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.

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!

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!

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.

7/7 Bombings

It’s is easy to think that America has been the only victim of terrorist attacks but on 7 July 2007, four suicide bombers set off 4 bombs and 52 people killed and over 700 injured in central London.

This was the deadliest terrorist attack in the United Kingdom since the Lockerbie bombings and deadliest bombing since WWII. It also killed more people than any single attack by the IRA.

One bomb went off on the underground (tube) just as it left the Liverpool Street station near the Monument to the Great Fire 1666. Another at Edgeware Road Station near Madame Tussauds and one that was between King’s Cross and Russell Square. The final bomb went off on a double decker bus in Tavistock Square, near King’s Cross.

Two weeks later on 21 July 2005, a second series of bombings took part on the London underground. However, none of the main detonators went off so luckily no one was killed. All of the failed suicide bombers escaped but were later arrested.

Although it was not on the same level of devastation, the British have also been targets for terrorism. They are also fighting alongside our troops. Please take a moment today in memory of all innocent victims of terrorism.

For more details, please visit this site.

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!!!

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!

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.

Book Review: Chavs: The Demonization of The Working Class by Owen Jones

I had heard of the book Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class by Owen Jones and was lucky enough to go see him speak at the Cambridge Festival of Ideas in 2013. I know I have a different interest in the way society works in the UK than the average person who will only be living here for 2-4 years but I thought I would tell you about this book anyway.

For this that do not know, chavs is a term that is often used to describe the types of people usually white lower or working class people that unfortunately that wear track suits and chains and other clothing usually displayed in American music videos.They are also usually also the people that get anti-social behavior order (ASBO) which is for being a nuisance.

Owen Jones is a political writer and he is a commuter for left-wing policies (way far more left than you will ever see in the US).

Chavs is a political book that goes through the issues that have come up after the closing of the mines in England and the society costs. While this might not be interesting to the common visitor, it is very important to understand because many Americans like Margaret Thatcher and are more prone to speak about their preference to the capitalist economic market. The people in the lower and working class are not usually fans of Margaret Thatcher as their communities have been left destitute and prone to unemployment because the industries that they used to work in have moved overseas and nothing has replaced them.

The book itself gives great historical reference to why things are the way that they are today. I found it interesting that before Margaret Thatcher two out of every five people used to live in a council house and now its one in every ten. Also you hear about the closing of the mines and the miner strikes but the news never really covers how the people were affected and how that affects the country. I can also see similarities to industrial cities in the United States and the issues seen there today. It allowed me to understand a section of England that I could not find in one place like this book does.

If you like politics and history or want to understand how things work in another country read this book. It is an easy read but really gets to the point. but I am a fan of Owen Jones and follow his articles which can be fond in both The Guardian and The Independent. 

I just thought I would put it out there!

Newmarket Nights

I love Newmarket Nights. It is a chance to get together with your friends, see some races (and maybe win) and go to concert. Where else can you do that?  During the summer, they usually have 6 Fridays that they have concerts.

We usually get tickets to the Garden Enclosure. They are the most affordable tickets, you can bring your own food and alcohol and it has a children’s area (playground and bouncing castle). When the races are over all the enclosures open up and everyone moves towards the stage to listen to the music.

It is a great way to get together with friends!

Council Housing and the Bedroom Tax

It is very easy to misunderstand a nation if the setup is not the same as your own. I say this because Britain is a socialist-democratic country. What does this mean? It means that it is still a democratic society where people can vote but the economic system is a mixture of capitalist and socialist.

I was trying to think about how to portray how this works to my readers, but because many of you belong to the military, you will understand more than others will because of how the military works. For instance, base housing is given out based on need and family size which is kind of how the council housing works.

Council Housing in Britain really came into its own after World War II. England had to rebuild more than a million houses after the war as many were destroyed by the bombs dropped by Germany. 80% of the houses were council houses.

Margret Thatcher was the one that opened the door for tenants to be able to buy their council house with her right-to-buy scheme. This made council house less available and instead of building more homes with the money made, it was hoped that the housing development industry would take over and create more affordable housing. Unfortunately this did not happen in as large of a scale as it was expected and there is a busing shortage. This is why housing is so expensive.

As you can see from my other posts, it hasn't, instead it has driven house prices up. Although when housing developments are built they are mandated to build a portion of "affordable housing" in them.

At one point two in every five people lived in a council house and today it is one in ten. The people that bought their houses have sold up and moved away. So in many places, the people that have been left behind had low paying jobs, were on benefits and often suffered from drug and alcohol problems.

This is a good place for an overview of council housing history in Britain.

If you have taken onboard some of my tips of how to live like a local then you have been of course watching the news and listening to the radio. Recently there has been a debate on how to rectify the shortage of council housing. Some people have lived in their homes for more than 20 years and now they have too much room for their requirements. So the government decided that in order to make home available, they would start charging people more if they lived in a home surplus to their needs. This has been coined "The Bedroom Tax".

The idea was the people get paid money for their housing benefit. This is given to the poorest people. They would not require such big homes and they would then be saving money. People would have the space that they need and the government would be saving money.

Sounds great on paper doesn't it? The problem is that it hasn't worked out the way it was intended. The problem is that the councils do not have homes to offer the people to move into so that they could free up homes for the other people. Therefore they started paying the people less and then those people are unable to make up the difference (£14 per week they lost) and not are behind in their rents.

I just thought I would briefly cover council housing as it is not something we have in the US.

Book Review: Future Homemakers of America by Laura Graham

The Future Homemakers of America should be read by all women stationed or wives of personnel stationed in the UK. The reason for this is that it gives the background information of what the women who were here in 1953 experienced. It follows four women who were living in Norfolk and their lives both on and off base. I feel that those associated with the military will really identify with the women and their families.

I also think that it makes the ones here today appreciate how far England has come in this time as well. It also compares the way the people lived in the base housing provided to them with how the locals were living at the time. It is often still hard today to understand the change that England went through after WWII because America was not affected in the same way.

I think it is a book that you will enjoy and a must read!

Hillsborough Tragedy

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Tragedy. If you have been listening to the news lately, you will have heard about it but maybe not know what it was all about and why something that took place is still be so important.

I work with a guy who loves football and his team is Liverpool. I do my best to stay on top of football and feel lucky I played soccer as a child so I know a bit of what I am talking about. How am I doing Daniel?

Anyways. On April 15, 1989 there was a game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough ground. They were competing in the semi-finals for the 1989 FA Cup. If you have not been to a football game in the UK, they group the supporters by teams to prevent any altercations. I have heard of people buying tickets on base for football games for 'neutral areas' but these do not exist so be advised.

So the Liverpool fans were going into their designated entrance. The turnstiles were slow to let people in and so fans were starting to push to get in. At that time most places were just standing, there wasn't any seating as seen today. After this tragedy that is when seating became common place. There was fencing put between the crowd and the pitch to prevent spectators from going on the field. It was more first come, first serve. The pens behind the goal filled up first.

The police allowed another gate to be opened to relieve the stress on the people trying to get in. That gate lead people into the pens behind the goal which were already too full. People began to climb the fence to get into the pens next to their which were not as full.

The game started and six minutes into it, the fence of one of the pens behind the goal fell over because of all the people. 96 people died as a result of overcrowding and only 14 made it to a hospital. It is still being talked about because there was a huge cover-up with the police and emergency responders because their response was slow.

The Sun reported the fans were said to have been drunk, urinating on the police and rescue workers and pick-pocketing the victims. The Sun is not sold in most newsagents in Liverpool still to this day despite them apologising for their article.

Only recently they have decided that they are going to do another full inquiry into this because of the covering up and false reports that has recently come to light. This will never bring these people back, many were children, but hopefully they will get the justice and truth that they are looking for.

On Sunday, Liverpool won against Manchester City and the football captain, Steven Gerrard, had a tear in his eye. He said "I'm speaking on behalf of everyone when I say the win was dedicated to the victims and families of Hillsborough." In fact, he lost his cousin, Jon-Paul Gilhooley, who was 10 years old and the youngest person to die in this tragedy.

Here is a good timeline of what happened.

Wooden Spoon

One of the traditions surrounding weddings, and a good idea if you are sending something to someone, is the wedding spoon.

I received two for my wedding, and they are in the picture. I got one from a guest at my wedding and the other was given to me by my Brownie pack.

Brides were given spoons to use in their kitchen for her new husband.

You may have seen love spoons which come from Wales and were given to women by their admirers and she kept the one from the suitor she liked best.

You can get some really nicely carved ones and I can almost guarantee that it will be an unique gift!

Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race

It is no secret that Cambridge and Oxford compete in education but they also have an annual boat race where they battle it out to come out on top.

This year’s boat race is taking place on 6 April 2014 at 14:15. The race is on the River Thames.

The first race started 12 March 1829 and has become a tradition as it comes into its 159th year. The race still follows its historical route and up to 250,000 viewers come to watch it.

I just learned that Hugh Laurie from House took part in the 1980 race.

Cambridge is in the lead 81-77.

So come down and support Cambridge!

Please go to this website that has great information on where you can view the race, where it starts and finishes and more information about its history.

Saving money on days out

I love to get out and about but it can get expensive. Here are ways that I save money on my outings:

1. Become a member. If you are going to going to sights become a member. I recommend doing English Heritage one year and National Trust another. They have different types of sights so they are worth it. Also you get free parking at their locations. Another one that is worthwhile it the Historic Royal Palace Membership. You get into Tower of London ,Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace.
2. Take advantage of Heritage Open Days. These are every September and sometimes you get to see things that are not open all of the time. They are also free!
3. In Cambridge, there is a Bridge The Gap walk. This is a great way to view the colleges as you get into over 10 for a round £15!
4. Also if you live within 12 miles of the St Mary's Church, you can get into Kings College for £10 for 3 years! You just have to get a resident's card.
5. Go to local events. I love to go when there is a local festival. You don't have to buy anything but I just like to have a wander.
6. Bring a picnic. I usually pack something to eat while I am out and about. Also bring a water bottle, there is always somewhere to fill up. You can even bring food in to the cinema as long as it is not hot.
7. Remember when I said collect your Tescos Club Card  and Nectar points and not use them on food? You get a better value if you use them for days out. I always try to see where we can go on a voucher. 
8. Many museums are free and really good ideas for rainy days!
9. Go for walks, there are so many footpaths, look one up and get out there!

Hope this gets you started on planning your next day out!

Kimx

American to Britain

The Lent and May Bumps

This is another interesting tradition in Cambridge which dates back to the 1820s. For those of you that don’t know rowing is very important in Cambridge University. They have an annual race against Oxford.

The bumps take place in the Late Lent Term and the May Bumps after the May Term. These terms are unique to Cambridge and Oxford as they run based on the Christian Calendar and with the Christian Holidays.

They also have the annual bumps that are races between the colleges.

At the bumps the 17 or 18 boats line up the River Cam from Jesus Green all the way to Baits Bite lock. Once the small cannon is fired, the boats try to bump the boat in front of them before the one behind them bumps them.

The bumps are held over four days and if the boat bumps another boat, they move up in the line on the next day. The starting order is based on the place they finished on the previous year. The crew that moves up 4 spot s or maintain their place at the head of the line will burn a boat at the finale.

If you want to watch the bumps, you can go along the River Cam and do so. It is advisable that you be careful when watching the less experienced teams as they might end up on the river bank. Afterwards you can go to the Plough in Fen Ditton and have a pint and many of the crews might be joining you.

Its traditions like this that make me love England and Cambridge.

I have the Downtown Abbey bug

I never really got into Downtown Abbey until it had already been on for a while and only wanted to watch it from the beginning. Luckily I got the first series for 2 pounds on a FB group and then signed up for a free months trial via Netflix, I was able to catch up while on my break for Christmas (my work closes down from Christmas to New Years :).

Why I like it and think it is worth any American to watch it:

1. I like that the mom (Lady Grantham) is American. This is true because many British married rich Americans because although they had the titles and the manor houses, they did not have the money to maintain these properties and the lifestyles.
2. It takes you through the history which many people may not be aware of. Such as the women's right to vote (Emily Pankhurst who was trampled under the King's race horse while protesting for women's rights.) Downtown Abbey being used for the war effort, many estates were used for several functions then.
3. It reflects both the upper and lower classes and how life was for them.
4. The family is likeable, they treat their servants well and that makes you like them more. They aren't perfect and that made me like them even more.
5. It made me laugh.

I have already told Jon that he can expect us to go visit Downtown Abbey. I will write about it when we do!

Otherwise, I suggest if you like Britain, history and drama, Downtown Abbey is a must!

Ring around the Rosey

"Ring around the rosey" is a nursery rhyme and a game that we grew up with but do we know the origins of the rhyme?

The poem dates back to around the first Black Death in 1347. The first line is, "Ring around the Rosey," talks about the swelling on a lymph node called a bubo which looks like a ring. The center goes black and makes a rosey.

The victims would stick so healthy people would bring them a "Pocket full of posies."

The original third line is "Atch chew! Atch chew!" This was changed in America to "Ashes! Ashes!" so people thought it was tied to cremation but instead goes to the next symptom the victim would have, a sneezing fit.

Of course the last line, "we all fall down!," eludes the final stage of the victim dying from their affliction.

Old Bailey

The Old Bailey is one of the most famous courts in the world. Generally the more high profile and/or dangerous criminals cases are handled here.It was also built on the site of the old Newgate Prison.

You are able to walk around the place and sit in court cases for free. I would not suggest that you visit here between 24 December to 2 January as most cases are closed or delayed for the Christmas break.

It is within walking distance of St Pauls.