Saturday 9th May 2026

Over the eighteen years I have been writing this blog, we have done many cool and interesting things, as well as stuff that is quite niche.

Only once before have I been asked not to post pictures of the place and things we visited, and even then six months later we were allowed.

But yesterday, I visited a place that has, over the years, has suffered a huge amount of theft and damage, so the team that care for it and the landowner asked those of us who did visit, not to post photos on "social media" and not to name the site.

All through yesterday I was thinking about how to write this up in the blog, but there we are.

My friend, Andy, in Faversham, told me about this visit, so I signed up. And at seven on Saturday morning in Faversham, so we could head west.

It was going to be a fine, sunny and warm Spring day, so driving through King's Wood to Challock and down into Ashford was very pleasant, but then over the Weald to west Kent, though ancient woodland, verdant farmland and picturesque villages, was most enjoyable indeed.

The sun caused the colours of the trees and fields to really "pop", especially the Horse chestnuts with their flowers sticking up from end of branches like lights on a Christmas tree, coloured pink, red and white.

Over the border into Kent, through Battle and into Sussex.

As we were ahead of schedule, we called in at a service station, bought a sandwich and drink, ate before we drove to the site, where we were half an hour or more early.

Our hosts had arrived and were setting up, so we sat on the tail gate listening to birds, especially Skylarks that were singing so sweetly, but joined in by Wrens, Robins, Starling and a Song thrush.

Then it was time for the visit.

Two hours later it was over. And, sadly, I won't be able to post any shots of the visit, ever.

But once back in the warm sunshine, we bid our hosts farewell, and we headed back to Kent, the sat-nav this time taking us via Rye.

And thoughts turned to beer and maybe lunch. At first I thought of the pub in Ivychurch, but it was then I remembered The Woolpack, a 14th century Inn beside the A259. Timber-framed and not a straight line in any room.

We ordered pints of Spring ale, and then baked camembert with bacon, which we consumed in the beer garden, as it was warm enough.

A most agreeable end to the trip.

I then drove us up to Ashford, onto the motorway and back through Challock and onto Faversham, dropping Andy at his doorstep, or near it.

From there it was just half an hour's drive up the A2 past Canterbury to home, getting back at just before three, and the start of the games on the radio.

There were just three games on at three, so I did computer stuff while I listened to news from the games. At half five Man City played and beat Brentford 3-0, thus piling the pressure onto Arsenal, who play on Sunday.

While the game played out, we had nachos and beer for supper, with an extra shake of hot chilli sauce to pep things up a bit.