Sigh.
At least on Friday we were spared the trek to Tesco at we had done that on Thursday. But instead we had to take Molly and Little Girl to the vets for their annual jabs which are required by the cattery if we have to leave them there when we go on our travels. So, it should be easy, right; come home, round up cats and pop them in the baskets and off to the vet?
No, Molly was no where to be seen. We had locked the flap, which had broken in the kittens desperation to get out, but Molly had not come in. I searched in all her usual hiding places, with no luck. Just as it was getting too late, she wandered up as I was getting ready to feed the other cats. I grabbed her and took her into the porch, at which point she saw the cat basket and operation panic began. I closed the door to the house, which means there was no escape. She gave in and went willing into the basket.
That over, it was just a quiet evening ahead. I cooked maple syrup covered chicken with fresh asparagus and corn, all accompanied with a fine glass of red wine.
As I had bought a beef joint on the way home from work on Friday, I thought it good we have some vegetables. and so we headed down into Dover first thing to run some chores and get the vegetables. we paid some students to clean the car whilst we shopped, and so that was all done and all set for a relaxing day.
The afternoon and evening were spent on the sofa, for me, watching the first of the play-off games and then the more serious matter of the Champions League final. Despite all the hype, it was as easy as you like for Barcelona, and a very comfortable 3-1 win, and SAF's face was redder than ever, but Man Utd had been beaten by the better team.
And so to Sunday, supposedly the best day weather-wise of the weekend. And my plan was to head to Sittingbourne to ride on the re-opened Sittingbourne and Kemsley Railway. It used to serve a huge print works in the town, and is now run by volunteers. And open again after two years after the line secured permission to run trains on the line again.
Anyway, I had not ridden this line before, but it seemed easy to find, looking at the map. But, due to vandalism, the line is not yet operating into the centre of Sittingbourne, but you had to go to an intermediate station, near to the ASDA store.
we drove round and round, and eventually into the ASDA carpark, and there were signs. we parked the car and walked along beside the hedge, the other side of which we guessed was the line. There was a gate, and we walked through and up the embankment was the line with a waiting train. we paid our £4 and climbed on. By the time for departure came round, the two carriages and one wagon was full.
we were in the open wagon, and it was wonderful being behind the tank engine, smelling the smoke and steam as we trundled through the industrial landscape, or abandoned industry of Sittingbourne, until we arrived at the end of the line, at the gates of the mill the line used to serve. There now is a collection of sheds and buildings, which is pretty interesting. There was time to have a coffee and a look round before it was time to head back to the train for the return trip.
Once back at ASDA, I suggested heading to the new gallery in Margate, and so that is what we did, head off onto the motorway, and then on the Thanet way towards naughty Margate.
As usual we parked at the Lido, and from there it is a short walk to the Turner Contemporary which has just opened. It looks like a warehouse from the outside, but inside there is a good and interesting selection of modern art, all thought provoking, and well worth heading to look at. For me the best installation is the round shaped window in the main hall with walls of glass either side, giving a view of infinity. I loved it.
Time then to head back home and begin cooking dinner; roast beef and all the trimmings.
And so to Bank Holiday Monday: sunshine shock!? Well, eventually. It was cold and misty at first, but we decided to have a walk, our usual one via various lanes to the cliffs and back through the village. As we walked, the mist cleared and the sun came out, it even got warm. I saw a new species of butterfly, a Holly Blue; I even got near enough to snap it!
We called in at the Bluebirds Cafe for tea and shortbread before we headed for home. Heck it was warm by now, and it was good to get home, pop a pizza in the oven and crack open a bottle of homebrew, before it was time to sit down to watch the championship play-off. Phew, rock and roll.
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