The day dawned a bit drizzly and a little cooler, but now that my arms have seen the light of day I managed to continue, cardiganless, all day.
We’ve had a lovely day, full of laughs and the occasional misty eyes. Caroline (who you’ve already met … of uncuz fame) drove over for morning tea on the patio. It was a lovely time of catch up and the time sped past, far too fast.
Caroline and Christine
Christine, Alan and I then went on to a lovely pub/restaurant at Penshurst for a leisurely lunch, ostensibly to check it out as a suitable venue to celebrate Christine’s birthday with 8 others, later in the month. Sadly the decision NOT to return had to be made on the basis that there were no loos on the dining room level and all that was on offer was down a very steep staircase of 20 steps. A pity, because the food there was delicious. So much for trying to stay a bit lighter!
And then it was off to feed Julia’s cat, in the family’s absence. He was very pleased to see us, and will be, for the next few days … but left, via the cat door, when I dared get too close. A lovely day of pottering around and enjoying their company.
Sevenoaks is presently decorated with flowers and other items, as part of a competition for best village. It really is a lovely village and needs no help, I’d have said but then, I don’t know where the opposition is coming from. The local knitting ladies have been very busy.
Christine’s older sister, Jill (and Tom) have a lovely home in the country but also own the property right next door to Christine, in Sevenoaks. As arranged, Jill arrived and I moved next door to spend the following 3 days with her.
We had a busy schedule - the TV series “The Larkins” (book named “The darling buds of May”) was filmed close to Tom and Jill’s home at West Peckham. With help, I recognised some of the following scenes:
We had a very enjoyable meal outside the pub, visited the inside of the church and reminisced about a Christmas carols service that we attended there on one of my previous visits.
The next day, Christine, Jill and I went checking on family in Chevening graveyard which made us wonder about our mutual relations in Sevenoaks, so that afternoon Jill and I popped down to the local church where Uncle Donald had been a priest, latterly and we found (after advice from Philip) their last resting places too.
Outside and from inside - the stain glass window in memory of Uncle Donald, Aunty Betty and Tony.
It was a lovely, family packed 6 days - we sat outside at dusk watching for bats and watching an evening primrose open up from a bud, in front of our eyes.
And whilst I did manage to take a photo of a solitary bat, it is not good enough to include here - imagine a slight blur - and that’s it - and right in the heart of Sevenoaks, I watched squirrels arguing in a tree, again without photographic proof.
It was a lovely 6 days … over too soon, but so many memories to add to time spent over the years with Christine and Jill.
.jpg)