Flanneuring in Saffron Walden

My friend Anne introduced me to the concept of flanneuring. As I understand it all you need is that precious commodity Time. You then wander about a place with no schedule, no plan, no aim, indeed no idea! just go where it takes you and absorb the ambience. Well this morning I biked over to …

Spring at Last!

It has been a long, cold and grey winter. Usually by this time the Backs are a carpet of colour but who can blame the daffs and other flowers for their reluctance to burst into bloom this year. However, at last, the flowers are emerging and the colour, like an old “painting by numbers” picture is making a show!   …

St Luke’s Grand Day Out

Enjoyed a wonderful day helping out St Luke’s Primary School. My twin grandsons are in Maple Class and their inspiring teacher Ms Kearns had planned a day out in Cambridge to coincide with this terma classwork on The Tudors.. St Luke’s is only a 10 minute walk from the centre of the city and so …

Dalai Lama visits Cambridge

This morning I noticed that St John’s College was closed to visitors and was aware of a “security presence”. Today saw the arrival of the 14th Dalai Lama who is to spend two days in Cambridge and will speak at St John’s and The Cambridge Union.

Milliband in Town

                I am one lucky person. I get to meet people from all over the world..the people that come to study, come to visit and come to work in Cambridge. When not guiding I work on the family Market Stall, The Hemp Store. Is there a finer setting …

Annual GOAT Race!

The world is fully aware that tomorrow hosts the 159th boat race between Cambridge and Oxford on the Thames, but, did you know, another race between the two universities is also staged. Spitafields City Farm in London is the venue for the 5th annual Goat Race. Apparently Barney the Goat has secured victory for Cambridge in the …

Lady Margaret Beaufort

St John’s College Chapel was closed to the public this week for 2 reasons. The start of the week it was hosting auditions for musical scholars while later in the week the film cameras were rolling, capturing footage for a BBC film on the college founder Lady Margaret Beaufort. This truly remarkable women, gave birth to her son Henry Tudor,(later …

Archbishop of Canterbury

March 21st 2013 saw the enthronement of the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury. Justin Welby was a Cambridge graduate (Trinity College) as indeed was his predecessor  Rowan Williams (Christ’s College). Part of the ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral involved the kissing of a very old book called “The Canterbury Chronicles”. This book was brought to these shores in AD 597 by a monk, St Augustine, sent …

Another Royal Visit

Following the recent visit of The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge we had a visit from William’s dad yesterday. Prince Charles met students from more than 70 countries at The Fitzwilliam Museum. The students are being supported to study by the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and the Cambridge Overseas Trust, which the prince is patron of. …

A Royal Visit

The crowds started gathering as early as 6am. A most unusual experience for us Market Traders as we normally have the town centre to ourselves as we set up our stalls in the early mornings. But more than happy to share our space! The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate arrived just after 10am and at 10.30am …