Kennett UK Vacation No5; Thai Food & Reculver

Uncle Geoff and Aunty Sue came down from Essex and wanted to meet us all as we were here.

So back garden at Mum's chatting in the Sun, with Jude trying to eat half the garden. A lovely time.

So let's extend that fun and go for Thai food in the evening at Siam Kitchen in Broadstairs. 

Mum, Ollie and Amy arrive in style in the convertible.

I must just say if you are anywhere near to Broadstairs you really should try this place, the food is absolutely authentic cooked by husband and wife with their kids running about downstairs. A huge menu though - so beware - making your choice in the first place is really hard. But when you do, and when it arrives it is truly wonderful. They don't hold back on the spice either, so a 2 chili logo is nicely hot hot hot. Simply gorgeous. 

They the lamb shank and any of the salads with Thai Basil, I had the pork version. Oh yes baby!!!

Washed down with a couple of Singhas and some lovely conversation with our family.

Doesn't get much better it has to be said.

Even Jude got stuck in to the rice crackers and stuffed chicken wings with pork mince.

Next day off we jolly well go to Reculver. 

I would suggest you need to be a local to know what that is, and where that is

Following the theme of Bath, I thought I would take the family off to see the local version.

AD200 saw a Roman fort being built on this land, and remained for the next 207 years until the Roman army left Britain. Then in the 7th century AD a Christian Monastery was built within the ruins of the fort. The fort was called Regulbium, and was frequented by Roman soldiers and sailors that fought overseas and locally, tending to support other armies and protecting tax collection.

 Major changes to coastline have altered the look somewhat, and in fact sea erosion has wiped away over half the fort already. AD669 saw a Canterbury priest build a large church there, that then got evacuated and abandoned in AD800 when our mates the Vikings came a plundering until 1016. Likely then following the Norman invasion the church was reused as the Reculver parish church until in 1805 a rather unusual decision was made to demolish the church. Even stranger is that they allowed the two main towers to remain for shipping navigation purposes. Hey presto that is what remains today.

Still I have to say pretty damn impressive.

A nice view back down the coast - I believe I can see Margate over there in the distance.

Kennett UK Vacation No4; The BIG weekend begins, the knot gets hitched for DK & Claire

Firstly apologies for this - yes 122 photos.

A great weekend ahead - 3 days and 2 nights in a castle in Clevedon for Darren and Claire's wedding.

And here it comes.

And so we leave Cheddar Gorge and head to Clevedon to meet DK and Claire and the rest of the family. A slight detour as we only had the name of the castle and no address, which took us way way West of where we should be. What do they say; "Ask a Policeman?" Well in this case we asked a PostMan and he allowed us to follow him all the way to the junction to the castle. What a nice chap he was. Well done Mr Postie, made the start of my day meeting you.

Up a wee winding road, past a golf course, past an actual golf hole that was being played - "FORE!!!", and we espy this little pink sign.

'Darre & Claire Wedding - Here'

I think we may have arrived.

And arrived we had indeed.

Our castle for the weekend - Walton Castle.

We climbed up to the highest point - well the balcony from Darren and Claire's bedroom.

What a view - looking straight out here to Wales.

Here is Ollie pointing to exactly that. Wales be that-a-way.

The panning round to view the English countryside of surrounding Clevedon. I have to say it really s nice being back in UK to see these uniterrupted views of lush green countryside. Something you just don't really see in Asia. Well in Asia that look like this, and definitely not in Singapore.

Well hello there who is that below?

Could that be one of the Princesses staying in the castle - I do believe it is, I do believe it is my Amy.

Hi beautiful!!!

OMG what I wouldn't do for a kitchen like this. Ground floor of the central tower.

My first time to cook on an Argor and boy I loved it.

Started with warming some pizzas as everyone got peckish.

Then a 'gourmet' burger for J's pregnant wife who was desperate to eat.

Yep I like this, I like this a LOT!!!

And here is the central tower. How beautiful is this?

Below now is the central tower where there is the kitchen, 2 double bedrooms downstairs, a living room upstairs, and then the master bedroom and balcony. The site dates back to the Iron Age, not this actual castle but a previous hill fort that is referenced in the Domesday Book as 'Gunni The Dane'. The current castle began construction back in 1615, and was designed as a hunting lodge for Lord John Poulett - a very wealthy man, a well known land owner in Somerset and also an MP.

Sadly due to The Civil War family fortunes declined and the castle fell in to a derelict state. In 1791 it was collapsed in areas, the floors had fallen in and it was being used for keeping cows in by a local dairy farmer. Strange though according to the web site, despite its poor condition it still achieved status as 'a remarkable piece of ornamental planning' by Pevsner in 1957. The Miles family then grabbed it and started restoration before it was sold on to a private couple who finished it to its current state of renovation - where we were at now.

Read some more at; http://waltoncastle.com/history/

My gang lazing in the gardens within the castle walls.

Yes we had the ENTIRE castle for the party.

Here is that living room where Tom and I concluded the joint best man speech.

I have to say I think the final result was pretty damn good - well done Tommy-Boy.

This is beautiful.

Sadly Claire's Mum passed away, so as to remember her, a candle was lit for the whole time we were there. Right next to a Rose - yes her name is Rosemary. Lovely.

Now I will slip in to very few words as there are just so many photos.

Day 1 above and below - family and friends gradually start arriving on the Friday evening, awaiting the delivery of fish and chips for dinner.

Yes yes artsy. A beautiful candelabra shot through the window from the garden.

Darren asked me to shoot some shots of the gardens at night with the lights on.

I like, I like a lot. The place looks amazing doesn't it?

I think by now we had had quite a few John Murphy's. My BAD.

Only drink we were allowed to have ahead of the big session tomorrow was cans of John Smiths. Not my favourite tipple, but a tipple is a tipple is a tipple. But I got the name wrong and it has now stuck - John Murphy's it became, and John Murphy's it remains.

Funny this one.

Is Claire naked on her balcony?

She sure looks like it - riske ha ha!!!

So fuchsia is the colour of the day.

Around the garden like a whirlwind went Pencher with pink chiffon - here is some of her work.

Lion looking good!!!

OK not on Tom, my co-best-man.

He has his very own decorations.

Up to the gatehouse for some photos on the other turrets. A very steep climb up a slippery ladder.

But the results are well worth it aren't they.

Thanks for this one Pen.

The boys.

More pink.

WTF???

Answers on a postcard re what the hell this think below is supposed to be.

Sort of Mick Jagger, Grace Jones, and the wee man off Fantasy Island.

My work with the big man Russ.

I think this looks gorgeous - the aisle we created.

Tell you what - he scrubs up pretty damn well doesn't he.

Love them shoes DK.

My boys - very cute and very handsome.

Ollie took on the role of videographer for the day - according to DK today, Ollie did an excellent job.

The other boys.

An usher, 2 best-men, a groom and a father of the bride.

Now this shot is good good good!!!

My darling Amy.

Flower girl for the day.

How cute do you look Amy.

And here comes the bride, with brother Simon.

WOW!!!

Claire you look/looked simply stunning. Beautiful Sis.

Now has someone got nerves - not sure.

DK looks a little worried, ha ha!!!

Claire's sisters - the bridesmaids.

Again ladies you look wonderful.

Truly a day filled with beautiful people.

Here we go, it's happening.

It's vows time.

And it's done - thou shalt kiss the bride.

Signing time in the registrar book, sadly underneath the archway of the gate as it started to rain a little. Sad because we had decorated a beautiful bush in front of which we had the signing table originally. Never mind it all look amazing still.

A very nice photo of us all together in front of that said bush.

Nice dress babe and Jude you look so very cute - hoping Daddy looks OK too.

"Sis let me get down."

More at the signing table, very nice photos Brother and Sister.

In fact more than very nice, stunning!!!

With the witnesses now at the table.

Brother and Sister - Simon and Nikki.

Nice dress and hat Sis.

Out comes the 'allowed' confetti.

Bio-degrable, colourless, odourless etc.

Basically little bits of rice paper and rose petals - we can't have those cobbles getting stained with colour now can we - hmmmm, cough, cough!!!

LOVE IT.

Groom, Bride, Bridesmaids, Flower Girl and Page Boy - how lovely is this.

Jem Jem jumps in to throw some confetti.

Now the boys together.

Very smart Ollie, very handsome.

Plus we get the beautiful candle for Claire's Mum and of course the decorated bush.

Ellwood family.

Parents.

The 'extras' with the Bride and Groom.

Bride and Maids.

DK and Jem Jem.

The Ellwood children (clearly not children, but you know what I mean!)

The 'extra' boys with Bride.

The 'extra' boys supposed to be showing off the pink shoes, the pink socks, the pick handkerchief, the pink cufflinks, the pink ties and the pink flowers. Sadly Ollie cut off our feet.

Friends.

Group Hug, Group Hug.

Check out the cake.

It is just simply incredible.

Made by Claire's sister, Rachael. 

Check it out - lego figures making the cake. The lego blocks are edible.

And then on top - yep Darren and Claire sit in the prime position, fashioned by a friend in pastry I think. There is a wedding ring, the pink shoes, the flowers, the pink tie etc. Simply wonderful.

Now at dinner we all had tables named after super hero characters - let me try to remember them.

Table BatMan, Table IronMan, Table WonderWoman, Table Hulk, Table SpiderMan, Table SuperWoman.

I have not seen Uncle Peter for something like 20 years, how crap is that.

We had such a lovely catch up and he got to meet the kids and Jude finally.

Jude and he really hit it off.

I was very happy to see them, and clearly so was Jude.

Nice one ladies.

My Mary, with My Mum, with My Sister - just so lovely!

Looking beautiful girls.

Cake cutting inside party tower.

Hmmm yummy Darren drinking some green stuff and some red stuff.

Nice!!!

Tom and a changed Ollie after he had been on the bouncy castle.

That reminds me - I was championy for the archery competition for the men, and Amy was championy for the kids. A white-wash, woo hoo!

Michelle and Sharon - my other two Sisters.

Lovely to see you and the families ladies, truly lovely.

Night kicks in now.

The kids danced and danced to the fantastic band.

0100am was the finish for the kids - a very late night for them, but I could not take them away from the fun. They were having such fun.

OK out in the gardens with make-shift shields and swords.

The kids got on so very well.

Another lovely shot with me and my uncle and aunt - Peter and Sue.

It really was lovely to see you both after so many years.

We should NOT let that happen again.

Taking a break from the dancing - phew!!!

Loads of fancy snaps now.

Beautiful pictures of the kids - love you guys.

MWAH!!!

Dancing Diva.

New best friends - Amy No1 and Amy No2.

Jem Jem - posing on the steps. Nice pic Jems.

The band were fantastic, really really good.

Mum, Margaret and Penny atop the balcony.

Come on who would not want a wee selfie with their daughter.

Love you Amy-Boo.

The band conclude at something like 2am.

Great guys.

A little Cold Play kicking in there is there not.

The night gets later and later - the faces and actions will surely reflect that.

It's cigar time for the boys left standing.

Tradition stands!

Well one Gentlemen.

How is this lady looking so beautiful at 0200am after drink, dancing and a full day???

Yep behind the bar.

Check this out.

Paint samples or are we having a drink? Jeeze.

This was a concerted effort early doors to get rid of some of the remaining alcohol.

I think we did a good job indeed!!! Phew!!!

Next day, and it is BBQ time before we have to depart from home - sadly.

Matt takes control - great work pal.

Matt is who DK is staying with this week in Ibiza - lucky boys and girls.

Great to meet you both.

Ahhhhh - bless - Jude and his new mate Edward.

How cute are these photos.

Having fun Jude?

I think a massive YES for that question.

And No.122 - the final shot.

Thanks Phil for the photo taking.

Family Kennett is leaving the building - well leaving the castle.

We had such a wonderful time.

Thanks to Claire and Darren and so many congratulations again, love you guys.