Friday, July 12, 2013

A trip to Broadstairs with Claire and Darren...

Wednesday, in fact day No.3 in UK and off we go to Broadstairs for the day - family K with DKHNY and Claire.

Do you know of Broadstairs?

It's part of The Isle of Thanet where Margate is also. It, like Margate, is approximately 80 miles from London. Did you know it is known as 'The Jewel in Thanet's crown' and in fact the town's crest has a motto of Stella Maris, basically meaning 'Star of the Sea'.

We always wonder why the name Broadstairs - now apparently that comes from the Chapel Of St Mary - YES remember the blog re The Chapel and the micro brewer we went to the day after this. Yes that very Chapel. Well that is from 11th Century and to get to it from the beach you had to walk up some wide chalk steps - yep you got it they were Broadstairs. How amazing is that.

Also did you know Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield when staying at Bleak House, in Broadstairs. More of that in a moment.


I tell you it was a beautiful day, beautiful cliffs - the famed white cliffs. 
Then turn to sea and see this guy practicing for Broadstairs sailing week.



Below is the famous Bleak House where Mr Dickens himself frequented, viewing Broadstairs as a favourite watering hole and where he did indeed right the book of the same name. Quite amazing. We now have the pub of Charles Dickens with the restaurant of David Copperfield above it - see below.


OK means nothing really - Ollie and Amy pointing at a road sign. This is the small road to Bleak House. Funny is that this very road is the road that takes us from the motorway to our road where we live of Tanjong Road. Fort Road it seems is global.


Let's go for a drink in this lovely sunny day - Broadstairs Beach does me - so off to The Pavilion.

Beautiful just sitting there sunning ourselves, chatting, having a refreshing beverage and messing on the sand too. 



Very cute photos of my girls.


Then off to take a wee walk to Bleak House, but sneaking off to explore a side alleyway and see some lovely cottages from way back.


These are actually old fisherman's cottages.



Trying a new setting on the camera to take photos of sports action - quick fire snaps all in focus.
Then you can go back and select the good ones.
So here are those two of mine again sprinting across the sands of Broadstairs - all we need now is the 'Chariots of Fire' film soundtrack and we're complete!


No not a supporter of the Tour de France.
Big mistake wearing the yellow t-shirt - I got covered in little beetles, as in covered!
Still did not stop me having a refreshing beverage (of course!)


Lovely snap DKHNY - a lovely snap!
My gorgeous Brother!
Bing Bong!


OK take that back - he just lost all his manliness.

Ahhh boo boo wanna likkle cuddle prease Clairesy Wairsey.
Hmmmmm...



Very cute kidlets.
Sunny days with Uncle DK.


Long story that only those present will understand.
But the kids with the slime that only cost GBP40.
Bargain if you ask me...



Thanks Amy - a couple of lovely snaps of the happy couple - he he!


Check out Broadstairs.
Is that a beautiful beach or what...?
Quite chilly so not many on the beach, but you should have seen it about a week later - swamped!



Some random Filipino tourist outside that pub I mentioned - Charlie Dicks and restaurant Copperfields.


And where said Charlie Dicks wrote said book 'Bleak House' - Bleak House, Broadstairs.


This is going to sound a tad crazy now.
Whilst in Broadstairs we went or lunch. 
Did we have;
  • pub fair - No
  • fast food - No
  • English comfort food - No
  • Thai - YES
WTF - yes we went for Thai lunch at this amazing restaurant on Broadstairs High Street.

Me and The DK ready for the food onslaught - have to say it was authentic, cooked by Thai and it was bloody amazing! Loved this place!



Mary's slow cooked lamb in peanut sauce - delicious!


My Thai beef salad, sort of a Laab - blow your socks off heat.


Darren and Claire had Thai chicken curry.


Ollie had the duck breast noodle soup.


Amy had the Thai stir fry rice.


All just simply gorgeous - and washed down with a Singha.
Well done Broadstairs that was bloody good thanks!


Above is Mum's old seaside shop.

Don't know who this woman is, but if she's expecting to get picked up there and looking like that, she's got a long wait!


Had to take this.
What you are not seeing is the weather.
-10, windy, cold, overcast - but still if you want to go for a swim we've for dinghy's and rubber rings.


We popped for a quick pint in one of my old haunts - The Tartar Frigate.
Scary at 11, but I think Ollie looks very at home sat at the bar.
Mine's a Stella please Ollie Boo.




Not exactly cast in stone.
But written in sand and written in chalk on stone.
Names for ever inscribed in Broadstairs - let's check next year to see if still there kids.




The epitamy of Broadstairs and Margate beaches.
The beach hut.
We had one of these down Margate.
A place to store all that beach stuff to bring out for the one days Summer every year.
They look great don't they!


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