Uchi

One of the errands on my to-do list yesterday was buying "congratulations you had a baby" and "congratulations you're pregnant" gifts. By far the best store in Cambridge for such gifts is Ark. As is usual, while choosing the baby gifts, I found myself ogling something I had not planned on buying. The need not to buy anything was hard to resist, as I had just been at the post office shipping items that would not fit in our luggage. However, the stylish design of Uchi products, which Ark just began carrying, convinced me that there would be room in my luggage for one or two additional small items.

At first I thought I had found a great new black purse for myself, then I realized it was part of their Mister Uchi Line (a shaver bag). Not to be deterred, I decided that a slightly larger, carry-all version (top left image) would make a great dopp kit for M*. Knowing that my sister would love Uchi, I couldn't leave without buying her something. So I opted for the 'medium utility' from the Uchi Utility line (left) for her, and I threw in the 'mini utility' (right) for me. Ark carried some of the range of patterns available, and I eventually chose the 'super dot.'

M* is not one to spend money on himself, but he was thrilled with the dopp kit. He assured me it was the coolest one he'd seen. I was going to wait and give my sister her Uchi bag for Christmas, but I couldn't resist telling her about it later that afternoon. She was intrigued enough to go right to their web site—much oohing and aahing ensued. She pointed out the super-cuteness of the Uchicuchi Backpack Baby Bag (right in party dot ruby pattern). While my sister and I can't troll the physical aisles of a store together, at least we can cybershop together with broadband and Skype.

Last Pub Night—Cambridge MBA 06/07

Stephen, Michael and M*

£1,000 pounds. That was the amount left over for the Cambridge MBA's social budget. I'm happy to report that a small, albeit thirsty, percentage of the 112 person class gathered at The Anchor on Friday night and whittled down, libation by libation, the funds until none were left.

Terry, M* and Bing

Although not an official part of the class, I did my part with hard cider, Jack and gingers and even a few tequila shots. It's just another way that I've supported M* this year.

Manuela and M*

Me and the graduate

First Day, Last Day

M* first day, 18 Sep 2006 (left). Today, M* goes to turn in his final paper

Up Close and Bovine

An Irish classmate of M*'s was surprised that I would take pictures of cows. He grew up seeing our bovine friends, and, as is often the case, does not feel inclined to photograph aspects of his normal surroundings.

I think that I'll always find sharing a sidewalk with a cow quite a special experience. I passed this lovely lady yesterday on Sheep's Green.

Walk While One Can

The sun appeared and temperatures hit 80° this weekend. Perfect time to eschew the bike in favor of my pedes.

Paths by the River Cam are quite overgrown from all the rain.

I've taken quite a few photos from this vantage. Just really like it.

Little black bits on the grass are sheep.

Lombardy poplars are common on Sheep's Green

Berries, Bulmers and Brume

A portion of the path from Newnham through Grantchester
Meadows is overgrown with blackberry vines.

M* finds us some prime samples.

Bulmers hard cider, center and right, is the closest I can get to gluten-free
beer at a pub. It's also the only pub-offered cider that doesn't have a
stomach turning fungi-esque smell.

Matt being disappears into the encroaching brume (a great synonym for mist or fog).

As night falls, the moon and mist cast a beautiful eeriness to Grantchester Meadows.

Just the Two of Us

Some photos from our anniversary day at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

Shakespeare in the Gardens

Trinity College Gardens
Trinity College Gardens

This summer, one of the unique Cambridge experiences we've taken advantage of is the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival. For eight weeks in July and August, Monday-Saturday one can see The Bard's plays performed by professional actors in some of the loveliest college gardens. "Taming of the Shrew" (St John's College), "Much Ado About Nothing" (King's College), "Romeo and Juliet" (Robinson College), and "Hamlet" (Girton College) were presented for the first four weeks, and we managed to see all but "Hamlet." The comedies were without a doubt our favorite—"Taming of the Shrew" was the best of the lot, but our favorite actor appeared as Benedick in "Much Ado."

Beginning of "Much Ado About Nothing"—Signor Leonato, Beatrice and Hero

The second set of four plays began last week, and M* and I went with some friends to see "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Trinity College Gardens, and this play has turned out to be the most impressive and hilarious performance yet (our favorite actor reappears as Lysander). I wish they had let us take photos during the ceremonies so I could show the creative costuming devised for the fairies.

Curtain call for "A Midsummer's Night Dream"

We still have three more plays to see:"The Tempest" (Downing College), "Macbeth" (Girton College), and "Twelfth Night" (Robinson College). Since "Romeo and Juliet" was our least favorite, I'm wondering if the Cambridge summer nights lend themselves as a better backdrop for a comedy than to a tragedy.

M* and me before "Much Ado"

Our friend Francis, who has accompanied us to all of the shows, noted that he would have liked and appreciated Shakespeare much better if he had seen it in performances such as these. I completely agree. As a teenager and even in college, I don't remember being taught that these plays were often performed for and had to appeal to the common man and that Shakespeare was a businessman. Then, even the comedies that I saw performed seemed to be imbued with the weight of "this is a Shakespeare play." Those young folks who get to see the plays at the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival are quite lucky.

M*, Monique and Francis at "A Midsummer's Night Dream"

Best Weather Forecast in Months

East Anglia, the region of England where Cambridge is located, has not been hit by the recent, destructive flooding plaguing certain western and southern areas of the UK. Still, there has not been a 5-Day forecast since early May that did not include a prediction of some rain—until today.

Another Visitor, Another Trip to The Orchard

My sister did leave over a week ago, but we did so many things that it has taken a while to go through all of the photographs. I had close to 700, and I whittled the group of keepers down to 230.

On her first full-day in Cambridge, the weather was promising enough for us to venture the walk across Grantchester Meadows to The Orchard at Grantchester. Although we were sprinkled with a light rain occasionally, the weather, while we were relaxing at The Orchard, was lovely. The daily rain and cloud cover, which we've experienced since May, makes one appreciate the hours or minutes of sunshine.

Carolyn thought the Newnham chemist shop was very quaint

Even on a gray day the Cam and the meadows are lovely.

Carolyn opted for Diet Coke instead of the traditional tea.

A friendly chaffinch

This chaffinch really liked my gluten-free almond cake

The Orchard's apples just beginning to ripen

Sisters surrounded by hollyhocks

Best Bagels in Britian

No, they aren't gluten-free, but I was still thrilled to find fresh, American style bagels at our local store, Derby Stores. They are delivered only once a week, on Thursday afternoons, and both M* and Carolyn attested to their quality.

We're quite lucky that the Derby (pronounced Darby) Stores has such a wide variety of foods (fresh gluten-free bread, fresh baguettes daily, Lebanese and Israeli hummus, a cheese counter, fresh produce, delicious dark chocolate dipped macaroons, etc.), a magazine selection that includes the New Yorker, and, as is common in England, a post office.

Carolyn Arrives

Carolyn arrived yesterday, and, after a quick nap, she set out to familiarize herself with Cambridge. This is not a hard task, even on foot, as our town is just not that big. Here are a few photos from our walk, which Matt accompanied us on, to The Orchard at Grantchester.

Carolyn in front of our quaint, Newnham chemist shop

Carolyn bucking tradition by having a Diet Coke instead of tea.

Robin searching for food Carolyn had tossed into the grass.

This chaffinch really like my gluten-free almond cake.

Apples coming into season at The Orchard.

Amy, Carolyn and hollyhocks.

Queens' College May Ball & King's College Formal Hall

Before we run out the door to the pirate themed Wolfson "May Ball", here are a few photos from Queens' College May Ball, on 19 June, and last night's King's College Formal Hall, one of the best dinners we've had in Cambridge.

Queens' College May Ball

It's not often M* sees my name written as "Amy Budny"

Steven, Susie, M*, me and Karen

Karen, M*, me and Kevin show off our absinthe

Mr X and me

Klaxons

Fireworks and rain

M*, Karen and Francis kill some time at the snail races.


King's College Formal Hall

M* and Mark, our host

Susie, Maria and me

Karen and M*

Me and my hard working man

Maria, Christiano, me and M*