Great Bloodhound...

Greyhound, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Today's shot is from over a doorway on the corner of Adam and Eve Street near the Grafton Centre. The building has puzzled me for a while because I'm convinced it must have been a pub - its general layout and the big yard behind definitely lend weight to that theory. But can I find any reference to it on the web? No. So maybe it was something else. Perhaps it was Greyhound Racing Equipment And Trading or something - I don't know. So there you go: no facts today, no history, just a picture of some pretty stained glass - perhaps this blog's going to the dogs...

Gives Pause

Electron, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

It's weird isn't it? You're just meandering gently down your average alley (Free School Lane) when you glance up and catch sight of something that makes you realise that everything you're walking on, beside, around and under, are wearing and carrying and are using, right up to the camera you're taking this (poor) photograph with, is based on, explained by and/or created with something discovered a mere stoned-student's throw from where you stand. Not bad JJ Thomson; when I think of what I achieved for mankind today -- don't order the plaque just yet...

Peace and All Good

No Tea, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

I was paused by this scene yesterday when wandering down Botolph lane, a charming small back lane in the centre of town which runs alongside, unsurprisingly, St. Botolph's Church. St. Botolph is the East Anglian patron saint of travellers. Until recently, as can be seen from the rather poignant sign in the window, brothers of the Society of St. Francis lived and worked here sharing a common life of prayer, fraternity and a commitment to the poor. In a city house such as this, the Brothers were engaged in a variety of ministries, chaplaincies and care for poor people. I was perturbed by both the fact that they've gone and that this building was the only one in the lane needing bars on its windows. Sad.

A Familiar Face

Sasha, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Back on the air. It seems like forever since I've graced the slightly-tarnished hallways of Blogger Central with Cambridge's presence but I'll get back in the swing of things soon I hope. I'm looking forward to catching up with the other blogs - I've missed you guys! Just a quick post today - a ride-by shot of one of our most famous local residents, Sasha, displaying the excitement most people feel when I talk about my blog.... You can meet her yourself at King Street Cycles - home of this retro classic.

Corny

Corny, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

You'll be amazed to hear that the phone company have managed to completely reduce their efficiency rating to below utter uselessness and as such I am still without internet access and will be for at least a week. This means obviously that posting will continue to be erratic and/or sporadic. I'm sorry about this; I also miss seeing your posts too. I'll be back up and running as soon as I become president of the phone company or they get their act together - whichever comes first. In the meantime I thought I'd show you how the historic centre of Cambridge has sold its soul - this time to the West Cornwall Pasty Co which has just taken over the Mappin and Webb premises. Thank goodness this doesn't detract or alter the ambience of the surrounding environs. This is clearly what marketing and demographic consultants have concluded is the epitome of Quaint-English-Rustic-Ham-Shires-ness for the tourists in an 800 year-old market square. Lovely.

Another Short Break

Trinity Great Gate, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Trinity is the biggest and the richest of the Cambridge colleges. The story used to be that it was the third largest landowner in the country after the royal family and the Church. In particular it owns a sizeable amount of Cambridge. It has used its vast wealth to help out the poorer colleges and the university in general. The gatehouse is not that spectacular and is best known for the fact that someone substituted a chair leg for a sword in the pathetic statue of King Henry VIII located in the middle. In a quaint English ceremony, a new Master (head of the college) has to knock on the gatehouse door and be let in by the Fellows (the senior members of the college), this is supposed to indicate who has the real power in the college. Away til Saturday now - have a good week :)

Always Time for a Beer

Dale's, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Almost as sad as seeing a pub closed and now a private house is seeing what was once an independent brewery shut. This one is a landmark at the end of Gwydir Street and is now home to assorted small shops and offices. At least the building remains lending great texture to the area. It's one of my favourite in this neck of the woods - not because it's particularly beautiful but because it is so... solid. It's a curiously serious building for one created to make one of the most fun products... And, of course, I love the clock. I pass it on my way to coffee from the new digs. Since the telephone company unsurprisingly cocked up my internet connection until next week I'm having to gratefully use the free Wifi at CB2. Gotta love that place!

Sad Sack

Sad Sack, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Unlicensed yes, graffiti no. These ‘tags’ were burnt into the ceiling of one bar of The Eagle pub by members of the RAF and USAF stationed at the local airbases - of which there were many throughout East Anglia. The names are burnt into the ceiling using candles and lighters. Back in the days when smoking was good for you… There’s a little display on the wall showing an original picture of the Memphis Belle and crew above another of the Hollywood actors from the movie with the plane and the remaining crew – quite poignant. Anyway, the pub (which is not one of my favourites, truth be told) was gutted and refurbed quite well in the early 90s and is very popular with locals, students and tourists alike. The pub is also famous for being the venue in which Watson and Crick announced that they had discovered the secret of life – DNA.

Homecoming

Welcome, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Well, I’m in. And I’ve done a typical (bloke?) thing in that I’ve half unpacked and then just left the rest sitting in boxes around the place. Except that there’s not much ‘place’ for them to sit around in. It ain’t big. But it is pretty cool. I’ve got a kitchen full of appliances I have no idea how to work; a shower big enough for several of my ‘close’ friends and a (tasteful!) leather bed that I put together myself… Good job it won’t be suffering too much strain. Yep, once you get in there it’s all good. To get in however, you have to first get past these two guardians. They strike me as a Stepford version of Hansel and Gretel. I assume they come to life and paaarrrttaaayy! whenever the humans aren’t around…. I have no ‘net in the new place yet so postings for the next week may be erratic I suspect but I’ll do my best. So have a great weekend and hi to Hannah and Elizabeth – have a great time ladies :)

Time Out

Paco originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Am moving over the next couple of days so won't be posting. Back for the weekend though. In the meantime there's a new brilliant Link of the Week to the right and for today's post we have another of Maya's Stencil Grafs - this one of Paco de Lucia. Noticed by Kenith_Keniff at the weekend so I dashed down Mill Road to capture it before it got cleaned. See you soon. (Cheers JGM)

Tobacco

Tobacco, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

A man after my own heart wrote this. Sadly, whilst he joyously continued smoking to the end I have bowed to leperdom, fear and a hideous cough to quit my most demanding mistress, Nicotine. Two and a bit years now but I'll always be a smoker. From the first drag at fourteen I followed the gloriously cool and sophisticated pilgrimage to emphesema like so many others (hopefully I stopped in time but only time will tell how much damage I did). I'm jealous of anyone I see smugly sucking that satisfyingly illicit poison into their lungs, even in the movies. I want to tell youngsters not to succumb to such guilty pleasure but hideous hypocrisy gags me. In fact I think I'll take it up again when I turn 70 (if...). Pathetic indeed.

Anyway, this plaque (the poem is easier to read on this page) is to found at the foot of Rose Crescent on the wall of what used to be Bacon's Tobacconist until 1983. It's now a French Connection. Cookie-cutter chain clothing stores selling exactly the same clothes to everyone in the land; not as frequently fatal, true, but one misses choice...

In on the Tiles

Tiled, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

In on the tiles

sorry but most of the recent pics have been taken with my phone as I'm snowed under at the moment and not able to give the DP as much attention as I would like. Consequently, this shot doesn't really do justice to the interior shown. It's the tiled atrium of the Lloyds Bank building that I mentioned before. I promise I'll go back and do it properly one day but this does give an idea of the quality and beauty of the workmanship. I may have blotted my copybook though - I'm not sure they appreciated someone taking photos inside a bank for a start but then the thing actually starts ringing in the sombre silence. And the ringtone is a song. And it's really loud. I left...

Da Vinci Code II to be filmed here!!

Round Church, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Yeah, and I'm to be the dashing-and-windswept-though-slightly-befuddled hero... mmm, quite. Ok, so neither claim is true but this was allegedly built by the Knights Templar in 1130. It's the Church of the Holy Sepulchre here in Cambridge (facing St. John's College) and is one of only four mediaeval round churches left in England. They're likely modelled on the church of the same name in Jerusalem. Of course, locals just call it The Round Church. There's a good deal of information and some nice shots of the interior onthis page. BTW, that's two in a row on the level and it hurts...