Folkestone Boxing Day Dip 2013

After the Deal event, quick blast round the coast for the Folkestone dip.  This one was considerably bigger.  Weather was surprisingly pleasant in the sunshine - certainly didn't feel much like Boxing Day, more like spring.  Large turnout of suitably attired loonies ;)  Great fun.  Even the mayor joined in, though hoping to see him in a mankini next time ;)

Folkestone Boxing Day Dip 2013 (141 pics)

Deal Boxing Day Dip 2013

Lovely sunny day for the second year running.  Always a difficult event to snap, and I arrived pretty late and made a complete hash of it.  Can't win 'em all. These are the best of a bad lot.

Deal Boxing Day Dip 2013 (77 pics)

Hastings Carnival 2013

The sun shone and once again there were lots of superb entries in the Hastings Carnival, one of the best in the south of England.



Hastings Carnival 2013 (204 pics)

Hastings Pirate Day 2013

We had glorious weather and a huge turnout for the now annual Hastings Pirate Day.  No world record attempt this time as the previous year's total still stands.

The sheer volume of people made snapping quite a challenge, especially if you take pretty much only candid stuff.  All posed pics here are spontaneous.  You really don't know where to start and the task is actually pretty daunting, not helped by the fact that you're taking pictures of bloodthirsty cutthroats who won't hesitate to run you through if the fancy takes them ;)

It quickly became apparent that the Stade stage was the place to be from a people snapping point of view.  The folks there just let themselves go and partied.  Absolutely fantastic to be in amongst it.  Brilliant costumes abounded.

I ventured down to the new town a couple of times and caught the excellent Panash Steel Orchestra there.  I didn't see much of the Skyfall, or any of the theatrical stuff, as I decided to stick to what I know.

Atmosphere was fantastic.  Pirate Day is the most fun you can have in public without being arrested, for sure ;)  Snapped most of the time with my bodged 18-200, a lens with no longer functioning image stabilizer, which is held together with black tape - my close proximity to people made my favoured 70-200 2.8 out of the question in most instances. 



Hastings Pirate Day 2013 (435 pics)

Summer snaportage

Well, the miracle has happened.  For the first time in 7 years, we've actually had a decent prolonged bit of summer weather.  It's enough to make you want to wander about taking random snaps of assorted nonsense ;)



Summer snaportage (78 pics)

Ace Cafe: Margate Meltdown 2013

For once, this event failed to live up to its nickname, Margate Pissdown ;)  Sun shone throughout the day and a huge crowd of bikers and spectators flocked to Margate.



Margate Meltdown 2013 (144 pics)

Broadstairs Big Weekend 2013 - Dancing Queens

Another world record attempt - this time with Hairspray as the theme.  Unfortunately, many had evidently never seen the film and so the number of suitably attired folks was down on previous years.  But still, the sun shone and everyone had a great time.  The afternoon was rounded off with a superb set from the Interseptors on the bandstand.



Dancing Queens 2013 (87 pics)

Farley Foxtrot - king of Margate cemetery

This chap is starting to get used to me now.  I got almost within touching distance of him today.  All I had to offer him was rich tea finger biscuits but he seemed to enjoy them.  He then went off and stole loads of peanuts from the birds, which someone had put down earlier. He was in sight for about half an hour, popping up here and there, and having a leisurely amble round the cemetery in the unexpected sunshine.



Farley Foxtrot (17 pics)

Hastings Jack in the Green Festival 2013, Sunday

Decided to chase the sun after a day of gloom and chilly winds in Rochester at the Sweeps.  Hastings didn't disappoint and was sunny and very warm most of the day.  Things were fairly low key, with mostly just morris dancing and a bit of drumming.  The big procession takes place on the Monday but I knew it would be packed solid for that, with the added presence in Hastings of thousands of bikes for the May Day Run.



Hastings Jack in the Green (175 pics)

Rochester Sweeps Festival 2013, Monday

After spending the Sunday in Hastings, I returned on bank holiday Monday to the Sweeps.  Despite the forecast of unbroken sunshine, it managed to be cloudy a fair bit of the day, but at least it was nice and warm.  The parade was bigger than the previous year.  The high street was absolutely packed to the point where you could barely move at times.



Rochester Sweeps Festival (122 pics)

Rochester Sweeps Festival 2013, Saturday

It's that time again when dozens of morris dancers and folkies descend on Rochester for the annual Sweeps Festival.  It was certainly a bit warmer than last year.



Rochester Sweeps Festival pt1 (130 pics)

Blue sky & random nonsense

Ever had one of those days when you just take pictures simply because the sun is shining?  Today was one of those days.

Blue sky & random nonsense (27 pics)

March sunshine

Spring has sprung - at least for now.  It'll probably be snowing next week.

March sunshine (62 pics)

Horseplay

Rolling on the floor neighing my ass off

 Why the long face?

Playing dead

Awesome penis

I see my reputation preceded me to Bexhill ;)

February sunshine

No oysters anywhere!

Hoping for nuts

Do you mind, I'm in the bath!

No concept of mortality

Yum!

An early sign of spring

Randomonium 2012

Odds and ends from the (ahem) glorious summer just gone.

Randomonium 2012 (103 pics)