Road closures meant a circuitous journey to the Ventnor Botanic Garden, we went today thinking it would rain at the weekend. There were spots of rain today as well. Last time we came loads of schoolchildren also came playing pirates. They’ve now grown up to be shop assistants? farmers? benefit claimants? soldiers? CEOs? politicians? (shame if the latter) and the gardens were quieter and more relaxed.

Ventnor Botanic Garden felt like it had changed since we came 18 years ago. The tropical greenhouse has moved with the times to reflect climate change, it had an Indiana Jones style makeover which was appealing. There were attempts at Orientalism with a Japanese Torii gate in the middle of a meadow, and a Chinese bridge with blossom alongside. Pretty but missing the original spirit. I admired the way some tree roots in the garden had turned into writhing wooden snakes.

We had a drink and mint chocolate cake in the cafe before heading off for Appuldurcombe House which is a ruined mansion. One can only surmise what it was like when it had floors and wall hangings and sculptures on display and parties for the privileged. Now it is a skeleton of brick and stone.

There was no cafe extant there so we headed to the Old Smithy to eat in their cafe. Virginia found a table despite how busy the place was, we did have to wait for our food - just as well I kept the bits of paper from the till as they shout out the order numbers when trying to deliver the food. I mistakenly though they knew which table to take the food to.

In the afternoon Rob, a genial and talkative 75-year old, showed us round the cherry orchard he and his son run. The cherry trees are lined up like soldiers on the slopes, a few different kinds of cherries including a white English variety Merton Glory (?). The orchard is experimenting with replacements for herbicides to keep the weeds, with beekeeping as a sideline. There’s a stall near the Griffin which relies on honesty. A lot of people are honest. The orchard is more complicated to run than things used to be, there’s so many splendid rules and regulations to jump through nowadays.

We ate at The Taverners this evening, I had fish and chips and Virginia had a ploughmans. I really like the look of oak beam ceilings, uncrowded and we didn’t have to order at the bar.