Down to Margate - Tuesday 10/9/24
As imortalised by Chas and Dave, Margate is the venue of choice this year for my wife's annual few days with her daughters on her birthday.
We set off for Kent late in the afternoon, having arranged to meet up with some old friends in the evening at The Chequers in at Doddington.
We had not seen Bob and Noella for several years
and it was great to have a good catch up. After a few pints and a lovely meal, we said our goodbyes and retired to the camper for the night.
In the morning, the sun was out, and the weather looked promising for a bright Autumn day. We drove to nearby Faversham, and had a wander around the town and a coffee in the morning sun before heading off for Margate.
After dropping meeting up with one of the girls, I dropped off my passanger and headed down to Sussex for a few days down memory lane.
I used to live in Sussex, and left 25 years ago when the company I work for relocated to Suffolk, and was looking forward to catching up with several
old mates I'd not seen for many years. My first stop was in Bodiam, where I was going to park up for the night at The Castle Inn.
Bodiam has a well preserved and picturesque castle
which has featured in several films and TV series, such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Camelot, Dr Who and Robin of Sherwood. I took a stroll around the castle, hoping for some
good photographs, but unfortunately though lovely to walk in the afternoon sun, it was low in the sky and the best views would be severely backlit.
The sunshine was shortlived though, and soon after I got back to the van at around 4pm, the heavens opened, and it didn't look like it was going to clear up any time soon.
After a brew up, I drove the short distance from the castle carpark to the pub carpark, and set up for the night, before poping into the pub to wait for my friends to arrive.
I'd not seen Ian and Liz since 1975, and was pleased to see them still happily married, the only friends from my teenage years who still are.