Friday 17th January 2026

Its Friday again!

A rest day. Though for Jools there was yoga and then her art group at the library.

What should I do?

I had an idea.

I believe that all the scaffolding has been removed from Canterbury Cathedral, so why not have a trip over there in the morning, when Jools is either yogaing or arting?

So, I had coffee and breakfast, so that when she came back at eight, I was ready to be dropped of at Priory Station.

At least it wasn't raining, instead clear and bright. And cold. But I told myself I didn't need a coat.

So I buy my ticket and went over to wait on the island platform for the train to roll in on platform 3.

Not may people about. All children had already gone to school, and most were already at work. Only a dozen of us were waiting for the train.

Once it arrives and we get on, there's a five minute wait until the train goes back the way it came, joining the main line before disappearing into Priory Tunnel.

And then through Buckland, River, Kearsney, Lydden, Shepherdswell and so on until we arrived at Canterbury East 25 minutes or so later.

From there it was just a ten minute walk to the centre, then along the narrow cobbled Mercery Lane, past the Buttercross to the entrance.

Christchurch Gate was closed, which was not unusual, but there was a sign to the side stating the Cathedral was closed Thursday and Friday due to a conference.

Bugger.

So, what to do?

Have a brew and think about it.

I walked back to Castle Street to Tiny Tim's Tearooms, where I have a brew and a cheese toastie.

There's always people to watch, so a stream of customers come and go, some to find a table inside, some to buy teacakes or buns.

Half an hour passed.

Jools was going to meet me off the train at ten past twelve, so I wandered over to Marks and Spencer to look for a jumper.

Up to the second floor, and finding lots of knitwear, but as yet, none in my size. There were few other customers and fewer staff, unlike the food store on the ground floor that was packed.

I could have wandered up to the local Wetherspoons, but I pass on that, and walked down to Eastbridge Hospital. Its still closed, and further issues with the structure have been found, and hundreds of thousands of pounds is needed to save it.

A shame.

A dark cloud approached from the west, so it was a race between it and me as to whether I could make it back to the station dry.

I reach Dane John Park as the drizzle starts, but then there is just the bridge over the ring road and I was back at the station.

When I arrived, the smell of fresh coffee from the station café smelled wonderful, so I would have a cup of java when I got there. Only to find it had closed. I suppose just one train in each direction each hour doesn't make it worthwhile to stay open outside peak times.

So I went to sit on the platform, and see if any unusual workings were going to pass.

A Javelin went through, not stopping, I guess on a route-leaning trip, these are seen at Canterbury West, but not East.

Ten minutes later, my train pulled in. Hundreds of seats to choose from, so I sat on the left, so when we passed Kearsney I could have a look at our old place on Crabble Hill.

Truth is we went by too quick to see much. I do miss the views of the railway, but the space and quiet in St Maggies is not something I would swap.

Jools was waiting, so I climb in and she takes us home.

Or was going to, but asked if I fancied fish and chips.

I did, so instead of going home, we went to Deal, parking in Middle Street, but we were amazed by the number of cars about, and we nabbed the only remaining empty space.

We walked to The Strand, and along to the chippy. But they were full, and two groups were waiting for a table. So, we went to the Turkish place along the row of shops, had a choice of twenty tables.

A beer, Falafel followed by a main of Kofte Kebab and salad sure hit the spot. A sweet Turkish coffee rounded the meal off, so happy with that, we walk back to the car and I drive us home.

And that was that, really.

We watch some more educational telly, have a brew at five, so to be ready for the music quiz at six. Which I do poorly at, but only eight guess the album as well.

That leaves football, with WBA losing 3-2 to Middlesborough, in a very entertaining game. As long as you didn't support either teams playing.