The equinox happened at 21:47 GMT, which marked the end of the year and the buildup to Christmas. The day before was the shortest day and the start of a time of mixed emotions, reflecting on the year and all that happened. The author was on vacation, having completed all their tasks for work, and did not have to think about work for two whole weeks. Jools had half a day left of work and her employer paid for all employees at the factory to have lunch and drinks at a fancy place in Folkestone.
The author dropped Jools off at work and had the car for the day. They drove through Dover and Folkestone on the main road before heading over the downs into Hythe, where they dropped Jools off so she could take a walk. After returning home for breakfast and doing some chores, the author left on a mini-church crawl to the far west of Kent.
The author drove on the main roads until they reached Mereworth, from where the road began to twist and turn until it led them into Tonbridge. The village, built around the outskirts of Penshurst Place, home to the Sidney family since Tudor times, was picturesque, with the church behind the houses. The author parked the car and went to the church, where they took shots of the memorials and tombs. They then left to go to Speldhurst and Groombridge, but it was raining, and the church doors were locked, so they continued to Tunbridge Wells.
The author parked high up in the parking house near the stairs down and went to the church, where a service was underway. They sat at the back and observed, taking shots of the ceiling and other details. A warden strongly quizzed them as to why they were taking photos, but they had no answer other than they enjoyed it. After getting their shots, the author left and made a promise to a young man selling the Big Issue that they would come back and buy a copy. They gave him a fiver and did not take a copy.
The author had two and a half hours to get to Folkestone to pick up Jools after her meal, so they drove back to the M20, stopping at Stop 24 services for a coffee and something to eat. They had 90 minutes to kill, so they ate, drank, and scrolled Twitter. At quarter past four, they went to pick up Jools and stopped outside the…