Kitty Washing Machine

Another way NOT to wash your cat. Click here to watch on YouTube.

Six Books for £3

Picked up six books for 50 pence each from G. David's bargain rack. Thought it was good to familiarize myself with Sylvia Plath's and Joan Didion's work. I read "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" when I was young and it affected me. Since I can't recall why or how it impacted me, I decided this was an opportunity to regain that information. "The Haunting of Toby Jugg" is a gift for a friend who loves ghost stories. "The Countryman: comes from the country" periodicals are lovely time capsules from 50+ years ago with some ads that I'm going to scan in and manipulate to make retro greeting cards.

The Return of the Pheasant

He's back! Actually, he's been showing up every day to eat the seeds that fall out of the bird feeders in the trees. He announces his arrival with a "korr kok." Click here to listen: http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/pheasant.htm#Voice.

Four Years

Bouquet from M*; us at Loche Fyne;
M* and Amy--four years
24 Jan was the four year anniversary of M* and I deciding we liked each other enough to smooch and start dating--all it took was beer, bowling and the beach (after a group outing at the AMF Bowling Center in Santa Monica, M* and I strolled for hours along the Strand at SM Beach). Since I was in London on the 24th, M* and I celebrated two days later with dinner at Loche Fyne. We had a thumbs-up, satisfying meal of mussels, squid, salmon, halibut and raspberry sorbet accompanied by wine. We rarely eat out, so this was an uber-treat!

25 Jan 2007: London Tour & "Rock 'n' Roll"

St Olave's Church Hart Street dating from 1056
(notice the skulls on the spikes); new Lloyds of London
building designed by Richard Rogers; Mom and
Amy self-portrait
Braved the almost 40 degree weather to go on a tour of historic London. We found the ad for The Original London Walks at our hotel, and their range of walks and witty descriptions intrigued us. Some of their night walks were very appealing, but freezing weather with no chance of sun put us off: we chose the morning "The Famous Square Mile—2,000 Years of History" tour. Two hours with a lively and knowledgeable guide gave us an overview of the oldest part of London. We learned that the Romans built the first bridge in 43AD at the approximate site of the current London Bridge, that the Great Plague of 1665 followed by the Great Fire of 1666 decimated the cities population and buildings, and that the term 'tips' came from the coffee house practice of leaving money in a cup "to insure prompt service" and a better table (the first coffee house in London was opened by Henry Lloyd in 1688; the company later became Lloyds of London) .

After the tour we Tubed it to the Victoria & Albert museum to see Sixties Fashion exhibit. I didn't realize the vastness of its South Kensington museum's collections: the self-description reads "the world's greatest museum of art and design, with collections unrivalled in their scope and diversity." I have to make a few return visits!

Thursday night found us back in Trafalgar Square to see "Rock 'n' Roll"—Tom Stoppard's captivating and memorable play, set in Cambridge in Prague over a 22 year period, about politics, rock 'n' roll, love, death and how long one can remain silent as freedoms are removed or loyal when so little of what one deeply believes in remains. I hope to see it again with M* before it ends in late February. Mom dined on a typical English meal before the theatre: take away from Pret a Manger.

24 Jan 2007: London Eye

After witnessing the first Cambridge snowfall, we took the National Express bus down to London. I wish that I'd been able to snap a shot of the two snowmen I spotted during the trip. Both sat in fields devoid of snow. One was missing a head--as though the children had run out of snow before they could complete it.

Mom and I checked into the Elizabeth Hotel in Victoria, and then Tubed it over to the London Eye. Most likely because it was chilly and almost 4pm, there was no line. The circular journey takes about 30 minutes. Afterwards, we walked over to Trafalgar Square and decided to pick up tickets to see a play. We ended up at the Traflagar Studios to see Rik Mayall in "The New Statesman." It was bawdy satire not moving theatre. The crowd loved it--Mom and I were a little less enthralled but still had a good time. I didn't realize it when we bought the tickets, but Mayall was in "The Young Ones." That he was instrumental in creating both productions is not surprising.

First Snow

Coachella Envy

Coachella is expanded to three days this year--and I can't go to any of them! No Bjork, DJ Shadow, Soulwax, Arcade Fire, Lily Allen, LCD Soundsystem, Felix Da Housecat, Brazilian Girls.... I know that I've already seen some of the bands that are performing and that I wouldn't have gone to all three days, but it's just knowing that I can't go at all that makes me sad. From 6-7:30 pm at Coachella is just magical--the wind picks up, the temperature drops 10-20 degrees and the mountains turn pink and golden in the rays of the setting sun.

23 Jan 2007: Cambridge Univ. Botanic Gardens

The Glasshouse Plant of the Month;
Mom under the monkey puzzle tree
M* and I had busy evenings with classes and work, so our last meal together with Mom was a lunch of GF pizza. After the prep, the eating and the clean-up, the sun was tracking low in the sky.

Mom and I did manage to get our couple miles of walking in though. She notices the slightest variation in trees and plants. She'll stop and ask me, "What type of succulent is this," and I can only answer, "What's a succulent again?" So, she was excited to visit the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens: "A 40 acre oasis of beautifully landscaped gardens and glasshouses right in the heart of the city."

While the grounds are beautiful, they will be more inviting when the weather is warmer and plants are flowering. It will be a great place to bring a book and relax for hours--there are a couple of ponds next to which I can picture laying a blanket.

The indoor exhibits were not as impressive as some others we had visited, and a number of greenhouses were under construction and not accessible. The Bird of Paradise, which are all over California, was the Glasshouse Plant of the Month.

22 Jan 2007: Ely

Mom with her Fish-n-Chips and smashed
peas at the Maltings, me with a recently
dedicated eel statue,
two shots of Ely Cathedral
Mom and I took a short train ride to visit the Ely Cathedral. Parts of the cathedral date back to the 11th century, and the ravages wrought by the Reformation are still visible: recesses with missing statues, carvings with heads cut off, missing stained glass windows and traces of colorful paint that was white washed over. Ely was once an island, before the Fens were drained, and it was known for its eels (hence its name). Our tour guide told us that Barnack limestone used to build the church was gained by exchanging eels for the stone. The only other thing that I should note is that the first religious community in Ely was founded in 673 A.D. by St. Etheldreda. It was because many pilgrims came to the area to visit her remains that a cathedral was built.

21 Jan 2007: Evensong at King's College Chapel

Mom and I attended evensong tonight at King's College Chapel. Evensong is the Anglican tradition of a choral service held in the late afternoon or evening. The King's College Choir is world renowned, and it's a plus of being in Cambridge that one can hear this group sing nightly at evensong.

This is the third time that I'd been in the chapel, as I've been on tours of it twice previously. Construction on the amazing chapel--more like a cathedral actually--began in 1441 under Henry VI and finished in 1515 under Henry VIII. The stunning fan vaulted ceiling (the world's largest) took an additional three years to complete, and the stained glass windows required another 30 years.



Mom with the rear of
King's College Chapel
in background

In Case You Forget What to Do Next

Sign above sink in bathroom of Bangkok City restaurant in Cambridge.

20 Jan 2007: Grantchester Meadows & Macbeth

Chilly (around 50) but partly-sunny day. Walked the mile or so through Grantchester Meadows to The Orchard Tea Garden at Grantchester--it's where Virginia Woolf, EM Forster, John Maynard Keynes, and, later, Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath idled away many a lovely Cambridge afternoon. Open since the late 1800s, one can have tea and a lite bite (including gluten-free cakes) amongst the fruit trees. We're not exactly sure what types (we think pear and apple) as nothing was in bloom on 20 Jan. We also stopped by the Church of Saint Andrew and Saint Mary—it dates back to the late 1300s, although some stones used in its construction date back to the 1100s.

In the evening, with M* home from studying, we had a lovely meal of leg of lamb, root vegetable mash (we needed to use a butternut squash, rutabaga and lots of potatoes) and brussel sprouts. The three of us then took in a performance of "Macbeth" at the ADC Theatre in town. We noticed how young all of the performers appeared, and our landlord confirmed that it's the main theatre for the University of Cambridge students. The show was enjoyable with only a few actors noticeably over-dramatic. We thought the sets and costumes were creative--employing geometric shapes to show movement and conflict. We'll be going back in February to see Chekhov's "The Seagull" and Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream."

Mom at The Orchard Tea Garden at Grantchester, Church of Saint Andrew and Saint Mary at Grantchester, Amy and M* on Jesus Lane, Cambridge after the theatre

Urb.com: Daft Punk at Coachella 2006

Concert-goers unite and assemble the complete Daft Punk set via the web.—Urb.com

We were there. The quality—visual and aural—do not do the set justice, but it's nice to be reminded of that lovely, music-filled day in the desert on a chilly, live-music-challenged evening in Cambridge. If Fabric last Friday had been more fulfilling then maybe this Daft Punk-viewed-from-a-distance-and-through-the-bouncing-limbs-of-my-fellow-Coachella-attendees video wouldn't give rise to such a strong mix of nostalgia and release.

19 Jan 2007: Cambridge Tour

Cambridge city tours leave twice a day from the Tourist Information Office, and Mom and I went on the 11:30am walk. We mostly visited buildings belonging to different colleges (Trinity Hall, Trinity, King's, Gonville and Caius College, St. John's), and, even though I had covered several of these in another tour, there were new bits of history for me to learn.

The first picture shows mom next to a door within a door. Entrances to many of the older colleges are composed of doors of different sizes (three here including the large one to the right). For those persons arriving in a carriage, the largest door would accommodate them; for those on horseback, the middle door would receive them; and for those on foot, the smallest door would allow them entry but would not give access to pesky townsfolk with whom the students sometimes had run-ins.

The next picture shows a statue of Henry VIII which is placed above the Great Gate, the main entrance to Trinity College. Henry VIII is the founder of the college. In Henry's right hand should be a sceptre, but it became a tradition to replace the sceptre with some object. The authorities, tired of having to continually put the sceptre back, left a chair leg in his hand and put the sceptre in safer surroundings. The chair leg is still there.

The next photo is of St. John's Bridge of Sighs--a covered bridge which gets its moniker from the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy--over the River Cam.

The small book behind glass is Isaac Newton's list of accounts while a student at Trinity College. If you zoom in, you can see his expenditures on Stilton cheese, the White Lion (I'm guessing a pub), ink and a carriage ride.

Lastly, we have the self-portrait looking north from the Silver Street bridge.

17-18 Jan 2007: Mom Arrives in Cambridge

Mom in King's College Court; Mom on Fen
Causeway Bridge with River Cam and
waterfowl in background
No sooner had the National Express bus dropped Mom off than I had her walking all around Cambridge. I'd guess we walked 3-6 miles a day. Luckily the scenery in Cambridge and London lends to the enjoyment of such an activity.

Birding: The Great Tit

We recently bought an inexpensive pair of birding binoculars; the guide "Complete British Birds" arrives next week. Our bedroom window looks upon our landlord's backyard, and we've begun watching the birds which visit the several bird feeders nestled in the landlord's trees. Although the book has yet to arrive, we've identified our first bird: the Great Tit. Ornithologists, who knew they had a puerile sense of humor?















This image used courtesy of BirdGuides Ltd, www.birdguides.com

Going to the Bathroom Underwater

Glass window on toilet door+Uncle Peter's dive photos=Merry, multicolor milieu in which guests may relieve themselves without fear of exposure

Native Americans on Sydney Street, Part Two

I had my camera this time. Remembering what a friend told me recently about a group of tourists taking pictures of a street performer and the street performer berating the tourists for taking pictures and not leaving money, I made sure to make an offering before taking the photo.

Things I Like: Daily Crossword Puzzles at Dictionary.com

Bridge and crossword puzzles are two performance-enhancing brain activities I've desired to incorporate into my schedule. One of my grandmothers was an avid solver of crossword puzzles; in the days before the Internet, we used to give her crossword puzzle dictionaries for Christmas. My other grandmother is devoted to her Wednesday bridge games; she and her partner plan their trips to ensure minimal Wednesdays away from Washington, DC. My sister took up crossword puzzles years ago, and, when I visit her, I enviously watch her quickly complete the Washington Post's daily puzzle.

The other day I was looking up a definition at Dictionary.com, and I noticed that they now offer a daily crossword puzzle. This puzzle solves the problem that has plagued my past attempts to become a regular crossword puzzler: my inability to complete one and the ensuing frustration. If you play at Dictionary.com's regular skill level, the cell turns red if you enter the wrong letter, and you can ask for a letter, word or puzzle to be solved. My goal is to play at a higher level, but it's a rewarding and educational way to begin. However, resisting the temptation to have a letter solved is easier than withstanding the draw of Google's power to quickly provide me with arcane knowledge (that Zeno of Elea was the Greek philosopher famous for posing so-called paradoxes which challenged mathematicians for many centuries, e.g.).

International Gaming

M*, James, Manuela, Michael and Tialda gathered around Settlers of Catan.

We finally hosted our first gathering. Two of M*'s classmates and their partners came over for a meal--including my (very popular) GF chocolate chip cookies--followed by a game of Settlers of Catan. We played in groups, and M* and I were at a strategic disadvantage: the others could plan their next moves by speaking in a language only they could understand. Tialda and Michael devised in Dutch, and Manuela and James schemed in Spanish. M* and I had to whisper softly while keeping the interchange hidden behind our hands. This reminded Manuela of a joke:
"What do you call someone who can speak three languages? Trilingual. Two languages? Bilingual. One language? American."

M*, James and Manuela had played the game once before. I introduced them to it in December--I was the victor then, most likely because I had previously played Settlers three or four times. Michael had never played before, but Tialda pulled their team to victory as she is a seasoned Settlers player. She's even played Seafarers of Catan. We're scheduled to play again in three weeks, and we may even break out the Settlers of Catan 5 and 6 Player Expansion.

From Roxy Music to the Grateful Dead

Today M* was asking me about Roxy Music—he's a fan of Brian Eno's work on the "For All Mankind" documentary, but didn't know much about RM—so I suggested we watch a few of their videos on You Tube. This was educational for me as well, as I've almost never had cable (MTV, VH-1, etc). Our favorite RM video was a 1973 live version of Remake Remodel performed on German TV: it's amazing to witness the blend of the Brian Eno's glam-our, Bryan Ferry's suaveness and Phil Manzanera's full-on long-haired rocker-ness—albeit encased in an amazing outfit.

After the videos, M* starts listening to more Eno, but, before I know it, he's streaming the Grateful Dead while doing the dishes. Now, I'm all for having M* do dishes; I'm just confused by his soundtrack choice. Ever since, he's been humming the Grateful Dead—although I thought it was "Cats in The Cradle"—and joking about finding his inner hippie. Maybe it's the beard.

M* grew out his beard while studying for finals. He'd never grown one before, and, although he was going to shave it off after his last final yesterday, it doesn't seem as though he's ready to give it up.

Sunset: 4:14 PM

Sunset at 4:14 PM (sunrise is 8:02 AM). We're gaining 2 1/2 minutes of sunlight per day.

Things We Like: Chablis Simonnet-Febvre 2005, Burgundy, France

We first had this wine recommended to us at Du Vin Wine & Spirits in Los Angeles. We just love that store—whether you can spend $1,000 or $7 per bottle, they are always happy to provide you with an excellent bottle of wine.

M* and I are not wine connoisseurs, and we never write down the names of the wines that we like: we talk about it, but never do it. However, we went back a few times for more bottles of this Chablis—a type of wine that I had previously, along with rose, associated with jug and box wine from the 70s/80s. I love wine with cheese, but there was a fullness and umami-ness to this wine—as if I was tasting cheese with each sip. I'm sure there's a more erudite way to explain this.

Luckily M* remembered the label of this wine, and he spotted it in a local Whole Foods-type grocery store called Waitrose. It's finding these little things—especially when they are at the same cost as in the States—that make us feel more at home.

How Not to Dress—Even in the Rain

Since I published the photo of M* below, I thought that I should break out a self-portrait I took back in November. It was raining that morning and I needed to bike four miles to the store, so I put on all of my raingear except my boots (we leave our shoes downstairs by the door). I took one look at myself in the mirror—orange rain coat, purple rain pants, olive rain hat with hair tucked underneath—and, after I imagined the addition of my white rubber rain boots, I knew that I couldn't go outside in what I was wearing. I removed the rain pants and resolved I'd be ok with getting my jeans quite wet. Luckily, while I took the photo of my extreme-unattractiveness the rain lightened up. By the time I reached the store, the sun was out. I've vowed that I'll only wear those no-wonder-they-were-on-uber-on-sale rain pants in a downpour.

How to Study Safely

Cycles safety helmets and skull caps to wear underneath arrived this week. M* considered them study aids. He also considers the skull cap essential napping wear.

Breaking News in Cambridge

Having lived in major cities most of my life and been a Journalism major, I took special interest in a story in the 15 Dec edition of the Cambridge Crier. The lead was "Top tips to look your best," and the intro paragraphs talked about the toll the lack of sleep and increased alcohol around the holidays exact on one's skin. There is then promise of products that "will put the zing back into your skin and banish any tell-tale signs of over-indulgence." I read on as I wanted to know what these miracle products were. Let me share with you what I discovered.

1) The Oral B Pulsar toothbrush. I thought that maybe someone had discovered this not only cleaned one's teeth but also pulsed new life into tired skin, but no such luck. Assurances on fresh breath, convenience of fitting into a clutch and learning that it only costs £5.99 at Boots was the only information.

2) A free gift set (17 by Eley Kishimoto) when you spend £5 on 17 products on at Boots.

3) Select Model Management's model search conducted via MySpace. One can upload a photo and check out "advice on healthy eating, exercise regimes, beauty and style tips."

Small town papers (actually Cambridge was granted city status in 1951)—you gotta love 'em.

Pheasants on Owlstone

This morning, M* urgently called me to the front window as a pair of pheasants moved quickly down Owlstone Road. They were lovely, and I raced to grab my camera and make it outside before they disappeared. Whether they were too fast or I was too slow, doesn't matter—I missed them. Since I can't produce the goods, here's a description and a drawing from the web site of The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds:

"Phasianus colchicus AKA: Common pheasant

A large, long-tailed gamebird. Males have rich chestnut, golden-brown and black markings on body and tail, with a dark green head and red face wattling. Females are mottled with paler brown and black. They were introduced to the UK long ago and more recent introductions have brought in a variety of races and breeds for sport shooting."

Although the RSPB web site mentioned the call of the pheasant is a "loud 'kok kok kok...'," M* likened it to the cry of a pterodactyl (or what he imagines the cry of a flying reptile from Late Jurassic Bird to sound like).