Maidstone in a different light

We'd just come out of the Buddha's Belly (more of which later) at about 9.30 today and were walking up towards the centre of town when the clear, quite harsh light of late evening gave a different perspective on the town. A handy bollard provided a platform and this is what I got on "night setting"

The statue, Queen's Monument, provides an ornate and embellished contrast to the slab like 1960s Colman House with its shops beneath. The statue of a young Queen Victoria dates from 1862, and stands on the site of the ancient market cross. The monument was given to Maidstone by Alexander Randall "to his native town". Alexander Randall was High Sheriff of Kent in 1861.

The monument has always been there and part of the furniture but this is the first time I've taken the trouble to find out about it. That's what blipping is doing. In researching the monument I found a leaflet describing an "Historical Walking Tour of Maidstone" So, all in all, a little bit of good news in a town I've not been too complimentary about in my blips or blog this year.

Buddha's Belly, what an name, puts you off going there. But we overcame the resistance and went in with our good friends Chris and Wendy and we were pleasantly suprised. A vast array of food from around the world, with several live cooking stations where your choices were cooked for you. The tandoori oven, where naans were cooked was spectacular. We could go there again not eat the same things and there would still be dishes we hadn't tried.

Earlier it had been a busy day down at the allotment, creating and laying paths made from old floorboards in the style of duck boards, followed by a quick walk prior to the blow out at the Belly.