A Day Out in Kent

Friday, March 22, 2013: Isle of Sheppey, Kent

A Visit to My Cousin in Kent:

As in the case of my visit to my Dad’s cousin, Sybil, so too today, Joel offered to drive me to Kent so that we could spend the morning with our cousin, Cherry who is married to a lovely man named David. I took the Tube to Clapham South as instructed by Joel. He met me there at 9, 00 am and off we went all the way to Kent where the Cranes live on the Isle of Sheppey. The long drive gave Joel and me the chance to catch up on the many years that have elapsed since we were closely in contact but we did reach our destination at 11. 00 am.

Cherry had prepared a lovely meal for us: Fish Cakes, Chips, Mushy Peas—a typically English lunch. It was delicious when accompanied by the white wine she served. For dessert, because she knows how fond of them I am, she served profiteroles with vanilla ice-cream. Indeed, we felt spoiled by their attention and before we knew it, it was time to leave.

Back to Parson's Green:
I requested Joel to drop me off at Parsons Green as I made the decision to buy the sheepskin coat—and indeed that was what he did. In-between we lost our way but I was thrilled as we ended up in Greenwich where I had the pleasure of perusing Christopher Wren’s masterworks at the Royal Maritime College, abeit from a passing car. Eventually, of course, we did get to the shop where I bid goodbye to Joel, picked up my buy and hopped back on the bus to return to St. Paul’s.

I spent the evening sorting through my baggage and packing carefully. Cynthia made us a delicious dinner: Tuna Fish Pie topped with fluffy cheesy mashed potato, steamed carrots and peas and fat chipolata sausages that I had bought with the idea of enjoying them before I leave the UK. For dessert, she served mulberries from her own tree and stewed apple with ice-cream and honey—so yummy. It was fabulous to sit with the Colclough family for the last time and to enjoy a companionable meal with them. Indeed they had been deeply hospitable and I was thrilled to have enjoyed their home and their company for the entire week.