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.
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Monday, 29 April 2013
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.
Friday, 19 April 2013
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?
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
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.
Sunday, 14 April 2013
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.
Saturday, 13 April 2013
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...
Friday, 12 April 2013
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.
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