On Tour

If I retell my story from Christmas to now it will sound like I am on a mission to get round popular beach holiday destinations in Southern Britain. As you know, I started off with a few days in Cornwall. Then this week I set off for Brighton to stay with Sammi in his typical “student” house. I promised to go to Brighton to drop off all the things he had left at my place over Christmas. My boot was full.

Mr Google sent me round the centre of Brighton twice and I still couldn’t get close to where his apartment was. The traffic flow has been changed in that area so now his place is only accessible by taxi or public bus – Mr Google is unaware of this change! By this time, after far too much coffee and being stuck in slow-moving traffic, I was desperate to go to the loo. I called Sammi to say where I had parked and how it was impossible to get any nearer. He trotted along to me with Lucky and drove me to Anne’s place which is not far from his. She gave me some parking tokens and all was sorted. My car sat outside her house for the few days I was there. Perfect!

Outside Anne's

It is a double blessing going to Brighton. I get to see a really good friend and catch up with Sammi. It is also lovely that Sammi and Anne have similar interests. My first night there, Sammi cooked a curry for friends and me. One of his friends had been on Gogglebox – a programme I have only just been introduced to. As the flat is so “cosy”, having lots of bodies there made it warm. It certainly doesn’t retain heat though. The following day, I did a bit of work before meeting up with Anne. I had to drink lots of coffee just to keep warm.

Lucky on Brighton Beach

I took Lucky out for his walk in the morning after Sammi had left for work. This walk made me so stressed, I am not sure I’ll ever be able to walk Lucky alone again. He walked out of the first floor flat, fell down the half flight of stairs, regained his balance, staggered half way down the longer flight and then fell down the rest. He had already had two falls and we weren’t even on the street.

I got him down to the beach via the underpass which had only just been washed down and was soaking. Lucky couldn’t stay on his paws. He slipped and slouched. I tried to lift him to his feet by heaving him up under his tummy. He slipped and fell so many times on the five-meter slope covered with water, I began to wonder if I’d ever get him home. We did, thank God, but it took an age. Once back in the building, he couldn’t get up the stairs easily. Poor old thing!

The evening was the best ever. Anne and I went for an open-air swim at Sea Lanes. This is a heated pool by the beach. I just loved it but I only managed 2km as my shoulders got a bit cold. Anne turned blue. We met Sammi after his yoga and did a sauna on the beach. There were tin baths on the beach outside the sauna with water at 10c to be shared with a rubber duck. We did the whole experience  rubber duck and all– amazing! All this and then a curry! Wow!

So from Brighton I went to Margate. I used to have my summer holidays at neighbouring Westbrook when I was young. It was to be a trip down memory lane. Over the years things have changed somewhat. I know it is winter but the whole place looked a bit seedy. The old town in Margate had a certain vibrancy, but I think the batteries needed replacing to bring it alive. The Turner Gallery was interesting and the beaches were amazing. After the pebbles of Brighton, the golden sands were most inviting. No “Kiss me Quick” hats anywhere.

Margate

I met up with Susan King for a day. As she lives locally, she knew the nicest place to sit and have a drink. What a lovely day it was! As for my accommodation, the Premier Inn – misnamed – was being renovated and had no internet. Argh!

Last stop, Tenterden. I am going to have my achilles tendon sorted out at a nearby hospital. What a lovely place Benenden hospital is. The place is quiet, clean and the staff managed to sort me out in one visit. What is there not to like? I have now been tested for all the things they need to know before they cut a chunk of my heel off. The nurse who dealt with me is newly qualified and so didn’t want to take blood samples. I told her she needed to start somewhere so she used me as a guinea pig – squeak! She got her blood and I have now got two bruises on the back of my hands!

Back at Jane’s place, I watched my first ever episode of Gogglebox! The following morning I set off for home. Mr Google told me it would take four and a half hours to do 129 miles. Even with Friday traffic that seemed excessive. By the time I had gone through the Dartford Tunnel the journey time dropped to two and a half hours. Poor show, Google!

At the end of a busy, fun-filled trip I got to celebrate Erza-Mae’s fourth birthday on Saturday. Where has that time gone? Obviously a question for Google!