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Gonville & Caius Commemoration Benefactors Feast – 2025

Posted on November 15, 2025 by SteveNovember 22, 2025

15th November 2025

Today Gonville and Caius celebrated the benefactors of the college, going right back to the days of Edmund Gonville. We had yet again been invited.

The weather was a little damp, resulting in chaos on the roads in Cambridge. We dumped the car at the playing fields, and both walked to the hotel, keeping pace with and overtaking the traffic. At the hotel we changed into our glad rags, this time I had the correct socks, no Download logos. After the complaints last year about my shirt from R, I had lashed out on a new dress shirt. Looked fine, but R still had complaints, something to-do with the studs. She later found that Richard’s shirt was far superior as it had removable studs.

Ready, we walked to Caius College where we were immediately welcomed by the porter, removed our coats (R even changed from boots to shoes, as we greeted Richard & Andrea. We each downed a quick cup of tea, before going to the lecture theatre to listen to a talk by Dr Adrian Woolfson (1988) entitled “On the Future of Species: Authoring Life by means of Artificial Biological Intelligence “.

He talked about the “Spaghetti Code” of Evolution on how DNA is “unfathomably complicated” with over 5 billion years of redundancies. Dr. Woolfson’s central argument is that biological evolution is not an efficient engineer; it is a messy tinkerer, hence the “biological spaghetti code” analogy. It is full of ancient viruses, broken genes, and evolutionary accidents that have accumulated over eons. This complexity makes it dangerous to simply “edit” (using tools like CRISPR) because we don’t always know what those redundancies do. The proposed solution is to move to “authoring” new DNA. The goal is to write clean, optimized code from scratch, detached from the messy history of Darwinian evolution.

This is where AI steps in as the key to solving the complexity of DNA, Large Language of Life Models are being trained on the entire biological tree of life. AI allows us to verify changes to DNA before they are made. Instead of guessing, AI can predict how a new DNA sequence will behave, allowing us to “debug” genetic diseases (like cystic fibrosis or Huntington’s) before implementing them in a patient.

He also touched on DNA storage, which is a major focus of the “New Age of Synthetic Biology.” The storage density of DNA is so huge, that all the world’s digital data could essentially fit into a sugar-cube-sized container of DNA. Humanity generates zettabytes of data. Silicon chips are hitting physical limits. DNA is the most dense storage medium known in the universe. Unlike hard drives that degrade in decades, DNA is stable for thousands of years (which is why we can still sequence fossils). This makes it the perfect archive for human history.

His talk overran a little, and as we headed to the chapel for the service, the choristers were all outside waiting for us. We listened to the excellent Caius Choir, who we were quite near to. There was the usual history of the benefactors and the admission of two new members to the title of Gonville Fellow Benefactor. The sermon was by the college’s Dean’s Vicar, Revd Canon Dr Nicholas Thistlethwaite.

Back to the Senior Common Room for some fizz, and then the feast in hall. All four courses had excellent wine pairings, then fruit, cheese, coffee and chocolates. The cheese course may have been a little sparse this year, it all disappeared very quickly. The chef must be congratulated on serving around 180 people with such excellent food. I went for the meat offerings while R went vegetarian. She was a little disapointed as some dishes were repeats from last year. If we are invited next year, R says she will be going for the meat option.

I spent time talking to my neighbouring, fellow guests, the wives of two alumni. One was from Cambridgeshire farming stock, to whom I talked about holidays, while the other appeared to be involved with university building planning and the replacement of the “horrible” 1960s buildings. We also had a speech from the new master, Professor Gilbertson the 44th Master of Caius. A very different speech to the ones given by Pippa. As is usual we were again entertained by the choir.

After the meal, we retired to the Senior Combination Room for a nightcap. Some excellent malt was consumed by myself & Andrea. We managed to make the 11:45 bus back to the station and hence the hotel.

Next morning we met up again with Richard and Andrea for coffee and cake at Harvey Court. Unfortunately, on a Sunday the coffee shop Florey, does not serve savoury items! We said our adieus and departed homewards.

Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra

Posted on November 9, 2025 by SteveNovember 22, 2025

9th November 2025

R and I visited the New Theatre in Oxford to watch Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. We arrived in plenty of time and eventually found a reasonable bar hidden away in the basement of the theatre, where we had a pre-show drink.

In the theatre, we had quite good seats with a great view. The show started with a 30-minute set from a solo artist called Luke Jackson. Then it was the interval; I’d ordered drinks from my seat, and they duly arrived at our seats!

Jools Holland and his huge band came on and performed miracles. Jools has a new drummer, Ed Richardson, who replaced Gilson Lavis. Gilson retired from the band last year, and sadly died on the 5th, four days before this show. The show featured a number of singers, including special guest Imelda May and resident singers Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall, and Sumudu Jayatilaka. Some great music with many solos.

My Birthday in Cambridge

Posted on October 24, 2025 by SteveNovember 21, 2025

24th October 2025

My birthday was approaching, and we’d decided months earlier to celebrate by visiting Cambridge. We planned to stay at the Camping and Caravanning Club Site in Trumpington. To enhance the trip, I’d booked tickets for a couple of shows at the Cambridge Corn Exchange.

We set off on Tuesday, making our usual stop at the Saint Neots Tesco for last-minute camping supplies.

Near Saint Neots, the ongoing bypass construction was causing some road disruption. The final section of the Norwich to Milton Keynes road was being dualled, causing delays at the Black Cat roundabout. Fortunately, the eastbound road was clear. The A1 South looked very busy, but that wasn’t our route today – though we might face it on the return journey.

Upon arrival, we selected a pitch. The site manager promptly advised us to move, as the campsite breakdown crew would be pitching nearby and were likely to have lots of people around in the evening. We immediately relocated to a pitch as far away as possible.

Wednesday and Rick Wakeman – The Return of the Caped Crusader

Morning in the City

We took the bus into Cambridge, starting the day with coffee at the Michaelhouse Café while joining a 40-minute Zoom call with the SadGits. Once our virtual catch-up was over, we had a leisurely wander through the Grand Arcade and John Lewis, soaking up the familiar buzz of the city centre before deciding it was time for lunch.

A Taste of Domaine Delhome

R had her heart set on a wine flight at the Cambridge Wine Merchants on Bridge Street, so we headed there and settled in. The flight included two whites and two reds, all from the same vineyard – Domaine Delhome. The wines were:

Viognier IGP Rhodannies 2023
Crozes-Hermitage Blanc LoEss 2023
Crozes-Hermitage Moziac 2023
Crozes-Hermitage Boreal 2022

We ordered some bread, sardines, and nibbles to go alongside and made that our lunch. Sitting outside in the gentle warmth of the last October sun, it felt wonderfully relaxed – a perfect pause in the day.

Literary Temptations

Passing by Heffers, we stopped to admire the window display for Philip Pullman’s new release – The Rose Field, the third and final instalment in The Book of Dust trilogy. Officially released on 23rd October, it looked very tempting indeed.

An Afternoon of Art

Next, we made our way to the Fitzwilliam Museum, spending much of the afternoon in the galleries of flower paintings. R was eager to revisit a particular piece she had first seen years ago during an alumni wine evening and Vice-Chancellor’s speech. The painting – a bowl of flowers so vividly realistic that insects appeared to crawl over the leaves – was still there, glowing with life and detail.

We also discovered a gallery devoted to the collection of flower paintings donated in 1973 by Henry Rogers Broughton, 2nd Lord Fairhaven. Some were extraordinary, though none quite matched the beauty of R’s favourite.

The Eagle and Its Stories

Later, we stopped at The Eagle for a pint, sitting in the historic Airmen’s Bar. During the war, Allied airmen who drank there, used wax candles, petrol lighters, and lipstick to scrawl their names, squadron numbers, and doodles across the ceiling – a moving and tangible reminder of the pub’s history. The pub is where Watson and Crick announced they had discovered ‘the secret of life’.

Supper and a Show

Dinner was at The Giggling Squid, where I had a Green Thai curry & R a stir fry. The atmosphere was calm and unhurried, mostly older diners enjoying a quiet evening. As we and a few others left, someone joked that we all clearly knew where we were heading next – and they were right.

Across the road at the Corn Exchange, Rick Wakeman was performing The Six Wives of Henry VIII and, The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

We were seated quite far back, so the view wasn’t perfect, but the performance more than made up for it. The Corn Exchange has changed so much since my student days in the 1970s, when I saw bands like Curved Air and Hawkwind there. Then it was all standing – now it’s neatly tiered seating throughout.

The concert was superb. Both albums were performed with great energy and musicianship. R preferred The Six Wives of Henry VIII, while I loved both equally. Adding to the magic was Rick’s son, Adam Wakeman – a talented musician in his own right, known for playing keyboards and guitar with Ozzy Osbourne’s band – who joined his father on stage.

A good evening and we managed to get a bus back.

Gallery

Thursday – Curious Cures and Coffee at Caius

Today we headed out from the campsite to visit the Cambridge University Library exhibition entitled Curious Cures. The exhibition featured medical manuscripts and books from the library’s own collection, along with items from several Cambridge colleges which specialised in medicine. Together they illustrated the history of medicine — from early anatomical drawings and surgical procedures to strange and sometimes amusing remedies.

Medicine was taught at several colleges from an early date, including my own, Gonville and Caius. Some of the cures and potions on display seemed laughable by today’s standards, yet many laid the groundwork for modern medical practices. There was aninteractive quiz where you had to guess if the suggested cure was medieval or modern. Fascinating!

Coffee at Caius

After exploring the exhibition, we walked over to Caius College’s Harvey Court for coffee. There used to be a café in the students’ common room called Harvey’s, open to the public. As we made our way there, I checked Google Maps and noticed it was no longer listed, so we prepared ourselves for disappointment.

Luck, however, was on our side. In Harvey’s place we found a new coffee shop, open to the public, called Florey. Named after Howard Florey — the penicillin pioneer and former Master of Gonville & Caius — the café serves coffee and light food six days a week, providing a much-needed caffeine fix for students based near Sidgwick Site. R wanted to knmow how come students could afford to buy coffee.

Florey was opened following the closure of Harvey’s in June, after financial difficulties, despite an Instagram campaign to “Save Harvey’s Coffee House”. The name and branding may have changed, but, by all accounts, the iced matcha remains as popular as ever. Interestingly, one of the co-owners also runs the Orchard Tea Garden in Grantchester.

We enjoyed cappuccinos and very yummy, large sausage rolls before heading back towards Trumpington Street.

Books and Bodies

Our next stop was the delightfully named Bodies in the Bookshop, a small independent bookshop. R, true to form, began browsing enthusiastically and soon was buying half the shop. She mentioned the new Mr Men & LittleMiss Agatha Chrsitie themed books, published today. She bought a copy of each followed by a friendly chat with Richard, one of the owners, having been particularly impressed by knowledge and their current window display. We left as he was ordering more copies of the AC books Later, she emailed them to say how much she admired the window display — and, the next day, received a reply to say the display had since been changed. Naturally, we returned soon after to see the new version.

Heading Home

After our bookish detour, we caught an early bus back to the campsite — tired but happy after another day exploring Cambridge.

Gallery

Friday – A Birthday Feast at MillWorks

Today was my birthday, and we decided to celebrate with a meal at MillWorks, just as we did last year. This time the restaurant was noticeably quieter. Last year it had been packed, but even then, they had managed to find us a table.

We settled in, ordered a bottle of wine and some nibbles — padron peppers and halloumi fries — while we looked through the menu.

Starters

I began with Shetland mussels, and they were some of the best I’ve ever had — large, plump, and juicy, served in a delicious, fragrant sauce. Isit the cold waters of Shetland that make them so good? They easily outshone any mussels I’ve eaten in France, which so often arrive broken, tightly closed, or disappointingly small. R had a salad of beans, beetroot, and leaves — fresh, colourful, and beautifully presented.

Mains

For my main course, I went for the classic steak and chips. The cut was a flat iron steak — one of the cheaper cuts — but it was perfectly cooked, with a lovely crust on the outside and tender inside. R enjoyed a chicken supreme served in a mixed bean cassoulet, which she declared excellent.

Dessert and Reflections

Greedy me couldn’t resist finishing with an affogato — the perfect mix of hot espresso and melting ice cream. Our waitress was delightfully friendly and full of energy, adding to the relaxed, cheerful atmosphere of the meal. She even added a candle to my dessert!

Afterwards, we strolled back to the campsite and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening simply relaxing — content, well-fed, and a year older.

Gallery

Saturday – with the SadGits

Today we met up with Richard, Andrea, and Simon — some of the SadGits. Richard had arranged to meet at Kettle’s Yard at 1.30 p.m., where we arrived first and sat with a coffee while waiting for the others.

Richard and Andrea went on the tour of Jim and Helen Ede’s house, which we decided to skip as we’d done it recently. Instead, Simon joined us to explore the art exhibitions currently on display. There were two running side by side.

Lubaina Himid with Magda Stawarska — Another Chance Encounter

The first exhibition featured the collaborative work of Lubaina Himid and Magda Stawarska, titled Another Chance Encounter. The paintings were bright and colourful, depicting two figures in conversation — a tailor selling his fabrics and a buyer considering them. Alongside the images were fragments of dialogue and inner thoughts between the two characters.

The conversations were, to my mind, a little strange and didn’t seem to add much to the artwork itself. The paintings, however, were striking — bold and decorative. I could imagine having one or two on my walls, though I suspect they wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste.

Sophie Gaudier – Brzeska and Nina Hamnett

The second exhibition showcased the work of Sophie Gaudier-Brzeska and Nina Hamnett. Words rather failed me here — I had no real idea what it was meant to convey, and neither did R or anyone else, as far as I could tell. Sorry, but this one left us all rather puzzled.

Lunch at The Punter

Afterwards, we walked to The Punter pub for lunch — an enjoyable affair of good food, beer, and lively conversation. Once we’d eaten and caught up properly, we all headed our separate ways. For us, it was back to the campsite to unwind after another pleasant day in Cambridge.

Sunday – is the New Shopping Day

We weren’t in any great hurry to go into Cambridge today, so we had lunch in the van before setting out. Being Sunday, the bus service was reduced to just one an hour instead of the usual three. Minor panic (see on) when I noticed how early the buses stop running.

When we arrived, Cambridge was heaving with people. Our first stop was Bodies in the Bookshop, not to go inside this time but to admire their new window display. After that, we continued the tradition with tea and cake at The Copper Kettle — only a small piece, as we were planning to eat again later.

Book Browsing and Nostalgia

Next, we walked to Waterstones, where I debated whether to buy The Rose Field. In the end, I decided to wait — I really ought to reread the previous book first. Besides, I’d prefer to buy the paperback so it matches the size of the other volumes in the series.

We then browsed a couple of record (yes, record shops) shops, where I was briefly tempted to buy a vinyl record. I couldn’t find the Curved Air album I once owned — the one that, as far as I recall, was left on a record deck in Beccles after a party in 1975 and never seen again. Oddly enough, I kept the album cover for years afterwards.

More Books and New Discoveries

At Heffers, we revisited The Book of Dust display, and I also checked the shelves for titles from the authors of the The Expanse series and another author Liu Cixin, the Chinese author of The Three-Body Problem trilogy. To my delight, there were new books from both. Apparently, the authors of The Expanse are writing a new trilogy and have even set up a company to produce a television adaptation of The Captive’s War. Intriguing.

Supper at the Giggling Squid

By closing time we were politely ushered out of Heffers so we walked over to the Giggling Squid (again) for supper. We’d enjoyed it last time and R was keen to return. This time it was busier, and I think we were lucky to get a table.

I ordered a sharing platter — Bangkok Bites — while R added some Chilli Chickpeas. A fine start. I followed with a Massaman curry, while R had something equally good, though I can’t quite recall what! {She can, another stir fry.]

The Night Sky Show

After dinner, we crossed the road to the Corn Exchange for a performance called The Night Sky Show — a visual show about the night sky. This was presented by Adrian West – apparently, a “passionate and experienced astronomer, presenter and author”. It was an interesting idea, but rather low-tech and, at times, difficult to follow. Too much was left unexplained, and the show jumped between themes without much structure. It also tried a little too hard to be humorous when a more thoughtful approach might have worked better. All a little dumbed down for the masses.

That said, some of the images and video sequences were excellent — stunning shots of the Moon, Saturn, and meteor showers that were genuinely spectacular. The children near us respondedwell.

The Journey Back

As the buses stop running around six on Sundays in Cambridge, we had to take a taxi back to the campsite. It turned out to be cheaper than expected, and we hardly had to wait. Our driver arrived in a ten-year-old Tesla, still running perfectly and, he proudly told us, never once serviced. He’d driven 130,000 miles and spent only £1,000 on fuel.

Gallery

Monday – Heading Home

It started as a lovely bright day as we packed up the van and prepared to head home. We made two stops along the way — first at Aldi, where I picked up some new work trousers, and then at IKEA, to buy plastic storage tubs (and, of course, some pickled herring for me).

To avoid the inevitable hold-ups at the Black Cat Roundabout, we took a cross-country route. Traffic on the A1 looked dreadful, and Google recommended a slower but more scenic detour through the country lanes — a pleasant way to end the trip.

The picture of me was taken with my mobile phone. I used my watch to preview the image and position myself. When I achieved the correct pose, I pressed the button to take the photo. I can see some useful applications for this.

Gallery

A vist with BBOWT to Snelsmore Common Country Park

Posted on October 9, 2025 by SteveOctober 11, 2025

9th October 2025

We were invited on a guided tour of Snelsmore Common Country Park, hosted by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT).

While the park isn’t owned by BBOWT, they manage it on behalf of the local council. As a common, the park offers unrestricted access via numerous paths. BBOWT explained that during spring nesting season, they attempt to subtly restrict access to sensitive areas by placing branches in path openings. This is done to gently discourage people from entering, as outright restrictions are not permissible on a common.

The park is well-equipped for visitors, featuring a café and toilets, along with plenty of parking spread across several small car parks. The idea is that these amenities act as honeypots to concentrate the majority of visitors in a few areas, thus encouraging them not to walk through the entire common.

Heathland, Ponies and Wildlife

The tour took us through the common and various mires nestled within the heathland. To help manage and maintain the land through grazing, four ponies currently reside there, with the possibility of a couple more joining them in the future.

Among the trees, we observed a lovely array of fungi, including the striking Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria), and various other species. In some waterlogged areas, we were shown Sundew, a fascinating carnivorous plant. The heathland also features low sandy banks that serve as homes for nesting insects, though none were visible on the day of our visit. All four ponies were around, busily munching their way through the undergrowth.

Conclusion

It’s a lovely spot for a walk. We concluded the tour with a pleasant coffee and cake before making the unfortunate, hour-long drive back home.

East Anglian Sojourn – Norfolk

Posted on July 27, 2025 by SteveNovember 19, 2025

27th July 2025

Today we packed up and headed for Norfolk. Our destination was the campsite beside the Reedham Ferry Inn. On the way we stopped off to see my grandmother’s nephew Rodney and had a chat with him. He’d had a bumper crop of apricots. We grateful took a bag full to enliven our breakfasts. We mentioned we were on our way to Reedham Ferry and planned to have lunch there. He was very polite about our choice, but gently warned us not to expect anything special. Reedham Ferry pub and the ferry have been run by the Archer family since 1949.

How right he was. The pub wasn’t very busy, and the Sunday lunches were certainly nothing remarkable. They did, however, have several real ales on tap, including some brewed locally in Reedham. A couple of days later we visited the small brewery and left with a dozen bottles—six different brews, all pleasantly tasty.

The campsite was quite busy that Sunday. A large group of campers had spread themselves out generously with what felt like a small fleet of cars. We feared they might be noisy, especially with their unruly children, but in the end it wasn’t an issue at all.

They all left on Monday. For anyone wanting real peace and quiet—and not needing a hook-up—there was a huge adjoining field that was completely empty.

It was fun watching the eponymoous ferry shuttle back and forth, and equally entertaining watching the people sitting outside the pub on the staithe gradually edge their chairs backwards as the exceptionally high tide crept in.

A Walk to Cantley

28th July 2025

The next day we walked upstream towards Cantley. Cantley is home to the British Sugar factory, one of the main processors of sugar beet in the region. The factory has been operating since the early 20th century and remains a major landmark on the river. There’s also a small passenger station where trains from Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth stop. I used to travel that line from home in Waterloo to school in Norwich.

Although the footpath runs along the top of the river bank, you don’t actually get a view of the river. A thick wall of reeds blocks the view, so all you can see of the boats are their sails, floating above the greenery like strange, detached shapes. On the landward side, the drained fields, ditches and hedges sit below river level. They’re kept dry by electric pumps, which replaced the many traditional wind pumps once common across the Broads.

Norfolk wind pumps were iconic features of the landscape from the 18th century onwards. They used wind power to drain the marshes and maintain the agricultural land. A beautifully restored example survives at Hardley Mill near Hardley Cross, now open to the public—although not to us, as it was closed mid-week and stood on the opposite bank.

In the ditches and meadows we spotted numerous swan families—two attentive adults shepherding their fluffy grey cygnets. Along the way we also managed to spot cranes, oystercatchers (a little far from the seaside, but evidently happy), and several butterflies: tortoiseshells, cabbage whites, and a wall brown, but no Swallowtails.

Back at the Reedham Ferry Inn we enjoyed a pint while watching the tide rise once again, wondering whether we would have to move our seats or not.

Burgh Castle and Norwich

29 July 2025

Today we packed up again and headed towards Norwich to stay with step-mum Ann. On the way we decided to make a completely unnecessary but enjoyable trip across the Reedham ferry. The chain-link ferry only takes two cars or vans at a time, and the short hop across the river still feels like a small adventure.

Once across, we drove towards Haddiscoe, taking a brief detour to the railway station to see how it had changed in the last fifty-five years, since I used to use it. Then we crossed the River Waveney to visit Burgh Castle (pronounced “Borough Castle”). The fort is one of the best-preserved Roman structures in Britain, built in the late 3rd century as part of the Saxon Shore defences. Its massive flint and brick walls once housed Roman troops tasked with controlling the local tribes and guarding the river estuary. A group of people were obviously having a celebration of life ceremony.

After our visit we continued to Norwich via Great Yarmouth, where we ended up staying two nights (in the van) with Ann, Lizzie and Bob. We took our usual walk around Eaton Park and once again failed to sit on Mike’s bench—someone always seems to get there before us.

On Wednesday evening we went out to a Turkish restaurant called Haggle on St Benedict’s Street, where we all chose mezze plates to share. Very good indeed.

Thursday we said our fond farewells and left for home.

East Anglian Sojourn – Cambridgeshire

Posted on July 24, 2025 by SteveNovember 18, 2025

24th July 2025

We decided on a short trip to Norfolk, taking the van and staying at a couple of campsites along the way. We set off on Thursday and stopped overnight at the St Neots Camping and Caravanning Club Site. Before arriving, we paid a visit to Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, an attractive area of lakes formed by aggregate extraction. There’s good parking, a pleasant café, clean loos, and even a book exchange (fatal with R in tow). We made use of the facilities and enjoyed a good coffee with cake. The main lake was alive with water birds, and several areas were marked as dragonfly habitats — though I doubt they could make use of the café or the reading material. Unfortunately, no dragonflies were to be seen; the weather was on the dreary side, with low mist and a general gloom that made photography a bit of a challenge.

On reaching the campsite, we chose a pitch near the river — coincidentally close to the same spot we’d stayed a few years earlier. We received the usual safety briefing about potential flooding; thankfully, there had been none this year, although last year the River Ouse had overrun the site for several weeks. Later, I took a short walk south along the river, crossed to the River Mill Pub, and returned on the Eaton Socon side, crossing back via the Coneygeare Bridge to the campsite. The pub looked inviting, with its riverside seating and a menu featuring hearty local fare — one to remember for another visit.

25th July 2025

Still cloudy, though thankfully dry. We walked into St Neots for lunch and decided to try a newly opened tapas bar, Vino Tapas and Wine. Rosemary and I shared a meze-style meal which turned out to be excellent — fresh, well-flavoured, and beautifully presented. We were the only diners at lunch, apart from one woman who seemed to be waiting for a friend who never arrived. The restaurant is small and cosy, located downstairs with a good view of the marketplace — perfect for people-watching. I do hope they attract more customers; they certainly deserve to.

After lunch, we took a leisurely stroll through the town and eventually stopped for a drink at the Pig ’n’ Falcon, a friendly local pub with a good selection of beers and live music advertised for the weekend. We chatted with a couple at the next table who told us they always bring cat biscuits to feed the resident pub cat — clearly a well-loved regular.

26th July 2025

Another grey day, though mild. We headed out for a riverside walk, following the same route I’d taken a couple of days earlier. We paused at The Mill Inn for a mid-morning coffee — a lovely spot overlooking the river. On our way back, we passed 183, the house we lived in during the early 1980s. It’s sadly a bit of a wreck now; the Leylandii hedge I planted (under my father’s advice) has grown completely out of control, towering over what’s left of the weed strewn property.

In the afternoon, I took another walk to Eynesbury, crossing the lifting bridge and stopping at Tesco to purchase the Guardian before returning to camp. Later, we noticed our neighbours had moved on — not, as we first feared, because of us, but due to a hornets’ nest discovered in nearby trees. We’d seen one ourselves and decided to ignore the little beasts, but our neighbours reported theirs to the wardens. I suspect the hornets’ days are now numbered. When we first saw the nest, a passing camper remarked he worked in pest control. He’d said how he’d been watching a bees’ nest which was also being watched by hornets. The hornets would lie in wait for the bees to fly in, grab them, behead them and take the body back to their own nest.

Tomorrow we move on to Norfolk.

Gonville and Caius May Week Party

Posted on June 21, 2025 by SteveJuly 14, 2025

21st June 2025

On a very hot, dry Saturday, we drove to Cambridge for the Gonville and Caius May Week lunch. We parked on the sports field, which was a very brown colour, not the normal verdant green grass. We walked to Caius, arriving a little early for the lunch time garden party. On entry, and suitably labelled we grabbed a glass of fizz. My year (1972) was very badly represented, only one other was on the list. We grabbed a table in the shade and chatted with people from other years. Always interesting to hear the gossip and life history of fellow Caians.

The food was good, though not quite up to the standard of the previous chef from around 10 years ago. During this day’s conversations, we heard that the previous chef used to drive to Cromer to purchase a large supply of Cromer crabs for the garden party. Yes, I do remember there used to be piles of crab meat at these dos. This chef provided a lighter style of lunch, rather than the heavier style of the previous chef.

After lunch, there were the usual speeches, The bursar thanking us for our donations, and explaining where the money we gave was spent, and how it was vital for the education of the students. It seemed the money students paid to attend university for the year covered a little over one term. The rest coming from donations, and the commercial rental of student accommodation during the vacations.

We were also introduced to the new Master, Professor Richard Gilbertson, who will be replacing Pippa Rogerson, the first female Master of Caius, Richard comes from John’s and is head of the department on Oncology. He was very trendily dress with dark glasses and slacks.

After the speeches and desert, we went to listen to a Cello (Butterfly Paterson (2022)) and Violin (Hannah Brookes-Hughs (2022) recital. A quick visit to the library where they always have an exhibition. This was very much geared towards exploration of the south pole and so featured many images and artefacts of our own Caius Explorer, Edward Adrian Wilson, who was part of the ill-fated Scott of the Antarctic exploration. We have written about this last year, after we had visited the library and met the Caius Archivist.

After this, R and I visited the crime book shop, Bodies in the Bookshop. They had collected several crime novels based in Cambridge, for Rosemary and a few others that she’d requested, plus a suggestion of theirs. Departing somewhat heavier with the books, and lighter in the pocket, we made our way back to the car, and then on to home.

Coton Manor Gardens

Posted on April 10, 2025 by SteveApril 23, 2025

10th April 2025

On yet another bright and sunny spring day, we ventured north to explore Coton Manor Gardens, while meeting up with friends. This was a new destination for all of us. The spring day turned into a surprisingly warm one, making it particularly lovely to relax outside in the courtyard while enjoying coffee, then lunch, and then tea.

We all arrived a little before the scheduled opening time of 11:30 am and met up as we queued at the entrance, eager to begin our exploration. Our first order of business was a visit to the café for coffee and some tempting cakes. We found a table in the sun-drenched courtyard.

We soon discovered that the gardens are privately owned and meticulously cared for. During our visit, we spotted the owner, Susie Pasley-Tyler, diligently tending to her plants. One member of our group, perhaps mistaking her dedication for something else, made the slight faux pas of asking if she was a volunteer helper. The polite and direct reply came, “No, I’m the owner.”

We wandered into the gardens themselves. Laid out on a picturesque hillside, they feature a network of ponds and flowing rills. The water originates from a natural spring. Remarkably, this natural water source is consistently reliable, having continued to flow even during the severe drought of 1975/1976.

Beyond the tranquil ponds, waterfalls, and flowing water features, the gardens are also home to an array of animals including birds. A couple of endearing Kunekune pigs basked contentedly in the warm sunshine before eventually seeking the cool shade of their sty as the day grew warmer. Various duck species, including Mallards, elegant Tufted Ducks, and the more exotic Fulvous Whistling Duck, make their home within the garden’s boundaries. On the lowest pond, there was a small flock of flamingos adding a splash of vibrant colour to the scene.

For R, a particular highlight was discovering a large and flourishing patch of Cowslips, her favourite wildflower. She noted with a touch of disappointment that the Cowslips in our garden weren’t faring as well this year, perhaps a consequence of the preceding wet winter followed by the current dry spring.

Returning to the café for lunch, we enjoyed an excellent meal that was served promptly and efficiently. Then we took a further leisurely walk around the garden, revisiting some of our favourite areas and finding new spots to relax and soak up the afternoon sun. The gardens became pleasantly quieter as the afternoon progressed.

Two areas of the gardens were not yet open, indicating it was still a little early in the season. These were the bluebell woods, which we were informed should open later in April, and the wild flower meadows situated at the bottom of the garden. For those who anticipate multiple visits throughout the year, there is a special season ticket available, which proves to be a worthwhile investment for three or more visits.

The car park is located on the opposite side of the road from the Manor house and gardens. The adjacent fields by the car park are currently planted with elephant grass, a crop grown for biofuel production. Given its brown and dry appearance, I would assume it was awaiting harvesting.

Camsoc Ephemera visit

Posted on April 9, 2025 by SteveApril 25, 2025

9th April 2025

The Berks & Oxon Cambridge Society recently organised a visit to the University of Reading’s Department of Typography & Graphic Communication to explore its fascinating Ephemera collection. You might be wondering, what exactly is ephemera? Simply put, these are items that weren’t initially intended for long-term keeping but have been, through chance or deliberate action, collected and preserved. (The term itself comes from the Greek word ephēmeros, meaning “lasting only a day,” highlighting their transient nature. Interestingly, the word “ephemera” functions as both a singular and plural noun.) Think of everyday items like concert tickets, advertising leaflets, or even old postcards – these can all be considered ephemera.,although there is some disagreement over whether postcards are ephemera or not.

The exhibition we were shown was based around a theme of entertainment, showcasing remarkable collections from the 17th and 18th centuries, including advertising posters for various events, shows and sales. The department is located in a series of functional brick buildings dating back to the 1940s, constructed during World War II. While these buildings were initially slated for demolition and redevelopment, they are now undergoing a process of gradual refurbishment.

Our tour also included a visit to an area where a collection of historical printing presses is maintained, so showing a tangible connection to the methods used to create some of the ephemera we had seen.

The visit sparked an interesting discussion about the fate of modern ephemera in our increasingly digital and seemingly disposable world. It certainly raises questions about what future generations will collect and how the ephemeral items of our time will be preserved and understood. Of course, we were all faced with the problem of what to do with the printed car park passes & visitor labels we’d been given. Preserve or throw??

Oh and Reading Council sent me a nice picture of my car driving along one of their streets. Shame they wanted £35 for the picture.

Cambridge Chemistry Laboratory

Posted on March 22, 2025 by SteveApril 23, 2025

22nd March 2025

I received an invitation to an open day at the Chemistry Laboratory of Cambridge University. The event commenced with a demonstration led by Professor Peter Wothers. While his demonstrations are typically known for their explosive nature, featuring loud bangs from igniting gases, this particular session adopted a more relaxed approach. It showcased naturally occurring elements and how these everyday substances and compounds can be transformed into explosives.

The demonstrations were fascinating. For instance, we learned that elemental iron is not found naturally on the Earth’s surface, except in some meteorites, due to its high reactivity in our oxygen-rich atmosphere. Professor Wothers then poured iron filings, prepared under an inert gas, onto the floor. They immediately ignited, emitting red and white sparks as they burned.

We also witnessed the manufacture of gunpowder from naturally occurring elements and compounds and observed nitrogen triiodide detonating upon the slightest touch. (This is an explosive I made while I was a Cambridge, and distributed over the floor of the late night bar, as well as in keyholes of student rooms.) The demonstration concluded with an explosion of nitroglycerine, all potentially derived from naturally occurring compounds and elements.

Following the demonstration, we had lunch in a space overlooking the laboratory entrance. Several labs were hosting experiments specifically designed to pique children’s interest in chemistry. These rooms were exceptionally noisy, prompting our swift departure.

Afterwards, R visited Bodies in the Bookshop and left with several books. The very obliging shop owner is now collecting several crime novels set in Cambridge for her. He has contacted her on a few occasions since, and we plan to return to Cambridge in June to collect the books.

Our visit concluded with coffee at Espresso Lane, a somewhat quirky, tiny coffee shop located next door. Interestingly, the former residence of the Cambridge executioner is situated on the same street.