A trip into Cambridge

I managed to do all my Christmas shopping this year either online or in one trip to our local Tesco , which is half a mile away at the other end of the village. So I missed the "pleasure" of going into Cambridge to shop. Today though I decided to brave town with Beth in search of some decent trousers to go with a jacket I bought recently. I failed dismally in my task although I did buy an excellent Tilly hat, some warm gloves and a long sleeved "base layer" top for me from Open Air, not to mention a double chocolate crunch from Nadia's, so it wasn't a completely wasted trip.

And I didn't forget the blog either. I thought it was time I got some photos online so here's one of the best little secrets in Cambridge: one of the two the relief maps of the city centre, which are outside Great St Mary's at the opposite end to the market.

It's labelled both normally and in braille (that's what the silver dots are) and it's at just the right height for you to run your hands over¹. If you look carefully you can see King's College chapel on there (the big block middle top right). We're standing where the water is reflecting the sky so turn around and there it is.

And if you look to your left another Cambridge institution, the wonderful Ryder and Amies, "hosiers and shirtmakers, club outfitters, old school colours".

When I was at King's many moons ago they had some competition on King's Parade - can't remember that shop's name now but it's long since gone leaving Ryder and Amies as the place to go for your college tie, boat club jacket, or straw boater.

1. although the map is a bit waterlogged today, Trinity Great Court (of Chariots of Fire fame), the back court of Trinity, the market square, the front court of King's and King's Parade where we're standing are all awash after last night's rain.