Tea and cake (day one)...

A change is as good as as rest, and Canterbury, Kent, was the location chosen by my friend Nic for a day out eating cake, drinking tea and taking photographs. After our arrival the first stop was Chambers for coffee and cake, just to get the ball rolling, followed by a casual roam around the town. Although Canterbury has a very famous cathedral it is barely visible from within the town itself, and we decided against visiting it this time around (there is a £9.50 entrance fee during most of the day), and concentrated on the more accessible locations.

The steel mask (right) - made up of numerous smaller plates welded together and entitled "Buckethead" - stands next to the Marlowe Theatre, and was the first subject to draw my attention.

After that came lunch at Boho on the high street (Goat cheese chiabatta and chips with salad, and Earl Grey tea) and more walking.

The building that was the most interesting to me was 28 Palace Street, known as Crooked House (amongst other names) and its precarious lean. I was intrigued by the way the door had been specially cut to allow for the lop-sidedness of the Tudor building. The inscription above it reads: "...a very old house bulging out over the road...leaning forward, trying to see who was passing on the narrow pavement below..." Charles Dickens, 1849

The trad jazz band, playing an impromptu session, it would seem, next to the old medieval Westgate, demonstrates the spirit of the town and its creativity (remember the prog-rock and avant-guard jazz scene and the "Canterbury Sound" of the late 1960s and early 70s?). Whatever good cause they were trying to raise money for - very possibly themselves - it was a delight to witness something of such a high standard being played in the street, and for free. Of course, I added a contribution after taking numerous shots (this is what you do, folks), and we even got a visit from what appeared to be the mayor.
Note: The trombone player was playing a red plastic instrument, although without seeing it I doubt you would have known the difference. Talent will out, as the saying goes.

All this was polished-off with afternoon tea at Tiny Tim's Tearoom, where you will not find a finer example of Lemon, or Sticky Ginger cake (the latter, for me, and with ice cream), anywhere on the planet. The Earl Grey was also top notch. Pricy, but worth every penny.


All images: 24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor



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