Staycationing In Kent

I have to admit I was awfully nervous about going away especially in this current climate but with my husband a key worker and working non stop , we felt a break was necessary.We though long and hard about where we should go and finally settled on Kent as we both know it so well and that’s where my late Grandparents used to live.But using points I had with Holiday inn I booked two nights near Canterbury, I also booked a time slot to go into Canterbury Cathedral one of those days.

Whistable 

This was where we started our Kent staycation arriving around midday just in time for a spot of lunch , Whsitable is a seaside town the North coast of Kent in South-East England , it is 5 miles North of Canterbury and 2 miles west of Herne Bay.Do check out places to park as we parked near the sea front and it was something like £2 a hour , I 'm pretty sure if you park further away you could grab yourself a bargain.Now if you go to Whitstable at the minute I would advise to take some cash for your eating and snack needs as some of the places we went to were only accepting cash which did seem a little odd in the current climate. You can do some lovely walks along the coast we walked round up to Tankerton Bay and nearly got to Herne Bay, when I am along the coast I could truly walk and walk for miles there is just something about it that embraces one.

Whistable Harbour 

Canterbury

Canterbury is a UNESCO World Heritage historic centre and the cathedral attracts visitors from all round the world. wee started our day milling round the city of Canterbury and it was not crowded and though it picked up later it still was not crowded and there is plenty of space to socially distance .We had plenty of time to wander around as we weren't booked into the cathedral till later on in the afternoon and Canterbury is a pure gem of a city never have I seen such a clear river and you can go punt trips down the river.





Canterbury Cathedral is the heart of the Church of England.The cathedral was founded in 597 AD by missionary St Augustine and over the years it was rebuilt by both the Saxons and the Normans.You can see where Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170 and also you can see the Toms of the Black Prince and Henry IV and be prepared to have your breath taken away by the impressive medieval stained glass windows.

Fried Portuguese Green Beans

First time cooking Peixinhos da horta (fried Green beans ) in my own kamikaze style , yes I know the beans should be whole etc etc but I was cooking on a wing and a prayer.

Ingredients 

100 grams of plain flour ( though you could reduced the amount , it’s totally up to you)

3  eggs ( I only had 2 so added some milk )

Some salt and pepper 

Some herbs dried or fresh 

Salt

Seasonings

Method

Wash and remove the Green beans strings and cut the ends, then place them in a saucepan full of water and season with salt.

Cook for around 10 -15 minutes 


Drain and set aside

Mx the flour eggs and a little salt in a bowl and any other flavouring I threw in some chicken seasonings

Dip around 3 -4 green beans at a time ( My Green beans were a bit more chopped up but it doesn't matter )  keep going till all the beans are coated

Heat a frying pan or skillet up and gently fry the beans on both sides 

Set aside on a plate that has kitchen towel on

I served mine on a bed of chopped chicken but it pretty much goes with anything I think and it’s a quick and easy lunch or supper perfect for humid hot days . You could add some diced shallot to the batter just to make a bit of a change , it is I think a really adaptable recipe.

Fried Portuguese Green beans 

Lamb Meatballs With Braised Savoy Cabbage With Lentils And Lardons

Ingredients 

Red Lentils now you can either follow the instructions on the packet of lentils or use canned ones

Premade lamb meatballs or make your own 

Lardons if you want 

Vegetable stock enough to braise the cabbage in 

Savoy cabbage cored and shredded 

Method 

First cook the meatballs they’ll probably take about 30 minutes depending on the size and cook at 180 c or higher through and keep warm .Though you can aim to cook the cabbage about halfway through .

Melt the butter in a pan add the landons and cook for 3-4 minutes 

Add the cabbage and mix well 

Then add the stock and cook for 10 minutes till tender

Add the pre cooked lentils and warm through 

Plate up with the meatballs add mozzarella and bung in the oven for a minute or 2 just to let the mozzarella melt 

Turning A StayCation Into A Yaycation

Yaycation that is a phrase I thought I would write let alone say much less irritating than the new normal .


I never thought this would be the year of the Staycation as In April Myself and my husband should have been winging our way to Corfu, we had heard so much about Corfu and we had managed to get a holiday for the bargain price of £595 half board and I was so happy.I though sunshine , wine and ruins and much much needed wandering as that as what I love doing on holiday. I am not much of a pool person or a beach person and I find it very hard to keep still until my gaze is captured by wonder.

More and more of us are going to be taking Staycations and the first Staycation you take in this current climate is always going to be filled with slight anticipation.I do have s Staycation planned at some point in Kent and yes I’m understandably slightly nervous but as long as I adhere to all the current guidelines then I’m sure all will be well (I hope )


I have seen people going on there breaks and it does seem normal out there but changed as we now have to wear masks on buses and shops and this is what I haven't experienced yet.I am avoiding buses and of course I will be wearing them in shops as from Thursday when I do go in a shop.


The shielding for me comes to an end on the 31st July and while I have popped out to the countryside in the form of National Trust and English Heritage properties .


One thing to do is to make sure you have a clean mask in a bag in the car just incase when you do go out you find that you have forgotten to put one in your shopping bag. Of course hand gel as well ( but never keep handle in your car just in case it catches fire because the high alcohol volume in the hand gel  as well as a back of tissues and some paracetamol , most people do have a First aid kit in their car.

I do recommend getting English Heritage and National Trust memberships as there social distancing at their properties is superb.Last weekend we went to Packwood  house which is only one of a few properties you can actually go inside at the moment.

Does Disability Inclusion Come Easy ?

Does disability Inclusion come easy ?

When I first joined my local ladies choir I was made very welcome but it took me a very long time to slot in and that, in part, was down to me being autistic. When a disability is invisible it can be very hard for you to been seen as anything other than normal but you are normal and being accepted is part of that. Being autistic I don't light up a room always socially and people find it hard to understand me and putting myself across takes a shed load of work and leaves me exhausted. I can write these words now and even now I wonder and worry how my words will be perceived!

Choirs are not always sunshine and roses - the real turning point for me was a rainy Sunday in May last year – my first performance with the choir, it was outdoors, raining hard and hardly any audience. It wasn’t our finest hour and I felt ill-prepared. Things have been much easier since although sometimes I still do find it hard to make myself heard but that is the rhythm of life just like the song! So like a phoenix out the fire I have grown in confidence and faith of heart. Throughout the last year and especially these last few months the choir have been there for one another and I am very honoured to be part of it. And that is the point of belonging to a choir it is a social anchor point and it more important that I ever realised especially during a pandemic such as we find ourselves in and I am so grateful that I have lovely members to reach out to even though we are not singing together.The power of music and friendships should never been underestimated as it is pure magic