My bus back from Cambridge was via National Express, which set off from there at 1:15 this morning. The return to Nottingham took two and a half hours and once I arrived here, I walked back to Clifton. I walked back via a well-lit route, which was mostly deserted; until I made it to Clifton, much of the traffic consisted of taxis.
What an amazing 48 hours it was, from when I left on Friday to when I returned this morning. It was an honour to attend my friend's wedding and I wish her and her new husband all the best.
Showing posts with label Cambridge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cambridge. Show all posts
Sunday, 6 August 2017
Friday, 4 August 2017
At the hotel in Cambridge
I'm here, I'm in Cambridge, in my hotel and checked in. I arrived here awhile ago and will now be doing some exploring; I need to find the venue for my friend's wedding tomorrow, as well as the bus stops for when I return to Nottingham. After that, I'll have to look for a Tesco or someplace similar to purchase something for my dinner tonight; I didn't bother with a hotel meal because it was expensive.
Thursday, 3 August 2017
To Cambridge
Tomorrow, for the first time in many years, I'll be in Cambridge. I'll be down there to attend on Saturday the wedding of the friend of mine with whom I went to the Carrie Underwood concerts. She invited me last year and finally, the day is nearly here.
I'll be travelling down on the 19 bus from Nottingham to Peterborough and then a bus from Peterborough to Cambridge. From what I can tell, this will involve five hours of bus riding, which will be easy enough. I'll be staying in a hotel on Friday, be active all day Saturday and then travelling back via National Express on a bus that leaves Cambridge at 1:15am on Sunday.
I have not attended a proper wedding for 21 years, unless the reception party I attended last month is counted. For this wedding, however, I'll be there from start until the finish.
I'll be travelling down on the 19 bus from Nottingham to Peterborough and then a bus from Peterborough to Cambridge. From what I can tell, this will involve five hours of bus riding, which will be easy enough. I'll be staying in a hotel on Friday, be active all day Saturday and then travelling back via National Express on a bus that leaves Cambridge at 1:15am on Sunday.
I have not attended a proper wedding for 21 years, unless the reception party I attended last month is counted. For this wedding, however, I'll be there from start until the finish.
Sunday, 6 April 2014
The tennis match and the boat race
Today was a quieter day than yesterday. I spent the morning with my grandmother watching a tennis match. The tennis match in question was a Davis Cup quarter-final match between Andy Murray of the United Kingdom and Fabio Fognini of Italy. Fognini defeated Murray in straight sets, which wasn't surprising; Murray had been ill earlier this week and was exhausted due to a doubles match from yesterday, and Fognini is as an excellent player on a clay court, on which this game was played. While Murray was beaten handily, it was still a pleasant match to watch.
In the evening, my grandmother and I watched the 2014 boat race between the university cities of Cambridge and Oxford. The two cities hold an annual boat race between their respective universities. Oxford were victorious in 2014's race, defeating Cambridge in a landslide (or a waterslide?).
I don't follow sports but if I'm at my grandparents' house, it's a quiet day and my grandmother is watching sports, I'll watch them with her, especially if it's tennis.
In the evening, my grandmother and I watched the 2014 boat race between the university cities of Cambridge and Oxford. The two cities hold an annual boat race between their respective universities. Oxford were victorious in 2014's race, defeating Cambridge in a landslide (or a waterslide?).
I don't follow sports but if I'm at my grandparents' house, it's a quiet day and my grandmother is watching sports, I'll watch them with her, especially if it's tennis.
Thursday, 12 December 2013
"Crazy" - Patsy Cline
Not all the songs I like are from the past ten to twenty years; I like "Crazy" by Patsy Cline:
"Crazy" was released in 1961 and is from Cline's album Patsy Cline Showcase. I briefly mentioned Cline in one of my earliest posts, which was about Heart Cambridge. One of the best parts of Heart has been to hear a few old songs, such as "Crazy", which is a lovely and gentle sixties track. It's saddening that Cline died in 1963 because of a plane crash; I wonder how her life and career would have developed if that crash hadn't occurred.
Without wanting to detract from the above, I wasn't going to do a music post today; rather, I had intended to post a picture. Unfortunately, there have been some changes to the Blogger/Google interface recently and I don't know where the link to my photographs is; I had to come up with something.
"Crazy" was released in 1961 and is from Cline's album Patsy Cline Showcase. I briefly mentioned Cline in one of my earliest posts, which was about Heart Cambridge. One of the best parts of Heart has been to hear a few old songs, such as "Crazy", which is a lovely and gentle sixties track. It's saddening that Cline died in 1963 because of a plane crash; I wonder how her life and career would have developed if that crash hadn't occurred.
Without wanting to detract from the above, I wasn't going to do a music post today; rather, I had intended to post a picture. Unfortunately, there have been some changes to the Blogger/Google interface recently and I don't know where the link to my photographs is; I had to come up with something.
Friday, 4 October 2013
A lesser-known effect of the United States federal government shutdown
One of my first blog posts was about the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, which is located near Madingley, Cambridgeshire. As I think we're all aware, the United States federal government has been shut down, with all non-essential services ceasing operations and nearly a million personnel furloughed. Places such as national parks, museums and national have closed down; unfortunately, this also means that the Cambridge American Cemetary and memorial has been closed:
The cemetery is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), which is one of the areas of government affected by the shutdown. Without any funding, the commission cannot keep its 24 overseas military cemeteries and 26 monuments open to the public. These places, along with the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, will re-open once the government has been restored, but at present there is no immediate end to the shutdown in sight. The current inability to pay respects to those who are buried in those cemeteries is an inconvenience to most people and heartbreaking to those who are family of the dead or served alongside them.
Too many people think that a government shutdown means that Congress is out of a job. They could not be more wrong, as Congress is not only still active but its members are still being paid. The overwhelming majority of the people who have been furloughed are ordinary folks; the fact that they happen to work for the government, in itself, does not change that. They have families and most are not rich; it's deeply unfair and inhumane to celebrate their suffering.
The ABMC is a small and relatively unknown government agency, yet its current closure has had a profound effect. Now think about how many people are being affected from furloughs in the larger agencies...and that's not including how many people not working for the government are being affected by the disruption.
Some other consequences of the shutdown can be found here.
The cemetery is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), which is one of the areas of government affected by the shutdown. Without any funding, the commission cannot keep its 24 overseas military cemeteries and 26 monuments open to the public. These places, along with the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, will re-open once the government has been restored, but at present there is no immediate end to the shutdown in sight. The current inability to pay respects to those who are buried in those cemeteries is an inconvenience to most people and heartbreaking to those who are family of the dead or served alongside them.
Too many people think that a government shutdown means that Congress is out of a job. They could not be more wrong, as Congress is not only still active but its members are still being paid. The overwhelming majority of the people who have been furloughed are ordinary folks; the fact that they happen to work for the government, in itself, does not change that. They have families and most are not rich; it's deeply unfair and inhumane to celebrate their suffering.
The ABMC is a small and relatively unknown government agency, yet its current closure has had a profound effect. Now think about how many people are being affected from furloughs in the larger agencies...and that's not including how many people not working for the government are being affected by the disruption.
Some other consequences of the shutdown can be found here.
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
"Angels" - Robbie Williams
British music was something I was looking forward to while my family and I were in the process of moving back to the United Kingdom; I wasn't to be disappointed, as we've heard some great musicians since we've been back. One of my favourite British artists is Robbie Williams; this is his song "Angels", released in 1997 from his debut album Life thru a Lens:
I had heard of Williams when I was living in the United States but I had never listened to any of his music (I didn't have any interest, to be honest). Over here, I have heard several of his songs on Heart Cambridge and they're frequently played on Heart Northamptonshire.
"Angels" is also a song from which I can remember most of the lyrics.
I had heard of Williams when I was living in the United States but I had never listened to any of his music (I didn't have any interest, to be honest). Over here, I have heard several of his songs on Heart Cambridge and they're frequently played on Heart Northamptonshire.
"Angels" is also a song from which I can remember most of the lyrics.
Friday, 15 June 2012
Daniel Powter's "Bad Day", and his potential return
Remember "Bad Day" by the Canadian musician Daniel Powter? It is a happy, positive-sounding song about having a bad day and was a massive hit back in 2005/2006. "Bad Day" was the biggest single in the United States in 2006, it charted in numerous countries, was the most played song in the United Kingdom during the 2003-2008 period, and earned Powter numerous nominations and awards.
Despite the enormous success of "Bad Day", every single that Powter has released since has flopped. None have reached the Billboard Hot 100, and outside the United States they have struggled to chart...and when they did they reached abysmal positions. His lack of chart success after "Bad Day" was remarkable enough for Billboard to declare him the top one-hit wonder of the 2000s, a feat in itself, but not one that any musician wants to be saddled with.
It is a shame that Powter's work since "Bad Day" has been unsuccessful, but it is even more of a shame that he turned to substance abuse for a period stemming from difficulties handling his sudden fame and being burnt out from constantly having to sing "Bad Day". Fortunately, he has since recovered and moved on from the habit, and is now engaged and has a daughter who is four months old, but it is still saddening and disappointing that he did have an addiction to alcohol and drugs for a time.
Powter is currently working on a new album and has recently released a new single titled "Cupid". Time will tell if his new work will elevate him out of one-hit wonder status, but I hope it does. In the meantime, we can listen to "Bad Day": it is still a brilliant song six years later, will certainly put you in a good mood when you hear it, and will remain in your head for days afterwards (when my brother and I were listening to Heart Cambridge last year, it was the first time we had heard "Bad Day" on the radio frequently since 2006, and that did please us).
Despite the enormous success of "Bad Day", every single that Powter has released since has flopped. None have reached the Billboard Hot 100, and outside the United States they have struggled to chart...and when they did they reached abysmal positions. His lack of chart success after "Bad Day" was remarkable enough for Billboard to declare him the top one-hit wonder of the 2000s, a feat in itself, but not one that any musician wants to be saddled with.
It is a shame that Powter's work since "Bad Day" has been unsuccessful, but it is even more of a shame that he turned to substance abuse for a period stemming from difficulties handling his sudden fame and being burnt out from constantly having to sing "Bad Day". Fortunately, he has since recovered and moved on from the habit, and is now engaged and has a daughter who is four months old, but it is still saddening and disappointing that he did have an addiction to alcohol and drugs for a time.
Powter is currently working on a new album and has recently released a new single titled "Cupid". Time will tell if his new work will elevate him out of one-hit wonder status, but I hope it does. In the meantime, we can listen to "Bad Day": it is still a brilliant song six years later, will certainly put you in a good mood when you hear it, and will remain in your head for days afterwards (when my brother and I were listening to Heart Cambridge last year, it was the first time we had heard "Bad Day" on the radio frequently since 2006, and that did please us).
Monday, 21 May 2012
Cambridge picture or two (again)
Here are four pictures that I took yesterday during our trip to Cambridgeshire. I was indoors for most of the time out, as I was meeting up with some people; however, I did manage to get a few photographs while in the car. While I was at my event, Dad, Mum, and my brother all went to Littleport to see how much the place has changed since we moved from the town last July. All of these images were taken with my phone:
One of Cambridge's numerous spires, and this particular one belongs to the Our Lady and the English Martyrs Church. There was a bit of a traffic jam in this part of Cambridge as we left the city, but it meant the car was still enough for me to get a couple of good pictures of the building (despite the side mirror present in the picture, I was completely inside the car and my window was closed).
The same church, just from a different angle. I am pleased with how this image turned out.
A picture of a random park area during another time when our car was paused from the traffic. Unlike the region where aforementioned church is, I am not sure what the road the park is located on is called or where in Cambridge it is.
This was on the way back to Northamptonshire. It is blurry, as it was taken while our car was in motion at high speeds (well, 60-70mph). However, I like the contrast of the blurred, green plants in the foreground with the yellow of the flora in the field behind them.
As you can see, I did not take many pictures of the afternoon trip, but I hope the ones I did post were pleasing.
As you can see, I did not take many pictures of the afternoon trip, but I hope the ones I did post were pleasing.
Sunday, 20 May 2012
Cambridge picture or two
We went to Cambridgeshire for a couple of hours this afternoon. Tomorrow I will post a couple of pictures I took while we were in Cambridge itself, as well as give a little insight into why we were there.
Friday, 20 January 2012
The Hits Radio
I blogged previously about listening to Heart Cambridge and then Heart Northamptonshire. While I still listen to Heart Northamptonshire, the station I listen to the most is The Hits Radio.
I came across it when looking for a hit/pop music radio station; I certainly appreciate the variety of music Heart plays, but at the same time I really do like a station that plays current music. When we moved to Northamptonshire, I was really lucky to come across The Hits Radio as it satisfied that "requirement" of mine: I did have a pop station to listen to in Littleport, and it was adequate, but it frustrated me because it did not always play everything popular at the time...The Hits Radio, on the other hand, does not have that problem.
The Hits Radio plays current pop music, and songs from the past few years: as an example, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a Kelly Clarkson hit from several years ago played on The Hits Radio (yes, I have Breakaway, but it is still good to hear songs from the album on the radio). The artists themselves are often interviewed; and the station also plays plenty of remixes of songs and dance hits, which I very much appreciate. Even better, it has a high music-to-commercials ratio, which is brilliant because I hear far more songs than I do adverts.
My listening times are mainly between 4:00pm-7:00/7:30, mainly when Chris Younie and then In:Demand are on; and 10:00-12:00 (Matt Spokes). The presenters for when I am listening are all decent people: they accept requests, are good for saying a song's name or its artist, and appear to have great senses of humour (actually, they do not "appear to"...they just do!).
The Hits Radio was a perfect find for me: it is great to listen to and I am happy to do a piece on the station.
I came across it when looking for a hit/pop music radio station; I certainly appreciate the variety of music Heart plays, but at the same time I really do like a station that plays current music. When we moved to Northamptonshire, I was really lucky to come across The Hits Radio as it satisfied that "requirement" of mine: I did have a pop station to listen to in Littleport, and it was adequate, but it frustrated me because it did not always play everything popular at the time...The Hits Radio, on the other hand, does not have that problem.
The Hits Radio plays current pop music, and songs from the past few years: as an example, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a Kelly Clarkson hit from several years ago played on The Hits Radio (yes, I have Breakaway, but it is still good to hear songs from the album on the radio). The artists themselves are often interviewed; and the station also plays plenty of remixes of songs and dance hits, which I very much appreciate. Even better, it has a high music-to-commercials ratio, which is brilliant because I hear far more songs than I do adverts.
My listening times are mainly between 4:00pm-7:00/7:30, mainly when Chris Younie and then In:Demand are on; and 10:00-12:00 (Matt Spokes). The presenters for when I am listening are all decent people: they accept requests, are good for saying a song's name or its artist, and appear to have great senses of humour (actually, they do not "appear to"...they just do!).
The Hits Radio was a perfect find for me: it is great to listen to and I am happy to do a piece on the station.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Heart Cambridge
The radio station I have been listening to the most here in North East Cambridgeshire has been Heart Cambridge. It plays a variety of music, ranging from songs that are new, into the 1990s to the 1970s, and to a few going back to the early 1960s. It is thanks to this station that I have been able to listen to artists such as Patsy Cline, Whitney Houston, the Bee Gees, Robbie Williams, and Barry White...the range of music I have listened to has been expanded. In addition, it has also played a few songs that I really liked listening to years ago on the radio, including "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter, "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt, and "Because of You" by Kelly Clarkson: while I can listen to these songs anytime, listening to them on the radio again brings back memories, and I thank Heart for this.
I tend to listen to it every night, and the late afternoons of every weekend, and at all the occasions I am listening to Heart Cambridge it is once the tasks of the day are done. I like the Late Show with Simon Beale, the Club Classics on Friday and Saturday nights, Harriet Scott on Saturday afternoons (previously Emma Bunton, but she is having a baby, so congratulations to her!), and the Top 40 on Sunday afternoons. The Late Show with Simon Beale is the show playing during weekdays except for Friday, and it is great to listen to it while relaxing to go to sleep. Nicola Bonn is also good whenever I have heard her fill in for somebody.
I tend to listen to it every night, and the late afternoons of every weekend, and at all the occasions I am listening to Heart Cambridge it is once the tasks of the day are done. I like the Late Show with Simon Beale, the Club Classics on Friday and Saturday nights, Harriet Scott on Saturday afternoons (previously Emma Bunton, but she is having a baby, so congratulations to her!), and the Top 40 on Sunday afternoons. The Late Show with Simon Beale is the show playing during weekdays except for Friday, and it is great to listen to it while relaxing to go to sleep. Nicola Bonn is also good whenever I have heard her fill in for somebody.
It has been wonderful to hear songs I have never heard before, and to hear a few songs that I have not heard on the radio for years. I will definitely miss Heart Cambridge, its music, and its presenters when we move.
Monday, 30 May 2011
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial
It's Memorial Day, and so we decided to visit the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial. We spent the morning there and viewed the memorial service that was being performed this year. The ceremony was quiet, as was to be expected, and there were numerous American military personnel in attendance, with many helping out with organizing the service, and others involved in the service itself.
The Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial is a place in the United Kingdom that commemorates the United States servicemen and women who died during World War II. It is one of the fourteen permanent American World War II cemetery memorials that have been built in foreign countries by the American Battle Monuments Commission. There are the remains of 3,812 military dead here, as well as 5127 names listed on the wall. The University of Cambridge donated the land in 1943.
This was actually the second time we have visited the cemetery. We visited it before a couple of months ago, and found it to be an interesting experience: we thought about the people who were buried there and their sacrifices. That was my first visit ever to a military cemetery, and also my first visit to a cemetery in general.
Here is a picture and a video that I took today. If you listen carefully in the video, you can hear music from the service playing in the background. Here they are:
The link for this memorial is located at http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/ca.php
The Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial is a place in the United Kingdom that commemorates the United States servicemen and women who died during World War II. It is one of the fourteen permanent American World War II cemetery memorials that have been built in foreign countries by the American Battle Monuments Commission. There are the remains of 3,812 military dead here, as well as 5127 names listed on the wall. The University of Cambridge donated the land in 1943.
This was actually the second time we have visited the cemetery. We visited it before a couple of months ago, and found it to be an interesting experience: we thought about the people who were buried there and their sacrifices. That was my first visit ever to a military cemetery, and also my first visit to a cemetery in general.
Here is a picture and a video that I took today. If you listen carefully in the video, you can hear music from the service playing in the background. Here they are:
The link for this memorial is located at http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/ca.php
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