Wednesday 30th August 2023

 

Slightly disturbed night's sleep, courtesy of the old war wound, which was giving me gip before I went to bed. Got up and showered, then descended to the breakfast room. Did a little work at the laptop after breakfast, then headed back for Strood. Finished there around lunchtime, so took a detour to M&S and bought some lunch, which I ate in the car on Church Green, overlooking the Medway, and Rochester Castle, and cathedral. Spent the afternoon in Chatham's suburbs. Visited No.11 Ordnance Terrace, where the young Charles Dickens lived between the ages of 5 and 9, before they moved to Camden. The terrace is over 200 years old, and looks in bad need of a facelift...dread to think what they might look like inside! The young Charles and his elder sister played in the field opposite the house, which is now Chatham Railway Station. Got back to the hotel around 1800. Walked to the Ship and Trades for dinner, alongside the busy dual carriageway. Ordered the lowest calorie meal on the menu, wholewheat spaghetti with artichoke hearts...it was OK, but lacked flavour. Walked back in the gloaming, dodging the occassional cyclist. FaceTimed Aki...there was a knife murder outside Poundland yesterday lunchtime, so there is an enhanced police presence in the vicinity. Caught sight of the Super Blue Moon through my hotel window as I got in to bed, as it hung above the suburbs of west Gillingham...