Cambridge Ghost Tours

I was very lucky to be able to go on a tour with Cambridge Ghost Tours.

Cambridge is a medieval city with great stories about ghosts and the place to hear them is with Cambridge Ghost Tours. Our tour guides, Fenella and Tom had really great personalities which made this tour so enjoyable.

I have been on previous ghost tours in Cambridge. In my opinion, this was much more exciting. They were not just giving you a tour of places, pointing out places that ghosts had been reported about anyone can do that. Instead they tell in such a way that you don't want the tour to end.

This is child friendly and they can curtail the information to suit the youngest person. The youngest on our tour was 8 years old. But of course that is a decision that you will have to make.

Also, as an American I find some tours presume you know who or what they are talking about. This was not the case with Cambridge Ghost Tours. I would be confident to say that even if you do not know who they are talking about, they explain it so you will.

I would hands down recommend Cambridge Ghost Tours as a different way to see the city (and the best ghost tour in town!). They also have special Halloween events- if you are brave enough!

The tour happens rain or shine so dress appropriately! It rained during our tour but it added to the ambiance.

Byron- Proper Hamburgers

We were going into town to go on a Cambridge Ghost Tour, so we thought we would eat before hand. A new restaurant has popped up on Bridge Street in Cambridge. If you are looking for the American burger in the United Kingdom, Byron Burger is the place to go!

It feels like an American diner, as you see in the picture below. It serves American sodas and beers. You can get a root beer float from here! I had a cream soda (proper American cream soda high fructose corn syrup and everything! Okay actually I had two- that ruined my no caffeine rule!) and my hubby have a Brooklyn beer now that he has had a taste while we were in New York City. They serve a range of hamburgers, the American way with American style sides. It was great! Jon is a lover of burgers as it is and I usually eat them when out due to my allergy so we were happy.

They had plenty of staff so you were never waiting too long to be served or get another drink. They were super friendly and attentive. It was a comfortable place to go to. It was also affordable. Not a dinner that will break the bank, just the way I like it!

The sign says Byron- Proper Hamburgers and it is 100% correct! I feel as an American I have the qualifications to make this judgement :) I have a place to go when I am home sick and just need a proper hamburger.

Philippa Gregory

If you have been following my Facebook page, you know that I am a fan of Philippa Gregory. I have not read all of her books yet. That is on my list to do when I am finished with my degree (only 3 more classes but who is counting!).

Last night I was able to attend a sold out event held by Topping & Company in Ely where Philippa Gregory talked about her new book, The King's Curse, which is about the curse placed on Henry VIII and his failure to produce a male heir. Philippa is a historian that brings it to life. So I was so excited to meet her and get her to sign a copy for myself and one of my sisters-in-law for Christmas. Don't worry she doesn't read my blog.

I was thinking last night and I think that it was a mix of Philippa's books and living in England that got me interested in history. I have always been an avid reader, well not so much since I started school again, but I just cannot get enough of a good story or finding out something new. I have a dresser full of books that I will start to read at the end of November and I can't wait.

The first book that I read of Philippa's was The Other Boleyn Girl, which was later made into the film which was also filmed in Ely Cathedral. It is the story of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, from the perspective of Mary Boleyn, her older sister and the king's mistress. What I loved so much about this book and all of the other ones I have read was that Philippa takes the historical facts that we know and fills it in with how things happened in a believable story. So you are learning about the events but feel like you know these historical people personally.

Reading her books have made me such an expert on Henry VIII at pub quiz it is my area of expertise.

I think that lead me to love England and its history so much that I wanted to do a degree in history and hopefully will improve my blog. I promise to pay it more attention after it is all said and done, I have a lot of ideas that I am writing down.

If you find history books boring but want to still learn about it, I definitely recommend reading her books, she make history delicious!

Misfits

Yesterday I caught up on the Misfits series on Netflix awaiting our storm that did not come. I remember when I first started watching it. My husband used to go to pub quiz on Thursdays and he would come home and all I could talk about how great this show was. He was not sure he would like it because it was based on young delinquents in London. Once he started watching it, he was hooked.

The storyline is that there are five delinquents who have been sentenced to community service. There was a huge storm and it gave nearly everyone a super power. I think it was whoever was outside when the lightning struck. This quite clever because any new person that comes in show can almost have any power such as going into the past, bringing people back from the dead (but you have to kill them as they become zombies of course!), hearing what people think, seeing through walls, etc.

I think that this is a great example of British tv. This show is a dark comedy. It has a lot of violence, sex and shocking vulgar language ( and I worked on the flightline so hard to shock me) but it is fantastically written. It is not intelligent humor like most of the shows have but it is not slapstick either. Every show keeps you wanting more. Despite some of the characters being violent, you like them because they crack you up.

I would say it is more of a lad's show but the women are just as tough as they are! I enjoy it!

I can't wait to see the rest of the series as I am caught up to Series 4.

Whittlebury Spa

I spent yesterday at the spa with my friend Laura for her 30th birthday. We went up to The Day Spa at Whittlebury Hall. It was about 1.5 hours drive from my house in Cambridge. I had never been there before but Laura had been there for a work do.



The Whittlesbury Hall is a purpose built spa place. You can stay overnight and they also golfing so perfect for a couple with different interests!

We each paid £99 for our day there which included: Two Course Buffet Lunch, full use of the Heat & Ice Experiences (hot tubs and saunas) and Leisure Club and we each had two 50 minute treatments (you choose from a selection). There were rooms that you could rest in on sun loungers, the whispering room with waterbeds and quiet area to read and a cafe to chat with your friends.

You are given a time to arrive and they will tell you when your treatments and lunch is scheduled for. You will be given a wristband for you locker where you will find your robe. I really liked this because only women could get into the ladies changing room and you knew your things were secure.

We spent time wandering all of the room and testing them out. We never got a chance to try out the swimming pool in the leisure centre bit but we would have also been able to workout if we wanted to or taken a fitness class (you have to pay more for that).

The food was served as a buffet and they were willing to make me something not on the buffet to accommodate my allergies. I made Laura a cake and they brought it out and even sang her "Happy Birthday!" So that was really nice of them!

My foot is on the right in sandals I wore in Laura's wedding :)

We also got pedicures (not included). You can book additional treatments on the day or beforehand. They were very professional and we were very happy with the results!

So initially when you think about all that you get for £99, it is quite a bargain. I love the Aqua Sauna at Centre Parcs but you pay £69 for access to their rooms and lunch but it does not include any treatments, it is worth the drive and the money to go to Whittlebury Hall for special occasion such as an anniversary (yes men can go too), hen night or a big birthday!

At the end of the day we were so relaxed we were not sure we should drive home :)

Bridge the Gap Walk

The Bridge the Gap Walk is an annual fund raising event that takes place in Cambridge.

If you are looking for an easy way to take part in an charity event, this is for you.

It is a 5 mile walk that goes through Cambridge and over 10 of the colleges.

It is also a great way to see the colleges for a small price. It has a lovely atmosphere and is something I will take part in year after year.

See you next year!

Great Barrow Challenge.

Looking for a challenge? Come join us on the Great Barrow Challenge.

The challenges are:

• Walk - 6,10,15 or the full 26.5 miles

• Run - 6,10,15 or the full 26.5 miles

• Marathons- 26, 262 or 524 125 miles

The event will start and finish each day at The Academy Health & Fitness Centre in Barrow. Each day will be a different route which will consist of both road and off-road terrain, while taking in the beautiful Suffolk countryside.

The Great Barrow Challenge is for both civilian and military individuals and teams.
So come and join us to see a view of England you can't replicate and challenge yourself.

Robin Hood Festival

Last Year Jon and I were in Nottingham at the same time as the Robin Hood Festival was going on in Sherwood Forest. It was great to see all the little children dressed as Robin Hood and Maid Marion.

Sherwood Forest is about 40 minute drive from Nottingham and Nottingham is about a 2 hour drive from Cambridge. While this was a great time to see Sherwood Forest, I would suggest not driving all the way from the bases for the day to see the Robin Hood Festival.

The festival going on made the trip to Sherwood Forest worth it because otherwise you just go see the Major Oak. There were all sorts of displays, falconry, jousting, games and other stalls. It was free to attend but you had to pay for parking. You could make this an affordable day by packing your own picnic and then let the children run free.

Also take them walking around Sherwood Forest and see the Major Oak.

Great festival but a bit of a drive for one day.

Perkins Great Eastern Run- Peterbourgh Half MArathon

The Perkins Great Eastern Run is a half marathon in Peterbourgh. It is a really nice one as it is relatively flat. It takes place in October and is one of the ones I enjoyed the most because it was also only one loop. If you are looking to have a PB, this is the one for you.

Sandringham Flower Show

Want to see Prince Charles and The Duchess of York? The best way to do this is to go to the Sandringham Flower Show in the 25th July 2012from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.


It’s a great event to bring the children to. There are exhibits of horses and other displays like aerobatics teams, dog shows and bands and of course flower displays from the Women’s Institute (you might know about them through the movie Calendar Girls).

It’s only a 45 minute drive from base.

The Sandringham Estate is open to take a stroll. Sandringham Estate is where the Royal Family spends their Christmas and attend Christmas service at Church of St Mary Magdalene which is also usually open to visit.

I asked the question of where the Queen sits as she is the Head of the Church of England and the answer is she sits up front with the priest and other clergy members.

So take the day off and see how close you can get to royalty.

Maize Maze

The Milton Maze is made out of corn stalks and is open every year. Since this year is the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the theme is of course the Battle of Britain.

They are open from 18 July to 3 September from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Rectory Farm, Landbeach Road
Milton, Cambridge, CB24 6DA.

Why don't the English celebrate the 4th of July?

I remember the first time I took my husband to his first fourth of July celebration and when my jaw dropped as an American asked him the question "Why don't the British celebrate the 4th of July?".  I thought the answer was quite obvious but I suppose it isn't.

As Americans, we celebrate the 4th of July because it is the day in 1776 we adopted the Declaration of Independence which was finally signed by all members on 2 August 1776. The colonists felt that they wanted to become independent because the King in Great Britain was raising their taxes and increasing the rules that they had to follow.

The reason why I think it is obvious is because as Americans we would not celebrate the Independence of Guam or other territories that we have. 

But don't worry there will be plenty of celebrating here on the bases, every year RAF Feltwell host a huge event with fireworks, airshow and of course rides!

Happy Fourth of July!!!

Fitting into your village

As you may now, I have just moved into a local village just outside of Cambridge. Now village life is different from city life even in the UK.

The chances are you are going to be bumping into the same people over and over again so you have tailor your approach to getting to know people.

One thing that I suggest is keeping an eye out for local events. For instance, my village has a local fun fare on the village green this week. Next week is a bake off and there are other ones that come up over the year. Go to them, people are often very friendly at these things- even the British! I can only say that because I am married to one. For some reason, in these circumstances they feel more free to chat to people they don't know so it might be okay to talk to people in lines here but not at the line at the bank. Not sure what but that is the way it is.

The second thing is to use your local shops. Save yourself time, gas and sometimes money by shopping in your local shops. It is good to support the local communities as it gives a good impression of the American presence in the area and it helps to keep the things open that you love. Also in my own opinion, I think that the vegetables and meat are way better than anything you get on base at the commissionary. I am a "cook from scratch" kind of girl but the British call it just cooking so no readymade meals or Hamburger Helper for me, you can make your own. Also it gets you a bit more engrained in the local area instead of hugging to the Little America.

The third thing you can do is volunteer. A few weeks ago I heard that one of the Rainbow (Girl Guides = Girl Scouts) packs were going to have to close if they did not get leaders to take over. I am already a Brownie leader in the village over from mine. I would hate to see it close so I have told them that I would fit it in. You might be able to help your village out with something like this. Then you get to know a few people. One of the girls lives on my road and her dad works with my husband.

I have a dog and for whatever reason people will talk to you more if you have a dog than if you don't. I am not sure why but even when walking in Cambridge strangers would stop me all of the time but I guess that is the life of a golden retriever owner! I walk Dusty in the morning and in the afternoon and we are always talking to people. So I suggest walking your dog regularly and meet people.

Give it a chance. I know it takes a long time to fit in. I belonged to my sailing club for 3 years before I felt like one of the gang so I am going to assume that this will be the same. The good thing about being an American is that we are naturally warm and friendly and that can work to your advantage. The British will go at their own pace to getting to know you, but once they do, you will not be able to get rid of them!

Put your face out there :)

Kimx

American to Britain

Spartan Race

The Spartan Race is an obstacle running event. It takes running to a whole other level. There are crawling obstacles, climbing, shocking and fire! It is a great way to switch up your running and see how fit you are!

Ladies Day at the Newmarket Races

I love Ladies Day at the Newmarket Races.

Ladies Day is great event. The women wear dresses and their hats. There is a competition for the best dressed (you have to register). One year the prize was for champagne for a year.

Many have a picnic in the parking lot and bet on the horses. It happens every July.

It's a great reason to get your girlfriends together, get dresses up and drink some bubbly.

Cambridge Shakespeare Festival

I always wanted to go to the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival but never got around to getting there until last year. It is one of the best art festivals in the UK and if you buy the season ticket like I did, it makes it more cost effective. I bought two of the season tickets which allowed me to go to 3 plays, each costing £37 and one ticket costing £15 so it saved me £8 in the end. I went with my husband to one, and took some friends to the others. 

This is outdoors so you can bring a blanket and a picnic. It does go on if it rains! There are also some seats but you will have to get there early to ensure that you get one!

I really like it, it makes going to see things like this affordable. I like going to the theatre and I like that these are in the gardens of the colleges in Cambridge.

I think this may be an annual thing for me!

Alzheimer Research Big Walk

Jane and I joined the first Big Walk and really enjoyed ourselves. It was a 10 mile walk from Great Shelford to Cambridge and back. The paths were very easy to walk and I think that this is the perfect distance for someone who is looking for a challenge but doesn't want to overexert themselves. Remember to bring water and put on some sunscreen!

Jesus Green Lido

So the weather in England doesn't always make having an outdoor pool a sensible thing. There are some but the term for an outdoor pool is lido.

In Cambridge, they have the Jesus Green Lido located on Jesus Green. It is a 100m long pool, and is very col because of the size of it but great on a hot day! It is usually open from the late May Bank Holiday to the end of September. Other that this pool, I cannot think any other local outdoor pools in the area.

Madingley American Memorial Cemetery

If you are American, you must visit the Madingley American Memorial Cemetery. Its is best to take it in at a ceremony on Veteran's Day or Memorial Day where they often have a fly by. But it is the most serene place.

This is the only cemetery in the UK dedicated to Americans who fought in WWII. There is a long wall with the names of 5,126 names of those lost in action.  There are four different statues for all the services. and this is inscribed on the top of the wall:

THE AMERICANS WHOSE NAMES HERE APPEAR
WERE PART OF THE PRICE THAT FREE MEN
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THIS CENTURY
HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PAY TO DEFEND
HUMAN LIBERTY AND RIGHTS
ALL WHO SHALL HEREAFTER LIVE IN FREEDOM
WILL BE HERE REMINDED THAT TO THESE MEN
AND THEIR COMRADES
WE OWE A DEBT TO BE PAID
WITH GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THEIR SACRIFICE
AND THE HIGH RESOLVE THAT THE CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY DIED
SHALL LIVE ETERNALLY

The Chapel is very nice as well. Inside, there is something for all religions in there. The  stain glass in the windows are of the 50 US stats listed in order of joining the Union. There is a map of the the shipping lanes during the war and bombing targets. On the outside of the chapel, there is a map of the American airfields in the UK during the war. 

There are over 3,800 Americans men and women buried in this cemetery. There are 24 graves that have not been positively identified.

If you need a reminder on why you are stationed here, this is a good one that is not to be missed. It makes me proud to have served my country.

Theatre

If you like to go to the theatre like I do, it can get expensive so here are some tips that I use:

• Sit in restricted seating. At the Cambridge Arts Theatre, there are 3 seats on each side of the upper circle that are cheaper , I always get these seats and move if it is not crowded that night.
• If you can buy a pass, go for it. At the Shakespeare Festival in Cambridge, they allow you to buy a 3 or 6 play pass. This means you can go without booking a day, so if it is raining, then you can go another day since they are outside. Works out cheaper per play!
• I got a good deal to go see Wicked in London from Get into London Theatre in February.
• In London you can get half-price last minute tickets at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square from 10 am on the day you want tickets. The earlier you get there the better the seats!
• I work fulltime so I can't do this but you can go to the earlier shows and the tickets are often less.
• If you go to London by the train, you can get 2 for 1 tickets.
• Go to the theatre on the day and see if they have any going for a discounted rate.
• You should use smaller theatres. Often there are traveling groups so you can see the same play at the Theatre Royale in Bury St Edmunds for less than at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. It doesn't make sense for me all of the time because I cycle into town but if you are driving it might be worth it!
• If you just like going to the theatre, there are some amateur dramatic groups you can go see locally:
• ADC in Cambridge
• Mumford Theatre in Cambridge
• Newmarket Kings Theatre
• The Maltings in Ely

I hope you find these ideas help you go to a show!