HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAKE IN TANKERTON

December 2025. Tankerton. Whitstable.

Finally we come to the end of our Whitstable overnighter, ignoring the call of the seafood bistros in favour of the Tesco Express yards from our campervan in Tankerton.

See ! I can do Christmas (reluctantly).

“That looks nice. Let’s go in there” says Mrs RM, who’s on a roll (or is it cob ?) now.

In truth, I always intended nipping in the GBG Tankerton Arms, if only because I have no recollection of my tick here.

“Oh noes, not ANOTHER identikit Kent micro !” I can almost hear Mudgie (or Paul Mudge) saying.

But though “pokey” it’s also cosy and with a range of seating,

and the Kent Pale (NBSS 4) and Malbec (brewery unknown) seem bargain priced.

Perhaps it’s Happy Hour; it’s certainly a happy pub,

and as it’s someone’s birthday we get a piece of happy cake.

Well, he was happy before we ate him.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

28 thoughts on “HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAKE IN TANKERTON”

  2. When I saw the title of this blog I thought I had miscalculated. But it’s still nearly two weeks until your birthday, isn’t it? You haven’t mentioned it for such a long time, I can’t be sure any more.

    More reliable people have probably marked it on their calenders with gold stars.

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      1. Yes, I’ve just re-read your blog for that day. In the Blue Moon in Cambridge and faced with a choice of walnut and tonka bean stout, cherry bomb pastry stout and panna cotta peach, blood orange and vanilla sour, anyone would want to get back under the duvet until it has all blown over. Hope you have a better one this year.

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  4. “See ! I can do Christmas (reluctantly).”

    That, my good sir, is self evident (the reluctant bit).

    ““That looks nice. Let’s go in there” says Mrs RM, who’s on a roll (or is it cob ?) now.”

    Definitely roll. I think it actually stems from the lumberjack log rolling days over here, since, if they could stay on one for a certain time, they were ‘on a roll’. Cobs has nowt to do with it.

    Of course, at our age, this could also be the technique of getting into, and out of, bed safely.

    https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthwise/log-roll-method-safe-movement

    ““Oh noes, not ANOTHER identikit Kent micro !” I can almost hear Mudgie (or Paul Mudge) saying.”

    I think that’s more of a lack of space thing rather than Kent micros themselves.

    “and the Kent Pale (NBSS 4) and Malbec (brewery unknown) seem bargain priced.”

    There is a certain member of my household (i.e. not me) who has grown fond of Malbec, which is rarely bargain priced over here.

    “and as it’s someone’s birthday we get a piece of happy cake.”

    Cheap drinks AND free food. Blimey.

    “Well, he was happy before we ate him.”

    Without a mouth to smile with, it’s hard to tell; especially as there’s no crinkling around his eyes.

    Cheers

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      1. I should’ve been a bit clearer. The Malbec here is on par price-wise with Cab-Sauv and the like. It’s just that the place we go for Happy Hour after our walk around the Spit, doesn’t include the Malbec in its happy hour selections. So my wife’s glass of wine costs twice as much. As well, she knows her limits with alcohol (bless her) and insists on me buying her 375ml bottles. No problem with the white but for her Malbec, the only half bottle for sale is ‘organic’, so it costs as much as a full bottle!

        As for food/drink, I don’t know for sure. My wife is a chef who loves cooking so we rarely eat out. In fact, she was happy Christmas was here as she baked and cooked up a storm to give away to the food bank, the homeless shelter, the homeless kitchen and an old folk’s home that was having a bake sale to raise money. She’s probably going to volunteer in the New Year at the homeless kitchen to cook lunch two or three times a month.

        For clothing and the like, to be honest, the various thrift stores around us are great (for my wife – my clothes last till they fall off). She hasn’t bought ‘new’ in over a year. If she spills wine or spaghetti sauce on anything its no bother. She bought three pairs of jeans for under $15 (under 8 quid) and that was for all 3. Tops are similar in price and most look pretty good on her. 😎

        Cheers

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      3. Malbec pricing is similar here. I can buy a decent bottle for Mrs RM from the corner store for about £12, same as white or red, but in Wetherspoons you won’t get a glass by the glass in a meal deal like the Cab-Sauv.

        Mrs RM really doesn’t like it if I don’t join her in sharing a bottle with our Sang Lung in Sheffield as she has to drink the whole bottle that night to keep the house so tidy. It’s very important to avoid leaving mess for your children to clear up after your early death.

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      6. “Mrs RM really doesn’t like it if I don’t join her in sharing a bottle with our Sang Lung in Sheffield as she has to drink the whole bottle that night to keep the house so tidy. It’s very important to avoid leaving mess for your children to clear up after your early death.”

        Crickey, I never thought of that! I could buy her a full bottle (for practically the same price as her organic half) and offer to drink it with her when we play backgammon. Win/win!

        As for keeping the house tidy… (slow golf clap).

        Cheers

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      9. I left a £30 dark blue fleece on a train back from Uttoxeter (Bass may have been involved) this year and Mrs RM is still annoyed I don’t intend to replace it. I reckon I’ve spent £200 on clothes in a decade and half that was a suit for mum’s funeral.

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      10. “Apparently in Sweden it’s practically a crime on a par with bestiality if you leave your children a mess to sort out.”

        After going thru this with both sets of parents, Rose and I are definitely trying to ‘streamline’ the process for our lads.

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      11. Do it now, Russ. It took me a week to go through greetings cards and empty envelopes after mum died. Literally draw after draw of correspondence that should have been binned at the time.

        My weakness is vinyl albums, two thousand of them (used to be 5,000). My youngest lad says he’ll have them though.

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      4. Yes Martin, I had a wonderful four days in Wales in early September and if at all possible hope to have a bit longer there in the spring.

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      5. If I’m able to travel a bit further by the Spring I’d be delighted to try and meet you out there, Paul. I see Machynlleth has (once again, I think) been moved from Mid to West Wales.

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