Folkestone Harbour Festival 2008

This years Folkestone Harbour Festival 2008 will take place on July 19 2008. We have a full day program lined up starting at 10am in the morning right through till 9pm when we close with a spectacular firework display in the Harbour. Events include the Sunny Sands Raft race at midday, followed by the Trawler race and a demonstration yacht race. DOver Lifeboat will be in the harbour and usually welcomes visitors. The Coastguard rescue vessel will give a firefighting display and there will also be an air sea rescue helicopter display.

Have a go events will include a Rodeo bull, a bungee run, Gladiator challenge, skittle alley, 3 bouncy castles and more. for the kids there will be fairground rides and there will also be sideshows and stalls hosted by HarbourMart.

Live bands all afternoon and into the evening.

All proceeds go to the RNLI and other local Charities

full details may be found here www.askshepway.com/harbourfestival enquiries to FolkestoneRNLI@btinternet.com

folkestonernli :: Comment / reply

Rabbits and finches

Walk home from work today wasn't so dark, not pitch black anyway, not sure if that's the position of the moon or something, or that it's really getting lighter. We went to the office at the weekend, so I could show Clare where it was, and we saw a rabbit, or maybe a hare, as well as the usual sheep. This morning I saw a flock of brightly coloured finches too. Proper countryside, lovely.

Weekend was a full round of pubbing and things, down The Harbour on Saturday night, good to see it getting busier again, and Chambers quiz on Sunday. A rare night out indeed! Thought we might have done OK in the quiz, and we did come third out of lots and lots, but we were still twelve points or so behind the winner.

I'm being amused every day at the moment by a huge poster for "Carling 2%" outside Folkestone train station, with the slogan "the swift one at lunch pint". It reminds me (every time) of Al Murray being a guest on the morning show on XFM, so back when I lived in London, in New Cross I think. Carling sponsor absolutely everything, and they were sponsoring something on the show, maybe giving out tents in time for Reading festival or something. Al Murray, in character said "Carling, that's a drinking and driving lager", and was hurriedly hushed up by the host. Well it amuses me. We used to have to pussyfoot around them in a previous job of mine too.

Speaking of weak beer though, I heard a rumour that Old Speckled Hen had been enweakened by the brewery. It always was a bit of a headbanger, but this might explain why I wasn't very drunk on Saturday, despite drinking 'Hen in The Ship. I was less drunk than my two companions, who insisted on a kebab on the way home anyway, disgraceful...

2007 :: Comment / reply

The Sound Lounge?

What was / is The Sound Lounge then? This case study from CABE, regarding the building of the SAGA HQ in 1998 mentions it. Did it come and go? Or is it now known by another name?

Already there are early signs of success. On the harbour is Chummy's seafood stall. Strange Cargo, a carnival and celebratory arts company is established in its offices and gallery in the Old High Street. The Sound Lounge, a music venue, has recently opened in Tortine Street. The Metropole Arts Centre provides a focus for the visual arts and acts as a motor for the creative quarter, the plans for a new sculpture park on The Leas and the burgeoning Folkestone Literary Festival.

2006 :: Comment / reply