Well I am almost half way through the term, it has been 5 weeks already. It feels like forever, but also it only feels like a day. The work is definitely getting to be a bit beyond me, but I'll cope, and there are always people willing to help. There is just so much to do either socially, extra-curriularly outside of the work, which is itself a full-time job that there seems little time for anything. It is so much fun here, I have fallen in love with Cambridge. There is just something about the place.
On another great note, I think I have found my church, Adam and I have been going to Holy Trinity for the past few weeks and really like it there. There is definitely some good stuff happening, and some great people.
I've decided that because pictures say a thousand words alot faster than I can type them, (apologies if I said that already) I am going to change the format a bit, and put in pictures to explain them, so, pictures...
First is new court, this is the court in which I live. It was a lovely Autumn's day, but the temperature has dropped rapidly in the past week, so much so the gloves are off (or on in the literal sense).
The second is the view from my window...nice eh. There was a beautiful purple sunset the other night when Adam and his girlfriend where up in my room. She was over from Northern Ireland (or Norn Iron for those of you fluent in Irish)
The last one is a random alleyway I walked through to get to Gonville and Caius college to meet Kinley, the Douglas Myers scholarship winner and my counterpart kiwi. He's doing well, very settled, it was good to see him and talk about L & P though. People as much as they may ask you about your country just don't understand about it so that was cool to talk to someone who did; some friends were up in my room and saw some magnetic 'kiwi-terminology' fridge-magnets and were just highly confused at jandals, kumara, l&p, kai and even boy racer. Here I was thinking Boy Racer was a universal term....
This is part of the JCR - our common room. It is actually alot cooler then it looks here. It is generally a good place to just sit and unwind. Next to it is the mailroom, and I love getting mail. It' so exciting walking out of the mailroom with mail.
This is my bike. Between the bike shop when I picked it up and my chemistry lab, the chain fell off and so did the rear light. It took a bit of kiwi ingenuity but within a minute I was back on the road and as good as new (actually better then new, because it broke when it was new didn't it....) Mum was musing afew names for it...flying kiwi or paua power. My suggestions were kumara boomer or world's fastest indian, but if you have any suggestions for a name let me know, otherwise I may have to settle on George.
I took this at the back to school 'slack' which is another name for Ent, Bop or Disco. It speaks for itself...
We all went to formal hall to celebrate Andrew, Cat, Jeremy and David's birthdays. Basically, just an excuse for another party, but it was a good night, good food and good times. After this we sung happy birthday twice. The first time in all it's beauty, and the second time becuase Neranjana wanted to video it. There's always one.
My friends..yes they exist!
Rhys...the wizard
Halloween Slack, ooooo. We had halloween hall which was pretty auspicious: Pumpkins, fake spiders and spider webs, special goblets and some kind of halloween-related meal that nobody really asked questions about. Alot of people went in costume to dinner which was quite hillarious. This is the gang photo. I seem to be taking alot of the group photos - however less embarassing for me (or should I say the phantom?) Adam went as Ron Burgundy which I cannot believe I did not think of it. For those of you who don't know Anchorman you should watch it! But I think I was more hurt he didn't ask me to go with him as Brick. Others to make an appearance were Ghostbusters, Dorothy, many witches, a giant bunch of grapes and robin hood.
In the other non-photo related news front: I have my first test this Thursday, very exciting if that's the right word. It's maths which'l be fun. At least it is either right or wrong. None of this in-between business. Best of luck and my prayers with those of you in exams right now too! Lectures are both manageable and interesting, labs are long, but also interesting, but then add the supervisions and the work gets a bit much. Some fireworks are going off...aww I cannot see them, there's too much condensation on my windows :( Back on topic - I have discovered two wonders of Cambridge. The first is Gardinia's Greek take-aways: which is less greek, than it is greasy cheeseburgers. The second is Jim Garrahy's Fudge shop - the free taste is where they get ya. About now you're probably thinking he's at a prestigious universtiy where each area is like a point in the timeline of architecture, he's surrounded my museums full of items of priceless importance in their development of human civilization as we know it, he's got the river to walk alongside, a bike to explore the country and lectures with inviograting and stimulating information: but no he's found a fudge shop and a takeaways. Well you'd be right! You just have to try this fudge. I have also found myself a church. I cannot remember if I said that. It's called Holy Trinity - HT for those of you more intimately acquainted with the devonport HT-unit. It's a beautiful medium sized chapel, but very contemporary in liturgy and definitely friendly. I went to dinner with some friends from there before the Sunday night service which was a eally great time.
Anywho, just realised it's 1am, and although the clocks were wound back an hour here on Sunday and nobody told me, I know enough about time to know this is late. There is much more to say but I guess it can wait for the distant future when it's being told in person.
I miss you all, and I must apologise to those of you who I have not gotten around to replying to yet. I am trying...
Love you all,
Blake
