Islington, and a cat named Bob

Yesterday it was Richard Lovelace, today it was A Street Cat Named Bob. Can you see the connection? Nope, neither can I - except they both created literary history. 

If you have never seen the film, or read the book about a man and his homeless cat, then I strongly recommend you do so.

Today I went to Islington, in search of James Bowen and his cat. I found their memorial fittingly in Islington Memorial Garden.

Islington doesn't have too much to recommend it. It's not the kind of London borough that can afford to go in for high-end architectural design, but nevertheless, it has its' little quirks and charms.

I was a tad disappointed that the Angel, Islington, of 'Monopoly' board fame, was all shrouded in scaffolding, but hey ho, you can't have it all!

Easy to find my write-up this time, because I have had to start a second page for London, and so, for a while at least, it's the first entry there.

In search of Richard Lovelace

 Well, at least a visit to Bethersden church, the parish of his home. 

I'll be updating the Kent page with all the pictures and more information on Lovelace this afternoon. But in the meantime, I just want to say, what a lovely morning I've had today.

Bethersden church has an open coffee morning on Thursdays. I arrived not knowing this, and I couldn't have been made more welcome. The coffee was delicious, the company excellent, and the cakes very tempting (although I did manage to resist)

I walked around the church 'doing my thing', and then went and sat at the long table with my cup of coffee. Within minutes, I was engaging in thoroughly enjoyable conversation with complete strangers, as though I'd known them all my life, and surrounded by doggies who were very interested in what was in my pocket. (Sorry Cali and Dakota, I've given away some more of your treats!)

Anyway, soon as I've finished a few investigations on what I found, I'll be updating the Kent1 page

And then there's Ashford................

 No longer the busy little market town of my childhood, or the place of my teenage years that was more rocker than mod.
The town centre is  run down and shabby, and there's a lot of ASBOs needed. Outside of the town, there's too many houses being built, swallowing up the countryside and farmland, and causing over-population and urban sprawl.
But in amongst the decrepit buildings and empty shops, there are still some treasures to be found. The town centre has been added to the Kent page, and I will explore the suburbs at a later date.