Cruising round Cambridge

I visited Cambridge for the first time this month. I always thought of Cambridge as a very large city, full of life with a great river, lots of cathedrals and tall and attractive college buildings. What I saw was a sprawl of an urban centre with a cathedral, a narrow river with lots of students hiring out boats, and bicycles. Lots of bicycles. And they just got in the way; everywhere. It’s the English version of Amsterdam only without the sex and canals. And a very high abundance of Chinese people. But then again, it was just after lunch. So after we’d eaten a disappointing chicken tikka baguette while watching the bikes go by, it was time to do a bit of sightseeing. We climbed a mound of an old castle to see the town. I was hoping to get a great view of college greens and the river, but unfortunately I just saw rooftops, churches and Chinese people taking pictures. I will have to do a bit more research next time; as I only visited the north side of the city.

A Space Adventure!

Tonight I was really enjoying a good old children’s film, Zathura: A Space Adventure. It’s kind of a sequel to Jumangi. It made me laugh out loud, especially when a frozen Kirsten Stewart falls down the stairs. It’s magical when children’s films make us adults do that. However, it all went downhill from there; especially when the astronaut arrived with his serious expression. He was kind of a Ben Stiller lookalike and made the film become way too serious. I actually dozed off in the last half hour and had no idea what happened other than the two boys were dancing in front of their house on a sunny day at the end; with a red bicycle falling out of the sky. There may have been a lot of hiding. The young brother was too cute and the older brother was too mean which also ruined it a little and didn’t really teach any morals; which I feel is important for a kid’s film. 

Traffic Cones

I've been on the road quite a bit this week, and one thing I've seen quite a bit of are traffic cones, more specifically green ones and even blue ones. What a rarity? Do these cones have a different status or superiority over the others? Is there a shortage and these cones are out there supervising? Bright and sturdy, they spend their days guarding the roadside; while at night they stand on ceremony to guard the roadside. Do they ever get a break? Offen, there's groups of traffic cones with no roadworks to patrol. It's quite possible that these cones have been left behind; but at least they're in a group so that they can huddle together for mutual support, even if it's one cone behind the other. It's the singular cone that gets left behind that I feel sorry for. How long do they wait to be collected by their masters, or have they been abondoned and forgotten about? I wonder how many traffic cones actually exist? And what happens when they go astray, whether kicked aside, run over or made into a party hat?

If it's bigger on the outside...

So I’ve just got back from a wedding in Bristol; it was hosted in a huge mansion in the heart of the countryside. The grounds were fantastic; there were deer grazing in the grounds in the early morning and pheasants roaming about too. The building itself is huge, a two storey building with a raised reception area and a balcony overlooking the garden and lake. The strange thing was the nature of the walled garden, right in the middle someone had chosen to build a greenhouse. A long corridor was attached to the back entrance, with wood panelled walls leading to an open room with sofas and a grand piano. A small library hosted tables for tea and coffee while a separate bar was placed in another room. A long large room at the end hosted the event, and that actually seemed to be it. The house seemed to lack a disappointing lack of facilities for its size, kind of like an inverse Tardis. Very odd.

Tonight I might die or gain superpowers...

...because there's a spider in my hotel room. I didn't order him (unlike happy the goldfish who you can rent for five pounds a night) and I'm pretty sure he didn't follow me in. The only logical conclusion is that he actually resides here (behind the Venetian blinds to be precise; which I may have broken when I tried to open them and may have pulled the wrong thing). So, disregarding the fact that I may have wrecked his home, why is he here? Not that I mind him, I just don't want to be bitten or eat him in my sleep. But then again, I'm paying for one extra body to be sheltered in the room; heat and all. It's one extra body I have to wait for the bathroom in the morning. And it's guaranteed that if I go in first; he's sure to follow straight in afterwards to interrupt.

Baby

She is not yet nine months old, yet already she has made a lasting impression on our lives. Already she has her own corner full of toys; and a cupboard for when she comes to visit. With wispy blonde hair, big blue eyes and a curious expression, she wants to be the centre of attention and in a good seat so that she can always see what's going on. Happy and chatty when playing with her toys, or clapping and singing along when listening to new sounds. Exploring the world around her isn't yet her thing; she's quite happy with what's in front of her and what she can see. Her smile is wonderful, a symbol that everything is fine. She loves a hug from the big people, and likes it even better when they're up singing and dancing to her, and tries to join in and clap along. Hats and jackets tell her it's time to go, a ride in the car seat to another place. She doesn't like goodbyes but she's getting used to them. Or maybe it's because it's getting warmer out there in the big cold world...

Walking with Dinosaurs

This show is amazing! It's a great opportunity to learn about dinosaurs from a brand new perspective. The set is a simple design yet it has perfect colours which interchange with each time period. The plants act as a fantastic addition, and flows gracefully within the plot of the show. The pathanotologist is a great narrator and provides historic facts as well as keeping us in touch with the action, whether its feeding time, hunting, or just hanging around for a pose. There is a gentle introduction to each dinosaur and its regular environment, and how it is forced to adapt as another contender enters the field. The dinosaurs themselves are enormous, and there are plenty of opportunities to see them stalk round the scenery in the arena and do battle! The sound effects mimic the movements effortlessly and the chorography is just fantastic, making it an enjoyable evening out for all.

Fenny Hill Rough

In the Worcestershire countryside lies an old abandoned fort. Its ramparts have stood the test of time as green ivy clads around the orange brick walls. A domed tower in the corner serves as a sentry post which looks south-easterly over the fields. On the approach, there are plump pheasants and great white geese with giant orange plastic beaks in the western field leading up to the hill. As you climb the hill, you can see over the ramparts into the courtyard beyond. A garden centre was once here, and shrubs and bushes are still there today. Beyond the walls is a wood, with a footpath descending down into the pit. At the bottom is a small stream which flows through this miniature valley, accompanied by an old rusty and now broken water pump. On the ascent to the surface, a row of silver birches protects the wood and forms the dividing line between the fields. Deathly silence reigns.

Blogs

I spend quite a lot of time on-line, but when I finish updating my blog, I quite like to scroll to the next one to read other people's thoughts and opinions. Trouble is... they're rather boring. Quite often it's the life of the Christian soldier; someone who's taken up a sabbatical position to voice their opinions on The Lord or update us on their daily activities. Other times its the life of the family man; informing us of the trials and trivialities of child rearing and the everyday life of the 'X' family. It's all so boring. Where are all the interesting people with decent opinions? Are they all hiding on a different website? Am I wedged between a land of moral people with no chance of moving? Or do these people actually make a good living selling their opinions and don't bother posting? If you're reading this and you're open to sharing ideas (preferably not of the O be Jesus variety), please leave a comment or send me a link to your blog.

The Interpreter

It’s very important how one simple statement can interpret another person’s actions. For example, if you take a simple instruction, there are often hidden meanings. What is the benefit of doing this? Is this action simply an act of kindness, or is it a distraction to divert attention from something else? Attitude and tone of voice is also important; a false or care-free voice will often lose the urgency of the intended action. And the wording is crucial; some people will miss key words in interpreting your idea, thinking that the instruction is unanimous and is not open to adoption. Often someone will seem supportive and write a very convincing argument, but you have to analyse it carefully so as not to divert the idea from the original purpose. You may have to negotiate neutral ground and set conditions to allow these people on board.  So be careful what you say…

Miscommunicardo

So tonight me and a pal decided to go up to the big town; the plan was to visit a couple of new venues and maybe try some new brews and meet up with other friends who had been out on the sauce all day. After a canceled ride and a pub stop earlier than intended we agreed to meet up at a pub with a gin parlour (though another guy thought we were meeting up tomorrow). The parlour was full so we tried the bar downstairs, but the staff were very busy mixing complicated cocktails. So we adjourned to a nearby restaurant with a bar to discuss the plan. I thought it was French but it was later Italian; the staff were very friendly. We discussed the no-show of pal no. 4 but had to explain to pal no. 3 that people who live in a certain town also depart and return from the same town and don't necessarily have to head to the city first. Then at the next pub pal no. 4 arrives with a new pal who introduces himself to my pal as; you look vaguely cute sometimes. Pal no. 3 decides to leave saying he needs to find food and get the next ride home; later we receive a text saying it could be the last one. I check the times and the last two trains are running fine. We're then told he's stuffed shit so we ask him where he is. We decide to get our train then we're told he's on the last train; we've somehow overtaken him. It might be me but simple text messages need more words and explanations to explain their meanings; especially when a change of plans has occurred. Miscommunicardo indeed.

The Barman

The Barman

He is tall and perhaps imposing, but makes a welcoming impression, his persona is what makes his living. He's the man in charge but wants you to relax, as this is your night out and he wants you to enjoy it. A formal shirt for the older gentlemen; but with a casual look so as not to intimidate you; and maybe an open collar to attract the ladies. He knows what you want and does his best to get it as quickly as possible; but is happy to chat when the pressure is off to make you feel more like a friend. He is young with light eyebrows but is happy to help others and train people in the art of his craft. When the bar is busy; his word is law. It is his decision alone to keep things in order: and his job alone to decide who should be next. Those who argue are sure to be delayed; yet those same people may never return.

The Good Ol Bus Station

Redditch bus station used to be a magical place. The grand pride of the midland red bus service. The plain brick building had plenty of large glass windows so people could see when their bus was arriving, and the green domed roof used to feature as a trademark feature on the town's postcards. Each bay had its separate loading area where passengers could board safely without delaying other buses; while people passing through could cross easily as designated points. A set of escalators with a domed roof led upstairs to the grand travel west midland ticket office, with a set of steps in between for those who liked to beat the moving stairs, and a small working lift was just a short walk away which brought you right next to the office. A short bridge then took you into the hall; a great open space with a newsagent on the left and a flower stall on the right. If you didn't fancy tackling the escalators again a long ramp spanning each wall let you climb to the top, while an old nightclub was sited just before the shopping centre doors. And those were the good old days before people stopped building nice things.

So how do I feel about taking up the challenge once again? Well, I'm prepared. I'm more determined to change things and make notes. We live in a digital age so there's a hell of a lot more information and it's all easier to record and remember. I've actually even managed to find the missing link. It took a while to find but digging up the old stuff is important as it can still be developed. It's time to record the everyday experiences so that the archiver can shape the future. And the pub experience can definitely help me, I got a lot of reading done in the pub last night...

And I've accidentally managed to delete the fantastic passage I've just written, so here we go again!

So this Easter I've waded through the to do list and finally got everything updated. I've waded through the to do list as far as I can in readiness of preparation for everything. But I've probably forgotten something. No longer can I rely on my pure self to save the world, I need to get the best of expert advice wherever possible and make sure that I'm not the only person that can prevent universal annihilation. It's time to get stuck like a child's set of newly brushed teeth into a chocolate egg. So from herein it's time for a 7am start wherever possible to get the day going. Geronimo...bugger. I'm working tomorrow so need to be up by at least 6:30.