Cambridge MGA Conference in England

So we arrived at the old hotel The Royal Cambridge where we would be for three nights during the MGA Conference.

Botanical Gardens  * St. Johns College Chapel & Backs * King's College Chapel

King's Parade * Clare College from the Backs

Royal Cambridge Hotel where we checked in and then walked around in Cambridge...

Just click the link and for learning more about its ancient history, click on my comment.
We ended the day on a terrace while savoring a shared ice cream, big enough for two people!
Then we went to our twin bed... We were very close and laughed as we sure did not request this!
We walked next morning on Thursday, September 26, 1985 the 10 minutes to hotel Garden House where the Conference was being held.
The ladies started at 9:30 a College Tour on foot.
From above post card at the top right you can see King's College Chapel where we went for a tour.
Built in 1446 with the longest 180 meter nave within Europe and without pillars!

King's College Chapel (click on link) took over a century to build.

It might not be called a Cathedral but its grandeur sure measures up.
We had a coffee in King's College at 10:30 and we went back to Garden House Hotel for lunch at 12:30.
In the afternoon I went shopping with husband Pieter and found a gift for our sister-in-law.
We met with our Hungarian friend and many more from other countries.
Great first day till 23:00.
Next day I went with Pieter to the lectures at 9:15.
Lunch outside in the sun and with Pieter to the center, finding a new battery for Pieter's Rado watch.
Also found a knickerbocker for myself in green.
We had gotten a nice tip for taking a short cut to the hotel, through the meadow!

Queen's and King's Colleges, Cambridge...

After changing into long evening attire, we left for the Banquet at King's College.

It was a very formal and beautiful event!

It was my first time to be announced as GUEST together with Pieter, a ceremonial where the person in charge is holding a wooden staff (like a crosier but with a knob) and loudly calls out: 
Mr. & Mrs Vedder...
By 23:30 we went back to our hotel, through the meadow...
Next morning after breakfast we packed up and checked out to go back to Gatwick and flying to Amsterdam for a short family and friends visit!

Thanks for your visit and comment.

Related links:
St. Ives - Cambridgeshire, England | previous post by me
My Visit to Castle Howard & Minster of York, England | previous post by me
Cambridge Conference and Newmarket Race Horses, England | Another post about stay in Cambridge

Spoiled Fur Babies Chilling Out

On February 18 and 19, it was weather for hibernating... windy and rainy.

So what better to do than chilling out in the living room?!

Leave me alone Mom, put that stupid iPhone away!

That's what Speckie girl said on February 19...

February 18, in the evening and raining...

Husband Pieter with Barty on his lap, Spooky at his side and one little girl; Tiggy-Tiger on the top of the leather back seat.

Those Fur Babies Know all about Chilling Out!

Tuesday, February 19, our Speckie girl was too lazy to open up both eyes... Haha!

Poor babies, they have such a rough life!

Hope you all stay cozy on rainy and windy days!

Thanks for your visit and comments.

St. Ives - Cambridgeshire, England

One night in hotel near Leeds airport and next day by train to Huntingdon after visiting mushroom friends. At least, that yielded me a nice tour of Castle Howard & Minster of York in September, 1985.
Too bad we had to leave mid afternoon by train...
We got picked up at the Huntingdon train station by someone from the Hensby Compost Ltd.
We got dropped off at motel Saint Ives in St. Ives.
We would be there for two nights.

A lovely place St. Ives

Saint Ives Motel in Cambridgeshire

River Ouse
Huntingdon Bridge         Godmanchester Bridge
Hinchingbrooke House
After breakfast we got picked up by Ian Hensby and went to their Compost place, only five minutes from our motel.

After lunch at a medieval restaurant we did visit a mushroom grower in Cambridgeshire and also a very large mushroom farm in Norfolk.
This photo is from some mushroom sheds where Pieter had climbed on the water tower to have an overview.
Ian briefly went home for a change and we went out for dinner at Pike and Eel Hotel and Marina in Needingworth with a group of twelve. A delicious meal!

Pike and Eel Hotel and Marina in Needingworth click link
Ian's Parents, Ferd and Sylvia Hensby did bring us back in their Rolls Royce to our motel.
Next day we got picked up by someone from Hensby at 10:00 after we had checked out.
From Hensby Compost Ltd. Pieter left with them for a mushroom farm-walk as part of the MGA conference.
Meanwhile I stayed with Elizabeth, the Scottish wife of Hensby's financial man, Gerard Baker.
We walked through St. Ives and I bought postcards, my Mom collected them and I always got her some nice ones.
After lunch Elizabeth and her husband Gerry walked with me alongside the river.
Pieter joined us by 18:30 and we both had supper at the Scottish couple's home.
After supper we left for Cambridge to check into our hotel...
Will show you next!

Thanks for your visit and comment.

Sadly in the February issue uploaded by the ISMS 1997-2 The Mushroom Journal we read about 

Gerry' passing following a gallant struggle with cancer... Too young at age 56!

May he R.I.P.!

Related link:

My Visit to Castle Howard & Minster of York, England | previous post by me