Tuesday 3rd May 2016

Monday

And after two glorious spring days, if a little on the cold side, Monday dawned cold, wet and misty. It is the tradition on a Bank Holiday of course.

We had little planned, other than to prep for the holiday, so, whilst Jools had a lie in, I got down to the very serious business of watching the weekend's football. So with a fresh cup of coffee, I settle down after putting the bird seed out and switch from watching the football to the events outside. I have to say the birds were more enjoyable what with City losing, Toon winning and Sunderland drawing. A grim weekend of games for sure.

I was going to mow the lawn before the rain arrived, but the cloud was thick enough already for a steady drizzle to fall, a Kentish dreich if you will. However, there was chores to be done.

The big news is that we needed a new stand for drying the washing up on. I'm sure this has a name, but Jools and I are stumped. Anyway, the one we have or had, is held together with tie wraps and bent pieces of wire, so, what the heck, we will buy a new one. Only it turns out we are pretty choosy when it comes to these things, and want one with certain design features and workmanship; why can't which do a report on these? Why not indeed.

And even bigger news was that we were going to go into the very centre of Canterbury to the cookware shop to buy it. And as usual it meant the military style operation, in an out in the minimum time, with a list of objectives, and hopefully we wouldn't see any tourists. A quick blast up the A2, past the endless line of trucks struggling to get away from the port and into Canterbury, right to the car park next to Marks and Sparks and there was wall to wall bloody French students everywhere. Maybe they don't have cars in France, and standing in the road eating a sandwich is acceptable. Not in my manor it isn't.

We find a place to park, and make for the first of the two cookware shops; £34 for some wood and stainless steel; but it's pretty much what we want. We check on the one near the cathedral, and I am tempted by some shiny new cake tins and baking trays. Ohh, feel the quality. We go back to the other shop to get the rack, then to Marks to buy slippers. Yes, we are that old. Three floors of fashion for the unfashionable, who'd have thunk it? But they have slippers, lots of slippers. So many slippers. I pick a pair in about the right size, we pay and make for the skybridge to the car park and make good our escape.

We are back home by midday and wait a full 20 minutes before having a two course lunch of chicken in a bun followed by asparagus. And a pint of ale. Yay, beer.

In the afternoon we pack. All ready for the big day later in the week, and reality is hitting home, as later I find myself checking the weather for Tokyo on Friday and Kyoto after the weekend; these are exciting times indeed. The cats are unaware of their impending holiday in the country, which is a shame really that we are going as they are all just wonderful things to be around.

Leftovers again for dinner; pasta salad and aubergine, and more beer. Which was reather nice and easy to pile onto our plates.

That evening we had the radio on to listen to see if Spurs could put pressure on Leicester at the top of the table to carry on the battle into the final two games. They were at Chelsea, and all seemed to be going so well at halftime, cruising and 2-0 up. But in the second half, the players seemed more concerned with kicking each other, Chelsea pulled it level, meaning Leicester were champions. Just like that, and 13 months ago they were bottom of the league. An incredible story.