Back at Dover, are we actually going to France?

Margate

The Shell Grotto photos
click here

Broadstairs

Herne Bay Talent Competition.

We heard that there was to be a Talent Competition, tomorrow on Saturday. Dad got real excited and told us to stay in Herne Bay and he cycled back to get the Van.

There a lot of very good acts and Dad was very surprised and proud that I got 2nd Prize again.

We stayed in Herne Bay that night and Sunday night and everywhere we went people were saying Hello and well done, I was so proud. 

I met some people who were also at the competition when we were reading about Amy Johnson.

Amy Johnson was a very brave adventurer who set records as a pilot in the 1930's and died doing the thing she most loved, flying.

Dad lied about my age.

In the morning we cycled 3 miles along the coast and found Herne Bay. There was a Sand Castle Competition going on.

I had missed my age group so Dad told them I was 10 and they let me compete. I came second and got a prize from The Mayoress of Canterbury.

Whitstable was great, we actually went swimming in the "SEA" I played my pipes to some old retired people.

Canterbury, I sold my first DVD's.

After a long drive, accidentally visiting Wales for a while (in the dark) and after a stop over near Northampton? we arrive in Dover. The highlight of Dover was the Bronze Age boat in the museum.

I played a few songs for some nice people who had a "micro pub"
 We meet Mum the next day. Weather is great, people friendly so on advice from people from the micro pub we go to see Canterbury.
It's a great place to busk and I sold 3 DVD's
.

We met some nice ladies who said we must go to Whitestable and watch the sun go down and we can park next to the sea.

The oldest Steel Bridge in the World.

After a fantastic day in the Victorian village Dad said we should see the nearby iron bridge at a place called, strangely enough, Iron Bridge. It was build by Thomas Telford in 1779 and was the worlds first metal bridge so is also the oldest.

I played my pipes on the bridge and for some reason that was the best of a great day.

An incredible day

We got to Blist Hill, the Victorian village....................

We were greeted at the entrance by people in victorian dress who told us that we should change some money at the victorian bank into victorian money to spend while we are there.

A whole village has been reconstructed to recreate the sights, sounds and smells of a Victorian Shropshire village.

This Policeman turned out to be the piano player in The Victorian Pub

Meeting The Victorians, a journey back in time.

Dad is home schooling me and my "topic" this quarter is The Victorians. Aunty Gail told us about a reconstructed Victorian village in Telford, thankfully in the direction of Dover.

We stayed the night just near there.

I had a small guitar practice after breakfast.

First Busks of my World Trip Liverpool and then Chester

The van seems to be coping with the load (although we are picking Mum up in Dover, that might just be too much).
After Aberdeen we drove down Liverpool and busked before driving through the Mersey tunnel to the Wirral where we stayed overnight and said goodbye to Aunty Gail and Uncle Roger, Catherine, my cousin was there too.

I had a great busk in the old Roman town of Chester.......Dad bought a new camera yesterday...dont think he has got the hang of it yet! AND I WISH HE WOULD NOT SING WHILE VIDEOING ME.

North not South aaaaaaargh!

Although we are now supposed to be heading south across Europe to the sun and warm seas we drove north to Aberdeen to say goodbye to my big sister Corrie, and Stewart and my nephew and niece, Ella and Ruben. Dad says it will be a good test to see if the van can survive with all the weight of all our stuff.

Corrie gave me that beautiful yellow dress.

We are leaving at last!

I can't believe it, Dad says we are finally ready to leave on our World trip, "only" 4 weeks late and heading in a totally different direction to the original plan.