ALIVE AND KICKING

Phew! What a Summer. Unfortunately main highlight was unscheduled emergency visit to QEQM where I spent some time in Birchington Ward. And what splendid, unfussy care I received. Many thanks for putting me back together again. I was far luckier than a fellow two beds down who gave up the ghost one morning - chatting and eating right as rain during the day, then "out brief candle".

Did get to Folk Week beforehand -which could perhaps have brought on my "turn". Vague memories of hanging around in inclement weather outside various hostelries, people staying over, digging out old Ten Pole Tudor and Arlo Guthrie records, waking up with hooden horse in bed etc. Probably best left to the young folk next year.

In my absence I see that Harpies, our local nod to 24/7 cafe style drinking is under some threat from, amongst others, the neighbours opposite. As they say, people who live in glass houses shouldn't...I mean they just shouldn't.I like the place and I am sure it makes many more peoplke happy than otherwise. Still, the objectors do have a case as the CCTV image below of last Friday's 2am clearing out shows.

WONDERFUL - INIT?

Summer time - and the living is ....well not so bad. Picture (Viking Bay) was actually taken last summer (March 2007) before the winter storms ( July 2007). Main beach packed with people these days - as it should be - best Summer for years I'm told. Number 2 in the recent Guardian poll of posh resorts obviously kick starting economy here.

Smoking do-dah not withstanding, all pubs are looking their best - special mentions in this dispatch from the Front go to:

The Tart and Frigit - Yet newer management, but otherwise life goes on... "Oh and how their life goes on ". Trans-sexual -Flamenco -Karaoke (Now Friday AND Sunday evening). Concessions and OAP discounts available.

Broadstairs's Harbour Master - step forward Andy. With a few more like him we would have been No.1 (Bloody St. Ives indeed!) And well done for securing a boat !

Jim' s Burger Bar on the beach - (The one right in front of the multi costly apartments featured in "The "Times" and next door to the public lavatories) -great food and novel approach to smoking ban. Picture to follow.

Fireworks over the Bay - every Wednesday... for some reason. OOOHHH!!! Where do they all come from?

STOP PRESS: The annual Water Gala has been scheduled by TDC for..... low tide

Walking all the way to the bank

Further to my last entry I am reliably informed (by the man with three dogs in the pub) that our new boardwalk in Viking Bay was laid at a cost of £26,000! Somebody somewhere clearly isn't as thick as two short ones... just us.