Cambridge Spring

Spring is slowly coming to Cambridge. I love the slowness of it. I worried that it might come too soon when we had warm temperatures--barbeques and tea parties on college grounds, sundresses galore, huge queues buying suntan lotions! Then it turned cold again, even snowing in the North. And, we had wind, rain, sun, clouds, and hail over the Easter Holidays. Weather reports: "blustery and thundery," "unsettled,""batch of heavy rains," "downpours quite intense," "slow moving band of rain creeping" "gradually fizzling out," "mix of sun and fog," "sunny and scattered showers," "only a glimpse of sun now and then," "bright start with downpours developing...."

Kevin and I were entertained by Cambridge friends. We had one Sunday lunch in a thatched cottage in Pampisford and Easter lunch in a beautiful old 19th C house in Linton. We had tea with Gordan and Faith in their home, first thatched cottage on the left of Barton Road! I didn't take photos but they were gracious places to be with delicious food and drink, good company, and lovely surroundings.

 I did take photos on the day Susie took us for a Sunday drive and tea. Susie is a good friend whom we have known since 1999. She is Danish but spent part of her childhood in Washington where her father was a diplomat. Always a wonderful host for Wolfson visitors, she takes us to Tesco, to art and music events, and on other field trips. We drove south towards Saffron Walden.

We passed flower stands,

And stopped in the ancient village of Thaxted

With a winding Main Street

And Guildhall dating from 1390 as this area was a big wool trade center--the Hall is still used by community. 

We had cream tea in POPPY's Tea Room

And walked to the Cathedral

Where we walked in the lovely grave yard

 And under Gothic arches and gargolyes.

                                                                

Inside it was bright and airy with streams of dancing light

  

And dancing angels.

A marble flagstone on the floor of the church relates the history of a wealthy family, with the names, ages and death dates of eight children.

We drove over to Finching Field--we didn't get to Steeple Bumstead! I was curious about the blue house as half of it is directly behind Auntie's Parlour! What kind of building code allowed this to happen?

We walked around the village.

We saw 2 lovely, friendly Bengal Cats--these cats are not legal in UA.

We passed Audley Hall

And, drove home in the lovely gloaming.