We entered the dining room and approached the lady standing at a desk, obviously to receive such confused mortals as us.

It was explained that there was a buffet and you have to prepay at the bar. We did so, came back and presented our receipt. The only vegetarian item on the menu was vegetable curry. We should place our order with the lady at the desk and it would be brought to our table.

The dining room from our table

When the curry arrived, it contained chunks that were obviously meat. We called the lady at the desk. She agreed that it looked very much like meat. She took the curry back the kitchen. Later she returned, this time with the advertised vegetable curry. A cock-up in the kitchen, so to speak.

After the main course, we served ourselves dessert from the buffet then we sought coffee.

Barman: What can I get you?

S.T.: A latte and a black americano, please.

Barman: Oh no, sorry, mate, can’t do a black americano. Could do a cappuccino?

S.T.: Er, no. Do you do tea?

Barman: Yes, mate.

S.T.: What teas do you have?

Barman: Oh, all sorts. (Starts to reel off a list) … green tea…

S.T.: Fine, give me a green tea, please.

Barman: Oh, no. Sorry, mate, there isn’t any. See, it should here but there isn’t any.

S.T.: Fine just give me the latte.

We sat in the hotel lounge while Tigger ate her dessert and drank her latte and I wondered how a hotel could run things so ineptly. Then we ascended to our room where I had the cup of tea that the hotel bar had been unable to provide.

Tomorrow is our last day in Folkestone this time around. We have to check out by 10 am and our train departs at 16:13, so we will still have the morning and part of the afternoon here. How shall we fill that time?

The view from our hotel window this morning is very different from what it was on the previous two mornings.

A view from the window

Has the heatwave turned tail and fled? It rather looks like it. This was how it looked at 6:45 am today.

The young gull pays a visit

As we sat and drank our tea, the young gull came back and perched on the balcony rail. He remained longer this time than on previous visits, showing no impatience, just waited quietly for whatever he was hoping for. At a particular moment, the gull “community” in the harbour became active, flying about and calling noisily. “Our” gull turned round to watch, obviously paying attention to what was going on. When things quietened down again, he turned back to us and resumed his patient wait. He flew away at last but will no doubt return later or tomorrow.

The sun breaks through

Contrary to the Met Office forecast, the sun later broke through the clouds and by 8:30 the scene looked as shown above. As we are taking the train and visiting a relative in Birchington-on-Sea, this change for the better is welcome – assuming that it stays.

Aboard the bus

We took a bus to go to the station but…

Some Creative Folkestone

…it turned out to be the wrong bus so we had to walk a bit, passing some more Creative Folkestone on the way.

Bridge Coffee House

We stopped at this small cafe, the Bridge Coffee House, for coffee and croissants.

Antique cigarette machine

Set in the wall outside is this memento of times past, an old cigarette machine. When did it dispense its last packet of “gaspers”? Years ago.

Folkestone Station

At Folkestone Station, we just missed a train and had a while to wait for the next one.

On our way

The train is an HS1 but in this area it has to travel on ordinary low-speed tracks so there is no speed advantage.

We needed to change trains at Ramsgate.

Birchington-on-Sea Station

We arrived at Birchington-on-Sea. Above is the picturesque railway station though we think the larger building on the right may have been sold off.

The name of Birchington dates from Anglo-Saxon times, being formed of two words, bircen, “birch trees”, and tun, “farm”.

Station Road

We were meeting a relative and so went to a cafe in Station Road. Birchington has a mixture of old and new buildings and in parts has a village atmosphere.

Victorian canopies

This shop still has a Victorian-era canopy covering the pavement.

Dog Acre

In Sainsbury’s we bought items for a picnic and to eat it found a shaded bench in this small park or garden bearing the picturesque name of Dog Acre.

Birchington Library, exterior

Birchington Library, interior

We visited the small but pleasantly styled Birchington Public Library.

Obelisk in honour of Dante Gabriel Rossetti

On our way to the railway station, we paused in the diminutive Rossetti Gardens to photograph the obelisk raised by the Birchington Rossetti Society to the famous artist who died in the town in 1882.

House and business of John Chawner & Sons

Just beside the railway bridge stands the house and business premises of John Chawner & Sons, established 1891, repairer of clocks, watches and barometers. There are precious few such businesses left in this age of electronic devices.

Birchington Station

We went into Birchington Station and caught the first of two trains back to our current base. Once again, we needed to change at Ramsgate.

Through the window

The second train, destination Charing Cross, is an HS1 “Javelin”, but running here on ordinary slow track. Not that it matters as we do not have far to go.

The long slope

The exit from Folkestone Central Station is down a long, steep slope. It’s also the entrance in which case you have to climb the long, steep slope. Going down is easier!

Back in Folkestone

Soon we found ourselves out in the streets of Folkestone. I realised that I am already quite fond of this oddball town with is maritime history and its brave attempts to reinvent itself.

We now had to wait for a bus back to the hotel. I won’t bore you with further grumbles about the defective bus service but you may take it as read.

Arriving at the hotel, we called the lift and rose to the 8th floor. We entered our room and… who was waiting for us?

“Our” gull was waiting

Yes, “our” gull was perched on the balcony railing. He didn’t stay long, though, and soon took wing, whither I do not know.

Though we spent much of today sitting talking or eating, what with the travel by bus and train and the heat, we were quite tired on arriving back in the room. We shall probably have recourse to the hotel restaurant for our evening meal. I will, though, leave my account at this point for now and take it up again in due course.