Whitstable Oyster Festival

Nothing would persuade me to eat an oyster, but the Festival sounded fun!

The Festival website tells us: Today’s Festival is a relatively modern (1980s) revival of a festival from Norman times. Back then, when Whitstable was already an established fishing port, fishers and dredgers held annual ceremonies of thanksgiving for their survival at sea and the success of the harvest. Being practical, hard-working people, Whitstable’s fishermen held their celebration during the slack period and closed season for oysters. That’s why, even today, you’ll find the festival is in the summer, outside the season for eating Whitstable native oysters.

We arrived in Whitstable in time for the landing of the catch on Reeves Beach, entertained by Samba Pelo Mar while we waited.

The oysters were presented to the Lord Mayor of Canterbury and blessed

 and then there was a procession into town for the delivery of oysters to the many businesses that sell them. Not to me I hasten to add, the very look of them is enough :-(

I enjoyed the parade though!

There were lots of local children dressed in an ocean theme and morris dancers - great fun! 

Tomorrow there will be a "mud tug" which sounds unmissable.

Whitstable Whimsy

Today's photos are all things that amused me on our walk around Whitstable yesterday. Strickly whimsical.

We've walked past the swimming pool many times but hadn't been to look at the sculpture at the entrance before. It's fab! A deep-sea-diver supports a snorkler who supports a swimmer. The details are great, click on the photos to enlarge them.

Of course someone (no, not me!) had poked pebbles into his helmet - and why not? He doesn't seem to mind! If anyone knows who the sculptor is I'd love to acknowledge him/her, but google couldn't help me today.

When we got to the harbour the first thing I noticed was our "friend" LI114.

We can't help it, we're "of a certain age" and have a seaview - so we have a telescope. We see two little fishing boats most days, checking their lobster pots. LI114 is one of them.

A lorry was delivering a load of shellfish. It looks like they're being delivered straight to the gulls, but they're actually going into the shed then the empty shells come out at the back. 

According to the gulls, not quite empty after all.

Oooh - our other "friend", R14. See you tomorrow!

Still at the harbour - look at the bottom line. I wonder if it's a technical term or a typo? :-)

And another ;-)

Thanks Whitstable, we love you really! 

Whitstable on a blustery day

One minute you're sailing along without a care...



and then you're down (and no, it's definitely not me, I was on the beach!)



We plan to move to Whitstable in 4 years time...and I REALLY REALLY want one of these fabulous beach-huts! Or - even better - to live on the road behind them.



Perspective is everything. While I was waiting for the seagulls to sit still, lining up this shot...



Mr Nifty pointed me in a slightly different direction:



Ever wondered how far your shadow stretches? Who it touches?

Is it me, or are alleys getting narrower?

Does Nifty's butt look big?



Can you see the name of the cottage behind Mr Nifty?



Yes, this really is the name of the alleyway, in Whitstable on the Kent coast.



This is one of many similar alleyways in Whitstable, left over from the days when smugglers needed to make a quick escape! Whitstable is a very strong contender for where Mr Nifty and I want to live when we grow up.