Zurich Today, Gone Tomorrow.

A Statue. In Zurich. On a horse. What more do you need to know?

Me ( not a statue) in Zurich. On a bridge. It is warm.

My lovely neice Arabella is the reason I came to Switzerland. She and her husband live in a satellite town, Zug, based around an old town centre. They live in a house that has been refitted with a super modern white contemporary interior, with lots of glass walls so the neighbours can see in. None of the back gardens offer privacy either. Welcome to the Fishbowl.

Arabella took me to see this lovely old church. It had windows made from thinly sliced large multi-coloured gemstones. As well as this metal door with various Biblical scenes.

We sat outside near the lake. There was a live band, and older people dancing. We wished we could dance.

We wandered past the expensive shops and looked in the windows, like at this jewellery display.

We were happy to just look at them, just as we liked this display of tomatoes.

The cars here are a bit old....time to retire this Dodge.

Then we went home for a nap.

I did see three cows and a mountain, in the distance. Yup, that's Switzerland Folks.

 

Heathrow to Zurich, via an accident traffic jam on the M1.

Yes, more retrospective shots til I get to an Apple shop. Oh my, we're not off the runway and already they're making announcements in non-English. Help...let me off...I forgot to take Swiss-German lessons.

This is the lovely Eugenia who is a lawyer in Moscow and is so much more besides. She's entertaining us with a bread roll puppet.

The amazing Israeli duo, and John, a creative English businessman who was doing the Fiction writing stream.

The Porter in his office at the front of St Catharine's: Very Important People, Porters.

An American Serviceman from Alabama, waiting with us for the Cambridge-Luton Airport bus. As Louise noted, he got a faraway look when he talked about Alabama. He works on the number-crunching side of the Army Medical Corps, and had been based in Cambridgeshire.

The lovely and very talented Jessica Datema, from Brooklyn. It was a privilege to hear her life stories and get to know her a little. Amongst her various accomplishments she teaches writing.

Well, you'd expect a nicely composed notice in an academic building at Cambridge, wouldn't you.

Doors, so many beautiful doorways.

This was a special one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haggis and Neaps. And find the Bananas.

Although the Scots try to kid you that Haggis is a wild creature captured on mountainsides, it's really offal pudding. And damned delicious.

 

Here are the Cook, the Bosun (piping in the Haggis on a miniature bagpipes), the Cook's lovely daughter, and the Walking Guide (who is about to "address" the Haggis- normally only done on Burns night. The staff were exceptionally lovely.

Louise, from Watheroo, WA, whose idea the Canal trip was, found a wandering Piper and brought him back to the boat.

He played for us and explained the costume. Louise asked if that was his Clan tartan, and he said No, he was a Scotsman and bought that plaid because he found it on special. He reckoned clan tartans are mostly a marketing gimmick for rich Americans:). He's played at the Edinburgh Tattoo a couple of times.

The Sporran here is made from Horsehair. Btw, that's my suitcase near his left leg.

It was BBQ night. Here's the Skipper, keeping watch over the BBQ fire. He's a super experienced 26 yr old New Zealander who is most at home on the salty seas. And he can BBQ too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Camera is holding my photos Hostage!

Well, you'll have to put up with a Cambridge retrospective, as I can't download my pics due to "technical issues". However, it should not be painful.

Breakfast time at " Cats"...St Catharine's. These Israelis were wonderful- exhuberant, strong, clever. The red haired green eyed one is 61. Yes, both her parents were from Middle Europe, not Scotland.she teaches at Ben Gurion Uni, a desert university city. The older is a much published writer, who used to be the others lecturer.

Louise from Western Australia, to whom I owe thanks for getting me to Cambridge, with Lyn, an absolutely lovely woman from the States.

 

Ria, a smart, kind, loving woman from The Netherlands. Ria, Lyn and I were the 2-years widowed subgroup. They were a fine example to me in survival and compassion and sorrow. A not good photo of Rebecca, who happens to live in Gordon Park near my good friend Sandra. Sorry Rebecca, I'll post a proper photo of you later.

The two Johns, very different but creative and unique. You can probably guess which one can recite The Man From Snowy River"!

Me, just to show you I'm still in existence. Btw, iPads are great to travel with. Though you can't count on wifi out of the cities.

The beautiful shoes of the highly talented young Dutchman, Erik. I look forward to his books. He also has impeccable English.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cambridge,from the Caledonian Canal

Through my bathroom porthole, upon boarding at Inverness. I hope to upload this when we reach Fort Augustus this evening, as some of the Pubs have Wifi. No Wifi on board. Today we walked 13 Miles, up a small mountain, along, and down. Legs tired, but otherwise good.

Another writing student and I, butterflying towards one another before class.

 

These Shakespearean students preformed a workshop on The Tempest. Some even spoke English as their first Language. The student declaiming, teaches in Ben Gurion University in the Israeli desert.

This is Louise setting off to the Prizes Award Evening.

This is Louise returning from the Prize-giving event! Clever thing! See how how head is bigger than in the previous photo?!

Most of the fortnight I spent in this room. This is our wonderful Tutor, Midge Gillies.

Sometimes we even had time to go outside. This is Cats, our College. ( St Catharine's).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OMG, I've died and gone to Heaven

All of the pictures I've managed to take are at the College, at the Lectures site, or on the 12 minute walk between. There has been no time for sight-seeing or punting- we have to leave that to the tourists. However there are Centuries worth of beauty in between. Luckily the shops are close by, allowing a quick dash to replace my fused power adaptor last night at 7.50pm. As my iPad was flat, I couldn't submit my homework last night. However, our Tutor is super- nice and allowed me to submit it thismorning instead. I love having homework!

Cambridge University, Sedgwick Site. History Library.

Toilet, Italian Cafe overlooking Park, Cambridge. (Louise and I decided we needed a change from College cooking.) Disclaimer: the food was excellent and the depiction of the loo is only for its design merit.

St Catharine's, where I'm staying. Only Dons are allowed on the grass, and they're all on holiday break. This Commandment is taken seriously, under pain of being ticked off by the College Porter. There's no signs....you're just meant to be in the know....like a Masonic Handshake.

Not all of the Academic buildings are old.

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Nor is all the Decor. This is the Junior Common Room and Buttery in the History Building. Where are the Churns, I ask myself?

Our Daily Tutorial Room is less exotic. That's fine, as that is supplied by students like the beautiful and stunningly brilliant Ira, who is the granddaughter of a Indian/ Afghani? Muslim Begam and daughter of a Hindu Military Man. She is also a mother, journalist, columnist, blogger and all round warm and lovely person. Did I mention she completed a law degree at night, studying in the bathroom?

Third along is Nicole, journalism student and Army Reservist from Woolongong, NSW. John, peeking out on the right, is an experienced thinker and published writer who's had a tough time, and hails from Aspley in Brisbane. Counting other classes, there's six people from WA, the most from any State I think.

This is our Tutor, Midge Gillies, for our 11 person group.

 

 

 

Cambridge....At Last.

So exciting. Arrived on Sun afternoon. Jill, whose house I "sat", kindly delivered me to the College, as Cambridge is about 40 minutes away. ( a drive to Perth's outer suburbs, but with faster roads). Here are my very own Instructions and Key! At the Introductory talk, they kindly told us we are not Tourists, like the Summer crowds, but students of the University for the duration.

The rooms are monastic, but perfectly comfortable, though my friend Louise was disappointed they weren't beautiful and medieval stone, like many of the buildings. Those don't have bathrooms though! I suspect in a Trinity and King's Colleges there are some magnificent rooms for the select. Walking/ jogging around the rear of the Colleges ("The Backs"), those grand colleges have spacious lawns, and then room for a paddock with cows and some beehives!

It's been full-on with welcome sessions, lectures, visiting guest talks, Obligitary Plenary Sessions and optional but heavily encouraged evening lectures. And this is only Day One! Today's visiting speaker was Louis de Bernières, who was erudite, self-effacing and extremely interesting...what a privilege to hear him! This required an excursion to the wonderful bookshop in town, between last lectures and written homework, which has to be submitted online each evening. Luckily this College is very close to the shops: in fact the city is quite compact altogether. He has written some wonderful poems, some of which felt very pertinent!

Not having time to stroll around with a camera, these shots I've taken on the run ( almost literally!) between College and the Lecture venues. As you can see, it's not difficult to find something beautiful.

Perfect weather for punting!

Street Fashion, Cambridge-Style!

There are thousands of bicycles, many of them traditional Cambridge style with the large baskets.

A little decorating makes the room less austere!

And gosh, there's an excellent Cellar practically next door!

What more could a Woman want!! Maybe some Tonic!