Walking around Rye early on Monday morning it’s amazing what you notice, though as usual the sea gulls had been feasting on rubbish from the bins left out ready for that day’s collection. And despite the best efforts to fool them and secure the weekly rubbish, the gulls had found their way into many bins and bin bags and the streets were strewn with the leftovers throughout the town.
But, as quickly as the litter was dispersed, the council litter pickers were there in a flash and, by the time they had finished you would never know there had been any rubbish at all.
And the sun was rising as I continued along the Mint when something in the middle of the road caught my eye. At first I thought it was a child’s toy but, when I got closer, I realised it was a frog, basking in the sun (top photo). I tried nudging it in the hope that it would hop off to safety, but it was adamant that a shot of vitamin D was what the doctor ordered, and it refused to budge.
Walking along Cinque Ports Street I saw something I had never noticed before, a plaque with Haddock Place 1878 on it, which brought a smile, (as at first I thought someone had missed out the ‘i’ in Plaice). But as its very close to Fishmarket Road it’s a good enough reason to name the terrace accordingly.
My last stop was crossing through the market car park on the way to Rope Walk when it became obvious that perhaps the weekly market might be returning once more as all over the tarmac were 2m social distancing markings and dotted lines delineating where you could or could not stand/pitch (see photos below). I know that many of us have missed the market, and will welcome its return (believed to be this Thursday June 4) even if it is in a different format.
Image Credits: Nick Forman .
John Haddock was captain of the revenue cutter “Stag” based in Rye at the end of the 18th century, and was one of a large family. There is a tablet in St Mary’s church to him. Roads are often named after people; my favourite is Ethronvi Road in Bexleyheath, South London. The builder’s three children were Ethel, Ronald and Violet.