Too old to rock'n'roll

An update is overdue so to start with I'm harking back a week or two ... with numerous rock and roll event coming up, for this weekend a more sedate option was chosen - a day trip to the seaside, Whitstable to be precise for the Oyster Festival. It seems strange having this in July when the native season doesn't start 'til September but hey, it's a nice day out in the (thankfully hazy) sunshine.

I don't generally enjoy train journeys but a Sunday paper passed the hour and twenty minutes from Victoria station, through the Medway Towns, out to the coast. Walking down from the station we first hit the harbour which, being the first place that everyone reached when coming from the station and car-parks, was rather crammed, but a few more minutes walk and there was space, fresh air and sea-food opportunities a plenty.

After a pint by the East Quay, we wandered around looking for somewhere suitable for a late lunch. Somehow we'd both forgotten about the original Wheelers Oyster Bar. In fact, we only came across it due to S's hunt for cigarettes (which I'd had a good old moan about until the bright pink edifice appeared). There are only a few tables in the restaurant section at the back and the hand-written list on an A4 sheet of paper was already full at the day, but we were told the same menu was available to eat at the counter - hooray, fine by us!

But the posh menu didn't seem quite right, and instead we opted to 'graze' from the lighter bites menus - devilled herring roes for S, a cracked crab salad for me, devilled whitebait and oysters forestiere (mushrooms, cream, paramasan and what may have been spring onion) to share ... we opted correctly! There was something quite pleasing about sitting their at the counter as people came in for the tub of whelks, or sat down for a quick half dozen rocks (or queued to sit down).

The evening, as evenings often do, ended at the Retro for some beers in convivial company - all very civilised - perhaps it's the way forward.