Thursday 18th June 2026

Nine years ago our friend from New Zealand, Tony, was staying with us again for a few days, and from my blog for the day I saw visited Canterbury, had a wander round, then drove to (allegedly) England's smallest town, Fordwich all before opening time. And all of which I have no memory of.

But there were pictures to show it all happened. Which shows why me writing these words is so important, like Annie Nightingale said, Chase the Fade!

We were going to Canterbury this day too, but in the afternoon. Before that, being a Thursday, it was phys day, so up with the larks and blackbirds, drink coffee and be out of the house by ten to six.

Though in truth we were at least ten minutes behind schedule, and once outside greeted with thick fog hiding the world and sun from view.

Always amazing how in such bad weather, about 10% of drivers don't bother with lights of any kind on their cars, driving by touch, apparently. I put on our foglights and get to Whitfield safely.

I don't up the resistance after all, so do another session at level 15, and try to keep he RPM down to about 60, rather than push the kcalorie counter nearer to 400, as I was sweating buckets.

We needed no shopping, so back home for a brew and breakfast, and a lazy morning during which we both had a shower, and me a shave, so was all smelling lovely come ten.

I have the pleasure of now being able to shop in actual shops for clothes, not specialist online shops for the man with the fuller figure. Might not sound much, but it shows the progress over the last year.

And I needed a new pair of walking shoes, with decent tread, for our upcoming trip to the Alps and Spain. So, a visit to Go! Outdoor in Canterbury was called for.

A quick blast up the A2 trying to get ahead of the trucks heading away from the port, and bypassing pop-up roadworks too, we make it to Wincheap, turn onto the trading estate and outside the shop.

I go in, and knowing what I want, pretty much exactly, meant I found the shoe in three minutes, tried both on in another couple, walked up their test "slope" and down again.

I'll take them.

Though they were not cheap.

On the way to the tills I buy a pair of shorts, a pair of weather-proof trousers and a humourous t-shirt.

We'd better get out before I buy something else!

What else to do?

Well, it was lunchtime, and ten past opening time. So, a pub lunch, then?

Yes.

We park by the old Abbey, and walk to the pub we usually walk by, which had humourous road signs outside advertising gin and beer.

We go in.

And there are just one other group inside, and to hot outside, so we take a table and order a meaty sharing platter, though it comes on a board. And drinks.

It goes down grand, and passes the time to half one when we will walk to the "New" Marlow Theatre.

The city centre is packed with schoolchildren from all over Europe and tourists. The narrow cobbled streets are clogged with people, but we walk on. Stopping at an ice cream van for for dairy ice creams in waffle cones to munch and lick on the way to the theatre, stopping at the bridge over The Stour to finish them.

The fog had cleared earlier, and the day had turned warm and sunny, and the forecasted rain seemed unlikely. But as we stood on the bridge people watching, rain began to fall, so we went into the theatre while the rain came down harder.

Even as a teen, I found Yes, Minister very funny. It's follow up, Yes, Prime Minister was even funnier. It was Thatcher's favourite TV show too, as it wasn't just funny, but pretty much how Whitehall was.

Anyway, Jonathan Lynn has written a third part, I'm Sorry, Prime Minister, and the play is touring the country, and for a few days is playing in Canterbury.

I remember the New Marlow being built, and we have attended shows and plays here before, but never sat at the very top circle. Upon taking our seats we found the balcony was so close that it was uncomfortable even for a few minutes. But as the six rows behind us were empty, we thought we would take seats in one of them.

But the usher stopped us from sitting in the row behind, as these were more expensive, and we could only go onto one of the two very back rows. As no one was sitting in the six rows, this seemed harsh and over-zealous, but we climbed to the top and sat there, where the legroom was better, but not by much.

The play was excellent, with only four actors, but the acting and script was wonderful, and poignant.

Once the show ended, we climbed down the stairs, through its windows we had wonderful views over the city's rooftops to the cathedral, which still towers over the city. Much as it has done for nearly a thousand years.

Outside, the rain had stopped, and the crowds were less. So we walk back past the Christchuch Gate, over the main road and the pub, back to the car.

Traffic wasn't so bad heading out of the city, so we turned eastwards up the old A2 and eventually onto the bypass and home to Dover.