Monday 15th May 2017

Back to work. Except for Jelltex, who has not only this week off, but next week too into the bank holiday weekend. Yipee

However, the much fabled lay in eluded me, and I was awake before six, waiting for the alarm to go off and Jools get up. I do lay in bed after a good stretch, I laze until I can smell the coffee brewing.

Poor JOols has to work, and poor Jelltex has to find things to do to fill the day ahead. Jools gets ready for her working day, and I drink my coffee, check the internet, and am disappointed once again to find that Trump had not either resigned or impeached overnight. I am sure if will happen one day mind.

Tony gets up at eight, and after breakfast of Bran Flakes and more coffee, and finally after two showers, one each, we are ready for the world.

Top of the list of things to see must be the white cliffs, and as the cliffs stretch along the east coast, why not go to the nearest ones at St Margaret's. And as the school run was over, it was simple to drive through the village, and then to the Monument.

After parking, we get out and find the weather is turning for the worse, and there is rain in the air, but dry enough for photography, at least a few sanps to say we had been there, and the look of horror on Tony's face as I stood on the edge of the cliff when he wanted to take my picture.

From there we take the short and winding road down into the Bay, but we don't stop as the parking attendants are about, and I have little change of the machine. I don't think either of us took a shot.

Anyway, onto the main event, shopping in downtown Dover, as Tony needed a few things. So, we crawl back up the Bay road in 2nd gear, then along Reach Road, looking at the fine views over the Channel to La Belle France in the distance. You could see it, but it was misty, so the cliffs were unclear. But then there would be other days.

Dover is, well, Dover. We park near the now-closed Co-Op, and walk to Sports Direct so Tony could buy some shoes and a coat. In a turn up, I also buy some trainers and a couple of walking trousers for the Scotland trip. As if walking trousers wasn't mad enough, they also sold golf trousers. I mean, who buys special trousers to play golf? Golfers, of course.

From there we go to Smiths to buy some stationary; don't ask. But then when you are on a holiday of a lifetime, you want to make notes as you go along to make sure no details don't get forgotten. That done, it is time for Tony to see some orchids.

It is just a short drive up the cliffs to Samphire Hoe, parking up, we find the cafe isn't open, so the cuppa and a cake plan we hatched was scuppered. That leaft us with the walk along beside the railway, looking for the last of the Early Spiders that are clinging on, and to my surprise I find a few, including a var. flavesens, but I don't take a shot, I mean, there's always next year isn't there? Yes, already making plans for next season!

We Find a couple to talk to; they are there because it is the wife's birthday, and they came over from Broadstairs for a walk in the drizzle, although they did not know that is what the weather was going to be like. We walk with them a bit, and chat, nice enough people for sure.

After walking back to the car, we talked about lunch, and I thought that me might try the cafe in Elham, something traditionally English.

The Elham Valley road was pretty busy, but we could find a place to park, only to find that it was closed on Monday. Bugger.

But in most villages there is always a pub, but in Elham there is two. One is a Shepherd Neame, which is OK, but the beer really isn't that good, not the pub's fault. But behind on the square in front of St Mary's Church is the King's Arms, a fine pub that does great food, and with just two other customers, we got served quick. And I ordered us both ham ploughman's to eat, as this must be a day full of the "British " experience. The meal came with fresh bread, pickles, salad and plenty of ham, as you would expect.

The last stop of the afternoon was Caesar's Camp, which overlooks the Channel Tunnel dept and terminal above Folkestone. And its a good walk too.

I take Crete Road up from Newington, which then steeply rises up the down, narrow and twisting with high banks on each side, until we come to the top, and the road then hugs the edge of the down, with spectacular views down onto the tracks far below. After parking on the road, we walk up the the iron age fort, until the view to the west opened up, and we could wee the tracks vanishing into the hill on which we stood.

Rain was still in the air, and it was none too pleasant, we waited for half an hour to see if a Eurostar would come thundering out of the tunnel, but it didn't, so we retrace our steps back to the car.

Tony wanted some more stuff for his trip, so that meant going to Tesco, and with the schools had just finished, that meant it was going to be interesting to say the least.

Getting a Sim Card for his phone with a data bundle, then getting the card fitted in his phone took half an hour, then came the search for old fashioned bars of soap. They don't sell much of them now, most is the liquid stuff, and most of what they do sell is the yucky coaltar stuff your Granny used to use.

Anyway, we get the stuff, pay for it and cam escape back home where there we three hungry cats waiting to be fed.

The plan for the evening was fish and chips, but the best restaurant in Deal burned down last week! I know, who'd have thunk it? Anyway, I look online and there is one on Middle Street which seems ok, so the plan is to go over when Jools comes back from work.

Deal is at least quiet in the evening, and parking is free, so we park up near the pier then walk though on of the narrow lanes to Middle Street only to find it closed. And much to our excitement there was a TV show being shot; the 3rd series of The Tunnel.

We wait for the scene to be shot, then we can walk past, looking at the crew looking at us as they get ready to reshoot the scene.

And then we find the chippy was closed on Monday!

Change of plan; curry!

After walking back to the car we drive into Walmer to the curry house on The Strand, which is where Jools and I have used in the past. here is just one other table taken, so after ordering drinks, we get papadums, and then wait for the main course to arrive.

The food was fine, service excellent as ever, but with each of us having one drink, we decide to call it a night and go home so we could sit outside, if it was warm enough.

Bats have emerged now, so as we sit in the shelter with the new solar powered lights twinkling above us, we watch the bats wheel and loop the loop as they chase insects.