The North Sea and Eddie Condon

On Thursday I took the bus from Canterbury to Whitstable and Herne Bay, two fishing towns on the North Sea, about 6 miles north of Canterbury: stone beaches, warm ale, and a prawn jacket. Fabulous, or Brilliant as the locals say. 

After some time, I caught the next bus in the loop and continued on down to Priest and Sow corner. The sky cleared and there was a grass overlook. 

I sat on a bench enjoying a cappuccino when an older gentleman who was walking his sheep dog approached and began talking about the weather, then dogs, then swing jazz. He mentioned having played the trombone when he came out of the war, but that he selected a job with the civil service instead. "No complaints here, mate. No complaints. Loved it all." I mentioned being from Chicago, and he smiled and told me that the swing musician Eddie Condone was "the stuff," so I promised I would do some research and come back. He said he had a "blow" every day at 16, so I hope to run into him again. I didn't ask for a photo with him because he looked like my grandfather; I suppose he probably looked like yours too.

 Another perfect day, even though there was no rain.