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The Morning Cuppa: Day Of!

Posted on August 20, 2024

Tuesday, 20 August 2024: Day Of

Since I have lived in the Costa Brava, mornings have always been an early start. I like to begin the day with a nice cuppa coffee. Before 2017 it included a smoke, but it was chucked seven years ago now. The day before involves a last minute laundering of clothes and packing up the carry on, printing travel documents and as recently as 2018  covering over the motorcars with car covers. That’s not needed doing any longer as everything is garaged. Folkestone was once all about Euro Militair. The concorso where you brought your “A” Game. Of an evening it was all about sociality and that included dressing for the evening. Although Euro is gone now five years, Folkestone and the restaurant and lounge scene is very much in evidence. Daiana and I bring our own sense of style along with us.

It’s Day Of.

I’m up before 4am.

It’s quiet as I creep downstairs, the old left ankle cracking as I descend the stairs to the kitchen.

Hot water in the French Press. The smell of  fresh coffee in my beloved Harrods cup. Cuppa in hand I am off to my office down in the “O” Level. I have waited this moment for twenty months. More than a year since visiting old Folkestone.

And here we are again.

Old clock on a new wall.

Life. It’s a funny old thing. And  despite adversity it carries on. As it does. And things get themselves sorted. As they do. It’s Day of. Day of! Kick off is just
six hours away now. A few bits & bobs to add to the carry on before then. But it’s time to fly.

England and Folkestone awaits us.

5.36. Checked luggage closed. Carry on packed up. iPhone on full charge. Suited and booted the new pair of Stans under foot. Second cuppa on the go. Two hours to jump off. I’m thrilled to return to Folkestone and The Clifton.

En-route.

I’m hesitant to make mention of it, but as I have the odd few minutes before heading out the door I’ll share with you something rather odd about me. I’m OCD. Particularly when it comes to travel. I put everything down in an itinerary. This evolved over time into a travel journal. The preparation

documentation became extensive. Everything digital is screen grabbed on my mobile and printed. For me, there is calm in organization. Even down to choice of attire. So much so I lay them out on the bed and photograph them for specific events. This goes back to my NY fashion days. It also helps – so to speak – thin the herd, before going in the luggage. This is especially  essential in this moment as we’re flying on the airline Tui which charges by the kilo.

Never more relevant than today…the journey is everything.

Next post from Folkestone!

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