Saturday 18th December 2021

THe weekend.

And the start of a week off.

And in preparation for relaxing, we both laid in bed until twenty past seven, which is almost the afternoon. For us.

I get up, feed the cats and make the first coffee of the day.

Shall we go out for breakfast?

Yes. Yes we shall.

So, we get dressed and are out by half eight, driving to Walmer. The plan had been to eat in Sandwich, but the Corner Cafe on the main road is good enough, and there was parking, so we pulled over and it was still warm enough to sit outside.

We both order a medium breakfast, and sit to admire the day, and the light traffic heading into Deal.

The food came and it was very nice, as we both seemed to be hungry, that's what a good night's sleep does.

Once we had cleared our plates, I pay and we drive through Deal and out through Sholdham to Sandwich.

Not much traffic in Sandwich, we follow the one way system to the quay, pay for two hours parking, and wander along The Strand to St Mary's, a redundant church that I had not visited for nearly a decade and wanted to snap the fittings.

There was an art show on, so I snap the church and Jools looks at the art, most of it very good, including some hand drawn macro shots, but as we were here to get our own stuff framed, we needed no more art.

So once I had the shots, we walked back to the framers and arranged for a large street scene from Times Square and ten other shots from the US and Japan half that size to be frames, as well as some art paited by a friend who is a member of the GWUK group, which he gave us when we went to see him in Liverpool two years ago now.

And that was that.

We walked back to the car, along the bank of the Stour, and after taking a shot of a wooden ship, I got confused with the two camera straps I had, thinking both were round my neck, I let go of the 6D with the 50mm fitted, and both fell to the ground.

CRASH.

The lens had taken the full force, and it is beyond repair. The glass is fine, but the autofocus doesn't move the lens to focus, neither does it was manually either.

Sigh.

And I was due to be going away in 24 hours.

Sigh. Sigh.

We drove to Sandwich Bay, pay our pound to go to the observatory, and park up. I fit the macro and try some shots, the camera still works fine.

Phew.

So, we walk over the meadow the near the ringing area on the hunt for dragonflies, but I think as it was half eleven, it was so warm most were on the wing, either hawking or mating. So, we walk through the dune slacks, taking in the scene and snapping what I thought worth it. There were many Small Coppers about, and one rested long enough to get a shot.

We walked back to the car and then to home.

Arriving back at half twelve, in time to watch some football, if i wanted, but I reviewed the shots taken and arranged to pick up a new standard lens in Cambridge on Monday morning. That done, I make a coffee and we have the last two slices of limoncello and grappa tart.

That was preparation for the must-win game of Norwich v Watford, no excuses this time; a week's preparation, a near fully-fit squad. A vast improvement on the pitch needed against one of the other two teams promoted with us. 1-1 at half time, but Norwich faded in the 2nd, and along with it players and supporter's beliefs. 3-1 was a fair result, and not sure where the club go from here, outclassed once again.

Sigh.

I watch the first half of the late kick off game, Everton at Villa, not that good, so I miss the three Villa rattle in in the second half. Missed as we had a meal out booked, at Nameste at the Swingate with Jen to celebrate our anniversary.

Curry for starters then curry for main course, with rice and naans.

I even had a beer.

A whole pint.

Naughty Hobbit.

We were stuffed, it was half eight and dark. We say goodbye to Jen and I drive us home, where Scully was waiting on the drive, meowing angrily.

Welcome home, now feed me.