and then the rain set in...

Another very good day today, despite the wet bit shown here. Our friends from Cumbria are down visiting the South this week. We saw them yesterday for lunch and again today and will see them some more next week when we are also in Cumbria.

All these people are associated with my last school in Gillingham, before I went to Greenwich. We've been walking together these last 15 years at least. Since Alan and Irene moved to Cumbria these walks have become annual events but with fewer people as we've all got older.

We walked and talked our way along the Royal Military Canal from West Hythe to Seabrooke via Hythe and then back along the sea front to Hythe returning along the canal back to West Hythe - a grand total of 8 miles.

Just as we were at the futhest part of the walk and ready to turn back, down came the rain and we were obliged to walk back into the driving rain and squally winds, hence the muffled, slightly damp look of the group.

Never mind, our endurance was rewarded at the Botolph's Bridge Inn where they had a special offer on their pies - £5 a pie complete with mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables - an extremely tasty bargain. This was then followed by equally large portions of pudding - cheescake, bread and butter pudding, gooseberry crumble and the like.

We were joined at the pub by another couple who used to walk with us but have been caught by anno domini so we were 9 again for a short time.

And wouldn't you know it, while in the pub, the clouds cleared and the sun shone out of a brilliant blue sky. Just 4 hours too late.