Cambridge Daily Photo

2011-12-06T08:45:00.001Z

"Equip yourselves for the greatest of all

adventures – for this is what

bookselling really is.”

A fabulous stocking filler.

"A bookshop is a microcosm of everything

of importance which is happening

in the world."

2011-12-04T10:00:00.001Z

You know you want one....

2011-02-16T17:45:00.005Z

An Alternative Tour of Cambridge?

Those friendly folk over at local publisher Oleander have put together a fun 'taster' of just a few of the good bits from cult-bestseller Whipplesnaith. They're in the process of making a proper walking guide of central Cambridge from the Night Climbers' perspective. All visitors to Cambridge get their map and a stolid, worthy guide to the lates and greats of the Uni - but the visitor armed with the upcoming Night Ckimbers' Guide will see behind - or rather above - the facades; they'll see the city through the eyes of our infamous nocturnal interlopers of 70 years ago. And here's an early, thrown-together, sneak peak - free for visitors to this blog. Enjoy :)

2011-02-02T17:59:00.003Z

Fancy a good Spooking?

Local publisher Oleander has issued the two classic horror tales by Adrian Ross, a Cambridge friend of MR James, together for the first time - and they're seriously creepy. CambridgeDailyPhoto readers can enjoy 15% off by using the coupon CDP at the checkout. There are also free sample chapters available on the book's page and the discount is good for the next two weeks.

Many thanks to those kind folks at Oleander!

2010-12-06T12:14:00.000Z

2010-11-16T12:19:00.004Z

Cambridge's Own

If I should die, think only this of me;

That there's some corner of a foreign field

That is forever England.

The Soldier

Rupert Brooke, the famous First World War poet, was educated at King's College, Cambridge before dying young in 1915. Local publisher Oleander has brought out a new edition of his collected poems, featuring a contemporary introduction from Lorna Beckett, the Chair of the Rupert Brooke Society. Here's the blurb:

Today Rupert Brooke is probably best known as one of the famous First World War poets. His War Sonnets, including ‘The Soldier’, are present in this new edition of his Collected Poems which, with a new introduction by the Rupert Brooke Society’s Chair, Lorna Beckett, aims to introduce a new generation of readers to his passionate and accomplished poetry.

Brooke has continued to fascinate people of all ages and walks of life ever since his untimely death en route to Gallipoli on St George’s Day 1915, at the age of 27. He lived his short life with intensity – he was not only a poet, but also a scholar, dramatist, literary critic, travel writer, political activist and soldier. Brooke had a large circle of friends, many of them leading figures of their generation including Virginia Woolf, Winston Churchill and W. B. Yeats.

Oh, is the water sweet and cool,

Gentle and brown, above the pool?

And laughs the immortal river still

Under the mill, under the mill?

Say, is there Beauty yet to find?

And Certainty? and Quiet kind?

Deep meadows yet, for to forget

The lies, and truths, and pain?… oh! yet

Stands the Church clock at ten to three?

And is there honey still for tea?

The Old Vicarage, Grantchester

2010-11-08T18:00:00.003Z

Fancy exploring Cambridge from home?

Albeit, unconventionally... The infamous cult book that is The Night Climbers of Cambridge describes the best routes around the colleges, the quietest spots for reflection, the best views to be had in the whole city. Of course, this is only if you happen to be a skilled climber - and happy to wait until the middle of the night to avoid the authorities... Luckily - and amazingly, considering the paraphernalia needed in those days - they took pictures of their 1937 feats and included them in this incredible book, along with details of their nocturnal adventures. Republished in 2007 by The Oleander Press - it's now available everywhere because:

Get it here at Amazon UK
or here for the US store

They've eventually moved into the future with ol' Whip and made him available on Amazon's Kindle. Although I'll always be a dull old-fashioned stick-in-the-mud when it comes to books, even I have to admit that the pictures come out really well on electronic devices. Oh - and the pricing is great - especially without shipping of course!

2010-10-30T09:25:00.004+01:00

Almost Cambridge... now on Kindle!

US Kindle Store UK Kindle Store

Ok, so New Orleans isn't exactly like Cambridge but this incredibly evocative story of love and loss in that city is so good I decided to mention it here. Everyone who reads it loves it - so why aren't more people reading it? Got me stumped... Here's the publisher's book page.

2010-10-13T15:10:00.005+01:00

Ooh - exciting!

Due next month from your favourite local publisher - a nape-prickling collection of classic ghost stories; the most sought-after compilation in fact. Oh yes, it's a little bit chilling; I mean, thrilling....

2010-07-22T10:35:00.000+01:00

You are here...

Frequently spotted around Cambridge: a gaggle of camera-toting tourists huddled over these kinda-cool relief maps of the city centre trying to work out how to get from where they are (in this case under Great St Mary's tower in the centre) to their favourite coffee shop. Astonishingly (the epidemically-omnipresent) Starbucks has not been ringed in dayglo-orange by the council on this map despite their best efforts in cookie-cutter-corporate-branding of the city centre. These relief maps are great reproductions though and very realistic - the most recognisable bits being King's College chapel top right and Trinity College Great Court (a la the race in Chariots of Fire, although the film actually used Eton College school) in the foreground. The only innacuracy as far as I can tell is that, unlike the actual city centre buildings, this isn't covered in pigeon s***.

Of course, the true beauty of this map is that, whilst any photoblogger can snap their city's best bits, only a really lazy one can give you the whole city centre, to scale, in one shot. Voila!

2010-07-20T16:34:00.002+01:00

Just a Tourist Shot

...today folks. I doubt if I even have to explain it. Enjoy the sun!

2010-07-17T13:07:00.004+01:00

Hhmmm.

A custom peculiar to Cambridge was that of selling butter in three foot lengths and an inch in diameter, a pound being rolled between two boards. The University has an ancient cylinder of sheet iron which was used to test the size of every roll of butter sold in the town. "Yard Butter" was still sold until the introduction of food rationing in the early years of the First World War.

For I loved Cambridge (where they deal
How strange! in butter by the yard):

Q - Anecdote for Fathers (1886)

Go figure.

2010-07-16T10:27:00.002+01:00

Cambridge in the Long

Where drowsy sound of college-chimes
Across the air is blown,
And drowsy fragrance of the limes,
I lie and dream alone.

A dazzling radiance reigns o'er all -
O'er gardens densely green,
O'er old grey bridges and the small,
Slow flood which slides between.

This is the place; it is not strange,
But known of old and dear.
What went I forth to seek? The change
Is mine; why am I here?

Alas, in vain I turned away,
I fled the town in vain;
The strenuous life of yesterday
Calleth me back again.

And was it peace I came to seek?
Yet here, where memories throng,
Ev'n here, I know the past is weak,
I know the present strong.

This drowsy fragrance, silent heat,
Suit not my present mind,
Whose eager thought goes out to meet
The life it left behind.

Spirit with sky to change; such hope,
An idle one we know;
Unship the oars, make loose the rope,
Push off the boat and go...

Ah, would what binds me could have been
Thus loosened at a touch!
This pain of living is too keen,
Of loving, is too much.

Amy Levy

2010-07-15T09:50:00.004+01:00

UnFreeze Frame

A bit of a change today... Most of you folks have seen the Whipplesnaith vid so I thought I'd show you something similar that combines two of my main loves. No, not Ambrosia Devon-knows-how-they-make-it-so-creamy Custard and latex, but Cambridge - and the climbing of it. The video's one of many available from Openbox Films - a film company/freelance Parkour stunt team who promote the sport in the media industry. They're based in Newmarket, 13 miles from Cambridge. Their talent is astonishing, I'm sure you'll agree. And behind all the action you'll see parts of the city which are recognisable to regulars - almost all have been featured on the blog in the past. Check out the guys' YouTube channel and their homepage. Very cool.

2010-07-14T09:37:00.002+01:00

Messin' about on the River

A common sight of a morning on the Cam is the college boat clubs out training. It's a timeless thing and makes for fascinating viewing as you walk the towpath and hear the coxes (tiny) yelling at the crew (huge). Each college has a boathouse along the river and here you can see, with the red doors, Lady Margaret (St. John's) with Queens' alongside. Licences are granted by the council for boat moorings and there a whole bunch of them, mainly narrowboats with a couple of Dutch barges, lined up all the way back to Chesterton. This is one of the cleanest. One of the downsides of such a seemingly peaceful river existence must be landlubbers like myself peering in and talking photos...

2010-07-13T17:49:00.003+01:00

Falcon becomes Lame Lion

Before the presiding brains of the time got the idea to knock down our version of York's Shambles or Brighton's and Norwich's Lanes, there was a fantastically (unhealthy) higgledy-piggleday collection of streets and yards called Petty Cury where the hideous and cookie-cutter Lion Yard now stands. Demolishing those destroyed one of the most atmospheric and intriguing city centres in the country and left us open to virtual clone-town status. Even sadder, several ancient inns were demolished as part of the development, most notably the Falcon. Queen Mary (Tudor) watched a play held in the yard there (and enjoyed it greatly, so the story goes, so presumably it involved killing Protestants). Much more recently a party in the Falcon to launch a poetry magazine was the meeting place of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath (he had just left Pembroke, she was on a scholarship to Newnham). Plath planned a novel based on her time in Cambridge, to be called Falcon Yard, but it was still unfinished when she had her tragic appointment with a gas oven. Luckily my camera has a time travel facility...

2010-07-11T09:44:00.003+01:00

Abbey Days

Just outside Cambridge is Anglesey Abbey. Dating from 1600 and built on the foundations of a 12th Century priory, it is now owned by the National Trust. It was for many years owned by Huttleston Broughton, 1st Lord Fairhaven and the wonderful interiors are a reflection of his taste. It's very interesting - especially the huge collection of paintings of Windsor Castle, spanning 350 years. I must admit though - culturally improving though that is, I simply prefer to wander with friends around the 100 acres of grounds and gardens. The views are stunning, the walks fascinating (not least the colonnade of Roman Emperor statuary) and there's a very picturesque watermill where you can buy your organic home-milled flour. Essential for all my home baking...

2010-07-09T09:41:00.001+01:00

Familiar...

Ok, so it's one of the most photographed buildings in the UK but what Cambridge photoblog would be complete without a shot of King's College chapel? It is truly stunning from every angle. The foundation stone of the chapel was laid by Henry VI in 1446 but it wasn't finished until the reign (and death) of Henry VIII in 1547. Just in time for me to take this shot.

2010-07-08T09:42:00.002+01:00

Puntificating

The recent weeks' proper summer weather means the desultory straggle of hardy cold-weather punters have been overwhelmed by hordes of amateurs who, having learned the art, will leave the city never to so much as see a punt again. It is great fun though and something everyone has to do once. Most of the fun is in the drinking and sinking that takes place but apparently there are also some historic buildings to see along the route... The punt-voyeur can achieve most enjoyment by just sitting on the bank and watching the inept create carnage on the Cam and the inevitable fallings in that occur with hilarious regularity - generally due to an absolute refusal to release the pole when it gets stuck in the mud whilst the punt continues its momentum... The young lady shown here was clearly an improver - becoming confident whilst still not entirely comfortable with the pole but she acquitted herself more than adequately. Sadly.

2010-07-07T10:07:00.008+01:00

A Year and a Day

I shall remember miraculous things you said

My whole life through,

Things to go unforgotten till I am dead;

But the hundredfold, adorable ways of you,

The tilt of your chin for laughter, the turn of your head

That I loved, that I knew -

Oh! While I fed on the dreams of them, these have fled!

Words which no time can touch are my life's refrain,

But each picture flies.

All that was left to hold till I met you again,

Your mouth's deep curve, your brow where the shadow lies,

These are the things I strive to capture in vain,

And I have forgotten your eyes;

And the way that your hair spun curls in the beating of rain!

Kathleen M. Coates, 1914.

Kathleen Coates was a Cambridge student around 1910-13; I'm working on a small collection of her poems at the moment and decided to post this, my favourite. The picture is of Trinity Street, a scene hardly changed from when she'd have wandered down it, giddy with love and hope, hand in hand with her husband-to-be. Of course, if he was anything like me, he'd have whipped his hand away and told her not to be so soppy... ;p

2010-07-06T11:08:00.001+01:00

Lovely - not.

If there's one building that symbolises Cambridge for me it is the University Library (I'm here for a meeting today). One of five copyright libraries in the UK (it's entitled to receive a copy of every book and journal published) it pretty much dominates the skyline of the city when viewed from the west. Only Addenbrooke's charnel chimneys match it for prominence. Built 1931-34, and pretty ugly if you ask me, it was designed by Giles Gilbert Scott who also designed Bankside power station in London which is now home to Tate Modern– perhaps you can see the similarity... But what most people don't know is that he also designed what is perhaps, alongside the double-decker bus, the pre-eminent icon of 20th Century Britain. I'm assuming you've guessed....

2010-07-05T10:06:00.004+01:00

Herds of Wildebeest?

But not a bad view nevertheless. And back in Cambridge (this post dedicated to the lovely Liz). New Court, St John's as seen from Trinity. Actually, from the Fellows' Bowling Green in Trinity, a place I've never been before but managed to sneak into yesterday. There are times when you have to think of Cambridge, 'It sure is purty...' and this is one of 'em.

Those of you who follow my ramblings will instantly recognise the Wedding Cake behind the tree and think of Nares Craig, the chap who was photographed atop its apex in a particular book I'm fond of. We spent a while discussing the foolish bravery needed to do that yesterday and concluded that he was way more courageous / stoopid than any of us lily-livered losers...

Have a great week folks.

2010-07-03T10:02:00.003+01:00

What - a wall? A waterwall...

London's only 40 minutes away from the fabulous city of Cambridge so there's no harm in popping down every now and then to sample the delights of the ol' Smoke. I slid down on Wednesday to see a movie at the IMAX (I love that place!) and walked from Kings Cross down to the South Bank in the glorious sunshine. It was incredibly hot but I'm a boring old fart and I wasn't tempted to join these damp folks who were taking the direct route to cooling down.

2010-07-02T08:07:00.002+01:00

A Load of Old...

Was slightly off the Cambridge map yesterday but couldn't resist the free ticket to the Royal Norfolk Show from a buddy. There were so many stands and a lot of great stuff to see and do; I was less than moved by the combine harvesters and tractors on show but couldn't get over the size of this guy. Immense at over 1500 kgs...

2010-07-01T10:15:00.002+01:00

Sshh...

Sidney Sussex College cloister. Lovely.

2010-06-30T08:18:00.002+01:00

Time Time.

Today I thought it was time we visited Queens' College - heh. Here in the Old Court you'll see my favourite sundial. There are loads in Cambridge but this is one of the best I feel. It's not instantly obvious how you use it so, luckily, the college website gives instructions on how to read it here.

2010-06-29T08:32:00.002+01:00

22 Fitzwilliam Street

Cambridge, CB2 1QH

“Man with all his noble qualities, with sympathy which feels for the most debased, with benevolence which extends not only to other men but to the humblest living creature, with his god-like intellect which has penetrated into the movements and constitution of the solar system- with all these exalted powers- Man still bears in his bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin”.

2010-06-28T14:04:00.002+01:00

Choices, choices...

At the junction of Lensfield and Trumpington is placed this monument to Thomas Hobson - a carrier delivering mail between London and Cambridge, operating a livery stable outside the gates of St Catharine's College. When they were not needed to deliver mail, Hobson's horses were rented to students and faculty from the university. "Hobson's Choice" as we all know is a phrase meaning no choice at all and it's gratifying to know that the story of its derivation is not proverbial but true:

The Spectator, No. 509, 1712, shows clearly how the phrase came into being:

"He lived in Cambridge, and observing that the Scholars rid hard, his manner was to keep a large Stable of Horses, ... when a Man came for a Horse, he was led into the Stable, where there was great Choice, but he obliged him to take the Horse which stood next to the Stable-Door; so that every Customer was alike well served according."

The monument stands over Hobson's Conduit which he had built to convey springwater from Nine Wells, near Shelford, into the city centre.

2010-06-24T08:45:00.003+01:00

Going Stag

Came across this chap in the unlikely setting of the Grafton Centre yesterday. An empty retail space in the mall has been co-opted by a student, Russell Cuthbert, of the Cambridge School of Art for a mini exhibition of his art - "Looking for Nature". He says that "any reverie that my images create, I have likewise intended to destroy through the tatty and difficult nature of the material, and the juxtapositioning of unlikely objects."

I just think it looks great. (A better pic here on frontroom.)

2010-06-23T10:58:00.001+01:00

Shazbat

Spent hours the other day being a rock nerd and compiling my favourite 100 tracks of the Rock Era. How lame is that? So having done that and put them all on the mp3 player I had to get out of the house. I put it on the car stereo and drove, singing loudly and with great vocal prowess, a few miles outside Cambridge to a non-village called Lord's Bridge (near Haslingfield) where the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory is based. I'm always fascinated by the arrays they have there and today I stopped and took this shot of one of the antennae. Here's the google satellite of them all. Although interesting, astronomy's way over this commentator's head but it is reassuring to know that these silent sentinels are scanning the skies (overdoing the alliteration a tad) for alien activity...

Nanu nanu.

2010-06-22T14:16:00.003+01:00

A River Runs Through It.

Was just up the road from Cambridge yesterday in Ely, home of the cathedral from which Cambridge draws its city status. A gorgeous day it was and there were office folk, tourists, boating types and swans, all soaking up a few rays. This is just along from the Cutter; not a bad place to sit and unwind, reflect and contemplate the error of one's ways :)

2010-06-21T10:07:00.003+01:00

Asparagus Day...

Longest Day, Summer Solstice, End of Asparagus Season... Yeah, forget all that; the most important aspect of today is that it's my birthday. I really want to treat myself with the above. Who said mid-life crisis...?

2010-06-20T10:03:00.001+01:00

Smoke Up Johnny!

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. Six 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...

2010-06-19T09:16:00.002+01:00

Up Above

The Fitzwilliam Museum (founded in 1816 but not built until 1837-45) is one of Cambridge's treasures and is worth spending half the day on. It has an eclectic collection of exhibits - a lot of which have been bequeathed to it by university alumni. If you look up as you enter this is what you'll see. The detail is mind-boggling.

2010-06-18T12:35:00.002+01:00

Tapering off...

An American tourist once asked a college porter "Gee, your grass sure looks great. How d'ya get it looking so perfect?' 'Mow it and roll it for six hundred years sir,' came the deadpan reply.

I was told that by a guy whose cousin's girlfriend's cat's vet's son was actually there so it has to be true. But true or not, the grass in Cambridge colleges is generally billiard-table quality. This is Corpus Christi College's effort - and you have to agree, that's a sweet bit of turf.

Just the other day in 1382, the college was the cause of an uprising by townspeople like myself. A mob led by the city's mayor stormed it in protest against its rigid exaction of "candle rents" or rent charges assessed upon houses in its ownership, according to the number of wax-tapers found. Personally I keep only three, small, wax tapers about my accommodation - but I swear I saw my neighbour flagrantly playing his PS3 by the light of at least 5 of the scented variety no less!

2010-06-17T17:41:00.001+01:00

Bullets over Doorway

This shows the wall of Trinity College's Whewell's Court built 1859 - 1869 facing you as you walk up to the end of Jesus Lane. Or scream along it in a German fighter plane releasing a hail of bullets before pulling up and heading off back home - as one frustrated Luftwaffe pilot did in WWII. The results are still visible as you can see. The bicycle's injuries weren't fatal I understand...

2010-06-16T17:55:00.003+01:00

Into the Gloaming

Eventide spent driving the roads of my youth out in the Fens, just a little north-east of Cambridge. Big skies...

2010-06-15T10:13:00.004+01:00

Cloistered Away

The greatest thing in the world is to know how to live to yourself.

- M. De Montaigne

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...

2010-06-14T11:41:00.003+01:00

Honoured, I'm sure

This rather fantastic entrance is the Gate of Honour in Gonville and Caius College. It's one of three: students pass through the Gate of Humility when they enter the college, whilst studying they frequently pass through the Gate of Virtue (dedicated to Wisdom) and then finally, on their way to their graduation ceremony they pass through this one. I, of course, possess all of these qualities without the need for keys...

2010-06-13T10:36:00.003+01:00

Ready and Waiting

Scudamore's Boatyard, first thing in the morning. Empty, tranquil, awaiting the tourists. Within hours they'll all be out on the river, gliding along the backs, heading out to the Orchard Tea Rooms at Grantchester, or just moored whilst the occupants have long lazy picnics in the meadows. Ahh, halcyon days in the making.

2010-06-12T07:54:00.003+01:00

Mill Road Cemetery is a peaceful space just minutes from the centre of town and adjacent to one of the most interesting and diverse shopping streets in the city. You'll get away from the noise and tourist throngs here and, although it's not manicured showpiece, the cemetery is definitely an attractive and atmospheric place to collect your thoughts and contemplate life.

I heard yesterday of the passing of a neighbour and friend of over 20 years; he was a nice guy and will be missed by many in the local community and further afield. So long Den.

2010-06-11T12:12:00.002+01:00

Far Horizons

"That mind is at fault which never escapes from itself."

- Horace

Cambridge is fabulous but occasionally it's good to escape and one of my favourite spots to head off to is Southwold, just over an hour away. Adnams beer and fish and chips from Mrs T's down at the harbour. This is the view from the footbridge to Walberswick. Nice innit?

2010-06-10T10:44:00.003+01:00

Sad Sack, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Thought I'd remind new visitors to the blog of this historic building. 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 'found the secret of life' – DNA.

Of course, the real secret of life is Shepherd Neame's Spitfire beer obviously...

2010-06-09T10:41:00.002+01:00

Tiled, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Sorry but this was taken with my phone as I'm snowed under at the moment. Consequently, this shot doesn't really do justice to the interior shown. It's the tiled atrium of the Lloyds Bank building that I've mentioned before. 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...

2010-06-08T17:17:00.003+01:00

New Angles on Film

Arts Picturehouse Independent Cinema

“Forget the grand plan. Forget the master scheme. Forget control. That is the bleak but true basis of independent cinema. Inch by motherfucking inch we must, because we have no other choice.”

- Oliver Stone

2010-06-07T08:40:00.003+01:00

Illicit Kiss, Mill Road

"Young man. Young, young, young. Did anyone ever tell you you look like a young prince out of the Arabian Nights? You do, honey lamb. Come here. Come on over here, like I told you. I want to kiss you just once, softly and sweetly."

- Blanche, Streetcar

2010-06-05T17:34:00.003+01:00

Triset

Triset, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

Sighs

2010-06-05T08:34:00.001+01:00

Sighs, originally uploaded by Neorelix.

2010-06-03T20:55:00.002+01:00

No Smoke Without...

Bank Holiday Monday saw us head over to Santa Pod again, just about 40 minutes from Cambridge for some more loud craziness. This time we were on VIP tickets which got us into the best viewing suites and meant I could get a fine shot of the cars on the line. The flames coming from the jet car here are actually just theatrics - when it launches it's weirdly quiet and there's just jetwash instead of flames - but it is amazingly loud when he does this; uberfun!

2010-05-30T12:52:00.006+01:00

Art at the Cutting Edge

I'm hoping to start posting regularly again soon but in the meantime wanted to draw your attention to the work of The Papercut Girl, Vanessa Stone. Quite local (Letchworth), she loves our favourite city and has a section devoted to it on her website. I've only recently been introduced to her work but love it and hanker for one of her pieces for my wall. Until then though, I'll make do with admiring them virtually on her site or in actuality, until the 20th June, at Byard Art on King's Parade where she's taking part in the 'Capturing Cambridge' exhibition. I dropped in yesterday and was very impressed by the wealth of talent on display by her and, in fact, all the local artists featured; make sure you swing by sometime (and buy loads of her stuff...).

Vanessa also has a blog and a facebook page.

2010-03-23T11:29:00.002Z

A Cambridge Classic Reborn (eventually...)

"Then care- and rope-free, we may wander hither and thither; with the collective wisdom of the ages safely locked up and trodden under our feet, with the rival auspices of Cambridge creeds and cults opening out in vistas of unreal transparency about us and illuminated only from below,and know our own heads and dreams to be set high above them among the stars."

Considering it's not a mighty tome, there seems to have been an inordinate number of bugs and problems resulting in the tardy appearance of the 2nd Edition of The Roof-Climber's Guide to Trinity. But then, it's been gone 79 years so an extra month is probably no great shakes. And then, it arrived the day before Oleander moved to a land sans internet for two weeks so I'm only able to tell you of it now.

Including and supplementing the information from two chapters in the previous guide, the 1930 second edition is otherwise completely rewritten and incorporates new routes, quotes, illustrations and a new format.

Although barely granted publication permission by Geoffrey Winthrop-Young, the authors of the 2nd edtion rightly noted that 'The conquest of the Great Gate in November 1927 marked a new epoch;' and that 'so many fresh climbs have been discovered in the subsequent three years, that a fuller edition of the old guide was felt to be desirable'.

Available from the Oleander website now.

2009-12-10T17:38:00.004Z

www.flickr.com

2009-11-28T10:14:00.005Z

Night Climbers to the Four

This week saw a fair amount of activity by Cambridge's favourite secret club. Santa hats have been appearing on various parts of the University's architecture - most notably on all four pinnacles of King's College Chapel as pictured (pic thanks to avaragado, click through for more and follow him on Twitter.) The Santa hat deluge is a pretty regular occurrence at this time of year; followers of this column will know that the Night Climbers have been a part of Cambridge subculture for over a hundred years definitely, and probably a lot longer (on Gunning's Balcony, St John's College, there's an inscription carved by pen-knife: PETRUS GUNNING ELIENSIS, HUJUS COLL : ALUMNUS Feb: 19th, 1734).

Those interested can read a free pdf on the history of Night Climbing below (and on the Oleander website.)

2009-11-22T12:41:00.002Z

Into the Gloaming...

One hundred and nine years ago, the sun was setting on this exact same scene. Darkness followed and shortly thereafter shapes began moving; stealthy, lithe, shadow-blending convolutions of night. Using chimneys and pipes the ascent of these ancient buildings was undertaken - as presumably it had been for hundreds of years before. But this year, notes were taken - and the first record of roof-climbing was produced. The Roof-Climber's Guide to Trinity sold out on publication and has been out of print ever since. It was the first of several titles quietly published - anonymously, of course - over the next seventy years; titles which are now being republished. A history of Roof and Night Climbing in Cambridge is available as a free download here and the books themselves are available here too.

2009-11-19T09:16:00.003Z

Secret History of Cambridge - Free Download

Want to learn a little Cambridge history that's not in the regular guidebooks? Night Climbing has been a part of Cambridge's alter-ego for hundreds of years probably. An activity practised far away from the eyes of tourists, university authorities and of course, the police. Over a hundred years ago the first account of this subversive, nocturnal activity appeared, anonymously, in print.

Since then, a select few titles have been authored, under pseudonyms, chronicling the exploits of these stegophilic miscreants. Many of whom went on to become figures of public import and influence. Read the history of this exclusive club - as told by Richard Williams, the now-unveiled author of the 1960, 3rd Edition of the Night Climber's Guide to Trinity. Click on the pic or here to go to the free download - and enjoy!

2009-11-11T19:15:00.004Z

It's taken a while but it's here now!

Local publisher Oleander Press has reported the following great news for all lovers of Cambridge, past and present, ground-based or not:

The original night-climbing text is now in stock. The Roof-Climber's Guide to Trinity, written in 1900 by Geoffrey Winthrop-Young and the inspiration for Whipplesnaith's Night Climbers of Cambridge is here, available once more. We're very excited to see it - eventually - back in print!!

Check out a review written on publication in 1900 over here.

Read more about it on the blog and get your own copy here. (And check out the Whipplesnaith video)

2009-11-04T17:37:00.005Z

Zuleika in Peterhouse

"They did wonderful things for me in Oxford, but in retrospect I cannot help feeling that they overdid them. The art of dying for me ceased, I fear, to be an art. It degenerated into a stampede."

A delightful corner of Peterhouse, the oldest college in Cambridge, founded in 1284. Continuing our theme of lost literary history, here's a recent reprint of a 1941 satire Zuleika in Cambridge in which the aforementioned young lady arrives in our fair city to the consternation of University authorities after her fatal tour of Oxford... During the visit she attends a party here in Peterhouse but many other parts of the locale are recognisable. Written by the then Master of Pembroke (just across the road actually), this excellent novella was a hilarious tribute to Max Beerbohm who, 30 years earlier, had given us the eponymous Zuleika Dobson, a shockinly funny novel, which I'm sure many of us will have read...

Full details here of course.

2009-11-03T10:11:00.004Z

Really want to know about Cambridge?

If so, grab these; local publisher Oleander Press is republishing a couple of out-of-print local titles this month, both with close ties to horror master MR James:

Tedious is a collection of spooky stories written in 1919 by the then Master of Jesus College, Arthur Gray, under the pseudonym Ingulphus and mainly set in the college and local area over the preceeding 500 years. Full details here.

And Stoneground is another collection by EG Swain who had been Chaplain of King's College. Set on the edge of the Fens, just up the road, they are very entertaining and atmospheric tales of the supranatural. Get details here.

2009-11-01T12:13:00.003Z

For the climber who "seeks new sensations on the artificial erections of man."

I don't post often on here anymore but people still come by so I thought I'd let you know of a bit of a red letter day approaching:

It's taken a while but we're within a couple of weeks of unleashing the Holy Grail of night climbing. This is the first recognised literature concerning this elite sport and is the first instalment of the exclusive literary genre documenting it. There are less than 10 copies left in the world of this 109 year-old treasure, and I'm delighted to bring this stegophilic standard-bearer back to life. Amazingly I've found a contemporary review:

'...the stegophilist will find a guide-book so lucid and complete as to compare with such classics as Ball's Alpine Guide and Haskett-Smith's Climbing in the British Isles. - Full contemporary review

We've worked from Geoffrey Winthrop-Young's original copy - now held in the Wren Library at Trinity:

Many will notice that the picture used comes from Whipplesnaith. There are three editions of the Trinity guide - this one, a 2nd edition in 1930 and a final one in 1960. There was also a Roof-Climber's Guide to St John's. Each of these is being reproduced by Oleander in the near future and each sports a similar livery and Whipplesnaith pic. I think they look great - and hopefully so will you.

This reproduction contains the full text (including corrections by GW-Y) and two appendices of transcribed notes by the author; one set from 1902 and the other from 1948. Both shed amusing and informative light on the creation of the book, little known facts (the truth about Byron climbing the Wren Library for example) and details of his fellow climbers at the time. Read more about it over at Oleander; and obviously, the whole Night Climbers story is available on its blog.

2009-05-17T19:55:00.001+01:00

You are HERE:

Frequently spotted around Cambridge: a gaggle of camera-toting tourists huddled over these kinda-cool relief maps of the city centre trying to work out how to get from where they are (in this case under Great St Mary's tower in the centre) to their favourite coffee shop. Astonishingly (the epidemically-omnipresent) Starbucks has not been ringed in dayglo-orange by the council on this map despite their best efforts in cookie-cutter-corporate-branding of the city centre. These relief maps are great reproductions though and very realistic - the most recognisable bits being King's College chapel top right and Trinity College Great Court (a la the race in Chariots of Fire, although the film actually used Eton College school) in the foreground. The only innacuracy as far as I can tell is that, unlike the actual city centre buildings, this isn't covered in pigeon s***.

Of course, the true beauty of this map is that, whilst any photoblogger can snap their city's best bits, only a really lazy one can give you the whole city centre, to scale, in one shot. Voila!

2009-05-12T09:32:00.002+01:00

Tickets

The Arts Picturehouse bar - great place to chill and read or work - and of course, the cinema has the best independent film line-up in the area.

2009-05-07T09:48:00.002+01:00

Madonna in the Meadow

Love this. In fact I love all Maya's stencils. This one was on the garden door at the back of the Fitzwilliam - in the meadow there; can't remember what it's called. It's been scrubbed a long time now. Here's an interview with the artist.

2009-05-05T10:30:00.001+01:00

Herds of Wildebeest...

"She used to drag her mattress beside her low window and lie awake for a long while, vibrating with excitement, as a machine vibrates from speed. Life rushed in upon her through that window - or so it seemed. In reality, of course, life rushes from within, not from without. There is no work of art so big or so beautiful that it was not once all contained in some youthful body, like this one which lay on the floor in the moonlight, pulsing with ardor and anticipation."
Willa Cather (1873 - 1947), The Song of the Lark

I hate to see boarded up windows; symptoms of dereliction. The ground floor of this building near the city centre is a furniture showroom but the rest is like this. What a waste - I'd live up there like a shot. You can just imagine the vibrant thrill of having the view of this resplendent city framed by these. Sadly this body isn't exactly youthful and hasn't vibrated for a while...

2009-04-29T20:58:00.001+01:00

Sky King and the World of Tomorrow!

(A post from several years ago but I'm feeling nostaligic...)

Remember 1936? No? Well now you can - with this fantabulously lush, phat and most-wicked tricycle ever recreated. Walking past King Street Cycles (a great independent store) yesterday I had to stop and stare. Iconic design cues down to the last detail. Even I know we've had a retro-bike fad for a couple of years now - exemplified by such uber-rad machines such as the Schwinn Sting-Ray - but I had no idea trendy toddlers could live the cool-cat dream on a rockin' repro '36 Sky King. It's almost worth begging/borrowing/stealing a child just to have a reason to buy it... Almost.

2009-04-27T18:33:00.002+01:00

No Peeking...

One of my favourite streets in the city, Orchard Street is one of several in the my area that have either botanical or biblical names such as Elm Street, Adam and Eve Street, Eden Street and Paradise Street. This is because they are all in an area that used to be the Garden of Eden allotments - small vegetable gardens and orchards grown by locals. This particular street is one of the prettiest in Cambridge in my opinion. The cottages here originally housed the servants of a very large house - the garden wall of which was directly opposite their front doors. You'll notice they have no upstairs windows at the front (there are two tiny rooms in each roof!) this was so the occupants could not look into the garden and see the gentlemen and ladies taking tea or enjoying an arboreal ambulation... Given the prices these places go for, even in a recession, you'd have to be a chambermaid of means to live here now...

2009-04-26T10:13:00.002+01:00

Like Buses...

... there's never any when you need one and then 53 turn up at once. A Cambridge phenomenon - a nautical taxi rank. These are at the main Scudamores boatyard of an early evening when most tourists have gone to their hotels leaving the punts ready for the morrow's trips. But as you can see here, there are plenty of takers for part II of the punting day - the romantic journey on the sleek, sun-kissed Cam through the water meadows over to Grantchester followed by the moonlit return. It's a trip that's bound to kindle / re-kindle the flame of ardour. Mind you, memory fades over time. And it's been a long time...

2009-04-25T09:44:00.004+01:00

Peak District

Ok, so it's one of the most photographed buildings in the UK but what Cambridge photoblog would be complete without a shot of King's College chapel? It is truly stunning from every angle. The foundation stone of the chapel was laid by Henry VI in 1446 but it wasn't finished until the reign (and death) of Henry VIII in 1547. Just in time for me to take this shot.

2009-04-23T10:15:00.001+01:00

Shoot! Missed...

This shows the wall of Trinity College's Whewell's Court (built 1859 - 1869) facing you as you walk up to the end of Jesus Lane. Or scream along it in a German fighter plane releasing a hail of bullets before pulling up and heading off back home as one frustrated Luftwaffe pilot did in WWII. The results are still visible as you can see. The bicycle's injuries weren't fatal I understand...

2009-04-22T09:01:00.002+01:00

Abbeyness

Just outside Cambridge is Anglesey Abbey. Dating from 1600 and built on the foundations of a 12th Century priory, it is now owned by the National Trust. It was for many years owned by Huttleston Broughton, 1st Lord Fairhaven and the wonderful interiors are a reflection of his taste. It's very interesting - especially the huge collection of paintings of Windsor Castle, spanning 350 years. I must admit though - culturally improving though that is, I simply prefer to wander with friends around the 100 acres of grounds and gardens. The views are stunning, the walks fascinating (not least the colonnade of Roman Emperor statuary) and there's a very picturesque watermill where you can buy your organic home-milled flour. Essential for all my home baking...

2009-04-21T09:09:00.002+01:00

Gentlemen, please.

g

This inscription graces the exterior of one of Cambridge's best pubs - The Champion of the Thames. I was passing today and had to recommend it to you. It's a real spit-and-sawdust boozer enjoyed by students and locals alike. The real ale is excellently kept, the atmosphere redolent of another age and the clientele range from chatty through stroppy all the way to 'clearly nuts'. A couple of hundred yards from the centre of town this is another hidden gem that successfully evades the tourist crowd. It's a must on any city pub crawl and the roaring log fire and cosy atmosphere make it a great place to pass a chilly British spring evening. Should you choose this wise course, please don't interrupt the chap in the corner reading his book. I get grumpy.

2009-04-20T08:16:00.002+01:00

The Free Press is definitely on the tourist trail but it never gets rammed and they share the unfettered ambience with locals chatting, reading and doing the crosswords. The original non-smoking pub and now with a no-mobile-phones policy along with a singular lack of all music or fruit machines make this a real peaceful haven where people can actually talk. They have a great and varied wine selection and a genuine snug in which students regularly try to beat the record for occupants. Dicks.

2009-04-19T10:26:00.001+01:00

Taken to Tusk

Cambridge is a stunning and multifaceted city full of secrets and hidden corners. This sculpture is in full view at head height on one of the busiest streets in the city and yet is rarely noticed. Placed c.1910 the mammoth has benignly watched whilst 'progress' has, in the last 50 years, claimed one of the most authentic, intriguing and atmospherically individual city centres in the country. As a kid I always thought the mammoth rocked; I guess I still do.

2009-04-11T11:17:00.005+01:00

Comic Book Cover - 1st draft!

So progress is being made! This is the first treatment for the cover of The Doctor Onofrio, the first instalment of the graphic novel version of Innominato. The guy pictured is called The Mask - and he was spooking folk around 600 years before Jim Carrey got into the business! Anyway, I suspect few of you will be surprised to hear that ol' Onofrio doesn't live happily ever after...

And here's the cover of the actual book version. I think you'll agree that the complex multi-layered visual juxtaposition used lends itself neatly to the extra-dimensional array of levels the morality themes the book employs?

Yeah, whatever; we just like black.

2009-03-11T08:50:00.003Z

Ooh.... Check this out....

Click the pic!

This is the new video for Cambridge's latest phenomenon - the Innominato's return. Join the group, spread the word!

2009-03-10T16:50:00.005Z

It All Happens in Cambridge

Yeah, so the University is 800 years old this year and there's all kinds of shindigs going on to celebrate that. Then, of course, we're doing our bit to celebrate Darwin's birthday and the publication of a certain book of his. But almost more important, almost as old, and almost as revolutionary, is the Innominato of course. That's who everyone's really talking about. A legend silenced by the Church in the 14th Century. Rediscovered 150 years ago and recorded for posterity but - alas - destroyed by agents sinister and unknown and thought lost to history with scant reference remaining. Until now. A serendipitous discovery - in a dusty, forgotten corner of a dusty, forgotten building - of a private manuscript has given us the chance to reveal the truth to the world once more - or at least as much of the truth as can be known. Sorcery, vampires, alchemy, murder?!

Check out the movie trailer!

The original book, gorgeously recreated - 21st June, and then the Graphic Novel, for which we have a new poster below, is out 31st October:

2009-02-15T10:57:00.004Z

Coming Soon...

Be Careful What You Wish For...

A lost book from 150 years past recounting the legend of a character 600 years ago...

Ok, so it's not very Cambridge - set near Lake Como in Italy in fact. But you guys are always so supportive of my little projects I thought I'd give you the first peek. There are only a couple of copies of this book that exist in the world - written by someone immensely famous - but it's disappeared. So I dug it out and will present two versions this year. The sensible, literary, Victorian fantasy novel is due June 21st, the summer solstice. But the awesome, ground-breaking graphic novel? That's due October 31st... This is the first poster for it. You can join the group at facebook to be kept informed if you like:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Innominato/37479277445

and pretty soon I'll be posting the dedicated website. The introduction to the book is on its blog - to the right here -->

Cheers!

2008-12-12T16:44:00.004Z

Oh Yeah -

- I meant to post this (stolen) pic last week. As you and I well know - they're still at it. The Night Climbers regularly swoop along the roofline of the city, mischief on their minds and happiness in their hearts. Their actions may confound the university but to residents past and present, of the colleges and the city, they are outriders of optimism and evoke a time when opportunities were boundless and terms such as PC, Nanny State, and Health and Safety were mere twitches in the dreams of tomorrow.

Here's a couple of pieces in the papers showing how the authorities went just slightly / wildly overboard:

Mail on Sunday

Telegraph

“Lest others should attempt the ascent of this terrible climb and perish, they swore themselves to secrecy and went off to try Everest instead.”

It looks like the book's going to be another hit this Christmas - get yours here to be sure of prompt delivery.

2008-11-10T16:36:00.002Z

Traditional Yorkshire Architecture...

or not quite. This fabulous French chateau is the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle - excellent collection of virtually anything you might want to see. Including the excellent mechanical silver swan - 230 years old and spectacular to watch. Except you can't at the moment as it's in bits being refurbed but you can watch the guys working on it which is fascinating. Anyway, I was doing museums instead of walking because it rained all weekend. All weekend. And the picture I took of the museum was grey and depressing - so I nicked the one above from the museum's website. And of course I get back to Cambridge yesterday to find it raining - and of course it's still raining. Cheery eh?

2008-11-06T11:02:00.002Z

So, Thaxted for the last time. I just had to post this perfect portrait of a village scene that can't have changed for hundreds of years. Sorry the crappy phone-cam can't do the scene justice.

Am in the magical Yorkshire Dales for the weekend, one of my uber-favourite places in the UK and the happy lack of www access means I'll be doing constructive/healthy things instead of sitting at a screen. I normally stay at a very cool pub, the Tan Hill Inn, but they've become less friendly and way too expensive so I'm trying out another - I'll no doubt let you know how it works out. Have a great weekend folks.

2008-11-05T14:52:00.002Z

Still in the same place. Just walking around and we came across this house and saw that The Planets' composer Holst had lived here. Crazy - what was he doing in sleepy old Thaxted?? Bizarre what you can come across in the middle of nowhere.

2008-11-02T17:25:00.002Z

Today we're in Thaxted - about 20 miles I guess from Cambridge. Thaxted is unbelievably quaint in a chocolate-box way and the centrepiece is the Guildhall above - work started on it in 1390. It looks in need of a little help now actually ;p Read all about the Guildhall here The whole area was very rich from the wool trade and many of the local towns have great medieval and Georgian architecture - none quite so beautiful as Thaxted.

2008-11-01T17:44:00.002Z

Newmarket; about 12 miles from Cambridge - Home of Racing. In the rain. I grew up about 1/2 a mile from this course and yet somehow I absorbed absolutely no knowledge of horses whatsoever. Nada. Niente. So we now go racing occasionally and I use pin-sharp inspiration to pick the winner. By that I mean I actually use a pin to pick it. As all horses look alike to me I can't tell you which horse this is (I think it might be With Interest) but it won for me adding to a profitable day - I made 70% return on my stash over the course of the day. I'll leave the romantics amongst you to assume I took £1000 and the cynics to think I took a tenner.... ;p

2008-10-31T19:58:00.002Z

Trinity Great Court. King Edward's Tower is where the Great Court clock is located which rings the hour twice, supposedly once for Trinity and once for St John's. It is this clock which is used to time the race by students around Great Court at midnight on the night of the annual Matriculation Feast, as featured in the film 'Chariots of Fire', although Trinity did not allow this to be filmed in college (it was filmed at Eton College instead.) The idea is to get around the court before the clock finishes ringing, and the only way most people can do this is by cutting corners. The only way I can do it is by... well, by cutting doing it at all.

2008-10-29T16:48:00.002Z

A fairly famous spot in Cambridge, officially unnamed but unofficially called - what do you think? Reality Checkpoint? Four Lamps? Four Went Ways? - All places in Cambridge... and by the way, can you believe there was snow in Cambridge last night??? Snow!? Jeez. And btw2, One of the top bods at Waterstone's has just emailed me saying he's going to be talking to his Head Buyer about the Pig because he 'thought it looked intriguing, so i gave it a go and ended up reading the whole thing. I thought it was fantastic! It's hugely inventive, rather moving and I thoroughly enjoyed it.' How fantastic is that?? Let's hope the Pig is going places.

Oh yeah, sorry - it's Reality Checkpoint. Read all about this unassuming but historic little lamppost here.

2008-10-28T15:50:00.002Z

Cambridge's Catholic Church, this time the back end, replete with gargoyles and tower - I like it, despite the faux-jaunty angle ;p By the way, I think that was the last of the blue skies for a while...

2008-10-27T18:41:00.002Z

The rather excellent south-east corner of Gonville and Caius College's Tree Court snapped from Senate House Passage, built in 1868. That gap between the two buildings is what those crazy Night Climbers leaped - one of the more scary and ethereal images in Whipplesnaith's book.

2008-10-26T16:37:00.002Z

A lovely example of restrained Art Deco architecture tucked away in Hobson Street. The Cambridge Motor Service Co. became the Central Cinema in 1921 and the present building dates from 1930. It became the Odeon and has been a bingo hall since 1972. House!

2008-10-24T09:04:00.002+01:00

Is it really...

...that time again? I'm feeling a dull headache building to a crescendo of humbuggery and Scroogeness... Yep, Christmas must be on the way ;p

2008-10-22T09:10:00.003+01:00

Second's In...

Folks - meet Freepressionist (known in the yard as Mallet), my horse! Ok, ok - I own one tiny bit of her, one twelfth to be exact. Probably the head don't you think...? Anyway, two weeks ago she had her first run and came sixth in a field of eleven. Yesterday, in the 2.00 at Lingfield she came second! 'Nuff said...

2008-10-19T11:35:00.004+01:00

Turning over about a billion new leaves...

I guess, despite the dappled rays, herein lies the proof of approaching colds and chills, flus and fevers...

Did I mention that the Pig's first review was in the other day btw? It was called 'transcendent' - how cool is that? You can read the review on the blog.

2008-10-17T18:39:00.002+01:00

Gorgeous day the other day; I'm cycling along, the breeze in my hair, the sun on my face and I catch sight of the Catholic Church (of Our Lady and the English Martyrs), all resplendent in the sunlight, gargoyles clearly grinning with malice around its roof, tower and spire, and I smile to myself and carry jauntily on my way until I see the carriage above. The vehicle of the Devil, facilitating a service that can only lead to misery and despair and I think 'There, but for the grace of God, go I...'

;p

2008-10-16T15:32:00.002+01:00

I think I put a picture of this up at this time every year - certainly did last year. I forget what type of plant it is but it just gets so... 'worked up' about autumn. It's ablaze. I love it. Of course, it's a harbinger of the misery and desperation, the soul-twisting, anguish-laden hours to come. Yep, Christmas is coming.

2008-10-15T15:04:00.002+01:00

Huntingdon's about 18 miles from Cambridge and is not famous for its pubs; well, it is - but for the wrong reasons! However, in Hartford, a village on its outskirts now subsumed by the town has a great little place called the King of the Belgians. Welcoming and atmospheric with beer that's well kept and regularly changed. It's worth a trip out here I reckon - which is why I head there at least once a month. The stickers on the ceiling are of varying ages and are the insignias and mascots of various local and visiting squadrons. Evocative of the Eagle here in Cambridge. The pictures out of focus because, well, the photographer was a bit out of focus by this time...

2008-10-14T13:20:00.001+01:00

Wanna get all cloistered away? Cambridge is the place to do it - and you don't have to be nun; flying or otherwise...

2008-10-11T19:43:00.002+01:00

I know sunset shots are cheap and easy but as I was out in the Fens today about 20 miles from the city, delivering books etc., I thought I'd show you where I grew up. Lots of nothing for miles and miles. And lots of water - everywhere. That's why us natives have webbed hands and feet...

2008-10-10T20:03:00.001+01:00

This shot is of Clare College Bridge 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.

2008-10-09T13:38:00.002+01:00

No old building today - new flowers instead. I've no idea what these are and so I snapped 'em. This is what some of our Council Tax goes on and seeing as the rest of it was probably in an Icelandic bank - we may as well enjoy them while we can...

2008-10-07T15:06:00.002+01:00

A view from the University Combination Room over to Gonville and Caius College, the Gate of Honour in the foreground and, in the background, the tower of St John's College. The coffee's still dreadful but the views are great...

2008-10-06T19:03:00.003+01:00

The very beautiful Cloister Court of Sidney Sussex College. Way busy so can't stop...

2008-10-05T19:14:00.002+01:00

Tidy.

The Faculty of Divinity building is attractive in an over-egged kind of way. The faculty moved to new buildings in 2000 so this is back under St John's College control - and I'm not sure what it's used for now. They're still working on a cleaning programme for the last bits of it but as you can see, they've finished the front door and the ol' girl's scrubbed up good.