Greta berths in Whitstable harbour

Doreen's 91st birthday today. We took her for lunch at the Red Lion in Lenham which turned out to be a disappointment as the food was not very good at all. But the staff handled the situation very well, refunding us the cost of two main meals and apologising for the problems profusely.

From then on, things looked up. The dull, damp weather improved so that by the time we arrived in Whitstable the clouds had disappeared and the sun was out, the tide was up and the place looked really pleasant. We enjoyed an ice cream and a stroll along the seafront.

We called in on friends who live in Whitstable, we only usually see them once a year at our Christmas do's but they've always said to call in if we're in Whitstable. They did Doreen proud, a small cake and a candle and a lovely bunch of flowers.

It was then home for a late tea and a scone with clotted cream and a bit of jam with another candle in it to round off the day. (We're not allowed too much sugar on account of its impact!)

This Thames barge (Greta) sails from Whitstable on day trips in the Thames Estuary most days in the summer. A six hour trip costs £48 (or £54 at the weekend) and recreates the voyages of these once common barges from the Kent coast to London. It really is a marvellous vessel.