Chrysanthemums



Well the day at Chelsea is over. Wow, what a day.If you are a gardener and you haven't been to Chelsea flower show then you haven't lived. What an exhibition. Something we will never forget. The following day we spent the day at Richmond Park with our friends Christine and Brian. Can you imagine 2,360 acres only 10 miles from London where you can actually see St. Pauls cathedral.and at the same time watch the deer feeding within metres of our picnic table. We are sad to leave our friends but the trip must go on. We are walking on the Isle of Wight today in 25 degrees heat but they say it won't last and promising wet conditions tomorrow

Stone throw to London



The hotel where our smuggling ancestors kept lookout



Beautiful Canterbury




This board marks gravestone of our smuggling relatives hung around 1800




Entrance to Canterbury Cathedral

 Had a great time on Kent Coast, Ramsgate, Deal, and the beautiful white cliffs of Dover. Spenttt few days going over all the ancestors territory in Aldington, Hythe and Marden. Any gravestones we found 15 years ago have now been eroded and can't be clearly identified. Have had some great parks right on the seafront. We are now headed for Epsom where we'll spend a few days with Brians friends while we attend the Chelsea flowere show and then we'll be off to the Isle of Wight. The first week we went to church at St. Michaels at Tenterden, had a short 15 minute service and then walked with the church people through the paddock to complete the rest of the service at St. Mildreds. This week  we had a great time at the Living Well chuirch near Dover.

Alls well in Kent

Spent 2 days roaming around Canterbury. We could really be there a week, so much to see. Moved on to Ramsgate and Sandwich. Sandwich is so old , house and hotels built in 12th century.They have also lost industry to overseas losing 3000 jobs in a very small town. We are now in Deal which is also very old. Still cold and wet. Looking for few better days to take some photos.Having a great time. Booked for home 12th September.

Had to say good bye to our good friends Fred & Phyllis in Kent this morning to keep moving on. We arrived at canterbury and had a quick look around the town but couldn't do it justice in the time we had so have moved along  to our camp for the night and we'll go back early tomorrow. Expensive for parking, petrol and entry to Canterbury Cathedral but all up food is very cheap so not all bad money wise. Had two lovely sunny days and now raining again.. Spent two days siteseeing around Kent including a trip to Bodium Castle and Sissinghurst Gardens. (right)

What a life. Beautiful sunny day. Somebody has to do it.Off to Bodium Castle in Kent today and hopefully able to start getting some good photos now the sunshine has appeared. The van is going really well and we are really pleased with it. Getting the jist of this blogspot now. Only just have to find out how to put photos on. Take care all of you. Dawn & Brian xxxx

Up and going at

Well we've arrived. Had a great overnight stay in Beijing but have had trouble connecting as someone left laptop charger at home "brig ht boy" Now it all has to be charged with car charger. We picked up the van at Ipswich and headed for Dorset as we are still having trouble insuring the van. Then to make matters worse it ended up being a public holiday weekend. So we've spent the weekend doing tourist things on foot. Thanks to new friends Margaret and Reg who accomodated us on our first night when we nfelt a bitr lost. It's been wet most days and cold at night. Alls good and hope to get som.e pictures up soon.