Fun with Jo

One of the highlights of being over here has been having friends from home "pop" over (as they say here) for a wee visit!  Our first such visitor was none other than Jo Padgett and her friend Karen Adams, who stayed with us 3 days on their way up to Scotland, where Jo's parents live.  We had a wonderful visit, and found it delightful to be on the "GIVING-the-tour-end" of Cambridge.  We did a pretty good job of it, if I do say so myself, and we didn't charge NEAR the prices they'd have paid in town. :)

So, there was this kind passerby that took it upon himself to clear away all the other people on the sidewalk so we could take a picture, and then, to the amazement of us all, jumped in the picture himself! We laughed and laughed.  No idea who he was...

Karen, in particular, wanted to go to an official English pub.  No problem, they're everywhere.  We took them to The Mitre, which was the first pub we visited when we first arrived...even sat in the same booth.  I think that makes it a tradition. :)  Fish and chips were enjoyed by all except Dianne, who opted for the Shepherd's Pie, another typical entree here, and every bit as yummy...

Punting on the Cam River is probably the one unique activity that Cambridge is noted for, so that was a must-do for Jo.  Punting involves these long shallow boats, called punts, and a long stick that you poke in the mud in the bottom of the river to push the punt along.  You can either pay guides to take you down the Cam, or attempt to do this yourself.  After seeing more than one close call of people falling in, we chose to go with a guide, much to the dismay of Caleb and Daniel.  Our guide was a college student with a very good sense of humor.  Once we looked at our pictures, we noticed that in almost every single one, we were laughing...he really made the trip one to remember!  Anyway, most of the famous colleges that comprise Cambridge University and other interesting historical sites are along the Cam River, so  it is a very pleasant outing...oh!  Did you see the rainbow behind Caleb?  So, twas a beautiful afternoon when we started punting, and then, all of a sudden, it started POURING rain...enough to get us all soaked...then stopped and was completely beautiful the rest of the time.  Such is the weather in Cambridge. :)

This bridge is called the Bridge of Sighs, and is named after its predecessor in Venice.  This one, built in 1831, links the New Court of St. John's College (where the students take their exams) to the main part of the college, and was so named because of the sound students make as they walk across it upon completion of exams.  As it was explained to us, on two different occasions, student pranksters have suspended a car beneath the bridge, after first punting the vehicle along the river then hoisting it up by ropes. 

We'll always remember the daffodils.  The English are known for beautiful gardens...and for a reason!  We have seen some real horticultural masterpieces!  Just around back of our flat--we are on the edge of campus--are thousands, I mean THOUSANDS, literally--of daffodils.  We have had fresh bouquets of daffodils all over our flat for over three weeks now! 

Ever play that game where you put a quarter on your elbow, and then swing your arm down quickly and try to catch the quarter in your hand?  Yes, come visit the Greens in Cambridge and you, too, can have a go at this international phenomenon.

Karen was knitting a pair of socks while here, and Victoria, to her great pleasure, was the wind-the-yarn-up-girl.

Daniel thinks one of the best things about Mrs. Padgett is that, since she works in the medical field, she often has these great water balloons, sometimes disguised as ordinary gloves, in her pockets. Oh, the splatting-good-time those boys of ours had with the water bombs from her pockets! :)

Fred and Elizabeth Catherwood - One Delightful Couple!

So, one week as we entered our church looking for seats, I noticed five seats on the second row next to this elderly couple, and, because I love grandmother/grandfatherly types, quickly led our family to sit next to this couple.  Turns out they were a complete delight, reminded me of my mom and dad, and it was Fred's (folks all go--no matter what their age--by their FIRST name here) 85th birthday that day.  After a couple of weeks of sitting next to our new-found friends, they invited us to their home for dinner.  We were all excited, as these were the first grandparent-like friends we had met. 

So, after we arrived and pleasantries were exchanged, Elizabeth invited us to, "have a look about the place" while she finished in the kitchen.  This is when it all began.  First I noticed this photograph in a prominent place that obviously was of special significance.  It was of a lovely English countryside estate (think enormous out-of-a-movie mansion with gardens).  She explained that was where they used to live and loved entertaining and was so sorry they were not still there so the children could go upstairs and play to their hearts content.  I had a very brief thought, "Who are these people?"

Then I noticed a regal green robe hanging elegantly in a corner near the entrance, and asked about it.  Elizabeth said, with a merry laugh, that Fred wore that when he was KNIGHTED by Queen Elizabeth--WHAT?!?!?!  So, they are Sir Fred and Lady Elizabeth!  Who ARE these people?

Next room was Fred's study.  I noticed framed pictures on the wall of Fred with all these world leaders.  Dare I even ask about these?  Fred explained that these were taken when he was VICE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN (not English) PARLIAMENT.  That's the comparable position to the Joe Biden of Europe, only I (obviously) had never heard of him.  OK, at this point, I'm seriously thinking, "WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?!" 

So, I went into the kitchen to help Elizabeth, and she told stories about  C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, both of whom she knew, and had hand-written letters from Lewis to her son when her son was a boy.  As we were talking (actually, she was talking--I was stupefied into complete speechlessness), the conversation turned to American versus English customs, and we were talking about when girls get married whether or not they keep their maiden names.  She explained that with such a multisyllabic name like "Elizabeth Lloyd-Jones Catherwood", that it was an easy decision to drop her maiden name.   Catching her middle name--Lloyd-Jones--I commented that it reminded me of D. Martin Lloyd-Jones, who was one of the finest preachers of the 20th century.  She smiled and said, "He was my father." 

WOW.  DOUBLE WOW.

Our conversation that evening was much different that I ever imagined it would be. 

Invigorating.  Inspiring.  Humbling.

An evening I'll never forget...ever...:)

Lambing Season at Wimpole Estate

Frolicking lambs were the order of the day when we visited the Wimpole Estate, a sprawling National Trust property southwest of Cambridge.  This working farm boasts of many rare breeds of farm animals, and the day we visited, there were over 100 (!) ewes about to give birth.  There we all stood looking at each other:  the very pregnant ewes ready to have their babies, and the watching public, wanting them to have them.  I don't know who was more disappointed when their babies did not arrive that day...

These are some of the pregnant mamas during feeding time.  Do you see the black one in the MIDDLE of the round feeding trough.  We're still wondering HOW a VERY pregnant ewe landed in the middle of the trough--giant leap?  good buck in the seat of her pants?  using other sheep as stepping stones?  Funniest thing...

Every time I see this picture I laugh.  This entire breed of sheep needs their bangs cut!  I just laughed and laughed.  In order to even see to walk, they had to kind of flick their heads a bit to expose their eyes...reminded me of that muppet with the long crazy hair... :)

The kids got to practice their milking skills...not too bad...

Rudyard Kipling's daughter, Elsie Bambridge, was the last owner of Wimpole, and she restored the house and grounds to their original glory.  There was much to see and do, but we spent the entire day on the farm!

And a good time was had by all...

Silly Saturday in Saffron Walden

I just love this picture of Daniel.  I have oodles of silly face pics from this good-humored boy of mine, and thought I'd share one of my favorites. :)  Many thanks to Jim Leonard, a friend here, who gave Daniel this very British hat...I mean cap...

So, one Saturday we decided to go to a typical village near Cambridge that was not really known for anything too extraordinary.  We found ourselves in Saffron Walden, so named (we learned once there) because it was the center of the saffron industry in England in the early 1500's, and "Walden" was the name of the Abbey here from 1190 onwards.

We love country churches.  I don't know what I thought we'd find in a place called Saffron Walden, but the largest parish church in the county of Essex dating from 1250 was not quite what I had in mind. 

Then, we went to this quaint museum which had a big sand pit with replicas of actual artifacts found in the area cemented to the bottom, and the children had to use paint brushes to carefully brush away the sand to discover the artifact...just like real archeologists!  I think we could have stayed here for HOURS...

These castle ruins also were a surprise in our supposed-to-be-NOT-extraordinary village.  Turns out they date back to around 1135.  Oh my.  (The young boy on the right is Daniel Robar, the delightful son of some friends of ours here, who we invited to come along for the day.)

 

Pastel-colored homes...thatched roofs...suspended street lamp...

And even not-supposed-to-be-extraordinary villages have bakeries...

It was a good day in Saffron Walden.  I just hope when Brits come to the States looking for typical small towns, they don't look for cathedrals, castle ruins, and thatched roofs! :)

Museums, anyone?

Meet Sedgwick.  We guessed that must be this planteating Iguanodon's name, as he greets all visitors to the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences here in Cambridge.  Also in this museum we were fascinated by a monstrosity of a hippo found a few thousand years ago here in Cambridgeshire.  We decided hippos have just always been...well...big.

This "supposed to be swimming" Plesiosaur is not supposed to be headless. (I'm in discussions now with our photographer to ensure there'll be no more headless plesiosaurs in this blog.)  He lived during the Jurassic Period, along with his other friends from Jurassic Park.

The museums here are intentionally kid friendly.   They are very interactive and have dectective-type activities specific for each museum.  In fact, in Westminster Abbey in London, I found myself following along with the kids kit, as opposed to the adult one, but that's a story for another day...  The bust above Caleb here is Charles Darwin.  Since he is a graduate of the University, there are many of his collections around town.

So many things seem grand here.  For example, this entrance to the Sedgwick Museum...really, concrete sculpted into animal shapes?!?

The pull was just too great...in between the Science Museum and the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the Fitzbillies Bakery just called my name so longingly...aren't these adorable frog cupcakes?  Makes me think of Kermie. :)

Our friend Janine, from the Netherlands, joined us for this part of our Museum Tour.  She'd never been to Mr. Simm's Olde Candy Shoppe, so we popped in and bought a round of giant bubble gum balls for all.  We decided that no one must have bought any of their giant bubble gum balls in YEARS. :)

One of the highlights of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology included materials collected on Captain Cook's voyages of exploration, like this 14-metre-high totem pole from Canada.  (He brought this back ON HIS SHIP?!?!)  We smiled at this, as Brad's sister Kristie and family live near Cook Inlet (named after Captain Cook's exploration) in Alaska.  Ahhh....a sweet reference to home...

We just giggle and giggle that everything over here stops for tea time.  I'm growing quite accustomed to this tradition, actually.  So, never mind that we'd already hit a bakery and a candy store...it was tea time! :)

Bury St. Edmunds, Here We Come!

So, we visited this village nearby called Bury St. Edmunds with our friends the Leonards.  It has all these ruins that folks are allowed to climb on, play hide and seek in, and jump off of.  GREAT FUN!! 

Our day began in a red, double-decker bus, and we were, of course, on the top "decker".  This is Victoria's friend Ginny Leonard.  She is as American as they come and her accent (after living here about 3 years) is as British as they come...cute, she is...

Travelling to Bury St. Edmunds, we went thru Newmarket, which has been the headquarters of British horse racing since James I days (early 1600's).  The first recorded horse race was held here in 1622.  There are today more than 2500 horses--BEAUTIFUL horses-- in training in and around the town.  (Sara Kathryn, you would LOVE it!!)

Our children's new favorite breakfast food is called a "Scotch egg".   Angie Leonard introduced them to us as we stopped in a butcher shop (which was in-and-of-itself a field trip for the kids) along this street in Bury.  They were warm--a boiled egg surrounded by sausage then bread crumbs then deep fried into this round, holdable, eatable shape...y-u-m-m-y!!

We next happened upon this book shop in which this 12-year-old (!)  author was reading her book to the kids.  At the end of the story, all the girls received crowns, which you'll see in some of the pictures.  Caleb and Daniel were very kind big brothers to indulge Victoria and Ginny by sitting thru the ENTIRE book--well done boys!

Time spent here was the highlight of our day.  Thru this entry (note the still-working port-cullis) lies the abbey ruins of what was the wealthiest abbey in the country, until it was razed by fire in 1347.  Here's the story:  St. Edmund, the last Saxon king of East Anglia, was decapitated by Danish raiders in 870.   Edmund was canonized in 900 and buried in Bury (hence the village name--Bury St. Edmunds), where in 1014 King Canute built this abbey in his honor.

Just inside the gate were these squirrels that would COME UP TO YOU AND EAT OUT OF YOUR HAND!! It was unbelievable.  (I DID ask about rabies.  They don't have it here.)

The ruins were impressive and extensive, providing hours of fun.  Get a load of the roots of the tree in the above photo!  They were a maze in and of themselves.

I just love these two shots...my boys...my girl...friends...England...adventure...memories...

We ended our day in St. James' Cathedral, built in the 15th century when the wool trade made the town wealthy.  I turned around and saw this sight in the choir section of the church.  The crowns just make it. :)

Most Famous Apple Tree in the World

Here it is, folks, the most famous apple tree in the world.  This apple tree, located near the entrance of Trinity College, is planted in the exact spot where the original apple tree stood when Isaac Newton observed the apple falling.   His window was the one to the left of the tree.  We pass it often...mainly because it's across the street from the Fudge Kitchen. :)

St. Bene't's church, named after St. Benedict, is the oldest building in "the whole of Cambridgeshire" (as they say around here) and is still holding services!  The Saxons(!) built it around 1025, and the church tower was the lookout for the Saxon rebel Hereward the Wake as he kept watch on the advancing Normans.   The ancient churchyard still stands at medieval ground level.  St. Bene't's is thought to be the birthplace of  'change ringing' (17th century), which is the system of sounding bells in an ever-changing, rhythmic pattern rather than an actual tune. 

Cambridge is considered the cradle of the English Reformation.  Robert Barnes, one of the scholars who met regularly at the White Horse Inn, preached the first Reformation sermon here at St. Edward's on Christmas Eve 1524.

The inside of St. Edward's looks today much as it would have when Barnes preached that first, now famous, sermon...