Tuesday 1st February 2011

And so we waved goodbye to Sami as she sat on the train to London , we walked back to our car, turned around and headed back home.

It is quite surprising how absolutely shattered we were, or I certainly was after the week’s exertions. We went back home, put the kettle on and slumped down on the sofa. Phew!

Julie had a course at lunchtime, and so we had an early lunch before she headed out to Folkestone, leaving me behind to work through the hundreds of shots I had taken. As usual, there was football on the radio, and so I alternated between snoozing on the sofa and stuff on the computer.

Sunday we headed back over to Rye as I had booked us in for Sunday lunch, as I had so enjoyed the Mermaid when Sami and I went in for coffee the week before. We had some stuff to get from Folkestone first, mainly cat food. Feeding four hungry cats; that should be three hungry cats and an elderly contrary one, can be, is, expensive; so the chance to get 50% off means we got a bootfull and enough until the end of next month, hopefully.



We drove along the coast through Hythe, Romney before heading over the march to Dymchurch where there is a café near the station. We had enough time for a walk to the beach before we had to head to Rye and get there in time for our reservation. As you would expect, all manner of Sunday drivers were holding us up, and it was just before half past when we made it into the town. And then we had to make our way through the town and the parked cars, find a place to park, and then walk up the steep cobbled street to the Mermaid.



The Mermaid was rebuilt in AD 1420, and very much looks its age. It is timber-framed, wattle and daubed, and the timber frame have settled so the building is every angle except right ones. We walked in the main entrance, down the corridor painted with famous Elizabethan figures, and were shown to our table by the window. It was a leaded light window of course, I wouldn’t have expected anything less to be honest.



The waiter asked us what we would like to drink; I chose Speckled Hen and Jools chose cider. Both were brought in silver tankards. We ordered starters and then main course; fried risotto balls followed by roast beef for both of us. In the meantime we looked around and sampled our surroundings. It was all very nice indeed.
The starter arrived, and was beautifully presented with a savoury jus adding colour and pattern to the plate. The food was wonderful, needless to say.

The roast beef arrived and was well done, but melt in the mouth tender; it came with roast potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding (of course) and seasonal root vegetables. Along with the beer and a small glass of red wine, it was wonderful.



We even had a dessert; Jools had Pana Cotta with coconut and raspberry conserve and I had Coffee, Plum + Armagnac and pistachio ice creams in a wafer basket with a sugar thing net roof. Both looked stunning; so stunning we snapped each others dish before tucking in.

Would we like to retire to the lounge and have a coffee before leaving we were asked? It was too good an offer to decline, so we went into the lounge, sat beside the fire and waited for the coffee and petit fours to arrive; along with the bill. Ow, that was a shock, but the meal and surroundings were just amazing.

Time then to head home and get ready for the working week ahead. All good things come to an end, and the week off had.


Not a good start to the week was another round of redundancies announced by head office, hitting many people in our department. At the end of the day, a presentation came round with organisation charts of how we all fit in to the new, leaner company. Only me or my boss were not mentioned. And so the waiting goes on. Talk was of realignment, with no guarantee of where or if we fitted in.

First thing this morning a mail came round saying my boss has been promoted, or has a new title, and there is me on the flow diagram still working for him. YAY. Hopefully this is it now, the end of the sackings and redundancies and we can get on with working without the executioner’s axe poised over our necks.

Please.

Saturday 29th January 2011

And so, Sami's last day with us.

And a Friday. I think we were all really quite pooped what with us galavanting around taking pictures, visiting pubs and eating good pub food.

So we all had a lie in, and at the crack of half ten we set off up the coast to Broadstairs and Margate. Broadstairs is Dickens central, in that he bought a house there and wrote a book called 'Bleak House'; his house was cunningly renamed 'Bleak House.' There are also 'Old Curiosity Shoppes' and the such. But, out of season its streets are empty of tourists, and there is plenty of room on the beach for the casual photographer.

And Margate is, er, Margate. Faded seaside glamour anyone? More of that later.

But before then, we had an appointment with a road sign. Really.

We live here in east Kent, just down the coast from the town of Sandwich. Sandwich. And would you believe nearby there is a village called Ham. I kid you not. And at one point there is a crossroads with a sign pointing the way to Ham and Sandwich. And for some reason, the sign it quite popular with photographers and trophy hinters.

So, can we find the road sign?



Jools and I had seen it before; we knew where Sandwich and Ham was, and the general direction of where the sign should be. and so we went up country lanes, down country lanes. Up and down, east and west. And just as we were about to give up, there it was.
Sami snapped it and we headed off to Broadstairs and the land of Dickens.

Broadstairs and Dickens seem to go together; the town makes a big thing of it, there is, or was a Dickens museum. As I said there are shops, shoppes, and streets named after him of his books of characters from his works. all nice though. And the town is great, huddled on a low cliff overlooking Viking bay, with narrow streets and hardly a place to park. Its winter, and so we find a spot and part.



As we get out we are hit by an icy blast. Jeez its cold. We walk to see Bleak House and to snap it, down to the harbour and back up the hill to the main street and the car park and back into the warm.

We drive on round the coast, past North Foreland Lighthouse, Palm Bay and into Margate. We park at the Lido, put on an extra layer of clothing and head out along the promenade.

Nearly finished is the new Tate gallery being built on the arm of the harbour, and is a shiny four box monstrous carbuncle; lets hope the art inside is better than the building.



we walk along the prom until the amusement arcades run out, and turn round into the breeze. It is at least sunny and the light is wonderful. We head into the old town centre to have lunch at our favourite, craziest cafe; the Mad Hatter's. But, being winter, its closed. And so we retire to a nice Italian cafe on the prom and have Americanos and panninis and generally warm up.

And so with the sun setting, we drive back via the country butchers, stock up on some meat and head home for coffee and French cake.

That night, we treat Sami to a real British experience; a pub quiz. So head up to the old Harbour Board Social club and meet with Jools' family, get the drinks in, and sit down for the quiz to begin.

And we win! Or take part in a three way tie.

WIN!

And this morning, we take Sami down to the station, as it was time for her to head off to more friends. And like that, we are two again.



We head home, put the kettle on ready for a quiet weekend in which to draw a breath.

Thursday 27th January 2011

Phew, rock and roll!

Oh my gosh, we have been so very busy. Busy indeed. And so yesterday we wanted to head to London for the day. But in a quirk of the modern railway system, the difference between catching a train at 08:44 or before being £199 for the three of us, dropped to £76 for the 09:45. Makes no sense to me, as it means us wasting like half the day before getting to London, but there was nothing else we could do.

So, we boarded the train at the appointed time, and soon were speeding through Kent to London. Sami and I got off at Stratford as we were to head to Canary Wharf first and then to Lloyds before meeting up with jools somewhere near the Thames at lunchtime.

So we split at Stratford, and we climbed the bus to take us to the main station; all around us the Olympic Village rises with pace unabated. It looks like it will be ready in time for the games next year.



We walk through the station, and to the DLR platforms, and soon enough were heading through docklands to the realm of the merchant bankers and suchlike. It was a grey and overcast day, and after snapping the buldings we head down to the Jubilee Line to head to London Bridge, and therefore me getting to snap the Shard in its latest state as the builders are also rushing to complete that as well.

Sami and I then walk over London Bridge into the City, up the narrow lanes and alleyways to the modern wonder that is Lloyds. As we neared richly dressed bankers streamed out to get their lunch or grab a cigarette. We walk past into Leadenhall Market, snapping as we went.



A call from Jools tells me that she had completed the bead hunt and was now at the Embankment tube station. Soon she shows up and we think its time to eat; so up Villiers street we choose an Italian place and have fine pasta and pizza along with some fine red wine. As the lunchtime rush does down we watch the people passing by outside.

Soon we join them, the cloud manages to spit with rain, and soon we are dodging showers. A trip on a bus tour round the sights would have cost us £70 for the three of us, so we make do with a walk to Soho, and the assorted sights of the surrounding areas. We find Chinatown, all windows filled with delicious looking goodies and food.

we press on into theatreland and then onto the red light area, or what is left of it. We walk though and find a maze of backstreets and alleyways lined with wonderful record shops and market stalls. We dive into a pub when the rain gets too hard, and nurse pints and halves whilst looking at folks passing by.

Back out into the gathering gloom of a winters evening, down once again through theatreland, down to Carnaby Street, down regent Street and into Traflagar Square. As usual, its mad down there, and so we walk up to Leicester Square to the tube station; and its back to Euston; along the Euston Road to St Pancras. Tie then to grab some salad stuff from Marks and Spencer for dinner, and then climb on the train and head back to Kent.

Time then to get the salads out, along with a glass of wine before it was time for bed as we had another hectic day ahead today, and a very early start for our trip to France.

Our alarms went off at a quarter to five this morning; and there was just enough time for a cup of tea before we loaded the car for the short drive, very short drive to the ferry terminal. We live within four miles of the ferry port, and so we were there by six and after checking in waiting in line by five past.



We load up, and are under way right on time. Even though the wind was blowing, the boat harding pitched and yawed, and so we had a coffee and croissant and watched the Channel drift past the window.

Once docked, we drove off and head straight to the wine warehouse; we buy seven bottles of wine and then head to the coast for the drive down to Boulogne.



The road skirts the coast between modern towns and sand dunes before sharply rising onto chalk cliffs higher than the matching ones in Dover. It was a clear day, and we could see the cliffs of home some 23 miles or so away. Looking at my shots I can see South Foreland lighthouse, but to my eye I could just make out the cliffs in the distance with ships passing between us.



We stop at Cap Nez Blanc, Cape white Nose, with stunning views over the Channel and along the coast.The wind blew, and it was mighty chilly. I went on to snap away, before cold hands forced me back to the car and we drove on the Boulogne.



It was midday, and rush hour; we drove round but could not see anywhere to park or anywhere to eat. So, we head back to a nice looking village we had passed.

We find a place to park, in front of a restaurant. We go in, and get a table, and order our food. I had kipper soup (no really) followed by Guinea Fowl and vegetables rounded off with zabaglione with coffee ice cram and roasted nuts. Needless to say, even the soup, was amazing.



We drive to the motorway and then on to Calais, to the supermarket.We load up with cheese, fresh bread and a fancy looking cake, before heading to the port.

Our ferry leaves on time at four, and with the time difference were home by five. We have a cuppa and a slice of the cake we had bought before tucking into sesame bread with wonderful cheese.

Phew, we're now shattered and waiting for the Manic Street Preacher gig on the radio this evening.

Wednesday 26th January 2011

Good morning.

And welcome to day four of the Sami K tour of Kent including pubs and all that.

According to the BBC, Tuesday was to be the best day of the week, and so I thought it best to head off over the Romney Marsh to Dungeness and then on to Rye.

It was a bright and sunny morning as we headed out of St Margaret's and along to coast to Folkestone and then onto the marsh. The sun shone from an attractive blue sky scattered with puffy clouds; perfect.



Dungeness is a collection of wooden huts and houses on a broad shingle beach under the shadow of not one, but two nuclear power stations. Many of the houses are homes to artists, and on the beach fishing boats are dragged up the shingle as there is no harbour. It is an odd place to say the least.



We park up and walk along the wooden path to the waterline; down below fishermen are standing in hope that they might catch something. We head back to the car and drive on.

Of course I take Sami to Fairfield Church, standing all alone on the marsh; its a shot that has to be taken. And of course, nearby is the Woolpack Inn, and it being lunchtime, we call in for a beer and something to eat.
We have the bar to ourselves; well, just the pub cat to coach, and for us to stare into the roaring fire in the grate. Up the chimney 600 years of soot still clings to the brickwork, and I manage to get a shot looking up. we have a sandwich and then move on to Rye.



Rye is just over the border in East Sussex, and sits on a rocky outcrop overlooking the marsh. It is full of ancient houses and now is a tourist trap full of nick nack shops and the like.

We wander round the town and end up in Grammar school Records where I get a vinyl copy of Roxy Music's greatest hots, with Pajamarama on it; I snap that up. We walk on and end up in an even older pub, the Mermaid, for a coffee and to soak up the atmosphere.



All the time, outside, the clouds had thickened, and as we go back outside, drizzle begins to fall, heavier and heavier. We head back to the car, and so back home.

Sami made African peanut stew for us for dinner, and while we ate, we listened to I'm sorry I Haven't a Clue on the i player.

Great day

Tuesday 24th January 2011

And so, Monday.

After dropping Jools off at work, I get some stuff we had forgotten from Tesco, I came back did the interwebby stuff and then waited for Sami to get up.

And at a nicely late half ten we set off for Canterbury.

Its only 15 miles along the A2 to Canterbury, and at mid-morning the rush hour has long since finished and so we had no trouble getting into the city centre and finding a parking space too!



Sami wanted to head to Top Shop for some clothes shopping, and so I made do with some people watching outside. Once Sami had bought some stuff, we headed down the main street, looking at the historic buildings and on occasion, snapping them. Outside a Turkish barbers, I spy that there is no one in the chairs, and so take the opportunity to have my barnet mangled, asking Sami to be back in about 20 minutes.

20 minutes later, hair cut, I wait outside the shop.

Wait some more.

And some more.

No Sami.

I post on Facebook that I have lost her, hoping that she might be looking at FB on her phone. Ten minutes later, she arrives, coffee in hand.

Panic over.

All afternoon my phone chirps away with sightings all over the world of Sami.

we wander round the city some more, although not stumping up the £10 to visit the cathedral. We (I) were (was) thirsty, and so we head to a pub on the main street called the Cricketers for ale and crisps.



And after a wander round the few remaining shops in the city centre we head back to the car and then for home. On the way we call in at the village of Elham, as its pretty enough. We wander down a lane to be confronted by some sheep. Do sheep get bored with grass we wonder? Probably not.

And as the drizzle began, we headed home for coffee and so I could watch the Steelers game which I recorded from the early hours of Monday morning. And they win!!

And to round off the day we watch Chelski beat Bolton 4-0. Not a bad day, not a bad day at all!

Monday 24th January 2011

Good morning:

and for those of us not actually working this week, it IS a good week.

So, the weather forecast was grim; grey and drizzly. And so after a lay-in, we decide to head to Dover castle, as there is lots to do inside and plenty of history stuff with fine views over the town and Channel; or would be if it wasn't so misty.



So, we head to the castle, it's just five minutes from here. We pay our entrance fee and head down to the viewing platform as it is the way to the well signposted secret wartime tunnels.



After surveying the view of the channel into the greyness where France lay.we head down to the entrance to the hospital for the start of the tour.

As for the tour, there is not much to tell; most are closed until the late spring for improvements, and so we walked around the hospital listening to stories and recordings of what life may have been like during the war.



And then back into the daylight and a stiff climb up the main keep. This is where it has been recreated how it may have looked during the reign of Henry II, throne, wall hangings and so on. It is very good indeed. I snap away at some of the decorations as I had already snapped most of the rooms.

and we head up the spiral staircase to the roof, for higher views over Dover and the Channel. Once the breeze had cleared our heads again, we head back down the castle to the NAAFI restaurant for a bite to eat. We were fleeced as seems usual in places such as these, but with the added bonus of unbelievably slow service; so slow that if you had selected one of the hot choices, it would have been stone cold by the time you got through the cashier and sat at your table.



We had a quick look in the castle, St Mary-sub-Castro, before heading back home for coffee and to watch A Company of Wolves which I remember from the 80s as being really good, but to my modern eyes was a mess and full of clumsy metaphors.

After a prawn stir-fry, Sami and I sat down to watch the NFL and eat Tunnocks tea cakes.

YAY.

Sunday 23rd January 2011

Good morning.

So, the weekend, and the beginning of a week off. We woke at four on Saturday to drive to Gatwick to collect one of my friends, as Sami was coming over to England for a month, and she was staying with us for the first week of her stay.



At least the M20 and M25s were empty, and we made good time. We were in a hurry as some website said her flight had landed at half four. In the end she landed at twenty past five, we parked up and walked into the arrivals hall, and waited as a stream of people in thin cotton clothes and flip flops carry rum walked past.

Sami came through at half six, and after a hug we headed to the car and then out into the heavy traffic to head to Kent.

As we got back into Kent, dawn broke, and the grey light filled the day. Once in Dover we drove up Castle Hill to get a close look for Sami at the castle, and then along the coast road with the promise that if it was a clear day, we would be able to see France from here. Honest.



Once home, we made coffee and warmed up some croissants. That done, we decide to go to Deal, as its near and quite picturesque and most certainly English. Typically English.

Deal was dull and overcast, but we walk along Middle Street, snapping away. We head back along the High Street, calling in at the record shop and No Name Shop for roast garlic bread and creamy stinky French cheese; something for dinner.

And then we drive to St Margaret's Bay to the Coastguard for a lunch of Fish and Chips whilst looking out at the waves lapping at the beach.

After a combination of jet-lag and an early start, we alltake to our beds in the afternoon for a snooze. Jools and I wake covered in cats, and feeling like poo.

In the end, we give up trying to watch A Company of Wolves and head up the wooden hill to get at least ten hours sleep!