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Seaside entertainment, sinuses and other stuff

— by Alyson Walsh

This week’s unexpected intermission was due to the unfortunate combination of a WiFi malfunction and a viral infection. Once my sinuses had joined the party, I was scuppered. We’d gone down to Ramsgate to stay with friends for a couple of days while the damp in our bathroom was being treated. When will I learn that builders are about as trustworthy as Russian bots on Twitter? That ‘finished in two days’ actually means weeks without a shower, partly stripped walls and a flat that looks like a Saharan storm has swept through it. So. We have returned to face cloths and strip washes, just like the olden days. Maybe sinusitis has its upside after all…

Anyhow, after acupuncture yesterday the sinuses are feeling much better – and being at the seaside with a dodgy WiFi connection and an enforced Digital Detox was actually quite pleasant. Though I did tentatively keep up the Instagram habit; I enjoyed friendly conversation, taking my friend’s dog for walks along the beach and feeding the log fire.

One evening, we accidentally ended up at the second Ramsgate International Film Festival. The local pub had a networking session and it wasn’t long before we were chatting to the landlord, filmmakers and friends. The panel of esteemed festival judges included Brenda Blethyn (born in Ramsgate) who just happened to be sitting at the next table and by the end of the evening was showing us videos of her dog chatting via the My Talking Pet app. Being from Blackpool, I always enjoy a bit of seaside silliness – but the biggest bonus of all was being stopped by a lovely woman in the supermarket who told me how important she found That’s Not My Age. I am always thrilled when that happens.

 

 

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This week’s unexpected intermission was due to the unfortunate combination of a WiFi malfunction and a viral infection. Once my sinuses had joined the party, I was scuppered.