An Action-Packed Weekend

Note to self: must remember not to wait 2 weeks to post-- this is taking forever and my memory is rubbish.  

9 Sept- 16 Sept 2011:  Granddad Fearnley made the long train trip from Bolton to visit for the weekend.  He got to spend time with his two youngest grandchildren after almost 18 months since our last visit.  That's right, it was Philips first time meeting Ellis and, no surprise, they really enjoyed each other's company & cuddles.  Bryce was especially fond of Granddad's voice and knowledge of choo-choos.  (He only recently retired after working 50 years as a civil engineer for the British Railway.)  

Saturday morning we set off to see the Dragonboat Races in Fen Ditton, a long but beautiful walk along the River Cam.  Bryce enjoyed the boats but other than that the remaining entertainment lay in each teams' fancy dress (see word of the day) and impressive appetite for beer at 10:00 in the morning.  So, Bryce rode a few carnival rides and we set off for the 800th Anniversary of Stourbridge Fair.  

The fair took place at the Leper Chapel, dating from 1125.  There is a bit of controversy surrounding the fair since it originally was run to raise money for the lepers, but kept being held annually far after the lepers had been relocated elsewhere and the Chapel had no parish and no religious services to sustain.  Embezzlement is timeless!

We heard a small (voice) ensemble perform, watched some Medieval dancers in costume, and Bryce made a whirligig which was a Godsend when it came time to bribe him back into the stroller-- er, buggy.  Stephen also managed to buy a chunk of Stilton cheese and two pork pies and hide them away before I noticed.  (sidenote: Stilton=delicious, pork pie=should be served warm, ick!)

We stayed in for a nice attempt on my part at making pork loin.  I am still trying to figure out the cooker.  (That's right, I'm blaming it on the cooker.)  Then Sunday morning we set off on a stroll through town, a tour of King's College, and a ride on a model railway.  All in all the weather was beautiful, the mood of the toddler was bearable, and the big boys were well-behaved too.  We can't wait for Granddad to visit again, or even better, a trip up to Bolton!   

Little sidenote:  Managing to make some mum friends and learn the British version of playground etiquette.  Everyone so far has been very friendly and I think that living in a University town, where people are always coming and going, accounts for that.  

Someone is officially sitting up on his own!

The stroll to Fen Ditton for dragonboat races

Lining up for the race.

Diggers are evidently much cooler than dragonboats for this guy.

And so are double-decker buses.

Couldn't miss out on the spinny cups!

Me with a monkey on my neck

Watching the dancers

This Medieval band really rocked the joint.

Dancers in front of the Leper Chapel

Someone is happy as usual

The view of Stourbridge Fair from Newmarket Road

The Ginger, freshly bathed and in his terry robe.

Had to sneak past these Cam cattle on Midsummer Common.

View across Jesus Green

Inside Gonville & Caius College

More Gonville & Caius College

It's not easy keeping a toddler off that beautifully-maintained grass!

"How does one focus on their studies when everything is so picturesque?" I think to myself.  Clearly I have not been to King's yet.

Holy moley.  King's College.

Inside King's College Chapel

Stained glass looking especially magnificent when the sun breaks through the clouds.

Wowsa.

The Adoration of the Magi- Rubens, 1634

A few Fearnley men looking handsome

View of the River from King's College Back Lawn

Still haven't had the urge to punt... maybe it will come in Springtime.

View of King's College from the other side of the Bridge

Fearnley boys on the Bridge

Bryce manages to spot a ladybird while avoiding the grass.

Front Court of King's College (again, so wanting to walk on the grass barefoot, but only Senior members of the College are allowed to walk on the grass.)

Sunday Lunch at the pub.  Just beat the rush because it started raining shortly after we arrived.

Riding the Model Railway

A great end to a great weekend!