A Meerkat adventure on Deal Pier

Last week I took a trip to Deal on the Kent coast (UK) to see my aunt. As luck would have it, she has some meerkats too ;-)

We went for an amble down to the pier, where I spent many a happy hour in my childhood eating icecreams and chucking stones into the water.



It's different now, of course. *Someone* thought it would be a good idea to modernise.

From the seafront the pier now looks like an old shed, up close - well, words failed me.



We walked back towards the seafront and in the distance I spotted the Time Ball. It's the building pretty much in the centre, just left of a blue roof (you'll need to click on the pic to enlarge it).



When I was a child I assumed every town had a Time Ball, it's funny how much you take for granted! In fact, Deal Time Ball is very special. Wikipedia explains that time balls were an essential tool for ships. The ball was dropped daily at 1pm. allowing ships to accurately determine where they were.

I just used it to see if I was late home for lunch!

One more pic from the pier before I go...



Can anyone explain to me why this island nation of ours has VOLUNTEER lifeboatmen?

Only one more day till my competition finishes!