Gemma and Liv capitalised on Mark's knee operation by hitting Kensington-by-the-Sea, home of

one of the UK's best fish and chips shops (sampled, can't disagree)

Europe's largest poetry festival (who knew? And who counts?)

a pretty, pebbly beach

Mark's borrowed house for a week or so

Pity was in short supply as we shuffled Mark and down the high street and onto wobbly surfaces, but we all found some unusual rocks to play with at the beach, gingerly stepped into the surf and sent a few from the party to the Cross Keys for swift one.