Each year I resolve not to keep visiting the same old sites, and like the resolutions at New Year, I lapse at the first hurdle and dash off to somewhere where I know that I will see Early Purple Orchids in flower. The problem is that taking in new sites often means locating somewhere new by trial and error, or traveling longer distances. My problem with the regular haunts is that by and large there will be nothing new to see. The orchids will be nice to see, but will add nothing new to my knowledge. This will not necessary apply to every local site. I am certain that Alyn Waters and Minera Quarry have more secrets to be unlocked, so these deserve return visits. But, I am not going to change anything by return visits to other local sites; merely report that there were more or fewer in flower than other years. At least this year some 40% of sites visited were new to us; and that is after a decade or orchideering. Can I keep that up in 2019? Possibly only by fewer site visits overall.

The next dilemma is whether to roam likely sites picked out from a map or other resources knowing that many times all I will see is a few Common Spotted Orchids. There have been some orchid sites `discovered' using this method, and a `hit' is a fantastic feeling. At worst we get a walk in the countryside and a bit of exercise. Getting location details that are new (to me) from other enthusiasts increases the chances of seeing something new immensely. Against this is the simple fact that homing in on a precise grid reference holds no feeling of discovery. Middle ground is to find out what and where, and then explore, looking for the right habitats. This worked for us this year with Early Spider Orchids at Castle Hill.

So which areas should I plan to visit in 2019? This year a July trip to Gloucestershire was disappointing due to the weather, and early flowering times. In 2017 a trip to the Chilterns was equally disappointing with places like Warburg having fewer flowering Epipactis than one square yard at a number of local sites. Other lauded sites had zilch in flower. Perhaps we just followed the wrong tracks. Scotland should be on my list, but it means long journeys, and I dread the midges. I swell up after some insect bites, and each time it is worse with aches now replacing itching. Cumbria seems a better bet, with unticked hybrids and varieties on my list; even from sites we have visited. Kent never disappoints, but is a long way, and apart from stumbling across a `Mankey Orchid' will I see anything new? The orchids are always a delight to see though, with many not seen locally. East Anglia is an area never visited for orchids and does boast S. lingua just about, but the other big names there seem to be by invitation only.

Then there is further afield, across the water. April in the Med almost cannot fail, but where new to go; the list is too long. I have been reading up on trip reports, and SW France, SE France, Rhodes, NW Greece, Sicily, Portugal, E Cyprus and so on all tempt me. I want to do the lot having read about them. It seems that everybody else is having a grand old time ticking species off the list of what to find. but the reality is that few actually do go to many places. Now Switzerland in July looks tempting too, and is home to alpine species not seen elsewhere. The Burren in May is also looking a winner, even if the number of species is low, there are some not found elsewhere in the British Isles and Ireland. June and the North Sea coastal regions of Holland also tempt, mixing that with a few days in Amsterdam. Decisions, decisions. I have to confess that I cannot get further than the pleasantries in a few foreign languages, so areas where English is spoken (tourist hotspots) would be needed, unless I learn to communicate through the medium of interpretive dance!

Basically I am going to have to devise some mathematical algorithm that factors in cost, time, distance, transport, language problems, numbers of orchids, number of species, and so on and hopefully get an ordered list based on desirability and practicability. And I will then, when the time comes, just dash off somewhere on a whim.