Fire Warning

Damp, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

So I'm up and running on Ubuntu but I'm having the expected difficulties with all the applications and plug-ins needed. They refuse to work even when I manage to load them. I feel like just setting the whole thing on fire. I'm still determined but I'm worried the projector may never work though - that's a prospect that might scare me back to Mr Gate$....

The Occidental Tourist

Jinling, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

A damp and dreary almost stereotypically British winter's day today so I thouoght I'd spice my life up a little by visiting Jinling noodle bar. Although the best Chinese restaurant in the city was generally, and understandably, regarded to be The Peking (with the odd interlude provided by the Times' championing of Charlie Chan's although that's mainly for the excellent Dim Sum) although not so much anymore I don't think. But for affordable, authentic, oriental dishes Jinling has for a while been the only sensible choice. Classy it aint; cramped and noisy and with reassuringly offhand staff this is no Dojo or Yippee yuppy type joint. The three westerners eating today were, as always, surrounded by a tenfold majority of Chinese diners - the only proof you need. Chilli Pork Beancurd noodles. Spectacular. My only problem was which picture to use,I prefer the colours of this one but then this one has more relevance; but Who cares? BTW - If I disappear for a couple of days it's because I'm defecting to Ubuntu and, being a techno-muppet, I'll probably cock it up and disappear down the internet plughole. We'll see how it goes...

It's Your Round

Rad, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

This is an excellent local pub in King Street called the St. Radegund after the patron saint of Jesus College nearby. It's tiny inside - in fact I'm pretty sure it's the smallest pub in Cambridge and has smoked signatures on its ceiling as a wry take on those of the RAF bar in The Eagle in town. Excellent beers (although I miss the excellently-kept Shepherd Neame Spitfire) from the independent and local Milton Brewery. Make this a definite stop on your visit. Great atmosphere, great beer, great pub.

Simply Stunning

Christ's, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

One of my favourite college buildings. I love the clarity of the design and the contrasting circular and angular masonry and dormers. The building is the Fellows' Building in the Second Court of Christ's College. Built between 1640 and 1643 its lines remain timeless, even modern. I'm annoyed that the lamppost, well - any lamppost actually, immediately makes me expect to see Mr Tumnus come prancing around the corner.

What annoys me a little more is that there seems to be no one way to spell lamppost. It seems lamp post and Lamp-post are also acceptable. I'm all for diversity (ask my bank manager) but this seems a little slack. It reminds me of my early years when I spent months agonising on the pronunciation of garage. Whether the 2nd syllable should rhyme with fridge a la garridge; or whether it should be like my grandmother pronounces it (like the Queen) a la 'gerahge'or, finally, the non-denominational GARage where the 2nd syllable slips gently away without inflection. Nowadays I say carport.

And while I'm here can i just mention this: The Times drew my attention to the Das Keyboard which has completely blank keys. That's great - it's exactly what I need to increase my typing speed. Yet it's 50 quid. Now they say it's gold-plated and has 'high-end mechanical key switches' but still, £50? Of course, I'm not a professional typist or coding freak so I'm sure I'm unaware of the life-altering ramifications of these benefits or even of it's special 'sonore feedback'. But it's black and looks cool. So while I'm saving the pennies to get my own I've spent £1 on a permanent marker and just blacked-up my trusty 10 year-old bog-standard one. Now I'm typing with 2 fingers, watching the screen with one eye and sneakily checking out my unaltered laptop keyboard with the other...

Trinity Street

Trinity St, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Just a gently warm view of Trinity Street today. In the mid-ground is the chapel of Trinity College and behind it is the main gate of St John's nestled under its own chapel tower. Definitely lacking inspiration at the moment; it's quite a nice scene though.

Lads who Lunch

S., originally uploaded by Neorelix.

It wasn't so gloomy today but I saw nothing interesting to shoot so I'm featuring a favourite friend of mine in a shot from last summer. I saw him on Sunday. We had a most civilised lunch at The Cock in Hemingford Grey, a small village near St Ives, a few miles from Cambridge. St Ives is beautiful in its own right and has a rare chapel built into its bridge. If ever you're in the Cambridge area it's worth visiting one of the pubs run by this group, Cambscuisine, for an accomplished meal from varied, interesting menus. Not that my pal S. here did much more than chuck his food around; something that gets me ejected from fine eateries...

Stoney-Faced

Martyn, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

A dull shot today for another bleak day. Market Street in the centre. On the right is the beautiful window of Henry Martyn Hall (1877). I think that's what you call an Oriel window but you can't tell because, in order to get the spire, I had to forego the majority of the corbel. Anyway, the ground floor has been turned into a shop so I decided not to disappoint you with that. On the left is the spire of Holy Trinity Church (1400), one of at least seven churches within a few steps. Stand at the Guildhall and chuck a brick in a random direction: you're bound to hit one - and that's not good for the karma...

February

Reflection I, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Still in the University Botanical Gardens. The light in this scene stopped me and I took the shot thinking it exemplified the sort of drab and dull February day it was, whilst having a gloss to it that caught your eye. That's because, of course, it's a reflection. Taken in the Fenland Display area there was nary a shimmer to the surface of the water and the tree and reeds looked almost tangible. I took this one as well but it seems less... involving. But who cares? They're both cheats...

Tea Break

Tea Break, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

As a teenager I used to race down after school in the summer to sit in the University Botanical Gardens with my mates messing around and smoking, generally chilling out. And not revising. Then the evil-powers-that-be decided to fleece the tourists and starting charging so for many years I've rarely visited. On principle. Out of umbrage. Generally cutting off my nose to spite my face in effect. Then someone mentioned the other day that the gardens were now free again during the winter and this Seems a healthy compromise. Of course, they're subdued in February and especially on a misty, dull day like today, but it's still got to be a good thing right? So I brought you a slightly-touched-up shot of the work-in-progress - a bed from which great beauty will blossom in the coming months. It could of course just have been artfully arranged for the boss to see whilst the gardener is actually skiving off with a cup of tea and daytime telly in his shed...

Unnatural Habitat

Habitat, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Just down the road from my house in Fitzroy Street, this is a favourite building of mine and its distinctive and distinguished facade sadly now houses a yet another average cookie-cutter chain store. This blurb nicked from Cambridge 2000 Project: One of the few buildings in the neighbourhood with an interesting façade. The original occupant of the building was the department store Laurie and McConnal, which moved to this site in 1883, and closed down in 1977. This building is a replacement for an earlier one, which burned in 1903. The area on top was added in 1909 and was originally a bandstand for live music - how cool would it be if it still was?!

Bow Ties

Tide, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Actually took the camera out yesterday but the sun disappeared along with the inspiration so we have another 'wish I was there' shot which, with a healthy dose of suspension of disbelief, could easily be the view out of my window here on Hills Road...

Port Hole

Glisters, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

You might notice that this isn't Cambridge... We're still on Tresco looking through the ruins of King Charle's Castle but on the basis that my heart remains fenside wherever I'm skiving off on holiday and that in my head I'm still on vacation now, it's like I never left; or returned. I guess I'm just still in that zone between levity and reality. It'll pass but before it does I thought I'd post a couple more before getting back to what the blog's actually meant to be about...

Back

Stern, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Am returned. Had the requisite great time and am now back refreshed. Well, I'm back anyway. This picture makes the weather look delightfully clement with fluffy clouds scudding gently across the azure expanse of celestial ceiling. In fact, I took this shot whilst cowering behind a wreck trying to evade the viciously bitter 40 mph winds that rampaged all week. And the sun here? This moment was its 'Syanara'. It rained relentlessly for the whole week. Until, of course, the helicopter lifted off to take us home when the sun returned to grace our departing backs with glorious beams of summer. And to cap it off I took no good pictures at all. Not even ones that I think are good - which, as you know, is an opinion considerably at odds with people who know about photography. But I'm back and have missed you guys. What's been goin' on?

Prof 1

Prof, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Came across this by a back gate to Trinity - parked on double yellows so it was risking a fine but I guess not having a windscreen - or wipers for that matter - reduces the likelihood of being ticketed... Anyway, no posts for a week or so as am off for a week of exploring unspoilt nature on a lovely island. Well, I mean you have to walk through nature to get to the pub... Have a good week.

Early Arrivals

Backs, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

I hear that crocuses aren't meant to flower until March but these have been out for almost two weeks now on the backs behind St. John's. Almost as prevalent as the blooms were the ranks of photographers shooting them this afternoon...

Life's a...

Beach, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Day away from Cambridge today - headed north to Heacham in Norfolk and walked along the beach after a great lunch at the Rose and Crown in Snettisham - highly recommended. Beautiful big skies and long tides. Spectacular.

Light from the East

Seraphim, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

There are way too many churches and chapels in Cambridge to bore you week after week with their magnificent windows but every couple of months I like to squeeze one in. This is a detail of the east window in the chancel of St Michael's in the city centre and if the sun had been present the colours would have been more spectacular. As it is though, the artistry and craftmanship are still impressively evident on even the dullest day.

Settling Down

Setting, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Needed some colour on the blog and luckily, thanks to pollution and/or global warming, Cambridge is experiencing some great sunsets at the moment. The sky's ablaze every evening at the moment and I caught this as I cycled over Parker's Piece yesterday. The cupola to the left is Downing College; that to the right, the University Arms Hotel.