Kentish Express Ashford & District
Only 183 more days until Christmas
We hope you had a nice day on Sunday, what with it being not only Father’s Day but also the summer solstice and therefore the longest day of the year.
In the northern hemisphere the solstice always falls on June 21 but the exact time of mid-summer changes every year, and this year it fell at 17:38 BST on Sunday.
The summer solstice in the northern hemisphere is the point at which the sun reaches its highest point in the sky.
It is also the day of the year that has the most hours of daylight. After June 21, the days gradually get shorter again.
The depressives among us will soon be moaning that the nights are about to start drawing in, and winter’s almost here.
So just to cheer us all up, remember there are only 183 days until Christmas.
And talking of summer, regular contributor Ted Prangnell sent us this delightful picture of wild flowers growing along the sides of the Asda to Park Farm cycleway/footpath.
As Ted says: “Whoever was responsible for generating this display should be congratulated.”
Our story about the number of A-boards in the town centre set off a lively debate. There were those who couldn’t see what the problem was, feeling they were an easy and efficient way for traders and businesses to advertise themselves.
But others said they looked very messy and posed a potential danger to the blind and partially sighted.
Whether you’re ‘pro’ or ‘anti’, however, A-boards are here to stay.
So with that in mind, we rather like the tongue-in-cheek messages that appear on the A-board outside the Auction House bar in New Street, near the Tank roundabout.
The double-sided board outside the premises all last week contained the message: “Good day? Yes – have a beer. No – have 2 beers.”
The reverse said: “The liver is evil – it must be punished.”
Nuts and Bolts team stalwart Sam Lennon recently took delivery of a new car. After being handed the keys by a delivery man, he was given a quick run-through of how to start it, lock it and the various gadgets. Sam told colleagues: “The wing mirrors even fold in when you lock the door.”
A cynical colleague replied: “You better take it back and get that corrected then.”
With the temperatures finally starting to rise, let’s hope we can look forward to a spell of sunny weather. So, are shorts acceptable at this time of year for men who work in shops and offices? If you have an opinion, write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@ thekmgroup.co.uk