Friday Chat Day

 Hello friends

Hope you are all well, I have a photo heavy blog post for you!

My time away at the Kent coast was bliss.

I didn't think I was a coastal person but spending time by the sea

seems to be a real tonic.

We were incredibly lucky with the weather.  

Two days, we were actually sitting outside for lunch,
just in a cardigan - in November!

Returned home and the nippy weather arrived,

definitely chilly on the coach commute this week.

Let me share with you some of my photos.

Deal

My first trip to Deal in many years, gorgeous blue skies awaited us.

They have spent millions on renovating the pier, such a shame the finished result looks very bland.
They chose to tarmac it - a pier should have planks surely?  
Didn't seem right to walk along and not see the sea through the cracks beneath us.

At the end of the pier is a rather swanky cafe with a less appealing queuing area.

The town is lovely with a mix of regular and charming shops.

Spot the cat in this photo - happily sauntering along.

For lunch (avoiding the cafe) we ate a bag of chips whilst looking out to sea - posh eh!

It invoked childhood memories for me, many times

with my family eating chips by the coast.

Those seagulls became very loud when they realised I had some leftover chips. 

Ramsgate

Following day with the weather still being unusually warm we visited

Ramsgate.  An empty beach.

Wetherspoons have bought and renovated the Royal Victoria Pavilion and

oh my, they have done a fabulous job.

My sister remarked that the inside is very much like a cruise ship

and she is so right - such wide open spaces.

We ate outside on the veranda and this was our lunchtime view - stunning.

Dogs are allowed on the beach now so we had entertainment too.

St Margaret's Bay

On our last day we went down to St Margaret's Bay - 'down'
is the word as it is twisty winding road to get there. 
The weather broke that day and it was most definitely cooler, 
it signified the end of our gorgeous little holiday.

To keep us cheerful we went to Pines - a museum cafe near the bay which 

serves huge cakes - that helped I can assure you.

Back home and my sister has already booked to go again next month,

this time taking her dog.

Although I cannot visit for the full trip (work!) I am hoping to drive down 

for a day and stay the night just to recharge the batteries a little.

Crochet:

Whilst away I finished my coastal coloured Harmony Blanket and I love it a lot.
Especially when I chose to take it to the harbour in Ramsgate and
the beach huts in St Margaret's Bay, seeing it against the boats 

made me love it even more.

Despite me planning to list this one in my Folksy shop 

I feel a certain affinity with this blanket and unlikely to let it go.

It is Lucy from Attic 24's design - Harmony Blanket and the pattern

lends itself to so many colourways.

Problem is...I want to make them all!

Home:

Returning from the coast I had somehow forgotten how muddled

the house is.  I am still waiting for the conservatory to be finalised -

it needs to be plastered and the electrician to put in the spotlights.

This means we still have everything piled up in the lounge which

doubles as an obstacle course for us and a climbing activity for the cats!

Normally I would be thinking of Christmas decorations soon but

that is definitely postponed.

It was rather exciting to have the Howdens designer visit 

and I'm awaiting her ideas for the kitchen and conservatory.

I celebrated my birthday last weekend and I had a special treat
from my sister - I'm going to save the details to share with you next week.

I was very spoilt by my friends and family - so lovely.

Telly:

Angela Black - ITV Hub

Angela Black seems to be living her best life.  

However, Angela's picture-perfect life is hiding a terrible truth: 

she is suffering daily abuse from her controlling husband and cannot escape him. 

Late to the party with this one as many of you have probably seen it.

We binged watched all episodes in one day and it did have us

gripped but... anyone else still asking questions at the end?

I definitely felt there was some loose ends.

Have to admire Joanne Froggatt's acting - I have seen her play so many

distressed women - someone please give her a happy role soon! 

Charity Kit:

This month's charity kit was a speedy sell out - thank you.
Michele grabbed two and sent through photos of her designs below
which look very lovely.

Tomorrow I will be in the cabin working on December's kit,

I have left it a little later than I would like - 

I seem to be chasing my tail since my office days have increased,

but this weekend should see most of it organised.

Well that my friends has been my week (or two).

Wishing you a lovely weekend - wrap up warm as apparently

snow is forecast in certain areas.

Take care.