Ladies and Gentlemen, we are floating in the Tram Depot

Where's Gareth when you need him?

Good to see our German friend Dr Stille back on the news again yesterday. He expressed a similar interest in experiencing a trip into space whilst at Anglia, and upon my recommendation, was last seen paying a visit to Dr Russell, branding his cheque book in his Kaiser-loving palm……

This week's caption competition

The above photographs are a metaphorical representation of a forthcoming event. So, what news am I trying to tell you, and how (precisely) am I trying to put it?

Entries on an email to the usual address.

And jolly good luck to them both.

Back in the USSR

The Kremlin

Don't forget the Frizz-ease, Bush

Just in case you were not aware, Bush starts her first day at school today, back at the Guardian which she originally left for the first time several years previously. It goes without saying that your corrospondent wishes her well, and looks forward to cosy lunches with the Bushmiester General now she is back in my manor.

Our photographer was on the doorstep to capture this momentous occasion, which I am delighted to reproduce here. Good luck Bush – hope you managed to decide what to wear.

With Friends like these

Oh yes, I remember it well

It’s amazing what the marketing men (and women, presumably) can do with the old Alma Mater if it’s given a lick of paint and the marketing department a video camera and a map of Cambridge. So, if you haven’t had an opportunuity to visit the Fens recently, here is a link to the ARU (as we must now call it) publicity video for the Cambridge campus as uploaded to Youtube. Someone appears to have forgotten to include footage of the Ooompah band and disco’s in the Locomotive, but other than that, it’s all there. Or not, as the case may have it.

Fancy that

Bush at Kenwood House, prior to being flushed and in full flow

The view from Bush's bedroom in Garden Walk

"Not quite what I had hoped for"

Christian in his garden last weekend, enjoying the spring weather

“Do you know, Matt”, Bush said the other day whilst we were walking at Kenwood House, “whenever I see the lake at Kenwood, I always think of the Pride and Predjudice themed fancy dress party we held at Garden Walk - I remember the occasion so well.”

Well, all of this was news to me, but Bush continued a pace, flushed and in full flow.

“Tim and Christian had a chat , and after Tim said he was going to come as Mr Bingley, Christian, who hadn’t seen the series said he would sort himself out and get something to compliment Tim. As such, I approached the evening in a state of fevered a excitement, and I must say Tim looked rather dashing when he arrived in his frock coat and stock. I was absolutely convinced I knew what Christian would come as, but imagine my surprise when he arrived with a suit, umbrella and bowler hat. I know Christian doesn't read much, but when I asked him why he had chosen the costume, such as it was, he replied “Well, as Tim came as Mr Bingley, I though I would come as Mr Bradford”. I have never been so disappointed in all of my life, Matt.”

Such is life, I thought, although she still appeared to have a rueful look in her eyes even after all of these years.

Forever in blue jeans?

They still fit....just

Comrade Brick, looking blooming marvelous

As the womb-cam at Yahya-Ralli Towers appears to be on the blink, here are two pictures to show the external progress of the Ralli pregnancy thus far. As you can see, our chum is still in swathed in denim on her bottom half, but cometh the hour, cometh the maternity smock, methinks. Rest assured, Peters Friends will be there to capture the decent into dresses resembling tents as (and when) it happens.

Out of your tree

One of the scenes of our misdemeanours

Identical cousins - Your corrospondent & Sober after a good lunch

Liz & Hannah at Quintin Boathouse

Not even the might of the Royal Marines could keep us out....

Sober, enjoying Xchanging's hospitality

The victorious Cambridge crew posing for your corrospondent

Cantabrian pride has been restored this weekend, as Cambridge won the 153rd University Boat Race by 1 ¼ lengths. Not that this necessarily matters a jot to people from Anglia, but this monumental feat was witnessed this weekend by your correspondent, accompanied by Liz & Sober and ably assisted by an old chum Hannah Reynolds, who some of you may recall. The day commenced with a splendid lunch at the Coach & Horses at Kew Green, attended by Comrade Ralli, who wisely ducked out of the main event as a result of a prior engagement.

The four of us then proceeded to secure access to the boat house at the finish of the race, but only at the third attempt, having got past 6 policemen and members of the Royal Marines, all of whom had been engaged to bar our progress, which was the source of much drink-fueled pride as you can imagine. Sober ended the day in Docklands, as a result of failing to disembark his tube train until he overshot his destination by 13 stops (unlucky for some), and arrived back in Swindon at 2.30am. Liz and I also missed our stop, and I chose to alight our subsequent Northern Line train one stop early, forgetting to take Liz with me and then neglecting to get back on for another 20 minutes for reasons I cannot recall, but which must have seemed pertinent at the time. Liz was sick, and the decorating was postponed, but we had a cracking time, as you can imagine. We were even chucked out of the Orange Tree in Richmond after the race. And that, as I can assure you, look some doing.....