Proud to be an American

Who knew that right here in Cambridge is the only World War II American military cemetery in the UK?  Replete with a great mall, reflecting pools, memorial, chapel, and white crosses...almost 4000 of them.  Moving.  I love my country. 

Probably the most well-known person buried here is Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., which is President Kennedy's oldest brother.  All those buried here lost their lives in the skies over the British Isles, or in preparation for the battles to be fought on continental Europe, or were evacuated here after the invasion.

Kennedy's name is inscribed on the 427-foot long wall known as the "Tablets of the Missing".  His name, plus 5,126 others, are guarded by four statues (a soldier, airman, sailor, and coast guardsman.  You can see a couple of these statues on the right side in the first picture.)

Daniel found someone named Daniel from Tennessee.  Although we didn't learn about him, per se, both the visitors building and the website had some of these soldier's stories...made for a strong history lesson that day! :)

These doors to the chapel (at the end of the Great Mall) were enormous and extremely heavy. (In fact, the porter was summoned because word was out that it was locked.  Turned out the visitors were not pushing hard enough to open the door.)  The most impressive thing about the chapel was that the interior, including the ceiling, was decorated with tiny pieces of tile--millions of them--to form mosaics of exquisite detail...  

A good time was had by all...

Interesting Eats

Ostrich burgers anyone?  Yes, thanks to George and Pat Guthrie, we discovered this place in our local Sunday market, and it has become a real favorite! :)  You can choose either a "hot dog" (which is simply an ostrich sausage link to the size specifications of a hot dog) or an ostrich burger.  We all just love 'em, and go there for Sunday lunch often!

In other culinary headlines, PANCAKES were the order of the day for "Pancake Tuesday" around here.  The day before Lent begins, also known as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, is know as Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day, in Britain, because it is the one day of the year when almost everyone eats a pancake. Traditionally, pancakes were eaten as a last chance for folks to indulge themselves with rich foods, such as eggs and butter, before Lent began. It's actually quite a yummy tradition. 

Our friends, Daniel and Elizabeth Robar, invited us to share pancakes with them at their place.  She is a "grind-your-own-wheat" kind of a girl, so these were the healthiest, heartiest, yummiest pancakes ever.   She sure set the pancake standard high around here...

Tyndale House, Sheppard Flats #18

So, this is Tyndale House, where Brad spends his days studying, reading, and writing. 

His desk is at the end of the building--very quiet.

Many have asked about our living accommodations.  So, here they are:  This is home.  Sheppard Flats #18.  Churchill College.  Cambridge University. 

Come on in thru our front gate...

...and thru our courtyard (front garden, as they call it).  Daniel has been building teepees in our front garden.  You'll see my hunter and gatherer's much needed supplies being collected near our front door. :)

Teepees outside.  Tents inside.  This is our den/living room/family room/school room/play room.  VERY large by English standards. 

Typical day:  Schoolwork in mornings.  Explore in afternoons (maybe 2-3 afternoons per week).

Kitchen...my sweet family blesses me every single night after dinner.  I captured the moment, as I'm not allowed in the room.  It's beautiful. :)

Our bedroom...one thing I must say about the comforters here.  They are like one giant pillow in a pillow case (and very toasty).  I'd never seen such before.  You take off the outer covering to wash it, just like you would a pillow.  Speaking of washing, the first (and only--ahem) time I washed ours, I walked into our den and discovered two boy-sized shapes wrestling this giant yellow monster with arms and legs flailing and lots of laughter.  It was the funniest sight.  There MUST be an easier way to put them back together...

Kids' bedroom (note homemade pillowcases, which the children adore, made by Grandma Lyda, whom they also adore--thanks Lyda!!)

And, as you're leaving our flat,  this is the view (on a snowy day) just across the field from our flat--our very own glass tower.  The boys want so badly to drop their parachuted army men from the top, as a sort of combat mission readiness exercise.  I'll let you know the results if mama caves...:)

Ely, Here We Come!

Around here trains are a very common way to get from place to place, yet the children had never been on a train.  Sooooo...their first train ride EVER was to a little village near Cambridge called Ely (pronounced "eel-y"), so named because this area at one time was very swampy, with lots of eels, and many were caught (and eaten-ugh) here.  Ely is built on a chalk hill, and was once a strategic and inaccessible island in the middle of the once marshy and treacherous area. 

Ely is best known for its huge cathedral, which was begun in 1083, and took 268 years to complete.  It survived the dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry VIII in the early 1500's.  Note how the cathedral is lop-sided--the mirroring tower that should be to the left of center fell some centuries ago. 

Do you see, on the left side of the picture, six "enclaves" in pairs along the front of the building?  There used to be statues in these, but Henry VIII had statues in cathedrals/churches removed thruout his kingdom because he considered them idols, thus breaking the Second Commandment.  We found this cathedral immense...breathtaking...cold...very cold (we could see our breath INSIDE).

As we walked along a VERY narrow ledge outside between spires of the church, THIS was the view...you can just make out the rainbow.  This photo is one of my favs. (Well done, hubby. :))

With this next photo, can't you just imagine the Fens (what they call the open, flat, fertile expanse that was the swamp until the 17th century, when Dutch experts were brought in to drain them) teeming with eels all around this hill with this enormous cathedral atop?

The newest chapel in this great cathedral is called the Lady Chapel, and is a chapel dedicated to Mary.  I couldn't believe it.  Mary?!?  An entire chapel?!?  Seriously?!?   (Again, note the emply enclaves around...many on ground level, others above.)  The only reason Mary is still standing is she was added quite recently, and by a modern sculptor.  To me she looks WAY out of place in this nearly 1000 year old cathedral...

Unbelievable windows...interesting note about tour guide, John (above).  When Brad and I were here a couple of years ago, we stayed at a B & B in Ely ... at John's house!  It was delightful to see him again, and he let all 3 kids go to the top of the cathedral, even though you're supposed to be 10 years old (which would have excluded Daniel and Victoria).  Nice fella.

I can't even tell you how high up this octagon is in the nave, but it is WAAAAYYYY up there...so far up, that my hands are sweating as I type this just remembering it...that is Daniel peeking thru these panels that open.  It was most nerve-wrecking.  Ranks right up there with being in the St. Louis arch on a windy day...

Recollecting our favorite parts of our day as we wait at the train station for our train.  Happy days...:)

St. Peter's Church, Anglesey Abbey

St. Peter's Church...charming...quaint...country.  In fact, it's very similar to the Alamo, in that the city has grown up all around it, but here it remains, basically untouched from pre-Reformation days. We discovered St. Peter's one day when we were a bit early for a Friday lunchtime concert at Kettles Yard.  This church is literally in their backyard.  The kids and I heeded the call to explore! 

Note the prominent font, commonly seen in early churches.  Wondering why the decorations are so modest?  Glad you asked.  On December 30, 1643, William Dawsing, the notorius "visitor of churches" whose job was to remove all signs of popery from parish churches, visited St. Peter's.  He held a big bonfire in the churchyard, and burned all holy pictures, altar railings, and anything else reminiscent of the Pope or the Catholic Church.

Look carefully at this stone on the floor of St. Peter's and you will see etched into the stone itself a figure of an apostle, or perhaps a child, which was originally inlaid in brass.  There are many of these stone etchings around in churches/cathedrals, but only a very few of them still have the brass inlay.  Most of the brass was removed and melted down for bullets during war time.

Changing gears a bit, one wintry day several of us went to Anglesey Abbey, an immense estate with The National Trust here in England, that has tours each February of their over 200 varieties of snowdrops (shown above).  This is variety number 149.  Oh my.  Were we in over our heads!  We must have been the only non-professional horticulturists in the bunch.  I mean, the questions the others on the tour asked contained words I'd never even heard of before!! (How I wished my dad had been there...he would have LOVED it!! As would you, Mrs. Jenkins. :))  So, I now feel quite educated about snowdrops.  You have questions?  I have answers. :)

Dramatic.  These silver birches in the garden reminded us of those found in Alaska, only these are WASHED every week to enhance their ultra-white color.  Anyone out there wash THEIR tress?

And, what ARE these people looking at?  Our newest "blue coat" convert, Marion Jongkind, has six children, and is a sweet friend of mine here.  She reminds me of another sweet friend I have with six children...enter Lady Van Neste. :)  Note to future Cambridge visitors:  children do not find snowdrop tours enthralling...:)

As we were leaving, Caleb captured this photo of snowdrops (beneath tree).  An interesting cultural note here:  Trees are not for climbing in England, as a general rule.  Nowhere we have been have the children been allowed to climb them.  It's really a shame because there are some GRAND old trees that would be PERFECT...

Breaking News - Boy from America Handcuffed in Court Drama!

It's true.  There we were in a dramatic presentation of a court case reenactment set in the 18th century, and the "eye witness" Daniel Green, who was present simply to observe the trial, was, in the end, handcuffed by the bobby.  Outrageous!

In other news, this blue-coated family is winning converts, as evidenced by their South African friend Werner (red and gray ball cap), with his BLUE coat.  This is the Blue Coats 3rd rugby match, and, after helping to explain the Super Bowl to Werner, he obliged to explain a rugby match to them.  (You may recognize Will Kynes, of hair clipper and St. John's tower fame, next to Werner.  Then there's Will the Scribe, also an American and friend, who was WRITING ABOUT THE MATCH...FOR THE SCHOOL NEWSPAPER!  I was ON THE FLOOR!!!  He knew about as much about rugby as we did.  I saved the newspaper article from the next days paper---I could not believe that I had been at the game that he had described--it was written masterfully.  I guessed I had drastically underestimated his understanding of the game, until, that is, the next time I saw him, and he, with a twinkling in his eye said, "I have a good editor.") 

This picture makes me laugh for another reason, too.  Notice that three people are watching the game:  the one who understands it, and the two who want to play for their birthday party.  The others? Great smiles. :)

Great St. Mary's Church

I must begin this blog with a confession.  I have written back to virtually every comment posted on the blog, but I fear that many of you have never received my replies.  I'm not sure where in cyber space they are, but, if you know, please enlighten the rest of us, and someone please help me.  I don't know how to respond to your comments so that you actually receive them. Do I need to post a general comment to the blog or is there another way...any ideas out there?  Highest bidder wins. :)

OK, back to business...Our lives keep intersecting with this historical church, Great St. Mary's.  It has dominated the Cambridge marketplace for over 800 years.  Not only is it the parish church for the centre of Cambridge, but also, since it has ties with the University, is known as the University Church.  Being already on this site in the early 13th century, it was inevitable that the University emerging nearby should choose the church for its ceremonies and official meetings.  Although no longer used for these purposes, it continues to be used today for many others. 

There are many stories to tell about this church...the first one involves, how shall I say, "church climbers".  (If anyone knows the actual name for this activity, do tell.)  We have seen this on several occasions, where college-age guys jump from one part of a building to another without touching the ground.  Apparently, Great St. Mary's is a hot spot for this unusual sporting event.  Here's the idea:  Victoria is stationed at the first spot, and these guys, clad in Spiderman-type shoes, JUMP from Tori's column to Caleb's (yes, it IS as far as it looks).  Then they jump from Caleb's to Daniel's, then from Daniel's to the ledge ON THE CHURCH ITSELF, then hold onto the concrete designs on the front of the church, going OVER the door to the other side, which has 3 mirrored "posts" (exactly like where the 3 kids are , but on the other side) to complete the loop.  The whole thing probably takes around 40 seconds...a very entertaining 40 seconds, I might add. :)  We just stand there "gob-smacked" watching them.  As an interesting aside, one day while riding bus #7 out of town, we saw what appeared to be Saturday morning church-climbing practice--young guys unmistakably practicing  jumps on the side of a building...no ropes...no gear...no thanks...

Anyway, Great St. Mary's has a church tower with 123 spiralling steep steps to the top.  This photo doesn't do it justice, really, but perhaps you can get the idea.  Unlike St. John's tower, which we climbed earlier, this one was prepared for tourists--well lit with railings at the top.  The children preferred St. John's. :)

 

King's College Chapel, Cambridge's most recognized landmark, in background.  On the way back down, we happened to be passing the bellringers room at exactly the same time a pair of gentlemen were leaving, and to make room for them, we had to go INTO the bellringers room.  The children were delighted!  This room is usually under lock and key, and no one unofficial is allowed in.  Though they did not actually get to ring the bells (they can be heard all over Cambridge when they ring), they did get to put their hands where the ringers put theirs (note the soft, red material on the ropes) so they won't get rope burn. (Bellringers at Great St. Mary's date from 1724--the oldest bellringing team in England. ) The grandfatherly porter at the bottom of the staircase could not BELIEVE the children's good fortune.  

Ever wonder what the pulleys look like that pull the ropes that ring the bells?  Wonder no longer...

The nave of Great St. Mary's Church.  It's amazing to me to see these centuries old churches still being used today. Note the balconies along either side.  Brad sang in the Messiah here last weekend. 

  He's the handsome one on the front row.

 The conductor was some world-renowned guy.  Must have been, as he played the harpsicord AS HE WAS CONDUCTING THE MESSIAH.  Is this humanly possible? 

Harpsicord = black keys + white "black notes" .  Great marketing ploy. :)