Fun Around Town

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Geo: 51.3347, 1.41787

Hello

Just a posting of happenings around town.

July 19 2008 - The Kent Beer Fest. This was a great way to spend my birthday. Kim and I went to the Kent Beer Festival in Canterbury. It was held in a huge barn out in the country. There were lots of different beers there from different breweries but almost half of them had run out because this was the last day of the festival. Beth and here boyfriend Adam had been there the night before and drank most of the beer. We still got to try lots of good beers, packed a tasty picnic lunch to take with us, enjoyed the sounds of a U2 cover band, great weather and meet some new friends. It was a good day all around.

July 20 2008 - Pegwell Bay Hover Port. Close by our house is the remains of an old Hover Port. The Hover Craft would transport cars and passengers from Ramsgate to Calais France. They stopped using this facility in 1984 and all that remains now is the pavement. It is a great place to walk the dog and the wild butterfly bushes have started to take over. They are Huge.

July 27 2008 - Leeds Castle. Beth's Parents came into town for a visit and we spent the day with them and Beth's boyfriend, Adam at Leeds Castle. This is a gorgeous castle that has incredible grounds with gardens, hedge maze, bird aviary with falconry demonstrations and a tethered hot air balloon ride.

July 29 2008 - Historical Walk of West Cliff. Kim and I took a guided walk of West Cliff (this is the area of Ramsgate that we live in). This walk is done by locals that all volunteer and along the walk you not only learn about the important architectural aspects but get to meet people who are dressed in costume and portray the important people in Ramsgates past. Along the walk we meet Augustus Pugin, who was the instigator and leader of Gothic Revival Architecture. He is best known for designing the interior of the houses of parliament in London. He not only built his home here (the Grange) but also designed and built a Church (St. Augustine's). The next person we meet was Helen Lumsdaine who was the niece of Mr. Benson who lived in the house next to us (where our landlords Ken and Debbie live). Pugin fell in love with her and they were engaged. Because of religious differences Helen and Augustus soon were forced to part. Around the corner from our home is #6 Royal road where Vincent Van Gogh taught at a boy's school for a very short time. He later wrote to his brother Theo:-
"If there is no human being that you can love enough, love the town in which you dwell....I love Paris and London though I am a child of the pine woods and of the beach at Ramsgate."
The next person we meet was one of the many a British Soldiers from 1805 who were preparing to fight Napoleon. Afterwards we meet Miss Selina Welby who was Augustus Pugins aunt who he stayed with in Ramsgate as a young man. We then meet King George IV. The gentleman playing King George was a hoot. He even sang a little song for us. It was King George IV that is responsible for naming Ramsgate as the Royal Harbor. Wilkie Collins was the last person on our tour. He was a author, and ladies man, with two women he lived with. One on each cliff of Ramsgate. He is best known for "The Moonstone" and "The Woman in White".

August 1 2008 - Lily's favorite place, Botany Bay. We took Lily down to her favorite beach and got some good pictures of the chalk stacks.

August 3 2008 - Napoleonic War Reenactment. A friend of ours, Vadim, was in town for one night on his way to Montenego and Croatia. After picking him up from the train station we went to the park at the end of our street where there was a Napoleonic War Reenactment. There were lots of musket and cannon fire. Here is the link to the Video I shot. http://www.vimeo.com/1470200
On our way back to the house we went into St. Augustine's Church (built by Pugin) for the first time. Pugin is actually buried in the church. It was gorgeous on the inside.

Well I hope that I have not bored you but I had these picture I wanted to share.

Take care

The Skinners

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