31st December 2018

We woke up very late, nearly eight, and with daylight and sunshine the order of the day, we thought we really should go out.

Do you fancy having Breakfast out? Jools asked. Funny you should say that, I do.

So, after coffee and getting dressed, we get in the car and drive to Deal, park in the town centre car park, pay to have the car washed while we wander and eat. We just don't know where to go.

So, we walk into the High Street and along towards the Town Hall, what with some of the normal places to eat being closed, we end up in a converted pub, The Rose, where they did an unusual line in food, mainly with a Spanish flavour. We order sourdough toast and jam, and for me followed by an omelette, which was pretty good, but Jools raved about her mushrooms on toast with goat's cheese.

We did a bit of window shopping, including buying a loaf of fresh bread from No Name Shop (yes, really) along with two fruit tarts.

We look in a couple of shops, me looking for a book, but fail to find it, and then my back begins to ache, so we call it a day and go back to the car, which was all clean and shiny. We pay the man then leave town for home, getting back just before eleven and to do, nothing of any importance, just for me to finish the last few posts of the year.

And then in the late afternoon my computer breaks. It tries to restart, but fails. Seems to be a keyboard failure, so unplug that and try again; it seems to work, so I just use my work mouse to surf.

But the day was fading, light fading not just on the day but the year. Next dawn would be in the new year.

We listen to music until it was time to go to Jen's, we take the Uckers board, a batch of sausage rolls I had made and a bottle of beer for me.

All set.

The roads were so quiet, hardly any other traffic at all about. So we cruised to Whitfield, where all was ready for a night of games.

We had two rounds of Uckers, then switched to cards.

The G&T flowed for Jen and John, and while we played, Betty watched reruns of Bullseye, at FULL VOLUME.

Come five to midnight, glasses are filled and we file into the living room to watch the fireworks from London, and once the first chime had sounded, we let off poppers, cheered and then hugged and kissed.

I had to go outside and be the dark and handsome stranger carrying coal and a mince pie into the house and wish Jen that may she never go hungry, may she always have fuel. Or something. But I pointed out it wasn't real coal, just the lookalike stuff from the gas fire, it probably didn't count, but the superstitions, pah! Anyway, she was happy.

We pay to half one, then with Jen sweeping the jackpot, we call it a night and drive home, with still little traffic about, but lots of empty KFC and Maccy Dees bags beside the road. Happy New year...