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  • TravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    Day 34

    Walkabouts

    September 25, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    We didn’t drive anywhere today, so we decided to split up for different activities. Christine and Tricia decided to visit the University Museum of Zoology in the David Attenborough Building. It’s full of skeletons, stuffed animals, and really stuffed animals like the Dodo and Giant Sloth. That was not my scene, so I visited the Centre for Computing History.

    I can’t speak to the ladies' choice of museum except to say it was a lot grander than mine and also free. I walked to mine and located it in a run-down industrial area. Not to be deterred, I went in and paid my entry fee. I was one of the first people in that morning, and the lady behind the counter said that I was lucky as no school groups were attending and that it should remain quiet. The museum was better inside than out, and there were many computers in there, most of the gaming or personal variety, but some other interesting machines. Many of the systems are working, and you can try them out,

    They had a working 1980s PC-type business system of some early English brand running an Operating system that wasn’t Microsoft, but one of the program choices was Microsoft Word (probably the first release). If you think the current Word is a bit overblown, be thankful you don’t have to use this one. I fired it up and had a play. There are no graphics—all text. It brought back memories… I even found a manual for it on a shelf nearby.

    There is a lot of information about Acorn Computers and its famous spinoff company, ARM (which designs the processors in many smartphones and many other products). Acorn started in Cambridge, and ARM is still here.

    A couple of systems reminded me of some of the machines I have worked on—large disks with little capacity, magnetic tapes, paper tape, and punched cards. Also a large display of the LEO computers developed in the late 1940s/1950s by the English Lyons company that ran the massive chain of tea rooms of the same name. They decided these new-fangled computers could help them with their vast clerical workload. They funded the development of a machine based on the EDSAC system built in Cambridge and started the Lyons Electronic Office subsidiary (LEO). The system they developed was sold to several organisations and is regarded as the first business computer system. Fascinating. Well, I thought that it was.

    I made my way out, bought a Melton Mowbray Pork Pie from Tesco and ate it on my way home. I beat the ladies back by 30 minutes.

    It was a good, if somewhat nerdy, day for all of us.    Read more

  • TravelerUK and a bit of Asia 2024
    2
    Day 33

    Cathedral Spotting, mice, shirts, pizza

    September 24, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Another grey day dawned, but it wasn’t raining, so we decided today to visit Ely Cathedral. We haven’t visited a single one so far on this trip, and time is running out, So off we went with only one ugly roundabout junction road issue. We got to the biggest car park and found that everyone else had beaten us to it. So we navigated to the next nearest but got lost when the navigation system gave up on us. We parked in a supermarket car park and discovered I had no mobile access. I had also forgotten to preload the maps, which didn’t help. We drove by dead reckoning to the next car park and found it and the one remaining park. We walked back up the street, which was the main street, and found the cathedral - it’s pretty hard to lose a cathedral, especially this one.

    We got our tickets and went in. It’s definitely a jaw-dropping place—very big and very beautiful. It’s challenging to explain in words - so I won’t bother. Attached to the cathedral is the Lady's Chapel. That is also huge and stunning, with massive clear windows and intricate stonework. Sadly, much of the detail and decoration was smashed or removed during the reformation (talk about babies and bathwater).

    On the way out, staring at the enormous stone arches, a lady started a conversation and was interested in the fact that I came from NZ as she had a brother in Wellington. I think she was a guide. She showed me something missed by many tourists—the Cathedral Prior doors, which are on the outside of the Cathedral in a specially enclosed room and show intricate stone carvings from the 1100s—quite some time ago.

    It's an amazing place.

    Back home for another stale cheese sandwich. I then set off to solve a problem. I purchased a new rechargeable mouse a few days ago, but mine didn’t recharge. I located a branch of the retailer and managed to convince the spotty sales assistant that there was a problem. After conferring with a superior, he said that they would test it, which would take 40 minutes. So I went off and looked at the shops. In the Red Cross op shop (I was getting desperate for things to do), I found a nice-looking shirt. I then noticed it was a Superdry (posh) brand, which I liked, and it was only £7. I took it to the counter and discovered it was a new item with attached tags. I just checked, and the retail prices range from £45 to £50. Winner. So, my failed mouse had a silver lining.

    I returned to the apartment just in time to set off for a pizza in a restaurant back in town. Apart from needing food, this was a celebration dinner for Tricia’s birthday. Pizza was her choice. I found a chain that made wood-fired pizza with sourdough bases (Franco Manca) and also had vegan options. It was a good choice, and we demolished our pizzas (I had an ale with the label ‘No Logo’ - nice). On the walk back, we spotted several impressive buildings. Cambridge University and the Church have left quite a legacy here.

    I won the fitness challenge with 21,000 steps today - and my feet are not happy.    Read more

  • TravelerBev's 100 day adventure
    1
    Day 42

    Day 41

    August 20, 2024 in England ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    Just got in from another full day. Architecture lecture in the morning, then off to see examples in 3 of the colleges. Quick drink at a pub, then off to Shakespeare mid summer nights dream in the grounds of Kings College. PhewRead more

  • TravelerBev's 100 day adventure
    1
    Day 40

    Day 39

    August 18, 2024 in England ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    Ist night at Girton. Had intro this afternoon then out to a pub for a drink and dinner. I dined on wild boar sausages and squeak . Yum plus a pint of shandy. On the course is another woman from Wellington. 3 from Auckland, 1 aussie and the rest , about 20, from the USA.Read more

  • TravelerGroßbritannien & NC500 GS Tour
    2
    Day 6

    ⛪️ University of Cambridge 🎓& The Backs

    August 1, 2024 in England ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Die University of Cambridge wurde im Jahr 1209 gegründet. Die Universität ist gesetzlich verfasst als Körperschaft, besteht aus 31 Colleges und hat daher einen föderativen Charakter. Das offizielle Gründungsdatum des ersten Colleges, Peterhouse, war 1284.

    Da es sich um ein Privatgelände handelt, kam ich leider nicht näher bzw. hinein.

    Uni: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BD5sVGEn4855PhEQ7

    Backs: https://maps.app.goo.gl/joszxdBSoRsq7VRQ8

    @Nuru: Ich habe alles versucht. Die Security böse angeschaut, mich als Professor ausgegeben (der seine Zugangskarte im Lehrsaal vergessen hat), aber nichts davon hat geholfen. 😎🙈    Read more

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  • TravelerVelotour 2024
    Day 40–43

    Cambridge

    May 9, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    In der Stadt hat es schon unglaublich viel Touristen. Wie ist es hier im Sommer? Universität ist wirklich sehr schön. Auch hier gibt es Studentenprotesten wegen Palästina aber sehr friedlich.

    Die Mathematiker-Brücke gehört zu den bekanntesten Sehenswürdigkeiten der Universität Cambridge. Um sie rankt sich eine Legende, in der Sir Isaac Newton eine tragende Rolle spielt: Es heißt, der Wissenschaftler habe den Steg erbaut, um damit die Gesetze der Schwerkraft zu demonstrieren. Dies wäre jedoch eine wahre Meisterleistung gewesen, denn der große Physiker und Mathematiker war bereits seit über 20 Jahren tot, als die Brücke konstruiert wurde.
    In Wahrheit wurde die Mathematiker-Brücke im Jahr 1749 von James Essex dem Jüngeren erbaut und später in identischer Weise zwei Mal wieder aufgebaut. Die Brücke wirkt wie ein Bogen über den Fluss. Bei genauerem Hinsehen erkennt man jedoch, dass sie ausschließlich aus geraden Balken besteht. Diese sind so intelligent angeordnet, dass eine stabile, bogenförmige Konstruktion entsteht.    Read more

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  • Penny’s Worldschooling
    Day 8

    Cambridge Vol. 2!

    August 22, 2023 in England ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    We all started our day with small pastries for breakfast and then moved onto exercise. Mom joined a bootcamp in the park with Andrew’s wife, Fran, while Dad and I went for a walk with Andrew and Olive. We then all retreated back to the house to drop off Fran and grab our bags. Andrew showed us about a fifth of Cambridge University’s colleges. They had their similarities, but I was surprised by their differences too. The Preston’s daughter Rosie joined us for lunch in a pub named the Eagle. After that we got ice cream and walked Clare College where Andrew teaches. Next we grabbed some drinks and went punting, essentially a less glamorous version of Venetian boating where the raft is propelled by someone repeatedly pushing a long rod. We spent an hour and change on the river before Andrew, Rosie, and Ryan headed back to make dinner while Amy and Penny explored town. By 6:30 we all were back at the house. We chatted before having a lovely bbq dinner.Read more

  • Penny’s Worldschooling
    Day 7

    Cambridge!

    August 21, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    We woke up today and had a great last morning lounging about with David, Emma + Anna. We said goodbye and headed to the train station around 10 for our 11 o’clock train. With one stop along the way and an hour and a half later, we made it to Cambridge! Dad’s friend Andrew picked us up and we arrived at his house where the rest of his family was. We had a wonderful lunch before taking time to walk around a bit of Cambridge with their dog, Olive. And then stopped at The Castle pub for drinks. After some fun conversation, we headed back home for food and had a delicious dinner. We spent more time chatting over tea and dessert afterwards, enjoying each other’s company.Read more

  • TravelerCambridgeshire; Cambridge City
    1

    Cambridge lock down, part 2 - Gown

    June 2, 2020 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    As a result of the lockdown, there are no students at the University. The photos show:
    1. The University Library,
    2. Empty punts viewed from Garret Hostel Bridge,
    3. Trinity College chimneys,
    4. The Great Gate of St John's College; the animals are mythical beasts called yales, which have elephants' tails, antelope' bodies and goat's heads with swivelling horns,
    5. The Senate House and
    6. The Mathematical Bridge spanning the River Cam at Queens' College.    Read more

  • TravelerCambridgeshire; South District
    1

    Northstowe and neighbouring villages

    April 2 in England ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Northstowe is a new town in Cambridgeshire; the site covers Oakington Barracks on the former RAF Oakington, a World War II airfield.  Northstowe is now a civil parish formed from Longstanton and Oakington and Westwick in April 2021; building first started in the early 2015, is ongoing, and forecast to have 24,400 residents in 10,000 homes long term. There are many new houses, but not many amenities, and, on the outskirts, there are small lakes

    It is convenient to start a circular walk from here from the Longstanton Park and Ride site here, and I do so with the Cambridge Rambling Club Wed A group.  We set off and walk close to the Park and Ride and one of the several small lakes here before turning off towards Rampton. The village is situated on the edge of The Fens and was well populated in Roman times before vanishing and reappearing in the Anglo-Saxon period.  The attractive Church of All Saints is one of a very few English churches with a thatched roof and one of only two in Cambridgeshire.  After stopping here, we pass the earthwork remains of a castle, known as Giant's Hill, are located to the east of the village by the church; construction started about 1140, but it was never completed.

    We now head south towards the parish of Oakington and Westwick, passing Westwick Hall, before diverting to Histon (to be covered in a future FP post). Later on, we rejoin the route and carry on to Oakington.  In 1940, a Royal Air Force bomber airfield, RAF Oakington, was constructed at Oakington covering 540 acres and this is reflected in the village sign; the site of the barracks is in the process of forming part of Northstowe.  In the 17th century, Oakington was considered to be a "hot-bed of religious dissent"; behind the churchyard of St Andrew's Church, there is a private burial ground containing the graves of three vicars who helped establish the non-conformist movement and various non-conformist churches in Cambridgeshire. Ejected from their livings, persecuted and imprisoned for propagating their faith during their lives, they became known as the 'Oakington Martyrs' in death.

    We carry on to the outskirts of Longstanton; the village was transformed by the opening of RAF Oakington in 1940, resulting in the building of three new housing estates in the village and a trebling of the population.  We passed St Michael's Church, situated towards the south of the village, built around 1230 and the second rare example of a church with a thatched roof in Cambridgeshire; it is now a Grade II listed building.

    We then follow the paths back to the Park and Ride, passing a cantilevered pillbox that was part of the RAF Oakington site, before seeing a bit more of Northstowe; it has been an interesting 12.4 mile walk.    Read more

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