And a Friday. I think we were all really quite pooped what with us galavanting around taking pictures, visiting pubs and eating good pub food.
So we all had a lie in, and at the crack of half ten we set off up the coast to Broadstairs and Margate. Broadstairs is Dickens central, in that he bought a house there and wrote a book called 'Bleak House'; his house was cunningly renamed 'Bleak House.' There are also 'Old Curiosity Shoppes' and the such. But, out of season its streets are empty of tourists, and there is plenty of room on the beach for the casual photographer.
And Margate is, er, Margate. Faded seaside glamour anyone? More of that later.
But before then, we had an appointment with a road sign. Really.
We live here in east Kent, just down the coast from the town of Sandwich. Sandwich. And would you believe nearby there is a village called Ham. I kid you not. And at one point there is a crossroads with a sign pointing the way to Ham and Sandwich. And for some reason, the sign it quite popular with photographers and trophy hinters.
So, can we find the road sign?
Jools and I had seen it before; we knew where Sandwich and Ham was, and the general direction of where the sign should be. and so we went up country lanes, down country lanes. Up and down, east and west. And just as we were about to give up, there it was.
Sami snapped it and we headed off to Broadstairs and the land of Dickens.
Broadstairs and Dickens seem to go together; the town makes a big thing of it, there is, or was a Dickens museum. As I said there are shops, shoppes, and streets named after him of his books of characters from his works. all nice though. And the town is great, huddled on a low cliff overlooking Viking bay, with narrow streets and hardly a place to park. Its winter, and so we find a spot and part.
As we get out we are hit by an icy blast. Jeez its cold. We walk to see Bleak House and to snap it, down to the harbour and back up the hill to the main street and the car park and back into the warm.
We drive on round the coast, past North Foreland Lighthouse, Palm Bay and into Margate. We park at the Lido, put on an extra layer of clothing and head out along the promenade.
Nearly finished is the new Tate gallery being built on the arm of the harbour, and is a shiny four box monstrous carbuncle; lets hope the art inside is better than the building.
we walk along the prom until the amusement arcades run out, and turn round into the breeze. It is at least sunny and the light is wonderful. We head into the old town centre to have lunch at our favourite, craziest cafe; the Mad Hatter's. But, being winter, its closed. And so we retire to a nice Italian cafe on the prom and have Americanos and panninis and generally warm up.
And so with the sun setting, we drive back via the country butchers, stock up on some meat and head home for coffee and French cake.
That night, we treat Sami to a real British experience; a pub quiz. So head up to the old Harbour Board Social club and meet with Jools' family, get the drinks in, and sit down for the quiz to begin.
And we win! Or take part in a three way tie.
WIN!
And this morning, we take Sami down to the station, as it was time for her to head off to more friends. And like that, we are two again.
We head home, put the kettle on ready for a quiet weekend in which to draw a breath.
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