This weekend I had a dinner party for four, inviting James and Maria to join us. Maria is vegetarian, but also eats fish, so I was able to make a smoked cod, mackerel and aubergine curry. We all really enjoyed it; I think both James and Maria went back for three helpings.

The weather was awful on Saturday, but Sunday was bright and cool.

We went to Kemsing for a 4½ mile walk in th afternoon. The walk was rather disappointing. Much of it was within earshot of the A26 main trunkway and spoilt a beautiful area. The ground underfoot was very heavy and wet. There has been quite a bit of flooding in the country.

Above Kemsing looms the North Downs and much of the country looks attractive. However, there is the noise of traffic and the overspill from the larger provincial town of Sevenoaks along the country lanes which detracts from the whole effect.

Kemsing itself has a village centre which goes back many centuries. The Bull pub was built in 1711, but the village itself originated in Saxon times. St.Edith was born in Kemsing in 962AD and pilgrims on their way to Canterbury used to stop off there to pay tribute at her shrine in the local churchyard. For centuries after, farmers also used to pray at the shrine for a good harvest. The church has an unusual tower. Square in shape for the bottom half, it then is topped by a sexagonal spire. The whole, tower and spire, are covered in wooden shingles.

Fronting the working mens' club, there is a statue in bronze of St.Edith beneath an intriguing clock tower. An inscription below the clock face reads: "Tis mine each passing hour to tell, Tis yours to use it ill or well."

Several of the cottages in Kemsing are particularly beautiful.

Real chocolate box masterpieces.

On Sunday night, Alastair joined us at Louise's place and I cooked Chinese pork stir-fry. Again, not bad.