Do not fret though, as we are only down the road and round the corner. The blog will still be live and I will be updating it very shortly. Probably in the next 1/2 hour actually. Until then!

Over the last few weeks a terrible yet oddly positive virus has hit Hawley Square. Scaffold and renovations have spread along the south side of this delightful sq. Workmen and work women have been seen twirling like germs up and down the ladders and walkways akin to crazy Pac Man ghosts intent on getting there revenge to immunize against rotting window frames and peeling
paintwork.




While this contagious work goes on on the south side; on the west side, alone and shivering from damp and cold sits the one building in most need of the biggest dose. It waits to be saved by the council who should have by now forced works or scaffolded and covered its historic and wheezing charred heart. The picture below shows the day after its near total demise.

Whilst in London over the weekend we passed the new Saatchi Gallery so decided to pay a visit - (the highlights are below). Also for those of us who admit to being bibliophiles it happens to be right by the new Taschen Book book shop in Duke of York Sq. Obviously the obligatory cake shop was near by, though hefty on the pounds sterling it turned out to be.

A great Museum to visit and spend the afternoon with good sandwiches and tea. Below are some of the more weird and wonderful highlights.

After a rather large gap of blogging i thought i would round the year off and start the new with an entry of our short break to devon. As ever it was laced with lashings of tea and cake, and much sitting around doing relaxingly nothing. We did manage a trip to the penny arcade on the pier, and some brisk walks to cafes- it was bloody cold.

(as if you dont know aleady - click on the images to make 'em bigger- i thank you)

Some images mainly from the Brighton Art Fair this year, and the rest are from the Black Rabbits visit to Top drawer at Olympia, London. The picture of the railings is dedicated to the writers of 'Margate Architecture' this really is something for the 'Kiddies' - ah bless em!

(As boringly usual - click on the images to make em bigger blah blah blah yawn yawn etc - you know the drill)

We traipsed on down to Devon for a week - and a splendid sun burning, clotted cream OD'ing, west country ale supping time was had.

Much '2 penny' and '1 penny' spending joy was had on Teignmouth traditional pier (which isn't one of those huge Weston Supermare smoldering affairs), of which was furnished with traditional arcade machines built by companies in Broadstairs and Ramsgate. Shame there isn't space in Margate for such a similar affair which would benefit local companies, peoples and visitors????

(Go on - click each image to divulge your self in enlarged Devonian delights! No? Oh please yourselves )

A sparkling sparky afternoon on the spanking Harbour Arm.

We traveled to the big smoke of Londinium. Not usually for the likes of us, but they let us past the barriers and we were left to our own devices on the streets, (which are in fact NOT paved with gold!?)

What joy and unimaginable fun we had, 3 days stuck in the Earls court exhibition space, with wretched tea and scolding paper cups.

Back in Margate a feeling of serenity flooded over us and our woes were lifted as we parked outside our humble abode, and gazed at the side of my newly keyed car. Theres no place like home......