I went on a group holiday with my parents and a bunch of
other people (23 total, I think). We stayed in a youth
hostel in Kemsing in Kent. It's actually not all that far
from where my parents live, so maybe not a very exciting
holiday, but hey.
Monday
We travelled down on the Monday. One nice plus point of
going on holiday near London is that I didn't have to get
up ridiculously early; I left my flat after lunch, and
met my parents for the train down from Victoria.
Arriving in Kemsing (and walking a couple of miles from
the station) we found the youth hostel and sorted our
stuff out. This hostel's being closed later in the year
and they obviously haven't been bothering to do maintenance
for a long time as a consequence. Pretty ghetto even by our
standards. :)
Ceiling of the hostel's Quiet Room. Maybe they banged on it
to shut somebody up, or something...
1/20 at f4.5, 22mm, ISO800
We went out in the failing light after dinner for a quick
look around the town.
The High Street (aka Only Street) is about as busy as it
looks from this sign.
1/15 at f4.5, 14mm, ISO800
I think this is St. Edith's Hall, or something; the statue
is St. Edith anyway. She's the local saint and also has
a not-quite-dry well. The hall is now occupied by a working
men's club, or the Kent equivalent. (Stockbroking men's club?)
1/20 at f4.5, 22mm, ISO400
Okay, I lied earlier: there are a few other streets, one of which
leads to a bridge over the motorway and this fabulously-named
'town' (actually a row of houses).
1/15 at f1.4, 30mm, ISO400
Tuesday
My family picked evening-meal duty today, which (for me) basically
involved chopping a great deal of vegetables. But before that we
went for a short circular walk around the area.
A dead tree in a sun-baked field not far from the hostel.
1/180 at f11, 10mm, ISO100
Fields, some way southeast of Kemsing.
1/180 at f16, 10mm, ISO100
Stand of trees across wheatfield.
1/250 at f13, 22mm, ISO100
Farm building. This dramatic camera angle was either chosen for
artistic purposes... or because it's the best I could get after
climbing a gate to safety from the scarily-barking-but-probably-chained
dog. Or a bit of both.
1/180 at f6.7, 22mm, ISO100
Eventually the walk climbed to join the North Downs Way long-distance
path, which Mum and I walked all of years back, but which we totally
don't remember. Anyhow, we followed it back to Kemsing.
View over Kemsing.
1/180 at f11, 17mm, ISO100
Large cross on hilltop. We don't know why... nor do we know why the
area around here was occupied by a number of fairly young people
wearing hooded anoraks - some with the hoods up - even though it was
warm and not raining. Initially I thought they were sketching, because
some of them had pads, but it didn't seem to be that (there was writing
on there, not a picture)... I guess maybe a field trip or something?
They were eerily silent.
1/125 at f11, 22mm, ISO100
I think this was probably taken in the churchyard of St. Mary's,
which is right by the hostel. More of that later.
