Cambridge

We had a lovely meal out with our friends last night, but it was outrageously expensive which spoilt the evening a bit. We went to a local restaurant that we have been to a few times before but I think the prices have gone up.

This morning we were all ready and packed, and had Xena’s stuff ready for when Fiona arrived at 10am to collect her. She was very excited to see Fiona again and happily went off in her car with her.

We got to Cambridge in time for lunch - we dropped off our bags at the hotel and then walked the short distance to Tommy’s accommodation to meet up with him. We walked into town and got food from the market for lunch, they have numerous food stalls there - Tommy and Gavin had a Malaysian meal while I had a seafood paella from the Spanish stall. It was a lovely sunny day and I took a few photos, I liked this one taken on Kings Parade with the people all about. Cambridge is always busy and today was no exception. I have added an extra of the entrance to Trinity Hall, I liked the symmetry here.

Later in the afternoon Inca and Tommy came to the hotel for tea and then after they left we got ready to go out to the ‘super formal’ dinner at Tommy’s college. The students have formal dinners during the year, where they get a special meal, they have to wear academic dress, and usually the master of the college is present -  but every now and then they have one to which parents are invited which is what this was all about.  We met at their student accommodation where the students had bought drinks and snacks for their parents, and it was lovely to meet the parents of Tommy's friends. We then walked over to the college reception hall for pre dinner drinks and then went into the dining room for dinner. The meal was very good, Tommy is lucky as his college does offer very good food. He has a great bunch of friends and they all wanted a photo of themselves outside their dining room, as can be seen in the last extra. They looked very smart in their black tie and academic gowns. A very talented young bunch of men - one engineer, one classicist and three physicists who hopefully will all have a positive impact on the world one day!

After dinner we went to the college bar where there was a jazz band playing, and there was a casino downstairs. We stayed for one drink and then walked back to the hotel, Tommy and Inca went back to their rooms to catch up on some work. Their term ends next week, it has been another demanding term and they are feeling very tired.