A Weekend of Wandering in Kent (part 1, Deal and Sandwich)

Very pleased to have found some time to get away for a long weekend break. Originally we thought of searching out some winter sun, but in the end decided to stay in the UK, and to spend the weekend in Kent. I used to visit Kent as a child as that's where my gran used to live and where my parents came from, but I hadn't really been back there properly for probably over 30 years.

Arriving way too early to check into our accommodation, we stopped off in Deal and Sandwich en route. The weather in Deal was fantastic and the abundant subject matter of interest to me, and hopefully you dear reader, made for some great photo opportunities. By the time we got to Sandwich however the rain had started so less photos from there I'm afraid.

We arrived at Deal just before 9am. It wasn't as dark as this photo makes it out to be but the sun was still fairly low in the sky over deal pier.

Deal Pier, Kent

Almost before we'd taken our first steps into the streets of Deal I had a feeling that there would be doorway mosaics amongst the traditional shop frontages, and I was not disappointed.

Doorway Mosaic, Deal, Kent

Having seen and photographed many doorway mosaics in the past, this was the first time I had seen one containing house (or shop) numbers as opposed to the name of the shop.

Doorway Mosaic, Deal, Kent

This beautiful old building is the former Regent Cinema in Deal. It's been recently restored, well at least on the outside from what I've read, but its re-opening as a full or partial cinema still seems to be in the balance.

Regent Cinema, Deal, Kent

Regent Cinema, Deal, Kent

Before we left Deal there was just time for another couple of pictures of the pier. Unfortunately this was the last of the good weather for the day.

Deal Pier, Kent

Deal Pier, Kent

By the time we'd arrived in Sandwich it was raining quite heavily, and I felt a little miserable and melancholy. Even coffee and cake failed to raise my spirits as we trudged around in the cold, damp afternoon. There was however some recompense in a couple of damp, doorway mosaics I found.

Doorway Mosaic, Sandwich, Kent

Doorway Mosaic, Sandwich, Kent

So, my apologies to Sandwich as I know I have not done it justice. It's definitely worthy of a return visit but in better weather.

Further instalments of my weekend wandering in Kent will follow, hopefully soon, and will include Margate, Broadstairs, Whitstable, Canterbury, Chatham and Rochester.

Urban Wanderings around London

During my various Psychogeography inspired urban wanders over the past months, I have inevitably amassed a fair number of individual pictures which I have not included in a coherent blog post, or series of posts. However, not wanting them to be left on the digital shelf, I have decided to combine a few into one or more blog posts. Some may follow a theme whereas others may be more random and follow a drift of their own. I can recall where some were taken, but others remain a bit of a mystery.

I do remember this first one though. We had spent pretty much all day wandering the streets and were most definitely flagging by the time we reached this café, somewhere near Clerkenwell. A comfy sofa, sustained by a flat white coffee and some cake, 30 minutes later we were ready to hit the streets once more.

Tap Coffee, London

I have walked past this sandwich bar near Kensington Olympia endless times, but only ever ventured in recently. Just over the wall is the railway line running south from Olympia station. Not only is it a great life café, but it also acted as a good wind up for one of my friends who works for Pepsi.

Frank's Sandwich Bar, Kensington Olympia, London

Frank's Sandwich Bar, Kensington Olympia, London

Making a nice segue from food to cars, here's a food van parked up during the University open day at Queen Mary's, East London.

Food van, Queen Mary's University, East London

A lovely old Morris Minor convertible, somewhere in Shoreditch if I recall rightly. Only just spotted the wonderfully distressed looking door in the background. Shame I didn't see that at the time as that would have made an interesting picture.

Morris Minor, Shoreditch, London

No distressed doors in this picture.

An MG near Shepherd's Bush, London