Broadstairs, Kent 10 - 12 January 2014

What was initially envisaged (please kill me for using that word) as a small weekend for our newly engaged flat mates, Rob and Bex, soon ballooned into a large affair with several families and nearly a dozen friends converging on Broadstairs, a small town on coast of South East England.

Friday 7:30PM, with Rob at the wheel, myself, Lauren, Bex and another friend James, piled into a car generously loaned to us Bex’s parents and drove off into the sunset. Two hours later we pulled up the Rob’s Mom’s house, a pleasant semi-detached two story Victorian. The adjacent house was a holiday home also kindly loaned to us for the weekend free of charge. This was where all the “kids” would be staying. The holiday home interior designed reminded me of the Condo. Nautical knickknacks scattered over tables, novelty seashells.

After meeting up with Rich, Amy, Bex’s sister and her boyfriend we shuffled down to The White Swan, a local pub owned by Rob’s godmother. Literally a two minute walk from the hours, the pub was crowded with older white British boozers. Locals only type of scene. We settled around the pool table which was offering games for only 50P (in London the going rate is £1). We faced a friendly ribbing from a trio of guys who clearly call this place their second home. After the pub closed we continued the imbibing back home.  

The following morning we drove to the nearby coast and enjoyed a pleasant walk along beautiful seaside cliffs. We passed Bleak House – where author Charles Dickens spent a number of years writing and wandered onto the Broadstairs high street for food.  Lunch was fish and chips (of course) in beach facing hotel. 

Returning to the house, we spent the rest of the afternoon laying around, playing cards and keeping out of trouble.

As the western sun beginning to set and with outside temperatures falling, we began our preparations for the evening. We started with a brief dinner of oven pizza and cheese bread.

Returning to the White Swan we met loads of Rob and Bex’s family. Champagne in hand we all toasted to the couple. Plenty of pool games where had. The local yokels from the prior night where there in full force and they eventually they challenged us to a game. Their confidence on the pool table was intimidating. However a great cheer erupted from our side when they sunk the 8 ball before they were supposed to – prompting an automatic win for our side. They didn’t give us any lip for the rest of the evening.

Like the night before, we moved the group back to the house around 11:30 and continued the festivities into the wee hours of the morning. The morning after damage was light. The house was intact and the headache complaints were few. We packed our bags, said our goodbyes and shoved off to London. She greeted us with drizzle and thick cloud cover. Bloody typical.