Monday 23rd May 2022

Would have been Dad's 84th birthday, only he's been gone for 26 years.

Life goes on.

But, I am on holiday!

Yay.

I just need to find things to fill my day up with. Easy when it's orchid season.

Or would have been, except it was due to rain most of the day. But no worries, as I can switch from orchids to churches as easy as Maverick can switch from missiles to guns.

So, I made a list. Checked it twice.

But first, as I was going to have the car, Jools was to get a hire car to go back and forth to work, so at eight we left and went to the Enterprise lot on Townwall Street, I waited whilst her documents were checked, and she was shown how the car worked, then I went home, Jools went to work. I to have some breakfast.

And just after nine, I set out on my church quest. There were ten churches, but for the morning, just four. First up was Stodmarsh.

I had last been at Stodmarsh some eight years ago, and due to its dimintive size, I only took wide angle shots, which were not very good. I tried twice in the last year, and found it locked, but would it be open this Monday?

Well, getting there was the first issue, I drove up the A2, turned off to go to Wingham, then turned west towards Canterbury. I turned sharp passing along the top of the narrow high street of Fordwich, carrying on along to Stodmarsh.

The marshy area was already beginning to flood, standing water everywhere, it had stopped being pleasureable.

I parked outside the village pub, walked to the church, finding it unlocked, so I was able to get my shots. I hadn't missed much, just some memorials, really.

Back outside, I went back to the car, the road flooded. A little. I carried on to Grove Ferry, no chance of going for a walk round the nature reserve this day, so at the top of the bank, I turned towards Canterbury, but took the next turning right, pathet Nethergong to Chislet.

I have visited Chislet church several times over the years. First two times it was unlocked and very nice. I wanted to take shots of the memorials, but again, it was locked and no idea how to contact the keyholder. So, I took a shot of the door and walked back to the car.

Rain came down harder.

I knew the next church would be open, so I programmed the post code in and drove up to Thanet Way and then down into Blean, turning off to the church.

Last time I came here, light was bad and my shots were crap. Light was no better this day, so I just took the nifty fifty and walked round the church int he rain, there was a large sign at the porch with a fine "church open" sign.

Again, I couldn't find the light switch, so made do with natural light, and got he shots I wanted. But outside the rain came down harder, and it was clear that this was no longer fun, and was becoming dangerous as roads were full of standing water.

After calling in the village shop for a sandwich and a drink of pop, I set controls for home.

I got home at one, it was so dark I needed to have the lights on. I made a brew and munched a large pack of spicy crisps as I watched a science TV show.

Outside the rain came down harder.

The afternoon slipped through my fingers. And it was time to prepare dinner, which involved making a small focaccia lof to go with the caprese.

As ever, it was a fine light and favoursome meal, and the bread wonderful, of course.

No football to watch now the season is done, exept for play off finals and the CL final, so I write then go to bed early to read.

Phew.

Party politics

As predicted by the walking brain, Dominic Cummings, having thrown junior members of the Civil Service under the bus and allowed them to get fines, pictures of various parties were leaked to ITV News yesterday.

The main one being a party in November 2020, a farwell party for a Johnson aide, which Johnson arranged, and in a number of shots is shown raising a toast and then drinking fizz.

This is a gathering that the Met decided not to issue a FPN to Jonson. It is possible they did not see these pictures, but now they have will the Met revisit this and other events to see if they should issue more?

Thing is, JOhnson was asked specifically about this party in the Commons in December 2021, and Johnson claimed not to have known and was as angry as the public.

He was there.

He arranged the event.

And he was angry?

So, from the events above we can safely says:

1. Johnson should be issued with a £10,000 for arranging a gathering in the 2nd lockdown.

2. He mislead Parliament by saying that ules were followed and he was unaware of the events.

3. He failed to correct the record at the earliest possible opportnity, so therefore should submit his resignation.

It has also been suggested that Johnson tried to pressure Grey to withdraw or delay her report.

All newspapers this morning, with the exception of the Mail and The Sun, carried the story.

Whether the Prime Minister lied and/or mislead Parliament is the key question for democracy in the country. If he can get off the hook on this one, who follows will get away with more. That a Member of the House faces harsher sanctions for accusing another Member of lying, even if they have evidence, than the person lying shows rules need to be changed.

Sunday 22nd May 2022

Early on, I got a message: did I, and then we, want to meet up with friends from the Rhodes Orchid trip for a curry that evening? Yes. Yes we would. Only problem was that we already had a big meal planned for two in the afternoon with Jen coming round. OK, I will bring that forward an hour, cook less, and we should be good to go out later. We had coffee, crossants and yet more coffee, and were good to go out. Deep breath. Another climb up Temple Ewell Down to hunt for the Burnt Tip, third time, and I really hope this wouldn't be another fruitless hunt. But then again, a walk is never wasted, though the thoughtlessness of dog-owners and cyclists who seem to think nature reserves are for their entertainment. Two stiles have been kicked in, and another fence knocked down too. But apart from that, there was fine views, butterflies and promise of many more orchid species in the coming weeks, and a single spike of Early Spider was still showing well. It was a tough climb, and I stopped several times. But in time I got to the top, walked along, then down into Lydden. I searched and searched, but saw no Burnt Orchids. Lots of Eyebrights and a few Milkwort hanging on. Deep breath. And back up the down, retracing our steps back to the car. And with little wind, it was warm, if not hot. We go down to the car and head home, and straight away I put lunch on. When I was away, Jools had gone to the butcher and got a Cotes de boeuf, and as she suggested, I followed a recipe rather than treating it as a steak. This meant cooking it at gas mark one quarter for three hours, and then frying it on each side for four minutes in the brandy butter I made on Saturday. Three hours is long enough in which to have a shave, shower, change clothes, peel potatoes, prepare vegetables and general kitchen work. The smells coming from the cooker were amazing, but that was nothing to the ones once it was cooked and I pan fried it in the brandy butter. Jen arrived, and I sliced the steak, dished up while Jools opened the fizz. It was rather wonderful I have to say. And not too filling. And then there was football to watch. At least the final round of games, with Norwich playing hoset to Spurs. I held out little hope, just as well as we were hooped 5-0. At home. Meanwhile, Citeh came from behind to beat Villa and so win the Prem. Everything counts in large amounts. No time to relax. Put on our shoes and hop int he car to a drive to Wye to meet up with Jon, who lead our tour in Rhodes as well as Ken and his wife Tracy who were in the county for another tour lead by Jon or Kent's premier orchid sites. I took the lanes to get there, once of Stone Street over the top of Wye Down past the Devil's Kneading Trough (don't ask), and down into the village. We took our place at the table, as soon the rest arrived, and it was quite the joyous reunion, with much joking and gentle ribbing. The food was great too, I had lentil curry, which was very nice indeed, though a little too much, but still, I'm on holiday.

It was great to see Jon, Ken and Tracy again, but we had a 40 minute drive home, so we had to leave, as Jools was at work in the morning even if I wasn't. We decided to go back via Hinxhill and Ashford, but found the road closed, but the sat nav got us back to the motorway, and from there it was a blast back along to Folkstone and then over the downs into Dover. Phew.

Falling Standards

I have tried, believe me, to try to return this bog to its original purpose, that is to document my life and sometimes my thoughts.

And for over a week, nothing but life-centred blogs.

But.

Last week, the Met announced that had concluded its investigations into "partygate" and have reccommended 126 fines. The PM and his wife were not to recieve any mor fines, despite being at events in and around Downing Street that others were fined for.

The Met has not explained how it is possible for the PM to attend an event that was agaist the law andor guidance, yet do so legally.

The Met also ignored the regulations at the time in that those who received multiple fines should have seen the fines double each time, as happened with members of the publi. The Met said it did not do so, as it would be "unfair".

So, that meant that Sue Grey's long-delayed report would be published this week.

Sue Grey was independant said minister after minister when asked.

And then news came of a meeting between Grey and Johnson. A spokesperson for Number 10 said Grey had arranged it, but a spokesperson for Grey said Johnson had arranged it.

Who to believe, Grey or serial-liar, Johnson?

Minister after Minister went to the media to support Johnson's version of events.

This morning, the Daily Mail headline went:

"PM allies accuse Sue Grey of playing politics."

In what was the least unexpected turn of events, Number 10 this morning confirmed that it was Johnson after all who called the meeting.

The LibDems are calling the the MoM to be published so we can see what was discussed.

At what point is this Government of clowns and liars brought down?

Let's not talk of this season again

A friend told me once that reading my blogs she realises that there is always a disappointing football match to come.

This season, there were 37.

The only exception was the away game at Watford which Norwich won 3-0 and it seems that there might be hope.

As ever, it was the hope that kills.

Norwich were never good enough this season.

We won our first game on 6th November. It felt desperate that day, hangng on for the three points. Then two hours after the game ended, Farke was sacked anyway.

Which was the right decision.

Dean Smith was appointed. Which was also the right decision.

It changed little.

Norwich spent £50,000,000 on players in the summer, nine players brought in on permanent deals or on loan. Citeh spent double that on Grealish, a player they didn't really need.

The players recruited had potential. None lived up to that potential.

Man Utd and Chelsea wouldn't let players that they rated come to Norwich. They also failed here, sorry to say that Brandon Williams and Billy Gilmour failed to do the business at Norwich and are not good enough for their parent clubs, which is why they were sent to Norwich.

What went wrong?

Everything and nothing.

Norwich did the best they could, and it wasn't good enough. Should Delia and Michael be replaced? If so, haw and by whom?

Do we hang them out to dry as failing to bring in better players, when they thought they did their best?

Norwich end the season, battered with a dreadful goal difference, poor points total, disconnect between the club and the fans and fans slagging each other on social media, with some demonstrating outside the ground.

One way to unite the club is for it to win games.

But not sure we're ready for another crack at the Prem yet. Two season in which we never looked good enough, we outclassed week in week out and tried even the most dedicated and optomistic fan.

We need to enjoy football again. Learn to love it, and each other.

No football over summer, although the break is shorter because of the World Cup in November.

Saturday 21st May 2022

The weekend.

And a whole day to fill with non-work things.

Like shopping and cooking.

After coffee, we went to Tesco, and without really trying hard, spent £104, though twenty of that was on a bottle of brandy. To make brandy butter.

Tesco has most things, just not a lot of it, semi-skimmed mile was only available in two pint bottles, no four or six available. And fresh produce was thin on the ground too, but plenty of asparagus, so we stocked up on that.

Back home for bacon butties, and Jools said she wasn't going to come out orchid-chasing with me, so I went on my own.

First up was Wye Down to see the Late Spiders, that a friend told me that they were quite advanced. In fact, many of the spikes were in flower, or close to it. When I started getting into orchids, the peak weekend was always the first weekend in June. Not any more, this is the peak weekend, two weeks ahead of what they used to be.

I climbed into the reserve, through the sea of crosswort, then up to the cages that dotted the side of the down, each cage marking the location of a precious orchid spike.

I check every one, some twice, to see if any rare ones had come up. I took shots of about half the spikes.

It is a ten minute drive to Park Gate, back through Hastingleigh and Stelling, then down the narrow grass-covered lanes, down a valley and up the other side.

Not many people about, so parking was easy. I grab the camera and walk to the reserve, and even from the entrance, I could see the pink of Monkey Orchids stretching into the second paddock and beyond.

I stopped at the first spike, the cloud covered the sun, so I had to wait ten minutes until sunlight returned. And from then I went round to check every spike in case a super-rare green one had appeared.

I saw no green MOnkey.

But I did meet some nice people, and I showed the the colony of Fly in the third paddock, And once the site had been surveyed, I said I would take them to see some Bird's-nest Orchids.

So, we travelled in a mini convoy, through Barham to Womenswold, parking outside the wood, andafter grabbing cameras, we walked in.

My friend, Terry, had told me that they were showing, but I wasn't prepared for the numbers of spikes that we saw, over 40 in all, including two groups of more than five, growing in the middle of a path.

I left them to it, and drove across country via the narrow lanes back to St Maggies, getting back at half one.

Shall we have lunch?

Yes, yes we shall.

We had cold tapas, and wine.

And once that was done, I settled down to watch the League 1 play-off final, Wycombe v Sunderland.

Always a tense game, but Sunderland ran out 2-0 winners. And the crowd went wild. Or the Sunderland half did.

We had more tapas for supper.

Whilst listening to funk and soul.

Friday 20th May 2022

And just like that, back to normal, and working from home.

Only it was the last day before a week off, a week of orchid chasing ahead. I just had to get through this last day.

And to make matters just peachy, I was awake well before five, as light streamed in round the blinds and the birds chirped their happiness about their cirrent state of affairs. I laid in bed until Jools got up, and I swung my legs out and got up.

The plan was for a long slow start. I had clocked a large number of hours travelling, 17 on Thursday alone, so I decided I deserved a late start, listen to a podcast and have a coffee, and another coffee before starting at eight.

There was stuff to do, mainly meetings. Which I leapt into.

Thing is, they filled up the morning, meaning no time for anything else.

At half eleven, Jools called to say the heating engineer was coming round, and would be here at midday, and would need to turn the electric off. So, having caught up with work, I logged off and packed the computer away.

Done for the week. And for a week.

The engineer came and got busing, cleaning bits and bobs, I made come coffee on the cooker, as we had no power for the kettle, of course.

He was done by two, Jools arrived back, and after a coffee, we went out. And not an orchid in sight this time.

Jools wanted to look at some stuff in Canterbury, buy a few things, and I could wander aimlessly with my camera snapping things.

I drove us to the city, avoiding the other cars and trucks. I took us to the other side of the city, parking near to where we were going to meet friends before going for a meal at the Korean Cowgirl.

Jools went off, and I wandered.

Snapping.

I eneded up in the Beaney Museum to go and snap the Flemmish glass panels on the stairwell. After I did that, I went up and found that the archive of Smallfilms, makers of Bagbuss, Ivor the Engine, The Clangers and many more were on display.

I had a huge smile on my face as my childhood bacame real before my eyes. A middle aged lady was leading her Mother round, I am guessing her mother has dementia, as she looked at me and smiled, then said "I love you". Not sure what to say, I replied that I loved her too.

She smiled.

I went to meet Jools, waiting in the High Street, watching the folks coming up from Westgate, many of them wearing mortarboards and gowns, clutching graduation papers. Proud parents trailed in their wakes.

Jools came, so we went down to Westgate to wait for Peter and Elaine, and they arrived on time, so we walked to a nice pub I had seen, the Thomas Becket.

They had two fine ales on, I tried both. Between sips, we chatted about work, music, football and stuff.

It was great, really was.

We walked to the restaurant, took our seats, ordered more drinks, and looked at the menu. I ordred the fried smoked ribs, which were amazing, as was the fried and spiced cauliflower.

Cheers!

We drank some more, I seem to remember a minty cocktail.

At ten, we had to leave as my allergies kicked in, and they had a train to catch, turning down an offer of a lift.

So, Jools drove us home.

It was the weekend, and a week off too.