"The prettiest thing ... "

Whites, creams and greens, a colour palette that's ultimately elegant, timeless and very often très chic.

Jo, the lovely bride-to-be, wanted to keep her flower varieties and designs simple and uncomplicated, very much 'less is more'. A philosophy pod likes too.

And so divine petite ivory calla lilies, off white geminis and perfect little akito roses were accompanied by loops of flexi grass, sparkley clear Swaroski crystals and mini glossed and folded aspidistra leaves to create a beautiful bouquet and said Jo, "the prettiest thing I've ever seen".


The bridesmaid's bouquets were simple linear calla lily bouquets, with a little Swaroski sparkly-ness and the boy's button holes were ivory calla lilies.


The top table was adorned with bowl vases in all sizes, home to floating gerbera and gemini heads and curled calla lilies, decorative wire and glass marbles added subtle pretty accents.


Kevin Smith was the man behind the lens, capturing the love and a little horsing around ...

pod likes ... Tea & Times

Meeting clients and other individuals running their own businesses is, I'm very pleased to say, an almost daily feature in the pod diary.  And whenever possible coffee (Americano, hot milk on the side please) and cake is very much involved.

Fairly close to the top of the pod 'to do' list, upon arriving in Whitstable, was to suss out the local cafes and bistros and thoroughly trial their offerings - for business purposes naturally, attention to detail is at the heart of pod's ethos ... and Tea & Times in Whitstable's High Street, was found to meet all of pod's meeting requirements.

Owned and run by the very friendly and very smiley Veronica Gaynor, Tea & Times has been a family business for 15 years.   

Chalked up on the blackboard you'll find a great selection of freshly made sandwiches, dee-licious homemade soups and very naughty cakes.

There's seating downstairs in the window and high stools at the counter (directly facing the cakes), or mosey upstairs for an area that's more chilled and spacious. 

It's in a great location, easy to find, with parking and the beach nearby.

I've had some lovely rendez vous' there recently with Liz Shedden a local artist, Justine Walsh, an aromatherapist and reflexologist, Samantha Jones, a local photographer, (who took these shots, Thanks Sam) and a bride-to-be who's a metals conservator, specialist in arms and armour, creating historical dresses and corsets for light relief!  (It's not every day you speak to someone who's been polishing 300 year old metal!)

So if a mackerel and avocado sandwich, or homemade roasted butternut squash soup, followed by a wonderful wedge of Victoria sponge cake, with a cuppa, takes your fancy, then head along to Tea & Times, 36a High Street, Whitstable (01227 262639) AND there are also plans afoot to extend their menu and opening hours, super!

Am I banned from this bus ... ?

Female bus driver stops her bus at a bus stop, as there's a man waiting there.
Doors open and this conversation takes place - for real ...


"Am I banned from this bus ...?"

"Pardon ?!?"

"Am I banned from this bus, 'cos I'm banned from three other buses ..."


"What? Why, why are you banned?"

"'cos I carry something on my person"

He's wearing tracky bottoms and a large coat, he could be carrying anything.

"What do you mean, you carry something ...?"

"Have you got a twin sister?  'Cos she's banned me from her bus?"

At this point, I'm glancing around me, looking for the hidden cameras. 


"So why did she ban you?"

So, she has a twin sister, who is also a bus driver, covering the same area.  This is pure comedy gold.  Ricky Gervais where are you?

"Well errr, I don't want to say too loud because people might not like me getting on the bus ..."


I'm feeling pretty confident about what 'it' is ...

"Is it an animal?"

"Yeah, but it's kept in this pocket (gestures to internal coat pocket), I won't get it out."

"What is it?"

"Err, it begins with, um, 'r' ..."

"Is it a RAT ?!?!"

"Yeah, but it can't get out.  Can I get on your bus?"

She's thinking about it.

"Umm, Okay"


And that's why it's good to use public transport.  That performance only cost me £2.40, but was truly priceless.


And no, I didn't see it.