Sunshine, Strawberries and Lots of Smiles

What a joy to be able to share important milestones in your children's lives.  Friday was Eve's graduation from Cambridge University.  The sun shone, the drinks flowed and the day was more magical than I ever imagined it would be.  It seems such a short time since Grace's graduation.  And here we were doing it all again.

First there was a group photo of all the graduates in the college.

Then a procession through the streets of Cambridge to the Senate House.  We even went through the shopping mall where the shoppers stood and applauded the students as they went through - my eyes were welling up at this point.

With the Master, Dame Fiona Reynolds

After the ceremony (no photos allowed), which was conducted in Latin and involved holding fingers and kneeling before the master of the college, we returned to college where we celebrated with glasses of prosecco, a delicious buffet and strawberries and cream.  And more photo opportunities.

The history graduates

The Master of Eve's college is Dame Fiona Reynolds, the former Director General of the National Trust.  She is such a lovely woman, warm and friendly.  She made an effort to sit and chat to all the families.

The history graduates with the Master and tutors

I took so many photos of the day, well over three hundred, and it will be wonderful to look back over them all in years to come.

I apologise for the number of photos, but it was a fabulous day and I'm so proud of both my girls and all they have achieved.

Lovely Moments in Cambridge

I hope you all had a lovely weekend.  My Hubby and I spent the latter part of last week down in Cambridge.

It's Eve's final term (exams looming) so we thought it would be a nice idea to pop down and see her for a short while, just to give her some moral support.  Also, we know that once Eve has graduated, we probably won't be visiting Cambridge for quite some time, so it was an opportunity for us to have another good look around.

On the way we stopped off at Kimbolton.  It's a gorgeous picturesque village situated about thirty miles from Cambridge.  In the sixteenth century, Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, lived in Kimbolton Castle up to her death.  Unfortunately it isn't possible to visit the building, as it is now a school, but we did have a look around the old church.

We had a drink in this lovely old atmospheric pub before moving on to Cambridge.

Besides the obligatory walk along the river, we visited some of the colleges.  It's one of our favourite things to do.  We especially like to see the quieter colleges that are away from the tourist trail.  This time we visited Selwyn College, which is stunning, Newnham College and Homerton College.  All have beautiful gardens which we sat in and just enjoyed.

Selwyn College

Selwyn College Chapel

Newham College

Homerton College

We had an afternoon at Fenners Cricket Ground.  Very relaxing.

Our final afternoon was spent at the University Sports Ground watching the Varsity Athletics Competition.  It was lovely and sunny sitting on the grass bank at the side of the track.

Cambridge beat Oxford and Eve's housemate, Billy, won the 800 metres race, so there was plenty to cheer about.

It was wonderful to see Eve and be able to give her lots of hugs.  We had a lovely relaxing time and I had plenty of opportunities to knit and crochet.  This post, however, is already long enough, so I will talk about the knitting and crocheting another time.

In the meantime, if you are ever in Cambridge, I would strongly recommend a trip to The Elm Tree pub for a pint of plum mild - delicious.

Cheers!

Cambridge and some Knitting

Yesterday, we had one of our regular drives down to Cambridge, to take Eve back for her final term.  My, how time flies.

This was the last time we would be doing the journey there and back in one day - thank goodness.  We're planning to visit Eve sometime in May and stay a few days.  Then our final trip down will be at the end of June when we all go down for her graduation.

My husband and I share the driving, but I have to admit, he is very good and actually does the greater part.  This is wonderful for me as I can get some knitting done on the journey.

I'm currently working on another cardigan.

This cardigan is one of my patterns, Olivia.  I originally knitted this in a mohair yarn, but it shed so much it was unbearable.  I reknit it  in a pretty pink wool / acrylic mix DK yarn and it was perfect.

It is so easy to wear, I love it.  It's also amazingly quick to knit.  I've been meaning to make another one for ages but something else always took priority.  Finally I've made a start and I'm enjoying knitting it as much as the previous times.

I'm using yarn I've frogged from a previous knit that is now unloved.  The yarn is the discontinued Sirdar Balmoral, a wool, alpaca and silk mix.  I love this yarn as it doesn't seem to go bitty.  The yarn was originally knit up as Patsy, a pattern by Kim Hargreaves.  A lovely cardigan but I didn't wear it as much as I would have liked.

It's good to reuse yarn in this way, and I must admit that I enjoy frogging and reknitting more than I suspect I should.

Anyway, I've finished the back, left front and I'm almost done with the right front.  Should be finished shortly - I still can't believe how quick the knitting is.  And of course it's in my favourite colourway - a lovely berry colour.

Whilst in Cambridge yesterday, we had a walk around St John's College.  I leave you with some pictures I took.

As Eve said, when we arrived yesterday, Cambridge is so pretty.

Belated...

...good wishes for Mothers Day,  sorry I'm a day late.  I hope that Mums everywhere had a wonderful day, whether they were celebrating Mothers Day or not.  It's always good to make Mums feel appreciated, every day of the year.

Yesterday we drove down to Cambridge and back.  Time to collect Eve at the end of term (doesn't time fly?).  We stopped off at my Mum's for a quick visit on the way.

I knitted her this lacy shawl as a present.  

The pattern was from an old magazine with some modifications.

I loved knitting the lacy pattern and I think it looks really pretty.  The colours in the wool are gorgeous - lovely and fresh.

The reason I've been away from the blog for the last few days is because, having returned from my birthday celebrations in Lincoln, I caught a virus and lost all my energy for several days.

I'm not a good patient!  I hate being inactive.  Thankfully the worst is over now and I can feel my bounce returning.  I need to get back up to speed because it's Eve's 21st birthday this week.  There are some lovely treats planned, so we'll be doing lots of celebrating.  Bye for now.

Into the Woods and Out Again to Cambridge

Eve is now back in Cambridge and so, as Saturday was her last day at home, we tootled off to the cinema together to see Into the Woods.

I must admit I hadn't realised that this was a musical.  I hadn't given much thought as to what to expect of this film, other than Meryl Streep was playing the witch!

As soon as the first song started I knew this was going to be a good one.  The singing was excellent, the costumes just right.  Quite often funny, sometimes thought provoking but always interesting and enjoyable.  This Disney film is definitely worth a visit.

I can't get the songs out of my head, so I'm skipping along Into the Woods as I do my housework.

The journey down to Cambridge yesterday was uneventful but long, as always.  We only had a few hours in Cambridge before we had to drive back but we fitted in a walk along the river and a meal in our favourite pub.

So it's just the two of us again for the next nine weeks.  It'll take a few days to get used to it, but there's so much to occupy me I'm sure the time will fly.