Up Early,

yesterdays blog finished,

and we were out,

we actually had a false start, as we left we noticed it was a lot cooler than yesterday, so back indoors for a top each,

we are soon going past the Russian submarine in the River Medway,

arriving in Rainham, Steve very kindly picked us up, and a real treat he had bought for us a delightful picnic hamper, noticing that we do go out for picnics, it will be put to good use! many thanks Steve,

and drove us here for lunch, the Malta Inn in Sanderling near Maidstone,

it is on the River Medway,

right next to Arlington lock, on the right of the picture,

looking downstream,

the lock keepers house I am guessing, in any event what a lovely place to live by the river,

we were a tad early so we sat by the river, opposite one of the boat owners has his bar-b-q all ready for today,

'Cheers!', from Steve and myself,

and of course Diana,

inside a low alcohol beer for Steve as he is driving, for starters both Steve and myself choose scallops with bacon treats,

the good news, I was not driving,

Diana choose the lobster and prawn for a starter,

next the main courses,

a rack of ribs for Diana, 

steaks for both Steve and myself,

meal over we drove next door, where we went quakers!

as we were greeted by some of the inhabitants, 

of Kent Life, which if you have not heard of it offers a fun day out with host of attractions on it's 28 acre site,

the site consists of many buildings that have been relocated,

plus of coues many other features,

so let our walk begin!

no visit to Kent would be complete without a look at the oast houses the county is famous for,

workers would come from the East end of London to work on gathering the hops, and these are some of the workers homes for the harvest,

this one pretty comfortable,

and a little about the Hoppers,

all mod cons here,

including the privy!

opposite the homes, 

is the hop garden,

we have gone further back in years than the previous ones,

this one dated 1900,

and a tad earlier,

as used in 1883,

there is also a display of owls,

just like the one I have inthe man attic at home,

the cages all nice, clean and large,

and the birds looking in good health,

we could not help but notice this huge tortoise, keeping the dandelions down,

at the end of the aviary,

an owl a lot larger than the rest,

a bit difficult to photograph behind the wire,

then everyone's favorites,

Meerkats, 

looking so cute,

it must be a nightmare for Mums and Dads when visiting here as you can imagine, 

'can we take one home?' 'I will walk it' 'I will keep the cage clean" you get the idea,

and this is what hops are,

which were picked by the hoppers every year,

Steve strikes the pose,

one more look at the tortoise,

then on to the gardens,

lots of apples,

one surprisingly close to the ground trees,

one of the rides for visitors,

as I mentioned the site is on 28 actres, so a lot to get around,

back to the low growing apples,

wherever you looked,

an nice crop,

we had walked to another part of the site,

as the tour caught us up again,

Worzel Gummidge keeping an eye on the birds,

a quick pose,

then off to tea house,

 all of this walking gave us a bit of an appetite,

 smiles from the waitress, 

and Diana,

 we decided to sit outside,

 for Diana a coconut and jam cake with tea, for Steve and myself a traditional cream tea,

 'Ah!'

 lots to do here for the kids, here a paint a pot experience,

 a repurposed blacksmiths forge,

 and the workshop,

 that would be familiar, 

 in every town and even village back around the turn of the 1900s,

 the anvil,

 and formers, 

 we started to look at the relocated buildings,

 each one with a unique past,

 like the village hall,

 which doubled up as a place of worship, it could of course be the other way around,

 this tie a tractor pulled tour, 

 the haunted house, 

 yes they tell me it really is,

 inside lots of items from the time the house was lived in,

 taken from different crafts,

 and shops like these buttons,

 a warning, the ceilings here are really low,

 upstairs,

 the husewas rebuilt using the same crafts and materials, 

 that would have been used at the time,

 when the sign says 'mind your head' it means it,Steve is standing at his normal height, if he walked through without ducking it would have been a smack on the nose,

 cobblers!

 and that is what is featured in this room,

 all mod cons, kitchen sink and bath conveniently placed,

 moving on a Anderson shelter, a feature of so many gardens in the Second World War,

 the legend says it all,

 now it to a time that we like,

 art deco,

 all very 1940s50s,

 just like my Nan and Grandads home,

 as so many, 

 after the war,

 Cuxton Chapel,

 the legend says it better than I,

 another pose from us, 

 inside the chapel,

 Lest We Forget,

 on ot the animals,

 and there are lots of them,

 Diana bought a few bags of animal treats as we came in,

 although not too sure,

 Diana was soon heir new best friend, 

 ans all of their mates!

 next the pigs,

 and there were really large, 

 'Who's a pretty boy then?',

 the farm house next,

 after reading the sign,

 inside we went,

 I liked the peacocks,

 I ma guessing a home made cover of the time,

 looks cosy,

 I think of the time these farmers were doing quiet well,

 the concealed shoe, but why?

 no electric blankets here,

 clothes,

 and a Joanna from the time,

 now that is what you call a fireplace!

 the kitchen all set for the family,

 a mangle, I remember giving my fingers a nasty nip playing with the one in my grandparents scullery,

 a glass washboard, the start of many a skiffle group in the early 1050s,

 lots of odds and ends here,

 we started back,

 towards the orchards,

 it was so tempting to pick an apple,

 the tractor ride, 

 passing us,

 under the apple trees we went,

 and found this chap,

 eating the windfalls,

 Diana still had some animal treats left, 

 Oh No!

 it tickles!

 not giving up,  

 Diana continued to feed Billy, 

 well what else would you call a goat?

 yuk! where's the wash tub? and the good news is that there were a number of places where you could wash your hands after feeding the animals, 

 not that Billy cared!

 these things, 

 just have to be done, 

 we passed the kids,

 play area, 

 and made our way to the oast house,

 inside exactly as it would have been,

 which is just as well as the house is actually used every year,

 some of the brews,

 a coppers craft,

 there was a display in a part of the building,

 with beehives and other outdoor features,

 also a large dinning hall,

 I should mention that the chapel and other parts of the park can be used for weddings and receptions,

 down stairs,

 some rooms still to be opened,

 and the farm shop,

 many thanks to Steve for all of this,

 time for a bit of refreshment,

 and a reminder of other things to do here,

 Diana taking a breather,

 I decided on a pale ale, these things just have to be done, 

'Cheers!'

 a visit to a hop farm without trying the beer? unthinkable! 

Steve very kindly took us back to the station and after thanking for all of his troubles and kindness took the train home, not this one, we had the slow one!

past the submarine, we were soon home, where it was feet up for an evening's television, we are only making one post today as it is a big one, and we have some friends calling by any time now, and with that we were off to bed.