Cambridge Archives - Blasdale Home

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.

Birthday in Cambridge

Posted on October 28, 2024 by SteveNovember 11, 2024

28th October 2024

For my birthday, we headed to Cambridge to stay in a campsite near Trumpington. This was a change to tradition, because normally we venture into Suffolk and stay in Southwold. Last year, in the weeks before my birthday, the weather had been terrible, and the campsite eventually cancelled our booking because of flooding, requiring us to stay in a hotel.

We booked the Cambridge campsite for six nights, leaving the site on the Monday when it was closing for the winter. It seemed strange to close at the start of a school half term, we later heard this was because of the early Easter, and the number of days they are licensed to open, which forced them to close for half term. Even so, the campsite was terribly busy.

We arrived on Tuesday and put up the awning. The mild dry weather allowed us to sit outside after dark. Talking of dark, I wish it was dark, I wish there were less lights around the campsite, and why oh why do caravanners and motorhome owners insist on leaving a light on over their doorway? Moan over.

Wednesday – Granchester

We decided to walk into Cambridge, first towards Trumpington, then onto Grantchester, and finally Cambridge and along the River Cam. It was a lovely day. Blue sky and a light wind. We headed into Trumpington and turned left after the Waitrose onto Grantchester Road. Some lovely houses along this street along with a wedding venue. Before crossing the River Cam, we paid a visit to the Wildlife Trust Trumpington Meadows, basically a lovely walk along the Cam to Byron’s Pool, which turned out to be a weir, and then back to Grantchester Road to cross the river Cam.

The walk continued into Grantchester, past the church. Something was happening here, filming for ITV’s Grantchester was in progress The church was surrounded by lights, a nearby house was newly decorated, and covered in Wisteria flowers, in full plastic bloom. We stopped for lunch at the Red Lion, where we could watch the vans and production crew walking up and down the street. After a good lunch, we had an espresso from a popup near to the Cambridge distillery. There was the odd actor and acolyte around here. People running around with boxes of food & laundry. At the coffee stall we bumped into Robson Green. The coffee stall was not meant to be there, his day off? I suspect he’d heard the film production was in town and decided to make a profit. Excellent coffee by the way. He used a distributor before using a tamper

We continued our walk along the Cam, fairly good going with the odd little patch of mud. Despite the warm weather and sun, there were no punts on this stretch of water. There were a few below the locks, punting past the colleges.

A quick tea break at Michaelhouse Café, before setting home on the bus, hence the picture of Dame Mary Archer Way near Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Thursday – Nish Kuma

Yet another beautiful day. Have I done something this year to deserve a beautiful day for my birthday?

No big rush to get into Cambridge, lunch was booked for 1.30 at the Millworks. We stopped off at Fatface, and looked around, not buying anything. The we headed to the Millworks where we were booked in for 1.30 Arriving early, we had cocktails at the bar before going to our table which was next to the water mill. We had an enjoyable three course meal, complete with my 10% discount for being a Cambridge graduate, proved by my having a Cam Card. Afterwards we walked along to Caius Harvey Court where there is a coffee shop in the students rec area, open to the public. Sat outside on the brick steps and watch the squirrels run around. So peaceful.

The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering around Cambridge, through Kings College, yea we were able to get through the Backs entrance, another useful feature of my degree and hence my Cam Card.

We were booked to see Nish Kumar at the Corn Exchange with Leila Navabi as support. Leila didn’t raise many laughs for us, she was a bit gynecological about her travel to motherhood without having sex with a man. On the other hand, Nish was excellent and very funny. His hatred of Boris Johnson and the Tory Party knew no bounds. His rate of talking was so fast! Then when a poor woman in the audience had to leave to go to the loo, he adlibbed at her expense for the duration of the time she was out of the auditorium, so she never missed any of the show.

When Nish had finished his show, the police requested that we did not leave because of an incident outside, so Nish came back on stage to answer questions. As he said, the lengths he went to to get an encore.

Having missed our bus due to the incident delaying our departure, we popped into The Pint Shop for some craft beer before catching the last bus back to the campsite.

Friday – Kettles Yard

We headed into Cambridge to visit Kettles Yard, and the nearby church of St Peters. St Peters church is very small with a quaint baptismal font, complete with mermen.

We also looked around Kettles Yard, where there was an exhibition of art by Portia Zvavahera. Her art draws on southern African culture and Christian iconography. All I can say, is that it does take up a lot of wall space and wouldn’t suit a small modern house.

We revisited the house where Jim and Helen Ede lived. Their residence there coincided with the first year of my life at Cambridge. R asked how they dust certain objects. An air puffing device was the solution.

R wanted to stop off at a bookshop she’d noticed. There was a British Library Crime Classics book ste in Cambridge in the window. The Bodies in the Bookshop had R in raptures. New & secondhand books. She exited with only five books, saying she could have bought more. A lucky escape for me.

Saturday – Saffron Walden

Saturday was earmarked for visiting Saffron Walden. We sat at the front of the upstairs of the bus We arrived at and headed to the Fry Gallery. They had a special exhibition of local artists from their collection. It was called ‘Great Barfield and Beyond: A working Landscape”.

Olive Cook, in her book about North West Essex Artists, called Great Bardfield a “paradise”. But Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious, who moved there in 1931, saw it differently. They saw the countryside as a place to work and develop their watercolors.

Later, Bawden brought other artists to Bardfield and nearby villages. These artists also liked the countryside and used their homes as studios. They would take the bus to London to teach part-time at art schools. By the 1970s, when Bawden moved away, many of the other artists had also left.

This exhibition shows the work of many different artists who lived and worked in the area, including Bawden, Ravilious, and others. They all found inspiration in the landscape, buildings, farms, and villages around them.

After our viewing, we walked around the market, and decided to have lunch at the Cross Keys Hotel. What a disaster, it was quite busy, but we agreed with a waitress to eat at a small table by the bar. We ordered a drink directly from the bar, which took a while to turn up. The barman was rather overrun with orders. Then we were ignored by the waitresses for a very long time. R got her attention, by asking for a menu, and we were moved into the main part of restaurant. We ordered, after a further wait for a waitress to take our order, and then we waited and waited and waited. Eventually we gave up and left. If only someone had kept us informed as to what was happening. Perhaps warned us in advance about a long wait or even apologised during our frustrating wait. Google maps tells me that we were there for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Ended up getting a bite to eat from Gregs

Sunday – Little Rose

A more successful day on the food-side. Caught the bus into Cambridge, had a coffee at the Café Nero, a large number of students sitting there working on their laptops. I can’t remember Sundays being like that, they were a day off. After coffee, the Fitzwilliam had opened, so we went inside to see the exhibition on the Paris 1924 Olympics. Fascinating seeing what outfits the women were allowed to wear and the limited array of sports they could participate in. Of course, it featured the Cambridge university participants and medal winners.

We headed ccross the road to the Little Rose restaurant for Sunday lunch. The Little Rose had been a Loch Fyne, but now its name had reverted to the original pub name from my days. This restaurant had exemplary service. Never left waiting to order, never waiting long for food, and at the same time not feeling rushed. A definite change from the previous failed day.

Monday

Packed up and left for home. Filled up with fuel on the way home. There is bound to be a fuel tax rise at the next budget. It is about time fuel duty is increased, it has been static for years, with even a 5p reduction.

Addenda

1 – Tax has not gone up.

2 – A few weeks before we left for Cambridge, I had to have a puncture repaired on the front drivers-side tyre of the VW. A few days after arriving home, I see there is a screw in the rear drivers-side tyre. Those two punctures and a third puncture in a Polestar tyre earlier make for three punctures this year. I haven’t had any other punctures in the last 10 years.

Edmund Gonville Society

Posted on May 2, 2024 by SteveMay 2, 2024

18th April 2024

Our first outing this year in Campervan Morrison was to Cambridge. I am excluding the visit to the local VW car meet which takes place once a month on a Sunday morning at the Akeman Inn.

The reason for visiting Cambridge was for a Saturday lunch appointment at Gonville and Caius for the Edmund Gonville Society Lunch. This does make for some strange packing, taking a suit and smart rags in the van is Not The Done Thing.

We arrived on the Thursday, entering the site as the gates opened for new arrivals. Parked the van, set up the awning, and headed into Cambridge for an appointment with the Caius Archivist, James. Rosemary had acquired a Caius Scratch Fours rowing cup on Ebay, which included the name of the Caian EA Wilson, the explorer who had died with Scott in Antarctica. We wanted to give it to the college.

We arrived at Caius and met James who first showed us the Caius flag which had been take to Antarctica on the Terra Nova expedition by Wilson for use as a sledge pennant. Embroidered by, or at least at her request, his mother. It is displayed in wall mounted oak box on the wall next to the Senior Members dining table. It has always been there in all my years at college, but this was the first time I had seen it.

We next visited the library where the archivist showed us various artefacts, paintings & photos concerning Edward Adrian Wilson, including his obituary in the Caian. R described him as heartbreakingly handsome in a photo taking of him in 1894. James had also found some records of my own time in Cambridge, my matriculation record, my attendance record and my Tripos record (luckily nothing incriminating; he knew my wife was with me).

Next day, Friday, we visited the Cambridge University Library for an exhibition of crime novels “Murder by the Book”. Many of the books on display were first editions, as they should be, because the library is one of the six UK legal deposit libraries. Rosemary was amazed at the number of crime books on display which she had read, and she coo-ed over the dustcovers, Agatha Christie’s typewriter and the typescript for Curtain. Who wrote the first detective novel? Edgar Allan Poe, you say? No, no, no, go, to the exhibition! It was The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Felix, published 1862/1863.

Leaving the library, we headed to Harvey Court where now there is a public coffee shop in what was once the JCR. So us two oldies sat there drinking our coffees amongst the young students.

Afterwards, we headed back to Cambridge passing through Kings College (free entry to us, as I flashed my Camcard). We marvelled at the masses of cowslips growing in the wild portion of Kings College.

Stopped off for a beer and lunch at The Pint Shop, famed for serving lots of different Craft Beers. I plumbed for a dark stout, while Rosemary dithered so was presented with five different beers to try. She selected a beer that, she thought, most closed matched Adnams Ghost Ship. Good Scotch eggs.

We then headed on down to the Lensfield road and the Scot Polar Museum. R was a little disappointed in that there were no paintings by Wilson on display. She was sure the last time we were there, during an alumni event, possible in the last millennium, that these had been on display. From here went back to the campsite.

Saturday was the day of the Caius meal. So duly smartly dressed, we headed for the bus, and walked the last distance to college. We were shown the way through the college by a student from Newcastle. She had been here the previous year. After registration and a coffee, we went and listened to a talk on AI, AI being the topic we all must hear about.

Before lunch in hall, we had a reception drink. At the meal, R and I were seated on the top table, I was sitting opposite the Master, Pippa. Spent most of the time speaking to someone older than me, who still lives in Cambridge so had walked over from his home near Parkers Piece.

I did eventually speak with Pippa and heard about how they were going to decarbonize with air source heat pumps. Ground source deemed not possible because they don’t have the ground area, and the heat extracted from the boreholes needs to be replaced. Also heard about the area the other side of Rose Crescent they had purchased. They planned to keep the retail, but convert the upper floors to student accommodation.

The lunch time meal was nice, but nowhere near the standards of the November Commemoration Feast.

After our meal, we headed over to the Zoology Department where we found some volunteers and avid Naturalists were running various sessions encouraging the public to take an interest in Natural History. There were some weird ideas on display, including wellness surveys based around growing plants from specific seeds, which the project/survey provided. There was a display of amber, picked up on the beaches of Norfolk and Suffolk.

Sunday, we caught the bus, very crowded, into Cambridge and went for Sunday lunch at the Millworks. Not booked, but they could give us a table at 12, so long as we were out by 1.30. While were were there it was getting busier all the time. Food was good and we did eat a Sunday lunch, I opted for the Pork Belly, R a spring veg risotto.

Cambridge Folk Festival, Sunday

Posted on July 30, 2023 by SteveOctober 11, 2023

30 July 2023

Oi Va Voi

Oi Va Voi, the London-based band that blends klezmer, dance, indie rock and alt-folk, delivered a stunning performance at the Cambridge Folk Festival 2023. The band, which has been active since 2000, showcased their musical versatility and wanderlust. The audience was captivated by the band’s energy and charisma, as well as the virtuosity of their musicians, especially violinist Anna Phoebe. The band received a standing ovation at the end of their set, and left the crowd wanting more. Oi Va Voi proved once again why they are one of the most innovative and exciting bands in the world music scene.

Jenny Colquitt

Jenny Colquitt is a rising star in the Americana scene, with a strong and expressive voice, impactful lyrics and winning melodies1. She was named as one of RnR Magazine’s ‘Ones to Watch’ in 2022 and won the FATEA ‘Female Artist of the Year’ award in 2021/20223. She performed on the Den stage at the Cambridge Folk Festival 2023, showcasing her talent and charm to a captivated audience.

One of the highlights of her set was the song Little Blue Boy, a lullaby-inspired tune that tells the story of a boy who falls asleep under a haystack while his animals wander off. The song has a gentle and soothing melody, with acoustic guitar and harmonica accompaniment. Colquitt’s vocals are sweet and tender, conveying the affection and concern for the sleeping boy. The song also has a touch of humour, as the animals try to wake him up but fail. The song is based on the traditional nursery rhyme Little Boy Blue, but Colquitt adds her own twist and flair to it.

Little Blue Boy is a song that showcases Colquitt’s ability to craft engaging and memorable songs, with a blend of folk, pop and Americana influences. It is a song that appeals to both children and adults, as it evokes nostalgia, innocence and warmth. Colquitt’s performance of Little Blue Boy on the Den stage was a delight to watch and listen to, and it left the audience wanting more.

The Chair

f you are looking for a band that can make you dance, laugh and sing along, then you should not have missed The Chair at the Cambridge Folk Festival 2023. The Chair is an eight-piece band from Orkney that plays a fusion of folk, blues, rock, dub and klezmer music with a lot of energy and humour. They have been described as a “must-see festival band” and a “rampant ruckus of fiddles, banjos, accordions and drums”. Their latest album, Orkney Monster, is a tribute to the mythical beast that is said to lurk in the waters around their home island. The album features catchy tunes, witty lyrics. The Chair will played on stage 2 on Sunday at 4:30 pm. I did not regret seeing them, as The Chair delivered a show that left me breathless and exhilarated. The Chair is one of the highlights of the Cambridge Folk Festival 2023, and I am gladd I did not miss them!

Akram AbdulFattah

I had the pleasure of attending the Cambridge Folk Festival on Sunday, July 30th, 2023, and one of the highlights of the day was the performance of Akram Abdulfattah, a young Palestinian-American violinist who mesmerized the audience with his unique and innovative music style. He played with his quartet “Awan”, which means “time” in Arabic, and they blended jazz with middle eastern and Indian influences, creating a rich and diverse musical experience. Akram Abdulfattah is a virtuoso on the violin, and he showcased his skills and versatility in every song. He also introduced each piece with a brief explanation of its origin and inspiration, giving us a glimpse into his culture and vision. He received national and international recognition for his talent and creativity, winning several prestigious awards. He also expressed his desire to use instrumental music as a tool to introduce the world to the Palestinian rich culture, legacy, and folklore. His performance was captivating, inspiring, and uplifting, and I highly recommend anyone who loves music to check him out. He is a rising star in the folk scene, and I look forward to hearing more from him in the future.

Hollie Cook

Hollie Cook is a singer and keyboardist who blends reggae, pop, and soul with a tropical flair. She has been making waves in the music scene since her debut album in 2011, and has collaborated with artists like Prince Fatty, Ian Brown, and Jamie T. She is also the daughter of Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook, and the goddaughter of Boy George.

On Saturday, July 29, 2023, she graced the Stage 2 of the Cambridge Folk Festival, one of the longest running and most famous folk festivals in the world. The festival, which takes place in the grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall, offers a diverse and eclectic line-up of folk and roots music from across the globe.

Hollie Cook delivered a captivating performance that showcased her unique style and voice. She sang songs from her latest album, Happy Hour, which was released in 2022 and features a mix of upbeat and mellow tracks. She also performed some of her older hits, such as “Body Beat”, “That Very Night”, and “Tiger Balm”.

The audience was enchanted by her charisma and energy, and sang along to her catchy choruses. She interacted with the crowd, telling stories and jokes between songs. She also expressed her gratitude for being part of the festival, and praised the other artists who were playing on the same stage.

Hollie Cook proved that she is a versatile and talented artist who can blend different genres and influences into her own distinctive sound. She brought a tropical breeze to the Cambridge Folk Festival, and left the audience wanting more. She is definitely one to watch in the reggae scene, and beyond.

Elephant Sessions

The Elephant Sessions are a Scottish indie-folk band that have won several awards for their energetic and innovative music. They blend traditional instruments like fiddle, mandolin and guitar with drums, bass and synths to create a sound that is both fresh and rooted in their heritage. They played on stage 1 of the Cambridge Folk Festival on Sunday, July 30, 2023, and delivered a stunning performance that had the crowd dancing and cheering. Their set included songs from their latest album, What Makes You, as well as some older favourites like Wet Field Day and Lament for Lost Dignity. They also surprised the audience with a cover of The Proclaimers’ I’m On My Way, which they dedicated to their fellow Scots who were headlining the festival. The Elephant Sessions proved that they are one of the most exciting and original bands on the folk scene today, and left the fans wanting more.

Angelique Kidjo

Angélique Kidjo is one of the greatest artists in international music today, a creative force with thirteen albums to her name. She performed at the Cambridge Folk Festival 2023 on Sunday, July 30, at the Cherry Hinton Hall2. Here is a short review of her show:

Angélique Kidjo dazzled the audience with her vibrant and eclectic mix of musical influences, from West African traditions to American R&B, funk and jazz. She sang in multiple languages, including her native Fon, Yoruba and French, as well as English and Spanish. She also paid tribute to some of her musical heroes, such as Miriam Makeba, Celia Cruz and Nina Simone. She invited the crowd to join her in singing and dancing, creating a joyful and energetic atmosphere. She also shared stories of her life and activism, expressing her passion for women’s rights, education and environmental issues. She ended her show with a stunning rendition of her hit song “Agolo”, which earned her a standing ovation from the festival-goers. Angélique Kidjo proved once again why she is called “Africa’s premier diva” by Time Magazine.

Gallery

Cambridge Alumni Event

Posted on June 16, 2023 by SteveAugust 9, 2023

16th June 2023

Rosemary and I had our first campervan trip of the year to Cambridge. I had been to Cambridge in the van on my own to attend an Alumni event. Rosemary being left in hospital to have a replacement hip. I had later been to the Download festival with Selina. But this was our first Rosemary and I trip of the year.

We were attending a garden party at Gonville and Caius. I had chosen an off-grid camping pitch to test the new leisure battery. It was on grass and in an incredibly quiet area of the campsite. There were an interesting mix of people in our field. One couple from Holland were driving a Series 1 Landrover, and were taking it up North to a show. There were also a number of walking / cycling campers.

The weather was very good for the few days we were away. We managed to dodge the only rain.

Most days we caught the bus into Cambridge city centre. Friday we ate and drank at the famous Eagle pub and later sat in the sunshine outside Kings College drinking a glass of wine from the Cambridge Wine Merchants.

The garden party was on Saturday when the food was up to its usual high standard. We also visited the library where there was a special collection of old medical books on display. When you look at the surgical equipment in use in the 17th century, it doesn’t seem to have changed much in modern days. (This was brought home to us when we visited Egypt a few years ago. On one wall there were carvings of surgical equipment from the pharaoh times. They were very recognisable as surgical devices.)

It was a shame to see the Corpus Christie clock out of action. It had been removed. Some vandal had taken a hammer to the glass window which protects the clock from the elements. This glass was very resistant to attack and had not been broken through. I gather the clock is now back, so the congestion at the junction of Benet Street and Trumpington Street will be back.

Commemoration of Benefactors

Posted on November 14, 2021 by SteveFebruary 25, 2022

I was invited, with guest (so thought I should take Rosemary), to the Gonville and Caius Commemoration of Benefactors. This took place on Sunday 14th November. Because of the likelihood of flowing wine we decided to stay the night. Our first choice of the Camping and Caravan club was stymied cos they were closed. We also thought of the Caravan and Camping club which was open, but the location was not good for public transport.

So we opted for an hotel, choosing Graduate Cambridge because of its free parking and the easy walk into Caius. It used to be the Double Tree by Hilton. On the site of the Double Tree, there used to be the Garden House Hotel which was destroyed by a fire on 23 April 1972 in which two guests died and before that it was The Garden House where a riot took place in 1970. Protesters against the Greek Junta, the “Colonels’ regime”, gathered outside the hotels for several days, culminating with a crowd of several hundred – mostly Cambridge University students organised by socialist groups – demonstrating against a Greek dinner for 120 guests being held in the River Suite at the Hotel from 7:30 pm on 13 February.

The company behind the Graduate operates hotels in university cities, mainly in America. The Graduate Cambridge and the Randolph in Oxford are the only two hotels they operate in the UK. The Cambridge hotel has been completely revamped, with excellent WIFI speeds far excelling mine at home. The reception area is themed with bookcases, books & college crests. The hotel has one downside – long meandering corridors which go on and on forever.

We arrived in the afternoon, got dressed in our glad rags and walked over to Gonville and Caius for four o’clock. The events of the celebration were:

4.00 pm Tea in the Fellows’ Combination Rooms
4.45 pm Lecture from Dr Arif Ahmed in the Bateman Auditorium
6.00 pm Commemoration of Benefactors Service in the Chapel
7.00 pm Reception in the Fellows’ Combination Rooms
7.30 pm Commemoration Feast in Hall

We had a lovely time starting with tea, and an excellent, thought provoking lecture on “Freedom & Free Speech”, mainly in universities. The Caius Choir performed well. The historic (1631) sermon, “Death’s Duel” by John Donne, seemed a tad sombre & bizarre, but fascinating at the same time. The reception flowed with drink and noise in the Senior Combination rooms, where the Feast provided excellent, beautifully presented food (from the newly refurbished kitchens) matched with equally splendid wines.

We ate breakfast at the hotel the next morning, after a quick walk around town, but were rather underwhelmed with the experience. Rosemary’s egg benedict had a hard yolk, soggy toast was served & luke-warm coffee! (No idea why we didn’t say anything.) You can get a better full English at any Joe’s Café.

Gonville and Caius- Commemoration of Benfactors

Cambridge Benefactors Day

Posted on September 17, 2021 by SteveJanuary 29, 2022

The COVID pandemic had put paid to many events, last year and this year. One of the annual events was the Gonville and Caius Benefactors Day. We had missed a few, not just through COVID, but also because it clashes with the Download Music Festival. This year Caius held the Day, not in June, but in September.

We decided to attend, and to stay in Cambridge for the week. We pitched up at the Cambridge Camping and Caravan site pitch in Trumpington, on Friday 10th September, leaving again on Friday 17th. Cambridge was full of graduates attending their degree ceremonies. These had been held over from 2020. There were crowds of people standing in the street outside the Senate House. Privacy seems important these days, the railings had been covered to stop people gawking at the graduates and their families on the lawn.

The Caius Benefactors Day was on a lovely sunny Saturday afternoon. We walked in early but did not have to queue, quickly finding the waiters and the wine supplies. Lunch was good. We conversed with several different people, none from my year. There was a talk from the Master, an exhibition in the library & an organ recital. A few days later we entered Caius again. Not very welcome, the porter was not keen and told us to be quick, and not to enter any buildings other than the Chapel.

During the rest of the week, we visited the Botanic Gardens on a beautiful sunny day, eating lunch at the café. Another day was spent at the Sedgewick Museum of Earth Sciences, and the Whipple Museum of the History of Science. Of course we had coffee at St Michael’s Cafe and some wine outside the Cambridge Wine Merchants (they sell Ricard!).

Nearer the campsite we walked over to Hobson’s Park Bird Reserve, a nature reserve surrounded by the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Addenbrookes Road and new housing in Trumpington. The bird reserve is made purposefully difficult to get near with ditches and earth works. There was a useless hide; willow trees in front were blocking any view of the birds. I think the lake was full of geese, we could hear them from the campsite, leaving and arriving at dusk and dawn.

The weather was mainly good, except for the day we travelled to Saffron Walden. That Tuesday it rained most of the day. We were soaked through waiting for the bus. Saffron Waldron had a rather deserted market, which packed up while we were there. A good Turkish lunch time meal at Meze By Night. At one stage, R thought her legs might fall off cos they were so wet & heavy. I queried whether she meant her trousers, but she said she wasn’t sure. We did manage to visit the Fry Gallery, but it was in a temporary location, so few Ravilious paintings on show. Only one, I think.

Cambridge Caius College, St Michaels Court

Cambridge - Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences

Cambridge, Camping and Caravan site at night.

Camping in Cambridge

Posted on June 17, 2021 by SteveJune 17, 2021

We took Morrison out for his first trip of the year to Cambridge, arriving on Tuesday 25th May at the Cambridge Camping and Caravan Club’s campsite. On route, we stopped at Saint Neots for lunch and parked in the riverside car park. The payment system was a new one for me, you could pay by card. No problem, you also had to sign out of the car park using the same card, otherwise, you would be charged for the whole day.

The Cambridge Camping and Caravan Club obviously had had some issues with the persistent rain of the previous weeks. Sections of the field were roped off. Thankfully our stay was relatively dry and we were parked in a dry patch. We soon set up and caught the bus into Cambridge. It was remarkable how quiet Cambridge was with the lack of tourists. King’s Parade was totally closed to traffic and all the restaurants had placed tables on the street. We stopped for a glass of wine outside the Cambridge Wine Merchants, where you could choose a glass from their menu or any bottle of wine from their shop. We had a walk around, tea at Michaelhouse Cafe and some more walking. I had booked the Loch Fyne Restaurant, believing it would be crowded, it was still the first week restaurants could serve indoors. No, it was remarkably empty and many of the menu items were off or had substitutions. No lime or lime juice for a cocktail, no mangetout peas. All rather odd.

Wednesday we met up with the UK Chapter of the Sadgits, being us two, Norman, Valerie, Simon, Richard and Andrea. We met up with some of them at the Michaelhouse Café, where we got talking to an elderly couple enjoying tea. It seems he was up at Emmanuel in 1957 when they met. We visited Kettle’s Yard where N&V and us two had the first tour. We had the museum to ourselves. Such a treat. The others had later “tours”. Somehow we ended up having a liquid late lunch at The Punter where we stayed for rather a long time. Nice pub. How come we didn’t know it? Valerie and Norman had to leave early to catch a train home, while the rest of us were going on to the Cambridge Chop House for supper. Early for the Chop House, we split into three groups, Simon and I going for a fast-paced walk along the River Cam past Jesus Green, Midsummer Common, and part of Stourbridge Common; while Richard had to collect his new Mac and Rosemary & Andrea presumably dawdled in various shops. We all met up at the Chop House for a pleasant, meaty meal. We could have dined outside, but rain was in the offing.

Thursday was the Fitzwilliam Museum in the morning to see the exhibition on Touch, and a wander around the exhibits. R did not warm to the exhibition, but was revived by a visit to a favourite painting. Afterwards, we stopped at the Cambridge Wine Merchants (again), where after a glass of different wine each, we opted for a bottle of Picpoul de Pinet followed by a constitutional walk to Jesus Green to locate the restaurant for tomorrow’s supper. Today we ate supper at the Tapas Bar, Tabanco. We had our best meal of the week here. Served by a very attentive waitress who always kept a watch on the tables, and was with you in an instant when you required her. So we were able to call for the bill, pay and promptly catch the bus home. It was a lovely evening back at the campsite with a pretty setting sun.

Friday and the campsite was looking deserted as more people were leaving. Today we were visiting the Cambridge Zoology museum. We had been before at closing time and had been impressed in the 30 minutes we were there. This time we had a few hours looking around, not so impressed. R was unhappy with the labelling and visitors did not obey the one-way system, which I must say was difficult to follow. There were also uncontrolled children on site.

Afterwards, we made the required stop at Michaelhouse Café, think we must have visited there at least once every day. Next, we walked along the River Cam towards the Fen Causeway, watching the inexperienced men trying to punt. So funny to watch, I would, of course, never be like that. Time to spare before supper, we walked up Castle Street to Castle Mound where I took a photo of Cambridge. It had now had started to rain, so we hurried to the River Bar Steakhouse & Grill. A steak place, pretty expensive, and I do prefer the steaks I cook to most restaurant ones. Asked for a rare steak and I got what I call a medium, or even medium-well-done. To me rare means some raw meat in the centre. A steak with little or no blood oozing out of it is not rare. R had “disappointing” salmon.

Back to the campsite, the rain had stopped. The campsite was now full, with lots of kids. It was the start of half term. Thankfully it all went quiet as night drew in.

Driving home the next day, stopped at the St Neots Tesco to fill up with diesel. The price of hydrocarbon fuels has shot up as we come out of the lockdowns. This was the first time I hit the £99 limit for paying at the pump. So not quite a full tank.

Cambridge Folk Festival – Monday

Posted on August 5, 2019 by SteveNovember 6, 2019

The Folk Festival is over, even the breakfast van was not doing full breakfasts. The queues at the shower block were non-existent as many people had left overnight. By the time I left, the site was nearly empty. I was heading out to Balsham to an open garden event organised by Simon’s brother. He had opened his garden where there is a complex yew maze. “The maze was planted in 1993 and forms the shape of a treble clef. The maze may be completed in several ways:

Enter the maze at the entrance, and explore it. Visit the raised centre area and both brick-paved French Horns, one with a centre mound and sculpture, the other with a pit and fountain. Find your way out.
Enter the maze and use the Train Rule. All the junctions in the maze are like railway points. To obey the Train Rule do not go U-turns at junctions, nor turn back on yourself. Just keep going forward like a train. Get to the centre, visiting the French Horns/sculptures on the way. When you visited the French Horns on the way to the centre, you may have played them backwards. The air in the French Horns goes from the mouthpiece to the bell and that is the way you should go. So find your way out, still obeying the Train Rule and playing each French Horn properly on the way.
It is possible to get to the centre, always obeying the Train Rule and playing each of the Horns once and only once in the correct direction on the way, and then doing the same on the way out. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t succeed, it is really difficult and you will have to use nearly all the paths.”

Dr Peter Wothers’ lecture at the Chemistry Open Day

Posted on March 16, 2019 by SteveMarch 18, 2019

We visited Cambridge, specifically to attend a lecture to celebrate 150 Years of Periodic Table given by Dr Wothers, as part of Cambridge Science Week. This was aimed at children (but I fancied the explosions as well) and the intention was to generate interest in science, so we took Julian, Phil and Selina.

Stopped by Caius College to show Julian where I had spent three years. Showed him the stone commemorating the life of Stephen Hawking place outside Professor Hawking’s college room, we also saw the double helix floor engraving celebrating Francis Crick and James Watson.

Lunch at The Copper Kettle and then we walked onto the the Chemistry Laboratory to attend the lecture.

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