Journal Entries
Spring sunshine
Posted Feb 26, 2012
Definitely spring in the air this weekend in Cambridge.
Yesterday was house chores (how I *hate* housework!), but at least I got everything done, so I could have a complete day off today.
Went for a swim, then home for breakfast and TA omnibus. Hadn't been able to listen at all during the week, for various reasons, so it was all new - usually I've heard most of it before. Novel experience!
Approaching the bus stop for the guided bus to St Ives, noticed that the congregation from Wesley Methodist Church appeared to be having an open-air service on Christ's Pieces (how appropriate!). As they were moving back to the church, I asked one of them if it was a special occasion. "No, the fire alarm just went off, so we thought we might as well sing a hymn while we were outside." Sweet!
Beautiful sunny day for the journey to St Ives and back, great views over the nature reserve. 16 of us at Sunday lunch in the Oliver Cromwell.
Got home mid-afternoon and did a couple of hours of photo-sorting - am determined to reduce and organise my collection, before stowing it away under the bed again. Box 1 nearly dealt with, but today I discovered another two boxes I had forgotten about. 
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Latest reply: Feb 26, 2012
Memory-jogging weekend in That London
Posted Feb 19, 2012
Have spent the *whole* weekend away from Cambridge, which is a pretty rare occurrence.
Took the afternoon off on Friday and got the (very crowded - why?) 3.45 train to Kings Cross. Walked to Tavistock Hotel, checked in and dumped my bag, then hopped on a bus to Cambridge Circus, to meet ex-UCL friends at the bar in the Curzon Soho. After a pleasant chat and a couple of glasses of wine, pottered back in the direction of Bloomsbury, stopping off for a pizza at Pizza Express in Coptic Street, which is where my ex and I had dinner on our wedding night (it was romantically significant ...).
Was just checking email and Facebook on my iPad in the hotel foyer when other ML friends rolled in, after their Indian meal, also in Soho.
Breakfasted next day with three ML-ers, then went off to see the Royal Manuscripts exhibition at the British Library. It's fantastic, well worth seeing, but it was *very* crowded, which meant you had to go round at snail's pace in order to peer into all the display cases - quite tiring, so I have to admit I skipped a few in the end. Had lunch in the cafe at the BL, and then headed for the Royal Festival Hall for the ML mega-meet.
It was lovely to see good friends from many previous meets (some going back almost 10 years!), although I was sad that several of them have had a really rough time in the past year. Also great to meet new people.
A group of 10 of us went for dinner and then a sub-group headed off to pub/gig/clubbing, which I chickened out of - rather regretted it when I heard that dancing to 50s and 60s vinyl (with Keri) had taken place!
This morning dawned cold but sunny - a nice change after torrential rain yesterday afternoon - and I set off for a wander round Bloomsbury, but then on a sudden impulse jumped on a 73 bus to Stoke Newington, where my ex and I had lived for 6 years (1975-81). Arrived in time for the main service at our old church and was able to surprise one of my oldest friends, who still attends there. She was a teenage member of the youth group we ran there, and is now ... one of the churchwardens! Very much enjoyed chatting to a surprising number of people who still remembered me.
Stayed after the service for a cup of tea, followed by drinks in the pub, and eventually left at 2.45 to go back to the hotel for my bag and get the train back here. As lunch was a sandwich on the 4.15 train and I hadn't done any shopping, I was obviously obliged to go to the local pub for dinner - oh dear! 
Great weekend, very relaxing.
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Latest reply: Feb 19, 2012
Snow ... ugh!
Posted Feb 5, 2012
Lots of snow overnight here, but it has been slowly melting a bit during the day. I am going to the cinema this evening (Carnage) and won't try cycling. I suspect I'll probably have to walk to work tomorrow too, especially if it freezes tonight.
There was a small snowdrift outside my front door this morning, but this afternoon I heard a scraping noise and went down to find the young Polish man from a few doors down, shovelling the snow away from the whole path in front of our six doors. Very sweet and public-spirited of him, although he claimed it was only so he could get to the bike racks and the dustbins. He works in catering in the college across the road from mine, and is on duty doing breakfasts tomorrow, poor thing!
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Latest reply: Feb 5, 2012
Looking forward to tomorrow ...
Posted Jan 31, 2012
Not only do I have the day off, but I am going to That London to see the Hockney exhibition, in the company of a friend who is a Friend of the Royal Academy, so (hopefully) we will not have to queue!
Yay!
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Latest reply: Jan 31, 2012
Informative article
Posted Jan 11, 2012
in the Grauniad today, about Cambridge admissions.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jan/10/how-cambridge-admissions-really-work
Speaking as an 'insider', I would say that it's pretty accurate and fair.
We are still dealing with the aftermath of the Pool: I sent Pool offer letters out today, and we are re-interviewing a number of applicants over the next few days.
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Latest reply: Jan 11, 2012
annie_cambridge
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