Match Report

Phew!


I knew today was going to hold something special - or at least different in terms of the usual 90 minutes of play I have endured over the last year or so.



Games like this affect different people in different ways. I get quite focused and inward. Channelling my competitive spirit into a wordless and almost heartless persona. The game is all, the result almost secondary. I was fully anticipating a total pasting. After all Leeds have come from a minus 15 point deficit and level us on points in the division. Thanks Scally for putting on us on a pedestal before we even started. This season for us continues in a lengthening shadow. My desire and optimism at an all time low. But today - today against such opposition the default 'Love My Team' mantra presides. I don't want a defeat. I don't my team to show themselves up. I want to see my commitment rewarded.


SO 2.35pm and into the lair we enter. The away end is packed - Leeds have bought the kitchen sink and expect 3 points and their 7 win run to extend to 8.

The sun and rain intersperse the scene. Tommy Trewblu gallops round the pitch like a mad man. (horse). Row Q has more people in it than I have seen all season... and the spirits are high. The twins are in, Colin and Arfur are in - each respectively asking where my Dad is. Funny not watching this game with him - he would have appreciated all the twists and turns and loved, as I did, the tensions - the electric emotions of all stands - and would have been as dismayed by the on pitch performance.

First half -- well we played solidly. A changed team from the one which lost 4-0 at Forest last weekend. Two new signings... oh eh. We kept the ball on the pitch, passed it and looked at times Leeds' equal. We even forced the Leeds goalkeeper to make some quite spectacular saves. Until that is Nowland semi tripped over a Leeds player and gifted them a free kick on the outside of the pen box. You knew Leeds had a plan the way two players went Red Arrow like sweeping to the other side of the box. Sure enough the planned set piece manoeuvres distracted the blue shirts and the yellow clad Leeds scored.

After this Gillingham lost their way. We played out the remain 15 mins until half time with a solitary moment of joy coming when the first of 2 red cards was brandished at the Leeds players. Bye bye bye Mr Kandol.

The ref was escorted off at half time. (By security!) Several rogue fans seated in the wrong part of the ground were ejected. I do love to see the heavy handed stewards bustle in and use overt force to remove rowdy fans. It seems such a bloke way of doing things. As it was the Gillingham fans at the away end seemed to be the ones getting this treatment I had to wonder at the logic. In contrast to this Leeds manager Dennis Wise had also been carded and asked to sit in the stands. ha ha ha.

So the second half began with an air of optimism - could we with 11 men beat 10 man Leeds? Put simply yes we could have, however we preferred to play like turkeys and stumbled willingly into the Christmas Day roasting tin. Our only saviour was the ref who seemed hell bent on making sure the gas oven never got lit... as we watched yellow card after yellow card turn to red card. As the second Leeds striker walked - the Leeds goalie demented with rage hoicked the ball out of the ground. This incensed the Rainham End and several brave fans had no qualms about getting close to the goal and venting their spleen. So its 57 minutes into the game. Gillingham now have a two man advantage. Can we capitalise?

In what Leeds fans were describing as 'It's a Knockout' on the train back, the remainder of the half continued in a semi - unreal way especially for us. It was painful to watch as we failed time and time again to a) get the ball and b) get the ball in the area and c) when we did fail hopelessly to get it anywhere near goal.

Time was ticking. Fans from all sides were squealing for a result. 5 mins added time.

By now the Rainham End were on their feet willing a goal in. By some miracle of the God of fumble Cox got the ball in the net. We went wild. Fans invaded the pitch. The goalie got grief about his attitude and his abilities. It felt like a win. It felt like a great relief.

And so it ended a draw. The Leeds fans wanted the ref strung up. We wanted to savour the good times again. 8,719 of us yelling our teams on. The end to end singing of the fans. If they started, we started too but sang louder. Just the buzz of so many people around the ground - the police vans - the songs coming from the pubs. It felt like Saturday's used to feel when we were in the Championship. It felt like we were something again - not some in debt little club at the furthest reaches of the SE.

As the fights proved on the way to the railway station. Funny then for it to be so subdued at the station. The only time the Leeds fans sang again - well once we got to Victoria they decided to remind themselves what it felt like playing against Arsenal/Chelsea and the big London clubs by singing loudly through the station. Not sure what the Kent supporting fans of said big clubs made of it - but hey if they were heading back to Gillingham then they had travelled in vain. The best entertainment was at Priestfield. Proper singing, argy bargy, suspect refereeing, Row Q & P banter. Real adrenalin. All for a draw. It felt like a win. A minor moral victory!

(Please note the Gills played really badly against 9 men. We never looked vaguely like scoring. In fact we looked totally panicked and lost. If we had not scored our already flattened confidence would have dipped to the lowest point - and yes a bottom of table spot would be ours for the next 8 months. Testament then to a sense of will which got us a goal. Testament to the fools who go week in week out and live for games like today's. Fools like me - who'll be there Tuesday night when only 4,000 turn up for a cold & wet evening game against Leyton Orient. Bring back the passion and spirit someone - please. Getting home at 7.15pm to hear Chelsea fans arse aching on 6-0-6 about their predicament sums up everything that is wrong with the game - 'we want our club back'. Bollocks. You took the cash cow. You pay the price. I just want my GAME back.)


Gillingham: Royce, Clohessy, Sodje, Cox, Hamilton (Dickson 70), Nowland, Lomas (Mulligan 61), Crofts, Cogan, Facey, Graham.Subs Not Used: Stillie, King, Stone.
Booked: Nowland, Cox.
Goals: Cox 90.
Leeds: Ankergren, Richardson, Marques, Heath, Clapham (Huntington 58), Prutton, Douglas, Hughes (Westlake 58), Carole (Weston 74), Beckford, Kandol.Subs Not Used: Thompson, Lucas.
Sent Off: Kandol (41), Beckford (57).
Booked: Hughes, Kandol, Beckford, Douglas, Ankergren.
Goals: Carole 28.
Att: 8,719.
Ref: Danny McDermid (Middlesex).



PS My Mum came to game today. Sorry Mum. Think you saw a side of me not many see. A side that Dad takes for granted and understands. And my language - erm yes sorry again. It just feels like the only time all week that I can outwardly vent my feelings, and maybe this week I needed too more than most other weeks.



UP THE GILLS!!

Gills 1 Leeds 1

And a sore ref leaves to baying cries

Happy Burfday Baggy!

Sorry no card - but I don't yet have your new address for the sarf westerly mansion you have just moved into!

Have a great day - lots of love! x

Fonz!

I bought a leather jacket last week. I didn't think it suited me.
Thought I was too dumpy.
But then I wore it yesterday and today and suddenly I felt very differently about the jacket and my self.

So pink n fizzy - I put on a happy coat and discovered that yes I do like my new leather jacket - and boy do I feel sexy in it....

















Or half out of it as the case maybe!

Day trip

To Reading - Paddington & IKB's station.

3.10 to Yuma

Seen!

Very watchable, Mr Bale aside. (He was looking dusty and sweaty. But quite lush nevertheless!) Some moments of laughter and in true western style moments of pure farce! But the grandeur of Bisbee and Contention City set somewhere in the great Arizona desert were well worth a wide screen seat. We shared the cinema with 6 other people.

I was very taken with the film score also.

For me a non film goer - I'll give it 4/5.

He got the 3.10 to Yuma. A short hop to another part of the State. Sadly Dan was not so fortunate and missed the train by moments.

London Walks

Got Time Out's, Book 1 today during my lunch hour stomp - for by then the rain and greyness had gone and the air was fresh and bright. The river quite rough - but it felt cleansing. One of the walks is a 26 miler from Thames Barrier to Hampton Court Palace...next time I am west on the Thames I will continue on from Barnes Bridge and head via Chiswick, Kew, Twickenham, Eel Pie Island, Richmond, Kingstons and then Hampton Court.


..its good to walk..

Nexpress

Recipe should take 5 nanoseconds to read.
Ingredients:

• Garlic oil (saves faffing with peeling/crushing/chopping a garlic)
• Chopping onions is apparently tiring so chop a leek instead.
• Riesling Chicken - get your chicken plastered by covering it with a whole bottle of Riesling and cooking...
• A bit less oil this week - but it was compensated with 750ml of cream.
• Limes and avocados were the new lemons this week..

Instructions:

Still aghast. Sorry Nigella you have lost me. This is meant to encourage people not to buy processed food... okay but how many viewers have a battery operated pepper mill?! Steaming new potatoes and carrots takes no longer than 10 mins...

Jesus don't want me for a sunbeam

I suspect I need to make some fundamental changes.

Maybe just some mental ones.

Maybe just some physical ones.

But a change nevertheless.

Still

One my fav views

This

is the reason the Internet was invented!! ENGINEERING TIMELINES


Bring it on ... Buildings/Bridges. IKB and all the engineering feats you ever wanted to know about....keeps me occupied!

Saturday West End River!

Saturday 22nd September

The truly last gasps of summer saw me down by the river exploring in a bit more detail the westerly reaches of the Thames... this Thames Path here is well used by joggers, cyclists and walkers alike - it eases off once you have gone from Putney Bridge and beyond Hammersmith. Then you can gorge of the rowing club members out in force - and in my case the never ending stream of aircraft stacking up to land at Heathrow... and once you have worked out the bend of the rive is such you also realise the planes coming from your left are indeed taking the same path as those which come from your right once you are round the bend (hehem!) Definitely a walk to do again on a crisp December day - to see if the cold and shorter days make the river seem desolate and less inviting.

Skipping on to the furthest reaches of our stomp.. Barnes Rail Bridge... designed by Joseph Locke... more info here
Little fluffy clouds & duolcs yffulf elttiL.
Two Trees Part I - View from front (or back if walking from Hammersmith)
Sup!
Perfect day for a walk!
Hammersmith Bridge - the one we see today is my good friend Sir Joseph W. Bazalgette's work.. there was a fore father to the current version.
Perfect day for a ponder.
Two Trees Part II - that's how much this end of the river bends! View from back (or front if walking to Hammersmith)

I do love bridges and their varying constructions. Hammersmith is about as close to the underside of a bridge as you are liable to get.. beauty above and below.

Arise Sir Joseph W. Bazalgette - you have also constructed the Putney Bridge!

A short walk for us! Steps - 21909; bonus points - 10; miles stomped - 10.719. Weather lovely. Sitting in a pub watching rugby and mixing with Fulham and Man City fans - erm different!

So with 3 bridges of London to whet the appetite ... here is the story of a few more...

The Abbey

At night! Good long walk apres work

Could it be?

The special one?

Just read my blog for Sept 2006

Where does time go? And note how little changes....

And where's my post about the book 'Stuart - A life Backwards' - either way watch it on Sunday BBC Two!

And now a double dose of Heroes on BBC Three!

ITS RAINING OUTSIDE... aaargh. I don't want it to go into Autumn yet!!

Did I mention I was a technical deep dive soon? Also known as a Boot Camp? I am intrigued - maybe it means something more saucy than it sounds!!

Summers Gone...

Boy it was cold yesterday - and grey as all slate when I left the office today. I hope I am wrong - that a few more days will pop up here and there....

So I get to revel in some more splendid sunsets like this one on Friday pm...

I said if before I'll say it again - you can't beat the sky above the Thames!

Edge of Reason

My brain has gone into itself this week. I know my current mood is flavoured by PMT. So bascially ignore the rest of this post - its for my benefit and no one else's....

I want to have a massive row and get all my angsts off my chest.

(work - people at, unrequited love, flat renewal - despite damp, smelly-ness, noisy neighbours. Oh and the loss of summer)

I WANT A HUG. Be swept off my feet.
I WANT TO COME HOME AND SNUGGLE UP TO SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS ME. Or in the case of this evening someone to work out my frustrations with in a purely animal lust type way. Oh well.

Jamie at Home

So last night I suffered the Cheshire cat grin of Nigella. Tonight by pure chance I catch Jamie teaching us how to plant/grow and then cook potatoes. Innocuous so far.

By the end of it I was fuming.

"When I had a small patch of land I'd plant spuds in a grow bag." and hot air hot air later... it dawned on me that yes of course you did Jamie cos you weren't holding down an office job and spending half your life on a tube. You were cultivating your career.

My brain then replayed Nigella Express. Do Nigella and Jamie have shares in the olive oil and zest of lemon industries? Every recipe without fail has to have half a bottle of oil and zest and juice of a lemon....
And what do they all do with those lemon carcasses?
Animals.

Oil. Thought Jamie was into healthy meals?

And the way he speaks to his gardener. Like some pikey who showed up one day in his shed. Today Jamie I shall mostly be planting potatoes...

So as I chomped though my cornflakes (late one at work - home at gone 8 - desire to cook - gone) I decided that cookery programmes have taken the dumbed down option. Even for the middle classes who lets face it are the only ones who need a Jamie shaker cos the rest of the country uses a microwave or has a cook. That dear readers is the state of our nation.
DUMBED.

Other news...

Spent night wrestling with toothache - Bonjela, Clove Oil and ibuprofen seemed to do the trick!!

Got myself a kitchen composter yesterday! Come on!!

Nigella Express

What a load of dross... I watched agog.

How can anyone be that deliriously happy all the time?!?!

Bliss

Heroes - back to back - Tops!!

Can't decide between Peter Petrelli, Nathan Petrelli or Mohinder Suresh!?!

But what a great way to spend Sat pm by yourself - no adverts and back to back repeats (yes I know I have already watched them - but have you seen what dross is on the other channels?!)

A smiling Gills fan.

Oh and Mr Bale was in the London Paper last night. He is now on my wall!

Gillingham 1 - Brighton 0

Last night I blithely suggested that in a reversal of luck the Gills would win today.
By this morning I was prepared for little more than an hour or so in the sun and yet more dire attempts to 'play' football let alone any attempts to score goals.
The train journey down was spent trying to drown out the BHA fans who were intend on reminding everyone on the train exactly how much they resented having to use Priestfield as a home ground some seasons ago in the past. They were also rightly confident - playing and winning well thus far this season.
Well Gillingham station met with the now obligatory welcoming committee of several luminous clad policemen. They tend not to notice females and latch onto the groups of blokes. As I sat out side the station waiting for little Mazza to show up I wondered to myself what actually made a group of blokes different from another group of blokes ie the fans vs the police. At the end of the day each wear a uniform and each join together in a pack like way to make their point. Sadly there was no argy bargy. Everyone went in search of a pub for beer - good luck in the High Street I say..
So Mazza and I went to Mr Cascarino's Wimpy bar for a coffee. Ma with her index finger fully bandaged following a slight accident Thursday pre Dad's departure. Quite amusing! But not for her - she can't go swimming and trying to get the finger through the cup handle was impossible! Karma I say!
So with Dad's ST in her hand I take her to the mighty Rainham End so she can meet the Pie Family, Colin, Arfur and the twins. Sadly the Twins weren't there - but the other usual suspects were...

Kick Off. First Half - moderately entertaining - end to end stuff and we forced a save out of Kuipers - and also managed if a little ham fistedly to ensure BHA did not score.

Mazza may come to footie again - but in lieu of Pops being in the country next time she has to bring the half time sweets!!!

Second half - more of the same really. GFC fans in better voice than I have heard at home all season - and still a pretty even contest. Substitutions time... and I am still learning about these member of my extended family - so as a QRG for next game here are the squad and numbers....
1. Kelvin Jack
2. Duncan Jupp
3. Craig Armstrong
4.
5. Simon King
6. Ian Cox
7. Andrew Crofts
8. Mark Bentley
9. Gary Mulligan
10. Delroy Facey
11. Nicky Southall
12. Simon Royce
13
14. Aaron Brown
15
16. Efe Sodje
17. Andy Pugh
18. Craig Stone
19. Sean Clohessy
20. David Graham
21.
22. Derek Stillie
23. Barry Cogan
24. Guylian Ndumbu-Nsungu
25. Tom Bryant
And the team as on the Beeb Website...
Gillingham: Royce, Southall, Brown (Cogan 81), King (Armstrong 62), Cox, Crofts, Bentley, Lomas, Mulligan (Graham 64), Facey, Sodje.Subs Not Used: Stillie, Clohessy.

And so with the sun drooping slowly to the west - and the BHA fans getting louder, the Rainham End stewards removing loud fans - it was with a slow motion tinge that Facey scored. I have not celebrated a goal like that for ages. You knew it was going in the moment he struck it - out of my seat - fist punching the air deep deep joy! I automatically wished I had my shirt and scarf with me! Tribalness. Mum stayed put. Fool - its as rare as seeing a gorilla in its natural environment is seeing a corker in the Rainham End scored by the home side. Jubilantly we sang the Last Waltz. Jubilant. No manager. Facing bottom of the table obscurity -- we'd pulled it out the bag. And other football cliches...

82 minutes. Oh no - then the Gills faithful-ish were on tender hooks - could we hold out for a further 8 mins... more substitutions. More fouls. And then the worst moment 4 minutes added time... play to the whistle lads - PLAY!

Beep beep beeeeeeeeeeeeeep. Full time - we had done it.

Joy.

6118 of us saw victory. Bliss. Bounced back the station. Bounced back home. Its a small start - but it is a start. Brighton were no shining team - not that much better than us. Yes a draw looked certain and fair - but we need the points and football being a funny old game - you take what you can get.

Here's hoping the 30 candidates allegedly applying for the managers post realise there is a heart at the club despite the finance, despite the poor pitch performances, despite the quietness at many of the home games.

There is a heart - please make it beat again - properly before it stops for good....

UTG!

UTG!

Oh where to start!
Fighting Talk- this morning - live on Five Live with Johnny Vaughan! So funny I was again in stitches!
Making the 1.03 train despite running late.
Witnessing a tiny elderly woman take on the loud Brighton fans on the train and asking them as interesting as their thoughts were to keep them more to themselves.
Meeting Mazza pre-match.
Watching a fairly decent game of footie in the sun.
Aah the sun - the skies the brightness - I just wanna hug it the way it makes my soul feel.
The WIN!
The painless trip home.
6-0-6 using the Happy Monday's Wrote for Luck music..and listening to Leeds fan phone in from the supermarket! You gotta love the game kids!

Who dared say I was miserable and serious?!?
That's surely only a quarter of the story.........

The weekend

begins with England getting thrashed by Australia in the cricket

and by SA in the Rugby

which can only mean in a reversal of fortune from last weekend the Gills will win tomorrow...!!?!? Maybe?!

Great!

Blogger has gone Germany language on me! Post Published - I think!!

Blog anzeigen (in einem neuen Fenster)

I know I am slow..

But why oh why did no-one insist I watch 'Phoenix Nights'?!

Quality double bill - seen for the first time by me ce soir.. I laughed so hard in parts I cried. Thanks Brian Potter.

And can anyone tell me what the new Cadbury chocolate ad is about? A gorilla playing drums to Genesis' - 'In The Air Tonight'?! Slightly disturbing....

oh well - sure there is a good reason.

45 to go...

...Hope Dad has landed safe in the USA.



...Hope Baggy has moved into new house ok.



...Hope Iffy and Doc have sorted the team out for a spiffy game of footie tomorrow!



...Hope sunshine stays til Monday!!



...Hope you all have spiffing weekends!

I'm with you - Reprise...

People keep asking me what this post is about...

It's about me - my relationship with my brother; his wife.
It's about my role and place at work.
It's about all the close male friends I have and how the lines get blurred and despite this I stay on the right side of the line no matter how I might feel inside.
It's about me respecting said people and not naming them!!
It's about me accepting my life - and the way I have chosen to live it even if at times it is to my detriment.
It's about me saying - thanks to a song that I keep listening too - I am with you - whoever you are - reading this and who/whatever that makes you in my life.

On the whole I am content with my odd relationships - just moderately frustrated that when I go home and close the door there is always an overwhelming silence bar the voices in my head...

Ugh

2 days in and already I have crippling toothache and my eyes hurt! The joys of offices and PC looking all day.

AND the sun is still shining and I should be out walking... Grr.

Oh well 2 days in and sorted most of my back log - which kinda proves I don't need to be here!

Keep smiling (I tell myself!) still have 18.5 days leave to take...

Oh and the other joy - the date for the Xmas party is already set - 7th Dec! I HATE CHRISTMAS!!!!! I hate dark evenings and mornings... I don't want it to be autumn and winter just yet.... boo hoo hoo!

Work tomorrow...

so now I shall sign off and get back to weekly whinging no doubt. Actually had a relaxing fortnight away from the hurly burly. But I will miss my daily morning stomps and seeing London through a residents eye as opposed to through the commuter grime...

New shoes

Fit for pulling! ;-)

Is it just me

or have the latest 2 episodes of 'Casualty' become a cross between 'Spooks' and 'Life on Mars'?

Either way - bring back Stitch and Harry!! Quite liking the heavily sarky Charlie mind you!

And am I the only person in the UK watching 'Dirt' on Five US?

New trainers

Fit for 4mile stomp each morning!:-D

Jepson Out

Yup our manager resigned this morning.
Not sure I am overly surprised. We have only won one game since the season started and to be fair the one game I did see was dire. Not sure it is entirely the answer.

No doubt as Leeds sprint passed us (remember they started with a 15 point deficit) our season will go from dire to fatal. I really struggle to see how the club will survive the season in Div One and if we drop once more then all pre season hopes and words will be in vain. We need a total clear out - a fresh start. We have lost all the key positive members of the club over the last few years and we are now left with pointless fireworks and a defense which has already leaked 7 goals. I get the feeling my resolve and passions will be severely tested this season...

21 Oldham 4 -4 3
22 Gillingham 5 -7 3
23 Walsall 5 -4 2
24 Leeds 5 8 0

That said the new layout of the official website is quite pleasant.

In-between days

The final days of my brother's stay were spent in deepest darkest Kent. Though over the last few days it has felt as if his trip was in actual fact a dream. Who is my brother? Not sure I know any more.

Anyway getting back to the point in hand - deepest darkest Kent.

Stu n wif went down to Kent via Carshalton Beaches on Sunday evening - I stayed home and 'enjoyed my peace and quiet' which in actual fact meant sorting out flat and washing bits n bobs. I went for a late afternoon walk and got ready for an early morning and getting other stuff done before I cruised down to Kent on the train Monday afternoon. My Sunday was in fact far from quiet - a friend was breaking up with his girlfriend and in need of a friendly ear, place to crash, advice and I was darting between PC; phone and washing machine and washing line. My neighbours were in their usual noise amuck mode and as daylight faded I needed fresh air and space. As I walked I wondered what my long distant family members had actually learnt about me? Had they any idea of the complicated relationships I have beyond the ones they see? Or had I actually learnt much new about them? The more I walked the more I pondered. My feelings swinging between disbelief, anger, despair, joy, amusement, sadness.

Monday morning I got up and was out early for my 4 mile walk round the block - via Robert Dyas for moisture collection replacements and a new pair of trainers. Apparently my Lonsdale's: look like football boots without studs (thx Furry - at least I walk in mine!); are not suitable for walking in; and erm have a hole in the toe (all the miles I have already walked in them and not had any hassles with them - except a big toe yearning to get out!).

Then it was wash, pack and leave house. Well after my increasing 'have I locked; closed; shut' paranoia had been completed (this dear reader involves a 10minute run round flat to check all windows; doors; & appliances eg fridge, freezer, oven, washing machine and more recently shower; to ensure shut-ness & off-ness). This time I wrote a list so that once I was on tube (strike pending so had to be so pre 5pm) I would be able to reassure myself that I had left everything just so. And so at 4.03 I was on train headed home for tea.

Tuesday we went to Maidstone to meet an old family friend - (Auntie) Mary - who was my inspiration and link to make up, fashion and London when I was a child 'blooming' into a teenager. Unlike my mum Mary was cosmetically aware and sans children could afford to buy clothes until her wardrobes became the excuse to extend the house. I loved going to Marycot - it meant escapism - large garden, huge house, lots of clothes and shoes. Mary let me brush her hair and do her make up. I suspect I was never really very good - but I enjoyed it immensely. I also have fond memories of Mary and her then husband, the late Dave, as it was they who looked after Stu and I while Mum was in Worcester seeing through the final days of her fathers life against great stress and hatred from her mother. Mary and Dave took us to Windsor - I have a vivid memory of listening to the Archers whilst in the car when Simon Pemberton was doing the dirty on Lizzy. Dave was a huge Archers fan. Mary just loved M&S. So I was excited to see Mary after a 10 year void. As she came out of County Hall - I was overwhelmed with the urge to give her a big hug. Much has happened since I last saw her - but the conversation flowed much as it had.

Tuesday evening Marino's for tops fish n chips; and a walk round the village block - fantastic sunset!

Wednesday - the coast... see next post!

The Kent Riveria - Pt I

The Kent coast in sepia - like it was in the old days!!

The band stand and clock tower in Herne Bay
Assorted members of family by the Barge Man - its family tradition though I suspect one that others find trivial.
The view from Herne Bay to Reculver.. see the 2 towers at the end of the cliff in the distance.
The Queens Head - Ramsgate
The harbour - Ramsgate
And following a short historical lesson from my dad - I learnt that in the 50's Ramsgate was the South coast's answer to Blackpool - here are some relics of the lights which used to brighten this easterly and once prosperous coastal town.

The Kent Riveria - Pt II

The Kent coast solarized - as it may look in the future!

Herne Bay - the bandstand and clock tower

Ma and Stu at the Barge Man statue

The view from Herne Bay to Reculver - towers not so obvious

Margate beach

Margate beach - time to put away those deck chairs

Dumpton Bay - with Pa and Stu ahead as usual!

The Queens Head - Ramsgate

The Harbour - Ramsgate

The sea and sky - sadly the clouds were not so exciting solarized as I had hoped...

Stu's palace

The view back from Broadstairs to Ramsgate.