I'm on the way to Margate
The somewhat faded old broad, that she is.
I kind of know how she feels.
A bit rough and ready around the edges
Glory days behind her
But an interesting future ahead, given the changes in her role.
Attempts at dragging herself into the 21th Century have succeeded in part
And now she boasts more culture, more bespoke parts of her personality.
And of course an impressive frontage which used to be termed handsome ...
I rather like Margate
I spent many holidays at Cliftonville just a bit further along the coast.
ReplyDeleteThat's a bit rough nowadays Hester
DeleteI was in Margate 18 months ago. It looked very run down on the seafront, more than I was expecting. I suspect though it is too late to pick up a bargain as it is becoming quite the place to move to out of London. I went to see Tracey Emin's Bed at the Turner.
ReplyDeleteIn March we stayed in Whitstable which we loved. However, our afternoon visit to Margate left us feeling happy that we weren't staying there. It reminded me of Rhyl.
ReplyDeleteI hope the funeral goes well for you as well as Richard Burton.
Did you go to the old town? That's rather nice! But most of the other bits are a bit grotty
DeleteWe visit cousins in Cliftonville..Margate has some lovely buildings..and interesting history
ReplyDeleteI quite like faded seaside resorts, but they can be a bit melancholy out of season. Our closest is Weston Super Mare. A quarter mile of grey mud when the tide's out.
ReplyDeleteYarmouth is so hellishly run down it is beyond even melancholy and better to suffer it in winter than summer because in summer it is just depressing. Margate struck me as a sort of half finished job of bringing it up to date and someone had run out of money.
DeleteHave a good time there John, I hope you're meeting up with old friends, you better watch out for seamen! ;p
ReplyDeleteNo old friends to be met this time old chum xx
DeleteNice places, like nice people, dust themselves off and make a future for themselves.
ReplyDeleteIt's near water so it's bound to be lovely.
ReplyDeleteWe have a Margate here, over in New Jersey, but it's very upscale beach front community. Never been. I don't do Joisey.
i hope things go well there for you!
ReplyDeleteI hope attending the funeral brings you some sense of fulfillment in having honored your father-in-law.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy your visit to Margate!
ReplyDeleteHugs!
See above xxx
DeleteI think "enjoy" isn't quite the word for attending a funeral!
DeleteMay you attain a sense of peace John.
Was reading somewhere that UK seaside places like Margate could soon be enjoying southern European climates while places like Italy, Greece and Spain will be far too hot for summer holidays. No need to buy those expensive post-Brexit Euros.
ReplyDeleteLooks beautiful to me!
ReplyDeleteI have been on vacation myself but have been reading posts and I am so glad of your news about being able to stay on in your beloved village which you are such a part of.
Hurray, John Gray! Hurray!
Living in a run down, deprived town in the north west, I've had enough of down at heel. I didn't like Margate at all, it was like Blackpool's little sister, I much prefer nearby Deal.
ReplyDeleteYou are a good man John and I'm sure it must have been difficult to make a decision - it would have been for me.Visiting Margate sounds just right xx
ReplyDeleteYou definitely have a way with words and descriptions! I liked Margate too. It's rough around the edges but I think I could even live there.
ReplyDeleteI assume (though I know we never should) the funeral is either in or near Margate. I hope it goes as well as a funeral can. You're doing a good thing going. Many in your place wouldn't. Take care.x
ReplyDeleteWish I had known I could have come met you as I live nearby. I know you don’t know me but I have followed your blog quietly for a few years now and I admire how decent a man you are and would like to have offered to buy you coffee just to say hello. I hope the journey and the reason for being here doesn’t drag you down too much emotionally as you have been through the ringer lately I know. Safe journey John. Sally from Ramsgate.
ReplyDeleteSweet of you sally. I am on the kent train and hope to be in broadstairs within an hour( for an ice cream from morellies)then i will go to margate
DeleteFrom what I have seen on Escape to the Country Margate is now on the up.
ReplyDeleteGood luck for tomorrow, I hope that it all goes better than you are anticipating.
I love Margate, her old style seafront is a jewel
ReplyDeleteHoping all goes as well as can be expected tomorrow. X
ReplyDeleteFingers and toes crossed that tomorrow her old style remains a fewel.
ReplyDeleteIn the words of Liz Taylor "Big girls need big diamonds"
ReplyDeleteSad to see faded seaside towns. Have visited Margate only once about twenty five years ago.
ReplyDeleteCan you come back via Birmingham and we’ll meet?..Libs xx
ReplyDeleteI've never been. Hope you see some handsome frontage.
ReplyDeleteIn our province, some areas which have lost their economic engines have, over time, reinvented themselves (often through tourism and waterfront development) and are quite nice. What you're describing sounds a bit similar.
ReplyDeleteHope tomorrow goes better than you expect...and safe journey home. Glad to see you're not doing the drive after a night shift as you originally feared.
ReplyDeleteThat shot of the pier is very reminiscent of the final scenes of the Graham Swift novel 'Last Orders'and especially the film, where Ray Winston, Tom Courtney Bob Hoskins and David Hemmings go to Margate on a grey and windy day to scatter Michael Caine's ashes into the sea. Great book, touching film. Too appropriate for your purposeon this visit, though. Trudge on doing the right thing.!
ReplyDeleteTowns seem to reinvent themselves and if they are by the sea side they can't loose as a new generation of people retire and buy what they couldn't before. As the saying goes a shack by the ocean is worth more than a mansion in town.
ReplyDelete