandine
Wood Anemone
Bluebells
Wayfairing tree
Cowslip
Primrose
False Oxlip
Wood Sedge
Wood Spurge
Spurge Laurel
Wild Garlic
Hedge Garlic
And the orchids too.
The one thing yu can't factor in is the weather, and it remained pretty cloudy, meaning few butterflies on the wing for me to chase.
Just over two hours later, we walked back to the car, and we took Mary home, as Jen was coming to dinner at ours, and I had roast beef to preare and cook. But we will see Mary again next weekend when I go for a haircut.
Traffic was amazingly light, so we made it back home, ahd a coffee before I seasoned the beef and put it in a hot oven to roast.. Peeled and boiled the potatoes, mixed the Yorkshire Pudding mix and prepared the vegetables.
It was already two in the afternoon and over half the day had gone. How'd that happen?
I bring it all together, Jools pours the fizz, and I carve and dish up.
Delicious.
But it is the final of the world snnoker championship, so Jen leaves for home at four, for an evening in front of the telly, and I watch the West Ham v Arsenal game, and play the age old game of trying to stay awake.
We had buttered crumpets for supper, listen to a Soft Cell special on Radio 6. And that was Sunday, but don't worry, being a bank holiday, there's MOnday to enjoy as yet!
So, we arranged for us to pick her up from her house in Folkestone at half eight.And we left it at that.
We were up in time, had breakfast, and we outside her house at quarter past eight, I left it ten minutes before knocking, and she opened the door in her dressing gown.
She had forgotten!Oh noes.
But no worry, she was dressed and ready in ten minutes.
We drove out of town to the motorway and headed for the Hythe exit, only I was so into telling Mary about my trip to Rhodes, I drove past the exit, so we had to drive to Ashford, take the final exit from the roundabout and drive back east.
We took the turning and drove noth up Stone Street, taking the turn off to the wood,a nd then down the narrow lane, down the down. We reversed into the parking space, and the morning was ours.
We saw noting remarkable to be honest, just the usual plants, a little bit further on than last time we were here. Many more Fly Orchids out, and Lady Orchids too. As we walked, we pointed out the plants we saw:
Herb Paris (aka One Berry)Greater Stitchwort
Yellow Archangel
Bugle
Lesser Celandine
Wood Anemone
Bluebells
Wayfairing tree
Cowslip
Primrose
False Oxlip
Wood Sedge
Wood Spurge
Spurge Laurel
Wild Garlic
Hedge Garlic
And the orchids too.
The one thing yu can't factor in is the weather, and it remained pretty cloudy, meaning few butterflies on the wing for me to chase.
Just over two hours later, we walked back to the car, and we took Mary home, as Jen was coming to dinner at ours, and I had roast beef to preare and cook. But we will see Mary again next weekend when I go for a haircut.
Traffic was amazingly light, so we made it back home, ahd a coffee before I seasoned the beef and put it in a hot oven to roast.. Peeled and boiled the potatoes, mixed the Yorkshire Pudding mix and prepared the vegetables.
It was already two in the afternoon and over half the day had gone. How'd that happen?
I bring it all together, Jools pours the fizz, and I carve and dish up.Delicious.
But it is the final of the world snnoker championship, so Jen leaves for home at four, for an evening in front of the telly, and I watch the West Ham v Arsenal game, and play the age old game of trying to stay awake.
We had buttered crumpets for supper, listen to a Soft Cell special on Radio 6. And that was Sunday, but don't worry, being a bank holiday, there's MOnday to enjoy as yet!
Sunday, 1 May 2022
Saturday 30th April 2022
Last day of April.
It has felt these last few days that I have been running out of things to write about. Work is work, and the other stuff other than work is all fine. Just a bit cabin crazy I suppose due to not going out. A combination of poor weather and a sore back.
Every days has seemed the same, though we are planning stuff in the weeks and months ahead, so don't think it will always be like this.
Such as?
Well, next month we hope to be going to Welsh Wales, as well as going to see Dr Feelgood in concert and going to London for another Word in the Opera event, this one celebrating Paul McCartney's 80s th birthday.
Yes, you read that right.
Then there is another railtour in July planned, and looking further ahead a trip to the artic circle planned for the start of the new year.
Inbetween them is always orchids. And tomorrow is the first day of May and the beginning of the peak season. So, hang onto your hats as this will be getting busy!
And to start, I had arranged the first group meet at Marden Meadow, which for us is a bit of a hike, the other side of Maidstone, but for others in the group it was literally next door to where they live.
Jools had already done shopping, so once we had drink our coffee and had fruit, we loaded the car and set off up to A20 to Ashford before turning off to go through Pluckley and across country. I had failed to book the weather, and the expected sunshine had been replaced with cloud, but it should break through later.
But the road at Pluckley was closed, a diversion was signposted, but halfway along that was closed too. It seemed for a moment that fate had decided we would not get there.
But down a really narrow lane, we emerged at Staplehurst a few miles from the meadow.
We arrived at nine, half an hour early, but my planned early morning dew-covered shots were stopped by there being no sun or dew. So, we waited by the car and one by one the members of the group arrived until about eight people had turned up.
Marden is a reserve now made of three meadows, the orchids and other wild plants having spread from the middle meadow to the other two. And as a local told us, spreading the nearby gardens and fields too.
We walk round the main meadow, talking and swapping news, it is all rather pleasant. There are only so many orchid pictures from here one can take, but I do take a few.
And then, as if by magic, the clouds part and the sun shines, turning the meadows technicolor.
After a couple of hours, we wrap up and I offer to take a friend, Fran, back to Sturry, where she had parked her car. But on the way we called in at Stockbury for some bluebell and Lesser Butterfly action.
Thankfully, the bluebells were at peak, and well worth snapping, so I wander through the narrow path, like walking through a lake, with the pale blue plants and their scent enveloping me.
I even took a video.
Down along through the reserve, down the steps to the lower meadow. Sadly, the Lesser Butterflies were still only in bud, but it is very early for them to even be this far advanced.
Further along there were lots of Lady Orchids, just coming into flower, again, not at their peak, but close.
We go back to the car and drve back to the main road, then stuck in traffic at the junction with the motorway as they are about to rebuld the junction. But once on the motorway, its easy driving, cruising at 60 on to the Thanet Way, but it seemed most traffic was going to Whistable, as the queue started two miles outside the town.
We cruised on.
We dropped Fran off at Sturry, then turned inland away from the traffic chaos of Canterbury.
Shall we have a pub lunch?
Yes. Yes we shall.
We though the Grove Ferry Inn would be perfect. And it would, but half of Kent had had the same idea, it looked rammed. So, we drove on, and then I remembered our favourite county pub, the Rising Sun at Stourmouth was less than three miles away.
In contrast, there was just one car in the car park, and all bar one of the tables free.
Are you doing food?
Yes, yes they were.
We both ordered burgers and onion rings, and sat down to anticipate the food to come. A few others came in, so the place did have more than one table being used.
The food was great, I mean a burger is always good, they ut cheese and bacon on our, so was doubly good.
Can we tempt you with the dessert menu, the lady asked.
No, we were full.
From there it was a half hour drive home, through Preston to Sandwich then to the Eastry by-pass to Whitfield and home. Traffic was light, even heading to the port.
We were home for three, so I could listen to the football. Maybe Norwich could defy the odds and start the great escape.
No, no they could not.
A 2-0 defeat at Villa, and then other results meant we were confirmed to be relegated.
Put out of our pain at last.
It has felt these last few days that I have been running out of things to write about. Work is work, and the other stuff other than work is all fine. Just a bit cabin crazy I suppose due to not going out. A combination of poor weather and a sore back.
Every days has seemed the same, though we are planning stuff in the weeks and months ahead, so don't think it will always be like this.
Such as?
Well, next month we hope to be going to Welsh Wales, as well as going to see Dr Feelgood in concert and going to London for another Word in the Opera event, this one celebrating Paul McCartney's 80s th birthday.
Yes, you read that right.Then there is another railtour in July planned, and looking further ahead a trip to the artic circle planned for the start of the new year.
Inbetween them is always orchids. And tomorrow is the first day of May and the beginning of the peak season. So, hang onto your hats as this will be getting busy!And to start, I had arranged the first group meet at Marden Meadow, which for us is a bit of a hike, the other side of Maidstone, but for others in the group it was literally next door to where they live.
Jools had already done shopping, so once we had drink our coffee and had fruit, we loaded the car and set off up to A20 to Ashford before turning off to go through Pluckley and across country. I had failed to book the weather, and the expected sunshine had been replaced with cloud, but it should break through later.
But the road at Pluckley was closed, a diversion was signposted, but halfway along that was closed too. It seemed for a moment that fate had decided we would not get there.But down a really narrow lane, we emerged at Staplehurst a few miles from the meadow.
We arrived at nine, half an hour early, but my planned early morning dew-covered shots were stopped by there being no sun or dew. So, we waited by the car and one by one the members of the group arrived until about eight people had turned up.
Marden is a reserve now made of three meadows, the orchids and other wild plants having spread from the middle meadow to the other two. And as a local told us, spreading the nearby gardens and fields too.We walk round the main meadow, talking and swapping news, it is all rather pleasant. There are only so many orchid pictures from here one can take, but I do take a few.
And then, as if by magic, the clouds part and the sun shines, turning the meadows technicolor.
After a couple of hours, we wrap up and I offer to take a friend, Fran, back to Sturry, where she had parked her car. But on the way we called in at Stockbury for some bluebell and Lesser Butterfly action.
Thankfully, the bluebells were at peak, and well worth snapping, so I wander through the narrow path, like walking through a lake, with the pale blue plants and their scent enveloping me.
I even took a video.
Down along through the reserve, down the steps to the lower meadow. Sadly, the Lesser Butterflies were still only in bud, but it is very early for them to even be this far advanced.
Further along there were lots of Lady Orchids, just coming into flower, again, not at their peak, but close.We go back to the car and drve back to the main road, then stuck in traffic at the junction with the motorway as they are about to rebuld the junction. But once on the motorway, its easy driving, cruising at 60 on to the Thanet Way, but it seemed most traffic was going to Whistable, as the queue started two miles outside the town.
We cruised on.We dropped Fran off at Sturry, then turned inland away from the traffic chaos of Canterbury.
Shall we have a pub lunch?Yes. Yes we shall.
We though the Grove Ferry Inn would be perfect. And it would, but half of Kent had had the same idea, it looked rammed. So, we drove on, and then I remembered our favourite county pub, the Rising Sun at Stourmouth was less than three miles away.
In contrast, there was just one car in the car park, and all bar one of the tables free.Are you doing food?
Yes, yes they were.
We both ordered burgers and onion rings, and sat down to anticipate the food to come. A few others came in, so the place did have more than one table being used.
The food was great, I mean a burger is always good, they ut cheese and bacon on our, so was doubly good.Can we tempt you with the dessert menu, the lady asked.
No, we were full.
From there it was a half hour drive home, through Preston to Sandwich then to the Eastry by-pass to Whitfield and home. Traffic was light, even heading to the port.
We were home for three, so I could listen to the football. Maybe Norwich could defy the odds and start the great escape.
No, no they could not.
A 2-0 defeat at Villa, and then other results meant we were confirmed to be relegated.
Put out of our pain at last.
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