Settling in

 

No correspondence from England would be proper without first mentioning the weather(!), so, we have had a splendid September so far--warm and sunny, and we have had most of our meals out in our garden. However, the weather has just started to turn a little colder and rainy the last couple of days.

The moose has been up to Cambridge a few times this month. It became clear immediately that he would need a bike, and we have now purchased a folding bike which he can take on the trains. Having a bike in London has been a joyful experience for him, as well as shortening his travel times considerably! It has also provided (we assume) amusement to fellow train passengers as they have watched him try to fold/unfold it; the record is 7 or 8 seconds--he isn't there yet!

The moose's first commute from the Cambridge train station on a bike resulted in him following the tow path next to the river past the bridge he was looking for and straight outside of the city limits quite a ways before he consulted his phone--freedom and ability to enjoy a fine morning and the countryside!

The dipper has been exploring museums and libraries. She is enjoying studying the ivories, enamels, engravings, icons and other works of art. One of her favorite Byzantine artworks so far in her museum explorations is an annunciation which is quite small--only about 6 inches tall. It is a mosaic, and the tesserae are unbelievably tiny, allowing impressive detail. She is still marveling over it and is a bit confounded as to how the tesserae were cut and laid.

 We have also been enjoying catching up with friends, including spending a lovely weekend at our friends, the Davies-Scourfields. They live in the countryside outside of Cambridge, and took us to an open day at their local hunt stables. We had a chance to visit the hounds, watch a sheep-herding trial exhibition, visit a hunting eagle, see a horse shod, and take a ride around the estate to see and hear about the farming. Sadly, we didn't take many photos. We should have got some of the hounds, which were much bigger than we thought they would be. Here are the two we did get:

Ferrier shoeing a horse

Our friend Gwyn.

We head to Italy on Monday. Orientation at the Courtauld begins on the 26th. Can't wait!

Hope all is well with all of you. Please do send us your news!