Saturday 27th April 2019

At least with two days over the weekend in which not to work, or think about work, my brain allowed me to sleep.

But I sleep to half six, then am woken by one of the cats bringing in, and eating, some small bird or rodent, beneath the bed. This is normal, apparently.

We get up, have coffee and get ready to go to Tesco and get the shopping. Situation normal.

And that done, I have breakfast, and then the great imponderable, what to do with the day?

For some reason, I wanted to go to Faversham. N idea how it popped into my head, but the parish church, St Mary of Charity, is a big un, and it has been maybe seven years since I was last there.

I was tempted not to go, as the weather was going to be shit, but in the end, we could go, snap the church, window shop and do other stuff in the area.

So, why not?

And so, after putting the shopping away and me having fruit and yoghurt, we load the car and drive up the A2 past Canterbury to Faversham. Faversham is situated between the old high road and the coast. Or the marshes which lead to the coast. Built on creeks and inlets, is the town, breweries, warehouses and church.

But, like many towns, it isn't built for the modern world with the motor car, so getting into the town is bad enough, and then you have to park.

We miss the main car parks, having passed them before we saw the signs, so end up on a one hour spot on the side of Abbey Street, just over from the old brewery and the church.

Jools goes to shop, so I walk through the brewery to St Mary, the top of it's spire visible from all over town.

And it is open, a coffee morning is underway, I am shouted at the close the door, but allowed to get on with snapping.

It is a huge church, with a Georgian nave, but the chancel and transepts are far older, and the walls full of memorials and tombs. One of the pillars is stil highly painted, dating perhaps from the 13th or 14 century. It is stunning.

I take some 300 shots, taking 40 minutes, so by the time Jools comes to find me, we are running out of time with the parking, so scoot back to the car, load up and drive out of town.

Back to the end of the motorway, but we head east along Thanet Way as we want to go to Preston to the butchers, and a look round the garden centre next door.

Its not quite as windy as expected, but the poor forecast means that traffic to Margate and the coast is thin, so the drive is pleasant enough along the coast and onto the silted up Wantsum Channel across to Thanet.

From there to Monkton then down onto the old marshland, through Stourmouth to Preston.

Being bbq season, the place is busy, but the boys have time for some footy based banter, and Norwich on the verge of promotion, there is much good humour. I get some lamb for Sunday dinner, and a few things for the freezer, and we are done.

Back home via Sandwich, home before midday, so back in time for the afternoon football on the radio. But after lunch, I help Jools plant more seedlings in the garden, but we are running out of garden in which to put the seedlings into.

At three, I stop to listen to the football, and to set up an account so I could watch Norwich in the evening, in their last home of the season, and anything but a defeat would see us promoted.

First up at five fifteen, was Sheffielf Utd, as if they failed to win, then a victory for us would see us crowned champions too, but The Blades were playing Ipswich, already relegated and bereft of confidence.

Sheffield romped to a 2-0 win, could have been eight, really.

Then, the main event.

Norwich v Blackburn.Rovers were on a four match unbeaten run, whilst we had no lost in 12, but not won in four.

The ground was packed, the atmosphere electric, as City tried to be promted only the second time at Carrow Road.

I was on edge, so close, and yet, not an easy game, and then there is the final match next week against Villa who have won ten in a row.

City take a 2-0 lead on twenty minutes, then go to sleep and Rover pull one back on twenty two. But City could and maybe should have scored eight too. Two great chances from Pukki cleared off the line.

Into the second half, and nearer and nearer the Prem we crept. Into the final ten minutes, and Rovers had to score twice. The ground silent with the tension, but on 85, the realisation that we were going to do it, there was no way Rovers were going to score twice.

The final whistle went, and that was it. There was no pitch invasion, but tears and cheers.

Sky interviewed the whole team, as the fans cheered on from the stands. There was a lap of honour, chants and cheers.

I toasted the win, and again with a third bottle of beer.

The city will celebrate into the night, I would go to bed .