Not only are the daffodils and the bluebells springing to life on the backs of the Cambridge Colleges as I daydream, and Robert Browning's lines,"oh to be in England, now that April's there", are going through my head, but now also an email from my alma mater plopped into my inbox this morning to alert me to the fact that
The 158th Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race will take place on Saturday 7th April at 9:15 A.M.
(obviously it will be about 2:15 in England!)
and the beauty of it is that it will be broadcast live on BBC America! Terrific!
Just wanted to alert you to this tidbit of Britannica (akin to Americana) that is taking place this weekend.
Obviously anyone with real taste and breeding will be rooting for the pale blues - Cambridge that is :)
On Saturday I will be watching the telly while wearing my Newnham scarf and rooting for my lads to cruise to victory under the Putney Bridge. Can't wait!
In what I hope is a non-arrogant kind of way I am pretty proud of the fact that I graduated fairly well from Cambridge University - a fine British establishment. Nostalgically and sentimentally I also remember that hubby and I were married at one of the college chapels so Cambridge holds a dear place in my heart. If ever I have any spare money I will bequeath it to my alma mater. I know Cambridge would like some money now but I am afraid they will have to wait until I peg out as there is none to spare currently!
Daughters #1 and 2 have been early indoctrinated to believe that Cambridge is better than Oxford and they are probably the only people under the age of 18 in a 30 mile radius of our house who know about the Oxford-Cambridge boat race, or even what the university is! Sadly, we never go back to Blighty any more so the long cherished dream I hold of walking with my children along the Backs or through my college's beautiful gardens, or riding bikes through the city's medieval streets will have to stay on the back burner for a while.
HOWEVER!!! I am thrilled to report that through the wonderful Cambridge in America initiative, St. John's College Choir will be performing at two different venues in Austin in April. Daughters #1 and 2 and I will so be there ('with bells on' as we say in England). I don't even mind that one of the performances is on a school night. I think it is important for my kiddoes to hear some beautiful music in eccelsiastical surroundings just as they would have been dragged to had we lived in England! Daughter #1 happens to really like good choral music - something I was surprised by when I found her listening to my collection on my I-pod. That particular apple didn't fall far from the tree!
I hope you enjoy this YouTube clip about the college and the choir!!
If you're in the Austin area let me know if you want me to get you tickets for the concert!
