Monday 2nd February 2026

I have a friend who will visit Canterbury Cathedral once the scaffolding has been taken down from outside.

I had tried two weeks ago to check, but found the cathedral closed for a conferance.

Last week the weather was most inclement, apart from Wednesday when there just wasn't time, as it opens at 10:00 for the winter months, not an hour earlier like in summer on previous visits.

The forecast changed for Monday, so plans we made to head to the city once the rush hour ended, and get there at about ten when the cathedral would be quiet.

Jools went swimming first thing, I went back to sleep and woke at six with Jools having already left, and me being used as a kitty bed.

I got out from beside Cleo, got dressed and made a coffee. Downstairs I found one of the cats had used the litter tray for "number 2s", and had wandered off halfway, so there was a train of poo across the carpet. Jools had cleaned the carpet, but I would change the litter and the remains of the cat's eggs.

Once daylight arrived, the litter was emptied, the tray cleaned, dried and refilled. Bird seed refilled too, and then to catch up on stuff online, wait for Jools so we could have breakfast.

We were all set for a half nine departure, a quick blast up the A2 in damp conditions, along New Dover Road to the ring road, then to the parking garage where we would pay a nice chap to clean the car whilst we went about our stuff.

I went straight to the Cathedral. Its always a wonderful sight, seeing the towers rise above the timber-framed houses along the narrow cobbled streets as you approach the Christchurch Gate. I always take a shot or two, and did again.

I paid to get in, and walked into the Close, and saw that indeed the scaffolding had all gone.

It loos splendid, all clean stone and repaired carvings.

I walk in and see the Nave empty of chairs, not sure I've seen that before. A guide asks if I needed help or guidance, but I was good.

She did tell me to make sure I saw the newly carved updated list of Archbishops, as the new one was in vestured last week at St Paul's in that London.

I took shots.

And I went round taking shots of memorials and views I hadn't snapped before, or love taking.

The cathedral was pretty empty still, so I admire the windows, especially now the west window is free of scaffolding and all glass has been replaced. These are the oldest stained glass in England, dating from the 12th century.

On leaving, two groups of schoolchidren are entering, their voices filling the large empty space of the Nave. I wait for them to pass, then go to sit in the Close, message Jools as to where we should meet.

I get no answer, so exit through the shop, and walk up to Tiny Tim's Tearooms, where I order a beef and cheese bagel and a pot of tea, as I had come suddenly hungry.

At midday, I get a message from Jools, we would meet back at the car. So I walk to Whitefriars, and wait for her before we took the lift to where our car was waiting, all gleaming and looking like new.

We drove home in the rain, which had began again, this time set in for the day.

I had bought two cheese scones from Tiny Tim's, so that was our lunch. Though in truth there were like small loaves. So much so, in fact, we wanted nothing else to eat that day.

I sat on the sofa with Scully to keep her company, so we watch Bangers and Cash for 90 minutes.

Its great that we can just write the day off because either we want to or the weather is crap.

There was Sunderland v Burnley on the tellybox to entertain me, though it was pretty much one way traffic. So much so I went to bed at half time, but the cheers from next door woke me up with Sunderland scored their third and last goal of the night.