19 Comments
User's avatar
Helen Redfern's avatar

Loved this. I will not play the final link though as it will be in my head all day 😂. (Although just seeing their names made me sing ‘rabbit, rabbit, rabbit’ in my head...)

Expand full comment
Caroline's avatar

Me too 🤣🤣🤣🐇🐇🐰🐰

Expand full comment
Claire Holden's avatar

Many rabbity apologies to you too! 😂🙉

Expand full comment
Caroline's avatar

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Expand full comment
Terry Freedman's avatar

I know what you mean! Clever song though innit?

Expand full comment
Claire Holden's avatar

Thank you, Helen! Yes, I loved how this just randomly evolved into a seaside adventure 🍦And well done for saving yourself from the Chas and Dave earworm nightmare I’m currently inhabiting! (Apols for the rabbits though! 😂)

Expand full comment
Sharon Gaskin's avatar

Oh what a lovely lot of inspired connections Claire. 🌺 I really must take out that NOW TV subscription. 🤔 Nothing will inspire me to watch Chas and Dave though.... 😂

Expand full comment
Claire Holden's avatar

Thanks Sharon! Glad you enjoyed it, it was fun to put together. There’s definitely a lot of great TV on NOW. And I don’t blame you at all re Chas and Dave! 😂🍦

Expand full comment
Changing-pages's avatar

You are the queen of connections! Loved this. Happy memories of a family holiday in Margate where my brother and I were allowed to roam 'dreamland' (although back then it was called Bembom brothers) without our parents. We weren't regulars at fun fairs, my parents preferring quieter holiday destinations, so this was the ultimate treat!

Expand full comment
Claire Holden's avatar

Thanks Angie! 👑 I love your Margate story—I can imagine that felt like an incredible adventure! Also love finding out the old name for it, Bembom brothers is brilliant!

Expand full comment
Kathryn Morrell's avatar

No, I wasn’t expecting that scene!! 😂

Expand full comment
Kathryn Morrell's avatar

Such wonderful and satisfying connections, Claire! We loved Empire of Light and the Larkin poem. Xx

Expand full comment
Claire Holden's avatar

Thank you 😘 I’m glad you enjoyed my unexpected seaside adventure! Margate even got a mention in the book I’ve been reading over the weekend 💫💫 Empire of Light is just wonderful ... although I managed not to mention that I’ll never look at Colin Firth quite the same way! 😬😂 xx

Expand full comment
Terry Freedman's avatar

My parents used to take us to Margate. It had a nice beach and a great funfair (Dreamland). I went there a few years ago to visit a friend, and it was really run down: mostly boarded up, so it's good to hear that there is some redevelopment going on.

Are you familiar with the Tommy Cooper joke?

I went to Margate for the summer season. A friend of mine told me it was good for rheumatism, so I went there and I got it. 😂

Expand full comment
Claire Holden's avatar

Yay! Oh I’m very happy to get some non-fictional Margate experiences. I definitely think a lot has happened there in the last few years. I think Dreamland was on the verge of closing at one point and now it’s huge again. And thank you for the excellent joke. I got it! 😂

Expand full comment
Claire M's avatar

I loved reading this! I have fond memories of going to Margate in the late eighties/early nineties for a trip to Dreamland with my sister and mates. Also, I've had Last Orders on my shelves for....oh.... twenty years at least! Still unread!

Expand full comment
Claire Holden's avatar

Yayyyy!! Do you know, I had it in my head that you might be my best bet of someone who’d actually been to Dreamland!🍦💫 I’m so glad you’ve seen this! 👏🏻 When I saw Last Orders I realised I’d seen it before, but haven’t read the book either. I definitely will as I love his writing in Mothering Sunday so much.

Expand full comment
Linnhe Harrison's avatar

I never imagined I’d fancy a trip to Margate... but I do know having read your beautiful article! Thank you for sharing 🙏

Expand full comment
Claire Holden's avatar

Thank you so much Linnhe! I loved my unexpected trip to Margate. I think I’d better organise a Substack day trip! 🍦💛

Expand full comment