Time Lines

T2, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

One of the most gracefully beautiful of Cambridge's sundials, this one is one a wall in Magdalene College's Benson Court and was designed by a student in 1986. A shot of the whole thing here. The quotation is from Seneca and means "It is easier to gain agreement among philosophers than among timepieces."

I grabbed this view whilst on the last few miles of my early morning run at about 7.27 this morning. As you need sun for a sundial to work - and there seems to be none of that in Cambridge at this time of year - you'll not be able to disprove that (no checking the exif data...)

Lodged Alongside the Lost

Lodge, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Always loved this building. It's the Histon Road Cemetery Lodge which is now privately owned. By some lucky people. However, I guess sleeping alongside all those resting souls might make you think twice about investigating odd noises after the witching hour; unless you were starring in Scream 17 I suppose...

Back to Backs

Backs, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

The lady wanted greenery, this is all I had from yesterday (I miss the summer) - a standard Cambridge view grabbed from the bike. A ride-by shooting as it were. I guess even with winter's (I miss the summer) torpid light this is a better every-day view than a lot of places so best not moan (I miss the summer)...

Outside Ugly Inside

Ugly, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Back of the Guildhall today. That's not an invite to an assignation... Seriously tho, this is depressing isn't it? Unless these troubled teens were being post-neo-modern-ironic. Or something. Pitiful.

Old Schools, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

I'm always impressed by this gatehouse - part of the Old Schools. It's in Trinity Lane and is overshadowed by the understandably renowned chapel of King's alongside and the beauty of Clare and Trinity Hall colleges opposite. Walk through and you find yourself in the main hub of the University's administration offices. It's a little in your face I know and frequently in shadow but I figure it deserves a mention. Built in 1890 it's the later add-on rear to its far more statesman-like front, next to the senate house, of 1754.

Time for Discovery...

SPR, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

I walk past this building, the Scott Polar Research Institute, frequently but I can never get a good angle for a picture as there's a hedge right in front of it and I worry what the police will say if I get caught climbing through a private hedge. Again. (At least there's not a bathroom on the other side this time I guess.) So this is the best I could do. I had to leave the contrast as I wanted to show the stroppy look on our eponymous hero's face. Anyway, check out the website - it's fascinating, especially the picture galleries. Imagine being an explorer. Hello, what do you do? Software engineer. You? Explorer.... Heh.

In truth though, I've never really wanted to explore much beyond the international section of Zagat's restaurant guide... How lame. Although for some reason I have always wanted to go here. It looks like my perfect place. For years I've bored my friends about it so maybe I should just go. How do you do that - just up and go? How expensive would it be? How to get there and where to stay? Even enquiring may put me on an unstoppable path. And then I think I'm scared that once there I'll never come back...

p.s. I was kidding about the hedge/bathroom/police incident. Seriously...

Balls...

Balls, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

(Ok, Ame) I've no idea which angle this conforms to but I like it - all the components make a whole that appeals to me. The shot is of Clare Bridge that I featured the other day with the college behind and the Cam below. Today I wanted to draw attention to the slice left out of the first decorative ball - that is of course, the bit the photograph doesn't show well but I think if you look closely you can see the (unmottled) wedge-shaped hole on the right. There are two common tales that explain this (but in reality no-one knows the truth):

1. The bridge's builder was not paid in full due to the college's dissatisfaction of its construction. The builder thus took his revenge by committing a small act of petty vandalism.
2. A college fellow removed the quarter-sphere to ensure another fellow could not win a bet with him as to how many spheres there are on the bridge.

So - an illuminating story concerning something you can't see. One of my best I think; but I still like the picture nevertheless

Corpus, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

I can't remember having been in here before - here being Corpus Christi College. Founded in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary, it's the only college in Oxford or Cambridge founded by their citizens. It's in the centre of the oldest part of the city, opposite St. Catherine's and just up from King's but doesn't have a presence on the river or Backs so is less well known than the latter, Trinity and St. John's for example. It's very beautiful though and I think I'll post a few more shots in the days to come. The regular lean is back - just for Ame =)

Picture-in-Picture

Wilkes, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Yeah - I know, again with the orange; but I couldn't help it as they (Cazimir ((my favourite coffee bar))) have a new photographer exhibiting. And as I'm all about promoting Cambridge and its denizens I figured I should inform all 3 of my trusty readers. The guy's name is Stephen Wilkes and his website is here. His technique is superb and every shot has a depth and definition beyond the initial impact - well worth checking out. I should be on commission...

Clearly Clare

Clare, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Wasn't around today so looked through my files and found a boring but wintry shot of Clare bridge taken the other day. It was built in 1640 and seems a little saggy round the middle - like yours truly...

A New Kind of Superhero

Hug Man, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

This generous chap was pointed out to me by a friend this afternoon. What I found odd - apart from a guy giving away hugs in the Market Square on a cold January afternoon - was that people were taking him up on it. One woman even ran to him (leaving her partner looking embarrassed and no doubt re-evaluating their relationship's affection-quotient). I did find myself wondering if free was that much of a bargain given that hugs aren't generally expensive in Cambridge; not from the charity shop where I go anyway... But I can tell you one thing - he's not nearly so cheery after your 8th hug that's for sure...

No Wind in the Willows

Millpond, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

After the gales of this week it's good to celebrate the return of the sunshine to the city. This shot is of the millpond just off Silver Street and the scene shown is the back of Darwin College as seen from Sheep's Green. Not exciting but peaceful. The temperatures are heading south now and I'm not expecting to see those punts being used anytime soon...

Moore's the Pity...

... that I don't like this. As it shows I have no concept of taste or conceptual sophistication when it comes to art. This is Reclining Figure (1951) by Henry Moore, the famous modernist abstract sculptor and artist. It's outside the Fitzwilliam and is looking a little grubby to say the least. Right, staying in this cultured frame of mind I'm (don't laugh) off to the ballet. Seriously. Me...

Follow this link to Artsy's Moore page listing his bio, over 200 of his works, exclusive articles, and up-to-date Moore exhibition listings.

Burnt Umber...

There, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

I like this. It's called "There there" and is on display in a local coffee shop - Cazimir. It's by a Cambridge artist and is available at a bargain £95 to hang over your headboard. Or somewhere. I believe the melange of muted tones exemplifies the dichotomy of modern life's consumerism in a depleted natural world together with the individual's moral quaqmire concerning our own self-sufficiency in a degenerate political stasis where the only valid way forward is as part of a societal whole. Heh. That's my version of luvvy talk, dahling. I have no clue when it comes to this stuff. Really I think it's just brown - which looks nice against the orange; there there...

Outlook - Dull

Rainfall, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

The weather influenced everyone's mood yesterday, especially the local council officer in the Guildhall - the stairwell of which being where I took this shot of our rain-soaked most famous building with the tower of St. Edmund's church in the foreground. Uninspiring...

Pause

Pause, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Five thousand four hundred and sixty seven miles away from Cambridge a man shuffled off this mortal coil last night. A Man I never met. In the ICU of a San Diego hospital, emptied of vitality by a lifetime of alcohol and kicked whilst down by lung cancer, his body followed where his mind had gone a couple of weeks before.

At New Year's I stood at his bedside in intensive care and saw for the first time my past, and a future. I still have not met my father but I have said goodbye; and hello in fact. I'm sorry he has gone.

The fiercest manhood,
the toughest reserve, the slickest wit amongst us
trembles with silence, and burns with unexpected
judgements of peace.

Les Murray
An Absolutely Ordinary Rainbow

Mr Sanderz...

Library, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

The Wren Library of Trinity College. Designed in 1676 and completed in 1695 it remains one of Cambridge's most stunningly beautiful edifices - although this picture does it no justice. It's free to get in and its contents are incredible, ranging from my personal bedtime-reading favourite, Newton's Principia Mathematica, to A. A. Milne's autograph copy of Winnie-the-Pooh - which is my actual bedtime reading favourite...

Eventide

Eventide, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Completely forgot to post this last night. And then went out to a great dinner round some friends' and the port stymied my attempts to post it when I got back... sorry...

Anyway - it's a fairly standard Cambridge view of the river meandering past King's Chapel and Clare Old Court in the dusk. Nice enough but you still wouldn't get me in a punt at this time of day and year...

Harry?

Cloister, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

We're just a few yards behind where yesterday's shot was taken in St. John's New Court cloister. It's definitely one of my favourite colleges. I can't help but think of Hogwarts whenever I'm wandering its corridors and cloisters...

Sighs, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

A fairly low-key, non-angled shot today of one of Cambridge's most popular sights - the Bridge of Sighs (1831) looking from St. John's College New Court towards Third Court. Traditional view here.Queen Victoria's favourite spot in the city apparently. Although named after the famous Venetian one they look nothing alike. There's another in Oxford but obviously that's nowhere near as elegantly impressive...

And the World Smiles With You...

Misery, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Misery loves company and there's quite a few of these chaps looking down at you along Trinity Street itching to pronounce you a Sinner... This one's actually in St. John's Street on the (old) Faculty of Divinity. Anyway, I figured that after the balmy sunshine of the my West Coast sojourn this geezer is at one with the weather we're having at the moment and embodies the atmosphere of our favourite fen-edge city at this time of year. Roll on Spring...

Moving On...

Botanical, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Ok, I'll stop posting SD pictures now. But I really liked Balboa Park and so decided to post a shot of the Botanical Building reflected in the lily pond just to remind me of silver linings. It's opposite the Museum of Photographic Arts which had an excellent exhibition on immigration around the world whihc kept me out of the sun for ages. Stunning, compelling and disturbing.

Sunny Standards

Flag, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Y'see, I'm not sure how to run the blog authentically when I move to San Diego... Do you have to live somewhere to post for a DP Blog of that location? I ask because the other morning I got up, stumbled around getting dressed etc. then walked for, like, 5 mins before happening upon this view. Not what happens in RainyCambridge. And so I'm a bit smitten with that whole SoCal lifestyle and am now staring out at the rain enduring pangs. And this pic doesn't even show the Lifebabes; sorry, life guards. Funnily enough this shot is almost identical to one posted on the official SDP-Blog by Felicia. Imitation = flattery.... I'm off to pack....

TT3, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Not Cambridge, still San Diego because I wanted to post about the art I found at this great Oriental restaurant last week - one of the few highlights of the trip (that's nowt to do with SD itself, more the circumstances of the situation). The restaurant is just off Mission Beach and is called Kafe Yen, website here. Enjoyed a fantastic lunch but then came across these great artworks hanging in the Gents' and in the corridor alongside. This is my favourite but the others are here and are similarly quite hard-hitting. Graf-art with an agenda.

Back with Cambridge stuff soon. Hope everyone's having a great 007 so far =)

Tarizarstuneck?

TSK, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Sorry - been away in San Diego on a slightly surreal family emergency trip. I think I'm back for good now so should be back on the blog full time. Whilst in my slightly disparate emotional maelstrom I did manage to head out of the hotel and check out some of the sights. I didn't really want to but I frequently found myself at the beach watching the women volleyballers. What a fascinating and incredibly complex game - I found myself having to watch the players' moves closely to pick up every nuance of the gameplay... Anyway, spotted this car downtown and thought it sophisticated enough to be the pennant for my trip. I meant to ask a local what a Throziershank was...