Cambridge and some of working week

Friday night got us through to see Fr Eric Willett, not as fast as his St Peter's days, pictured here in the gardens he loves and with dog McKay. He has a 'Narrow Boat' one of those canal experiences we had hoped for but time is running out...........welcome to set loose in it he said.
We didn't book a bed and after turning down Eric's offer adventures aplenty finding a spot in Cambridge! It was the longest night!!!!! Saturday the 21st the longest day and what a day to be a Kiwi in England. 8.30am we found a pub packed with Englishmen..........when in Rome do as they do, so by half time a pint. 44-12 Win. We settled in to the cricket straight after that, waiting for Josh, Anna and Coopers who were travelling from Paul Heselwood's wedding ( ex Oamaru).Punting underway.
So was everyone else, collisions galore and struggles for some to stay aboard, not us with the 'guide tour'.
A most beautiful University area.
Trinity College above, historical Round Church below

50/5 when we left the pub, so we had given up but NZ cricketers came back to beat England twice in a day! So back to Bearwood for the flag raising-a NZ takeover of the tower. ........of course I wore the NZ colours on Monday, something to distract the Brits from Euro 2008, which they are not even in.

Katrina in action with some of her lovelies, 3 weeks to go. She will be sad to leave, but most in need of a spell. The Headmistress has gone on sick leave so it could be an interesting finish.The last of my cricket fixtures, the two main views from this field, it has been most enjoyable. Today I disappear for a few days with a Duke of Ed trip. Next week is the last and I have another D of E and a 1st X1 trip to end the term.

Chapel service, they do it well. Great singing school though I struggled with the value of a hymn a few days back that was written in 1546 and translated in 1802!
The colleagues in their gowns returning to the common room.
J Ts gown is somewhat shorter than others! oops just realised I have not got the Bearwood Lakes golf pics done. Will put some on below.
John Talbot, above has lent us clubs and arranged some golf, including a fixture against another College. This course is ranked in the top 30, nearly as good as Balmac?? A great evening, we played to 9.45, such is the twilight.In the background is the College.
This poor photo doesn't do justice to what is one of many spectacular views on an extremely good course.The Victorious team, staff and scholar in each 4.

Stonehenge to Salisbury to Portsmouth, Brighton and Royal Ascot

Better luck this time getting to Stonehenge, no break downs. We had heard many conflicting ideas about the value of this visit but we really enjoyed it- the commentary made it.
Another castle too, ruins of Sarum was a really clear example of man made mound and moat and a different use of early 'concrete'.


The Moat was very obvious, can see the tallest spire in UK in the background , 750yr old Salisbury Cathedral .A magnificent Church of EnglandFound all the Catholic statues though! Have to be if this is older than Henry X111. Katrina found a new friend..........was a great Medieval town, we just stumbled upon it as it was lunch time!

Portsmouth was next with its new, famous Spinnaker which has glass floors and elevators. massive sailing history..........sailing ships galore.



Amazing chocolate shop.






Katrina made me pretend I was eating it.

The pub feed at Southsea was memorable for a 'Pint of Prawns' and very friendly locals who we joined............and as with everyone we meet they had visited NZ or had a brother or friend or aunty who now lived there..........

Rare piece of humour on roads. We spent an hour crawling into Brighton with pedestrians travelling faster. Unfortunately we had struck the London to Brighton bike ride day. Crowds were massive.

An interesting place, old fashioned. Still pushing old entertainment parks, tarot, slot machines. Tired looking but very hard to modernise.........beach day was not for us, no sand, all large gravel.

Hire chairs and Wind jackets! Some fun wee shops in their Lanes heading to the beach. A grotesque Royal pavillion.....another parking problem. 30 more pound!

Katrina looking her best
The Royal Ascot, on the way home, they were setting up for big events this week. very impressive. Huge wealth obvious in this area.
Katrina inseparable from her 'Big M'......but she has not seen the photos above!

Josh and Anna's Weekend with us ......not only cricket!

Josh arrived out early for the Weekend, with all the travel info to get the itinerary sorted. Looks like the big adventures will start in Ireland on 25th July. Then we fly to Paris on the 30th and pick up a car on the 3rd to drive through France and Spain for 11 days. We train to Italy for a 10 day explore before hitting Greece and Egypt. Maybe we will zoom into Czech, Germany, Holland etc for a quick blast before heading to S E Asia. We will have to leave a good lump of Europe for after the lotto ticket comes in...........it will be hard not to return.

I have not got my way with a bus tour, we have websites galore to now book through........and it will include some tents in campsites!!! Apparently they are permanent, with ready made beds and ensuites.......watch this space.

We found time for some golf at Bearwood.

Has some lovely holes around the Lake.
A few hours in Henley on Thames was enjoyed.

The Wind and the Willows museum.On to Windsor, Eton and the castle.Some magnificent places for picnics, we found an ordinary one in the Home Park, note the plane over Winsor Castle.and the 100th plane to go over the castle......they were non stop, as one flew over another came into view, without exception!Soldier pleased to have visitors?The Great Windsor park, with the Long Walk leading to castle.........

the other half leading to a big horse statue at the other end, 3 miles of perfectly straight public pathway.Yes we love the thatched roofs, very dare to insure we're told. This one is in Shinfield , not far from Katrina's school. Haven't seen very many.

English Cricket Debut.......very new experience.

First stop, a Beaconsfield pub, The Old White Swan (200 years old) for a pre-match lunch and beer. Murray's yet again nearly too tall for an English pub. Matches start at the relaxed hour of 1.30pm.

The anticipation is building, a lovely setting. Experienced gentlemen with a mixture of youth to do the chasing...........Pakistani opposition.
The dream team, perfectly positioned for their 'impromptu' photo. This was at tea, having performed amazingly in the field 37/7, becoming 98 all out. Josh a wicket, Murray starring in slips! A great half days cricket against the top team in Div. 9. Tea was wonderful, all seated around tables, very formal.

Katrina and Anna could not pull themselves away from watching........it looked like a 4pm finish rather than the predicted 8pm.


It was all over after a long boring innings, much longer than Josh's 9 ball 31. LBWs are never out! But even umpires get bored after 9 overs for 2 glorious shots!

Umpire Josh, not long before one of the all time cricket' bust-ups'...........unbelievable but long story of very excitable fielders, resulted in formal warnings, our captain threatening to take team off. Despite the NZers middle order partnership, we fell 10 short of victory. A very different but amazing cricketing memory!

A very loyal supporter of his last cricket match???????

Josh and Anna supplied a lovely bottle at our "afters" drinks to toast Reece and Laura's engagement. Having a drink with our opposition was not an option!