After the dullest of dull days, there was a spectacular two-tone sunset over the beach. Corals and orange blazing to my left, the tide far out and the light catching on the sand at Sheppey; blues, silver and heathery clouds like a Whistler nocturne to my right.

Everybody stops to stare. Neighbours run home for their cameras.

Our sunsets are famous and we never tire of watching them. It is a sociable moment when strangers stop to talk. 'It'll be a good one tonight.' 'It flares up again just before the end.'

No wonder the local cinema closed down.

We've got our own Cinema Paradiso.

With seagulls.