Friday 5th May 2023

Prayer Day (Denmark).

This meant that my cooleagues from Denmark had a day off, so life would be quiet for me. Although those in India would still be working.

And for us, it would be a three day weekend, though our extra day would be on Monday.

Jools went to yoga, for the first time in a month, so was up and about while I lay in bed, contemplating the day ahead.

When I heard the coffee pot being put on, I get up and get dressed. Now ready for the day.

I am ready to start work at seven, check mails and do the usual admin, and then, well, wait. Wait for something to happen.

Not much happened really, other than a colleague in India celebrated his 15th work anniversary, so there was a party in the Chennai office, and we were invited to join in via teams. Which meant no cake for us. The one thing I have learned from my friends in India is that no matter what the celebration is, its the size of the cake that matters.

They had a fine cake, pink icing.

Nice.

Speeches were made, applause given.

And that was it.

Congratulations, Parandaman.

I do an hour more, then pack up after setting my out of office message for the all of next week. Pack the computer stuff away, the laptop in by bag so it doesn't get forgotten when I go to the airport on Tuesday.

I go and sit on the patio in the sunshine, reading a magazine with Scully keeping me company as I read and keep an eye on the bird feeders.

Jools comes home, and the plan was for me to drop her at Jen's, and then for me to head into the orchid fields for an orchid-filled walk.

And that's what happened.

Jen wasn't home, but Jools would wait in the back garden for Jen to return from her weekly lunch date with John. I drove out and onto the A2 and headed west to Barham before heading out across country past PGD and onto Stone Street.

The lanes were empty, just as well as they're so few passing places, and where they go through woodland, the canopy is turning green as Spring advances.

I park on the hill beside Yockletts, grab the camera and set off into the reserve.

Brimstone, Orange Tip and Peacock butterflies were on the wing, as the trees offered some shelter from the breeze. Lots of Wood Violets, Lady's Smock and Lords and Ladies were in flower, and up the hill there was Twayblade and Bluebells, and a little further up, Early Purples. Numbers down, but still there, and three weeks back I had seen a single spike with a single flower open, all these were fully open now, and contrasted well with the blue of the bluebells.

I walked up the down, across the top of the lower meadow, knowing that the majority of the orchids in flower would be on the other side of the reserve. I saw there were a couple of small Fly Orchid spikes open behind the bench, but I knew there would be more a little further on and down in the shelter of the down.

Sure enough there was a clump of maybe a half dozen spikes, all with at least one flower open on each spike, some had two or more. All around more spikes were in flower, or about too.

I smiled. Spring is come.

Back up the down, and the Lady Orchid rosettes had put up spikes, but no open flowers, instead just looking like oversized safety matches. But there would be spikes open, and not far away.

Sure enough, across the road, there was a group of six Ladies open, some more than others, but I snap them all, because.

Further along, two Greater Butterfly spikes were a week or so from flowering, and on the other side of the path, Herb Paris was in flower too.

Up in the upper meadow, more Lady in flower, each snapped. But little else, and no Common Spotted rosettes to be found either.

With that it was time to return to the car, via the path through the woods where the bluebells were already going to seed. As expected, peak bluebell was when we were away, but we couldn't be in two places at once.

Down the steep path, secure with my new walking shoes with fresh new sole, so did not slip and slide my way down. Back along the lower path, over the road and back to the car, another day when 10,000 steps were smashed!

I turn the car for home, back up the hill, and down Stone Street to the petrol station to refuel the car and get something to drink. Then onto the motorway to get to Folkestone, taking the Alkham Valley road, I mean, this was quickest, how bad could the traffic in Kearsney and on Whitfield Hill be?

Bad. Real bad.

It took me half an hour to get from the station to the top of Whitfield Hill, then over to Jen's to find she had just dropped Jools off at home. We have yet to sync our phones to the crappy hire car, so can't take calls when we're driving.

Back home for a brew and the music quiz, and then out via the takeaway and instead of going to Jen's, we went to Jen's laden with fresh Chinese.

Jen's dining room is out of use while her roof is repaired, so John's was the back up. John lives in a terraced house beside Whitfeld Hill, his house clings to the down, has steep steps to the front door from the narrow street, then narrow step up to the bedrooms. Living there has kept John fit.

We eat, and then we play cards. Just a round of Meld, which Jen wins heavil, taking very nearly a whole pound.

By which time it was gone nine, and time to go home.

The night of a thousand losses

Thursday 4th May was local elections, and political pundits speculated as to what would be a bad night for the Conservative Party. Losing a thousand Councillors seemed to be the worse case end of the spectrum.

By lunchtime with losses nudging 400, Government Ministers went on TV to say that the losses were not as bad as predicted, so not such a bad night after all.

Problem with this course of defence was that not all results were in, and as the afternoon wore on, losses mounted on the blue side.

By the time we returned from John's, losses had passed the thousande mark, and the result was even worse than predicted, with even places like Dover and Thanet went Labour instead of Conservative. Councils of Ministers were lost too.

THe question is, what does the PM do now.

The Coronation pushed the story mostly off the back pages, but clearly these losses are huge, and if not addressed than a real hammering is likely in the election in 18 months time.

As always, the question will be what the root cause of the losses were; if it was Brexit, the small boats, cost of living, corruption, then adjusting Government policy to appeal to voters in the face of the baying of the gammon faced Brexiteers and cutlure war warriors will be much difficult.

The policy of more and more culture wars has not cut through. At all.

But probably most of all, it was a 1980s pop start hat has caused the most damage to the Government, although that was self-inflicted.

Water companies have been pumping sewage and untreated water into our rivers, steams, lakes and seas for over a year now, and Fergal Sharkey has been the leader of the opposition, using his past fame to get on TV shows and in papers, even the Mail, to highlight the ecocide being waged on the British countryside.

Turds in our rivers and beaches closed for bathing cannot be covered up on a local level, and people are very angry indeed.

If the Conservatives are not there to protect this green and pleasant land, then what are they for?

That is the question they need to ask.

Thursday 4th May 2023

Star Wars Day. (since 1978)

UK local elections.

And work.

And again, I sleep through the alarm, and wake at ten to six with Jools getting ready for work, and Cleo back on the bed after her breakfast.

Was going to be a cooler, breezier day, but should have been good enough to walk to the polling station in the afternoon.

The sun rose way to the east now, out of sight, but the warm light falling across the back garden was worth a snap before I came done for the first emergency coffee of the day.

What was the emergency? I needed coffee.

Anyway, more meetings, more meetings about meetings.

I eat breakfast, drink more coffee, and catch the mouse Poppy had been playing with for a few hours.

All fun things, really.

I had the second part of my assessment, where I was told I would lead the audit of Top Management, a very responsible job, though nothing mentioned about more money.

Sadly.

Then at three I walked to the village hall.

I took the easy route there, down and up Station Road, past the village shop and the decorated post box, then through the churchyard and out the other side. I took my passport, that was checked, I was given my slip on which to cast my vote(s).

That done, I walk back to the Smugglers, cut through the alleyway and out along Kingsdown Road, hoping to snap more flowers and maybe a butterfly or two.

The road, which is also on the national cycle network, was very quiet, no bikes passed me at all. And I did manage to snap a single Red Admiral sunning itself on a twig, though the sound of the shutter made it fly off, so I got no closer shots.

I reached the top of The Dip, turned down, amazed really how dry it was. The chalk and soil had mixed together to make a kind of light brown concrete.

At the bottom, there was not just mud, but deep standing water in the tractor tracks, but there was a way round, leaving the fnal climb of the day, which my back told me it was happy about.

Past Fleet House then across the fields to home, getting back just five minutes before Jools.

She had the day from hell at work, so no walking or voting for her, and I get down to making fritters for dinner, which is all done and cooked in about 40 minutes.

I have the last of the wine as we ate, and even as I prepared for the 4th evening of football in a row, I felt dog tired too, and decided to watch just the first half. That ended a 0-0 draw between Brighton and Man Utd, and not engaing enough to make me want to watch the second half.

Wednesday 3rd May 2023

Another day at work.

Only the second since returning from our holibobs, but it seems like a lifetime.

I am getting quite good now at sleeping through the alarm, and usually, its Cleo coming back to bed after having her breakfast that wakes me up. Or if not, then its Jools coming up the stairs for a shower and to get dressed.

Better get up then.

It might be May. It might dawn bright and clear. But it is cool. Cold even. I am tempted to put the heating on just to take the edge off the temperature in the living room, where I am to work at the colaface.

Or something.

At the weekend I will tell the tale of Jools's camera, please remind me, but for now, just so you know there is quite the tale to tell about her new camera, and that tale is not yet complete, but should be Sunday night.

So, we shall see.

Being the start of the month, there is a host of meetings, taking up most of the morning, but really consinsts of people arguing about what a word in a document mean. I soon lose interest.

Because we were away over a week, the feeders got empty, and since coming back, many of our feathered friends have yet to return to feed, so not so much urgency in topping up the feeders, but a few sparrows hang round,a nd in the evening, the fox returns just to see what's avaiable.

I really could not be bothered in going for a walk. It was cool and breezy, so instead I do some gardening.

Yes, you read that right. Gardening.

I pruned the raspberry canes we are keeping, thus revealing the laden redcurrent plants, which seem to indicate a bumper year for the tiny juicy fruit. In the lawnmeadow, the next plants are beginning to flower, with Salad Burnet looking good, in their own way, and among the grass, there is the rosettes of lots of Yellow Rattle sprouting.

I also repotted the basil I bought at the weekend, putting each plant in a pot of its own, so they should last all summer.

We shall see.



I learnt this from a video on youtube, so copied that, and now we have a windowsill full of basil plants. After dinner, I watch yet more football: Citeh v West Ham, which after a close first half, Citeh romp to a 3-0 win, with the boy Haarland scoring is 51st goal of the season.

Tuesday 2nd May 2023

And so, back to work.

Life has settled back down here in Chez Jelltex, with the cats relaxed again, and Cleo seeing me as her personal bed.

Which is nice.

In this hectic perios, I have a four day week this week, a four day week next week which I will spend in Ireland. The week after that, five days at home before a week off, then June comes and we will be heading to Svalbard.

Its all go.

It is now getting dark again at five in the morning, Jools wanted to be up and about so she could leave for the office early. I checked my phone: quarter past five, so I woke her up and the dance begain again.

Jools was gone by six, and I had an hour to listen to a podcast and try to remember my password for work, without that I would not get on the system. I do remember it, but as soon as I am logged on, the computer tells me I have a long series of updates to install, so I do it straight away, and that takes half an hour, and then I could start work.

As I was so up to date, nothing pressing in the inbox, so I clear that, log some working hours and call up colleagues to see if I had missed any big news when I was away. None really, I was told.

And then to work, preparing for the next series of audits, and in preparation, wondering what box of delights my preparation would reveal.

The cats had gone to bed, the radio played quietly, and outside, the sun rose into a clear blue sky and the chilly morning air warmed up. From the back door, the back garden looked wonderful, the lawnmeadow about to become an actual meadow. And we did that.

Most of the birds have yet to return to the garden from the week-long empty feeders, but I fill them up every day now, and hopefully they'll come back in large numbers.

The day creeps forward, like we've never been away.

Really.

At three, I do go for a walk, up Station Road to the first track and along. Not much new seen, and no butterflies seen either. And the mud that blights this track had dried out just enough so a path could be picked out aong the clods.

I see a couple of dogwalkers, and we swap news, its all nice stuff, to be a part of the community. I'm sure I'm known as "hm with the camera", which is fairly accurate.

Back home to sit in the garden, and to prepare dinner, which would be late as Jools had to pop to Margate for an appointment, meaning I sat surrounded by raw asparagus and butter, ready to be combined in a frying pan for dinner.

Jools got back at seven, I cook and then we eat. And by the time we had washed up and made coffees, it was ten to eight and time for the evening game, Arse v Chelski, which was diverting enough to keep me awake, though not for Jools who went to bed at half eight.

Monday 1st May 2023

May Day Bank Holiday.

So, another day off work.

Which was nice.

I had company in bed most of the night, Cleo slept between my knees, and was like a deadweight. She's happy in her own way, as are all the cats, really.

I could have been obsessed about orchids and other stuff, but the forecast was for cloud and rain later, so I thought it better than to just chill with Jools and the cats.

Which is what we did.

There was lots of sun in the morning, the back door was open, so the cats came and went as they pleased. What I can say is that there has been little growling and no hissing since they came back, maybe the break did us all good?

We went for a walk late morning. It has been two weeks since we did it to be fair, and I wanted to see what new plants were in flower.

Despite the rain, ground is drying out quickly, but going was good over the field to Fleet House, though Jools had pulled a calf muscle away, and so cut short her walk. I pressed on, down past Fleet House, dwn past the farm and up the long climb the other side to Windy Ridge.

Despite seeing 60 species in SPain, I was keen to see more back home, but sadly I saw none.

Several flowers in bloom: Red and white Deadnettle, Common Field SPeedwell, and a new species: Germander Speedwell, Herb Robert and lots of Cleavers with their tiny flowers showing wel against the green leaves.

I rested at the new bench, put on a pod cast to listen to, then headed back home along Green Lane, which wasn;t that muddy, but was hard going, then down the slope to Collingwood and back home.

Jools was in the garden, weeding, so I made a brew and we had lunch.

There was football in the afternoon, so I settled down to watch the back to back games which would pretty much take up the rest of the day. Last game was Leicester v Everton, with the loser almost certain to go down. Just as well it ended in a 2-2 draw, though at times did feel like we were rubbernecking at a family funeral, as both teams tried to save themselves from the drop, and their fans lived and breathed every kick and twist.

Sunday 30th April 2023

Last day of the month.

And we're home.

As stressful as the day before we left was, what with operation cat round up and all that, when we come home, there is the joy of collecting the cats from the cattery and bringing them home while they sing with joy.

Back in our home and in our beds, we sleep well, it is cooler too, so much so windows have to be closed to keep out the chill during the night.

We were up at seven, have coffee and fruit, then wait for the clock to tick to nine in the morning, when I can go to collect the cats.

The cattery is just the other side of Whitfield, so not far, and I am greeted by the owner who tells me that after 24 hours of not eating, they have settled down well. IN even better news, all four recognise me, and even Poppy seems pleased to see me as she looked out of her little hours, eyes not dilated.

We round them up, put them in a box each, finally collect their blankets and beds, and take them to the car.

Its just a ten minute drove back, and the cats all sing to me. And once back in St Maggies, I let them out on the street and so they can find their way the last few yards home. Poppy just meows and looks confused before going into Bev and Steve's garden, Cleo goes down the path, inside for a minute then is gone, wile Mulder and Scully amble down the drive and ask for breakfast.

We had agreed to give them just dry food until five when normal service would be resumed.

The rest of the day was really us doing chores and catching up on washing, or whatever, and being shadowed by at least two cats. I eve had Poppy follow my as I worked in the garden, where she started on the car roof, then onto the car port before following me into the garden via Mick and Kay's shed roof. And as before, the normally mute Poppy meowed loudly all the time she was up on the roof.

Apparently, it was a Sunday, which meant football. Although first, we went to see Jen to try to fix her phone line.

Se is well, though the leaking ceiling in the dining room is being repaired, the ceiling itself is gone, and the roof to be repaired and a new skylight to be fitted. Which all means no cards for the time being. We could not fix her phone, a software error, I guess. But it seems there was a cable disconnected.

Or something.

Back home for the football and the cats, where we were watched with sharp eyes until it was founr and they were fed.

Then they went to bed.

So, we ended the day with all washing down, and put away, cats happy, and us home. On top of which, Monday is a Bank Holiday so no work until Tuesday, and that's another four day week.