
December 2025. Whitstable.

Mrs RM had been a bit miffed that our recent overnighter in Whitstable had skipped the harbour, and as you’ll appreciate I can’t afford to have an even slightly miffed wife.
A mere 8 minutes from Faversham by rail, and ten by foot, brings you to the famous oyster beds,

quite an industrial site compared to the glamour of the beachside pubs,

with the Lobster Shack your sunset destination for your oysters.

Good for you, apparently.

I really should have had a pint of the Whitstable Oyster Stout with this plate,

but at £20 a half dozen for the natives (the fat ones) and £8 a pint I figured something had to give.
An experience, though not one to rival the crispy beef and Singapore from Sang Lung or Chung Hwa.
Still, worth it for the sights and smells, and Whitstable was finally ticked on Mrs RM’s “Kent Coast Guide”.

Back at the station, we had no idea who this is.

But one of you will.
Just a guess. This is a stencil graffiti artwork created by the French artist Blek le Rat. The work is a variation of his famous motif, “The Man Who Walks Through Walls”.
The figure is depicted in formal attire, reflecting the artist’s engagement with themes of mobility and navigating urban spaces.
Blek le Rat, whose real name is Xavier Prou, is considered a pioneer and one of the fathers of stencil graffiti.
The artist has described himself as a “cosmopolitan migrant” who can “walk” through the walls of different cities and cultures, which is a key part of the philosophy behind this character.
The work is signed with the artist’s tag “STEWY”, a common variation of his name
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It’s nice to know you spent so long researching that for me, Dave. I feel it’s like an intellectual birthday present.
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An internet search seems to suggest that it is Jonathan Meades. The artist, Stewy, has also painted a duck near Hastings pier which I shall have to look for.
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Thanks Jon.
I prefer Dave’s answer so I’ll accept that as the actual Truth.
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So much for AI…
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How do I know you’re not AI ?
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It’s Jonathan Meades, though what his connection to Whitstable is, I dunno.
Thanks for another great year of the blog!
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He just seems like the sort of chap who’d fit in well in Whitstable?
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You’re most welcome !
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Yeah, that’s Jonathan Meades. Bit slimmer than I remember him though.
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I’ve seen that very image a few times.
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I just cannot. I get my zinc from nuts and seeds.
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Lana, I’ve eaten one oyster in my life. It was very nice, giving a sweet, satisfying flavour of the sea, with a tender yet toothsome consistency.
However, I’ve left it at that, for the simple reason that every single person whom I know, who eats them often, has sooner or later fallen foul of that. And they’ve almost all said exactly the same thing: “I thought I was going to die”.
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Yes, thank you! Same with prawns. Never had one in my life. Prawn cocktail crisps only, but they are not my favourites.
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Some of us have stronger constitutions than others. My Father-in-Law nearly died (he says) from eating a prawn cracker.
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I’m with you, Lana. There’s something about gulping down a shellfish that is still living, that turns my stomach.
Best stick with the nuts and seeds.
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Poor little nuts and seeds !
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Zinc ? Glad I didn’t read that poster.
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