As a joint celebration of finishing my exams and my 21st, my mother drove to Kent with Lucy and my sister, Louise, so we could go for a spa day. We went to Banantynes Spa in Ashford to make use of vouchers my Dad got through work and, despite being unglamourously plonked in a retail park, it really was a lovely day. Me, Louise and Lucy made use of the pool, jacuzzi and steam rooms whilst Mum ran at the gym because she hates swimming, before getting our treatments. Lucy and I got a mini facial and body polish and Mum and Louise got a mini facial and a back and shoulder massage. We all left feeling thoroughly pampered. As Lucy had a wedding gig later that evening, her and mum drove straight back home and me and Louise got the train to Canterbury.
That evening we went to the Canterbury University Film Festival poetry night which was compered by my good friend Helen, then we sat around and ate junk food. On Sunday, I took her with me on my second beach excursion to Margate.
I have wanted to go and explore Margate ever since I went there to go see Romeo and Juliet last term. The timing of the show meant that I arrived at sunset and the beach looked absolutely beautiful. The town itself is a bit on the run down side, but the beach itself was lovely.
We went and got ice cream and sat in the sunshine. Somehow between the bus stop and the ice cream hut I managed to lose my shoes, so we had to reward ourselves with sugar for traipsing all the way back to the beach entrance to find them. In case you are dying to know, I got a solero and Louise got a cornetto.
Then we went for a walk along the sea front past all the beach huts as the sky turned a bit more grey and foreboding.
We left just in the nick of time as it started to rain almost the minute we got on the bus! It was so nice to get out of Canterbury and show Louise some more of Kent. We grew up going on holidays to Cornwall and Norfolk and Wales, so it was great to reminisce at the seaside. Now that Lou works, I don't see nearly enough of her, and she isn't even going on our family holiday which is going to be weird. Growing up we were always really close and I have a whole bunch of memories of the imaginary games we used to play in our holiday cottages, entertaining ourselves for hours in our own little worlds. It's a bittersweet end of an era. We aren't children anymore, she has properly moved out and works full time, and I am moving to America. I will miss her a lot.
It was a lovely weekend to conclude my birthday celebrations, and so nice to spend some one on one time with someone I love so much. We don't see each other nearly enough, but when we do it's like we have never been a part. Even if we don't look like we are even related!
Thank you so much for coming to stay, Lou, I promise I will make it to Winchester soon!
