A Cracking Easter

In previous years I've always found Easter time a bit of an anti-climax. You wait 3-4 months from christmas for another public holiday and then the weather is normally too dire to actually do anything other than trudge around the shops/garden centres/DIY superstores.

This year has been an exception. We have actually had some great weather which means Sarah and I have been out and about. Good friday was spent at the Nature reserve at Dungeness. I have said before in my blog how much I like Dungeness, but we only went to the RSPB reserve for the first time in January, and managed to spot a Bittern. Not bad for the first time twitching. Anyhow friday it was really hot down there, so we spent most of the time in the hide out of the sun. Friday night I took the Telescope up to Wye Downs but the visibility was poor due to atmospheric pollution. So we drove home and set up the 'scope in the garden. I showed Sarah's parents Saturn, M3, M13, Beehive Cluster and M35, plus we saw the ISS pass overhead. All in all a good evening.

Saturday we spent at the shops (some things never change!) but we had to get food in for the Barbeque that evening. I had a bad phone call earlier from my Mum saying that they had been in a car accident (they are OK) and won't be coming down, A shame. We have been after a water feature for some time after our old one sprung a leak. Bybrook Barn came up trumps with a half barrel and old water pump feature for 30 quid off. So we purchased it and had it delivered.Then it was barbeque time. A great evening with Sarah's family and a couple of friends.

Sunday we went to Smarden for the annual duck race. Basically you buy a plastic duck for a quid, they chuck it in the river with hundreds of other ducks and the first to the Town bridge wins. we didn't but the local butcher and one of the organisers did! We walked into the town from the farm, had a couple of beers in the pubs before and after then it was back to the farm for a BBQ courtesy of friends who invited us. It was a really brilliant afternoon. We also got to see some Sheep, Lambs, Cattle (British White Breed) and Ducks close up. We absolutely loved it there and I now know why my friends love camping there!

We decided to go to Canterbury on Monday. As the Park & Ride wasn't running we got the train. The journey is very picturesque. Once you get past the sewage works and factories of Ashford the countryside is outstanding. We did the usual round of Debenhams, M&S, and Benjis sweet shop which usually sells Sarah's favourite, Scottish Tablet. Not today though, it looks like they have discontinued it. After lunch (CJs Baguettes, a sort of posh Subway) We saw a new shop called FeetBliss. Basically you can get all the dead skin and foot munge eaten off by these tropical fish. Sarah had a go and described it as 'bubbly' and 'tickles' but it does work!

Walking back towards Westgate we decided to have a boat trip on the river. A 50 minute punt cost a tenner each but it was great, very relaxing and once you get out of the city it is so peaceful. We caught the highspeed back to Ashford and stopped at Pets at Home for some goldfish for the water feature. We bought four, two each of gold and yellow Comets although we haven't named them yet. Back home and a Chinese Takeaway to round off the holidays. Its back to work for 3 days and then there's some sort of Wedding on and another bank holiday. Fingers crossed the weather holds.......TTFN!