Saturday 1st April 2023

Saturday, and hey, hey it's the weekend.

I felt as though the weather had kept me trapped in the house pretty much all week, so I wanted to go out.

Jools came back from work evening, saying that her old boss had visited Rochester Cathedral and said there is a fantastic art display of thousands of paper doves, and a huge table made from reclaimed 5,000 tree trunk found in a fen in Norfolk.

Yes, we would like some of that action, and as it has been three years since we were last there, seemed like a good idea.

In fact, at the beginning of March 2020, it was the first trip we took in the new Audi, and of course, two weeks later there was lockdown and deaths.

So, a trip back, at Easter, for a rebirth and to see some art and a huge table.

But first, shopping.

And being the start of the month, we get much more than usual, including wine to make sloe port and stuff for washing and cleaning.

Back home to put it all away and have breakfast and second coffee before heading out. Though because of Brexit-related delays in the port, we did have to leave through Guston and Pineham to get to the A2 as traffic through Whitfield was at a standstill.

Up the A2 to Faversham, then along the Motorway until we turned off just after the Medway bridge. It was later than we had hoped, but thought nothing of it, really.

But there was a food festival on near the caste, and all parking was full, we drove along the river thinking we would just give up, then following the sat nav back into town we find a tiny car park with spaces, and just a few minutes walk from the cathedral and castle.

Perfect.

As we drove past the parish church in Strood, I saw thatt he door was open: oh good.

On the way to the cathedral, we called into a café for breakfast. Second breakfast. Elevenses. I had a bacon butty and Jools had a panini, which hit the spot, meaning we were ready to go and mingle with people.

By the time we emerged, and walked along the High Street to the church, it was closed. So I took some shots of the outside, and then we headed for the bridge over the Medway, and before the Cathedral, there was the Bridge Chapel.

I had discovered from a fr

iend that the Bridge over the Medway at Rochester was owned, repaired and funded by a charity/trust, and had been this was pretty much from the 14th century.

Only the other shell of the Chantry Chapel of the Bridge now remains, but a new roof has been put on, and the chapel now used for meetings, and has a large wooden table filling most of the Chancel. I record the details, say thanks to the two friendly guides, and we finally walk to the Cathedral.

The food festival needed tickets to go in, it smelled good, and a band was playing poor Britpop numbers to entertain the thin crowds.

We entered the cathedral, and hit by the sight of over 10,000 paper doves, all lit with pink light, having over the Nave.

It was impressive.

As was the table, pushed to one side but half the length of the Nave, and made of two and three thick planks.

I went round taking shots of the stained glass with the big lens, whilst Jools sat and looked after the camera bag. Despite it being a cool day, with my fleece on I was hot, so needed a drink, and along the old High Street was The George, and they showed us to the "garden", which was a huge tent filled with people, one party were loudly celebrating someone's 40th birthday.

But our drinks were brought quickly, and being in the corner we could people watch, of course.

It was two, and time to go home. The traffic jams of earlier had melted away, so we walked to the car, turned out onto the main road out of town, to the motorway and home.

On the radio Citeh put 4 (four) past Liverpool, then all was about preparations for the main group of games.

We arrived back home at three, time for a brew and two hot cross buns each, and for me, listen to the footy on the radio, and hopeful that City's late push to the play-offs would start today.

It didn't.

A 1-0 loss to Sheffield Utd, just one shot on goal, and the season is deader than flares.

I watched the evening game, Chelsea losing to Villa, whilst Craig returned on the radio and spun some funk and soul.

Perfect.