Thursday 14th March 2024

Woke around 0730. Made coffee and did half an hour at my laptop before showering and descending to the restaurant for breakfast. Headed out at 0915…made for the docks, and grabbed a coffee at Starbucks. Took a short walk to the coastal path, which afforded a view of Upnor Castle across the Medway. Spent the morning in the suburbs of Rochester, knocking on doors. Broke for lunch…parked up in the city centre and went to gawp at Dickens’ wooden two-storey chalet, which had once stood in the garden at Gads Hill Place…he was writing The Mystery of Edwin Drood in it when he was taken ill, the day before his death in 1870. It was a Christmas gift from an actor-manager who was based at the Lyceum, near CD's offices off The Aldwych, and came in flat pack form...it proved too much for CD and chums to piece together, so they had to call for the assistance of the Lyceum's stage carpenter! Lunched in the pie and mash shop across the road, then walked down to take a quick look at the castle, and the cathedral, before returning to my car and driving out to knock on more doors. Broke at 1630 and drove back to the hotel. Uploaded some photos to my laptop, and watched The Six. Drove over to the marina for dinner at the Ship & Trades. Enjoyed the tortelloni with Mediterranean vegetables...wasn't so sure about the tempura anchovies starter.