It is being a whirlwind journey, complicated by a bit of a cold. That voice-losing thing I mentioned a few days ago has turned into an occasionally nasty cough, plus feeling rather less energetic than I’d like to. But I don’t feel especially sick. Even so, I’ve begged off this evening’s Guy Fawkes fireworks (I can hear them from where I sit, comfortably ensconced with cats). Mark and the Marquise have gone out, while I am resting up and attempting to make some headway through my poor neglected email (and blog).
Yesterday we arrived in Cambridge, to visit the Marquise and the Marquis. We took the train up to London with Desperance and KLWilliams, then parted ways as they headed to Newcastle (after Desperance pointed us to the right train). The Marquise picked us up at the train station and took us to lunch at this pub:
Except we were just a few minutes too late for the kitchen, so we went to a different pub instead.
In the Continuing Saga of the Peripatetic Art, Autopope most generously drove the package up here from Brighton, for which we are so very, very grateful. He and F. and some local friends dropped by the Marquise’s last night for cat-cuddling and ancient-sword-viewing (and, naturally, beer-drinking).
Today, the Marquise took Mark and I out to see some of the Cambridge colleges, which were gorgeous and lovely and wonderful, and then we had an amazing lunch, which was gorgeous and lovely and wonderful.
I am still using the battery charge that Suricattus made possible; this should take me to the end of the trip, if I’m frugal about it.
And tomorrow we head down to London, for one night at fjm’s, then back to Portland on Thursday!
It’s been such a marvelous trip–I know it’s not done yet, and I haven’t told you half of what we did in Brighton (or even in London for that matter)–but I’m just struck by how overwhelmingly kind and helpful everyone is being, as we muddle our way around, being clueless and sick and American and unprepared. Truly, we are grateful and humbled and very touched. Good people; so many good people.
Hi – one of the two local friends here. Sorry about this morning’s mixup about the trolley, but at least you have it now.
Can you mention to Mark that I now need a new word – probably German – for the realisation that a person one has just had in one’s house and to whom one has served tea is the artist of at least two pictures hanging on your walls, but that one didn’t so realise for a few hours after they’d gone.
(Yes, I know, it’s a very specialised word, and unlikely to be listed in anything smaller than the complete OED, but there is a proven need.)
We have his dragon-on-a-pile-of-books in our library.
I now also need to look out for your work too – it’s always fun meeting an author first and their work afterwards. That’s how come we have some of Suricattus’s books.
Please give my regards to fjm. She and Edward have serious bookshelves.
Alan
Hi Alan! That is hilarious–and Kari forwarded me your tweet as well, which Mark and I chuckled over in the airport yesterday, before our VERRRRRY long day flying back to Portland. (some day I must really try this whole Tweeting thing…)
The only thing for us to do is to come back to Cambridge, obviously, and go and visit you again, and see the artwork in its native habitat.
And wow, yes, fjm and Edward’s bookshelves are a thing of wonder.
See you next year I hope!
You’re very welcome. As the picture in the tweet illustrated, it was somewhat more than two pictures.
Also, since it’s been a while since I checked here and news has happened: congratulations on the engagement. I hope you’ll both be very happy together
Thank you so much! 🙂