I used to dread this time of year. The fading light, the shorter days, the colder weather, needing more fingers than I have on one hand to count how many months before it gets vaguely warmer. But that’s all changed, and now I love November. What made the difference was moving here, to Cambridge, five and a half years ago, and being able to reframe a miserable season into one of the most special and atmospheric.
Another lovely Sunday morning read - thank you Jane. ‘The Lost Pianos of Siberia’ is great - an attempt to trace the pianos taken to Siberia by the exiled Decembrists, mixing history, music and travel writing.
I spent a year in Cambridge as a post grad and met my husband who both grew up and studied in Cambridge. We visit frequently as my mother - in - law still lives in the city. I love it for all the reasons you’ve pointed out. Also, where else can one find cows in a meadow in the middle of a city?!
I’ll often go Christmas shopping in Cambridge as it’s only an hour or so from where I live in North London and all the shops I need to access are concentrated in a far smaller area. I love Cambridge market for fresh produce, too. I can then go to Evensong at one of the colleges before driving home.
I lived and worked in Cambridge for four wonderful years; open air Shakespeare in the Botanic gardens; walking by the river; lights glittering off the wet cobbles; timed commuter one way systems on Silver st.; Kettle’s Yard; bizarre jazz in pubs; the Corn Exchange; golden ginkgo trees in autumn; the feeling that ideas were important and that anything was possible. Still miss it.
Sitting here in Tasmania, Australia early on what promises to being a glorious late spring day, reading your post and being transported to the life of my late Mum. She was born & lived in Wilburton and went to school and worked in Ely. Her family had lived in Fens for generations. She met my Dad, an Australian, who was posted to RAF Mepal, during WWII and came to Australia as a war bride. While we visited the area with Mum over the years it was her remembering of her other life that bought it to life for me and your post resonates so clearly. Thank you.
Dear Jane, what a wonderful treat to find new Yarnstorm (via Persephone books). I loved and have missed old Yarnstorm, and refer to The Gentle Art of Domesticity often. Perhaps you remember when I brought my Phoebe (then a baby) to Loop in Islington to give you a pair of socks for your Phoebe. My Phoebe is a teenager now and I see that yours is of course an adult! Best wishes: I will keep reading. Anna
Also local to the Cambridge area is www.hazelpress.co.uk do contact us as we are also knitters! An uplifting November ramble around Cambridge through your eyes...wonderful and thank you, daphne@hazelpress.co.uk
Realising afresh the joys and privileges of the years there which I probably didn’t fully appreciate at the time. Met my husband there , too. I then returned years later for further study/training and experienced more of its gloriousness.
Cambridge has a special place in both our hearts so thank you for this glorious piece reminding us of what we had nearly 50 years ago.
I live north of Cambridge in a little village near Ely & used to work in Cambridge & my husband has always worked there. I don’t visit very often these days but your post has inspired me to look at & revisit it with fresh eyes. Thanks
Already someone else has endorsed List Pianos of Siberia. If you like travel books mixed with a lot of personal encounters in what, on the surface appears a bonkers project it is a great book to read.
Finding your atmospheric photos and delight prose is one of my joys on a Sunday morning. Thank you
Thanks for a very good read. I have happy associations with Cambridge and really enjoyed your piece. And yes, ‘The Lost Pianos of Siberia’ is as good as it sounds! A fascinating book.
Whilst I very much didn’t study at Cambridge, my then boyfriend, now husband did. I used to joke that I experienced all the delights of Cambridge without the hard work. But that really is true. Yes we went to May Balls, punted on the Cam, enjoyed garden parties and an awful lot of Pimms. But when he was in supervisions, I used to wonder the city taking in all the places you mentioned. It really was a world away, in every sense, from Preston where I studied. We haven’t been back for about 15 years, but we keep talking of visiting. It would be a joy to see the children’s reaction when they discover that Daddy really do go to Hogwarts!
I live in NYC but work for a company based in Cambridge and have had the pleasure of visiting for work a number of times, in all seasons. I love how you've captured the feel of November in particular here. (One of my memorable trips years ago involved being in town for Bonfire Night and going to a pub meetup with people from a walking group I'd found online, then watching the fireworks.)
I have a former high school attending Cambridge for her Master’s. I love thinking of her experiencing this history and community. Thank you for the vivid picture.
Another lovely Sunday morning read - thank you Jane. ‘The Lost Pianos of Siberia’ is great - an attempt to trace the pianos taken to Siberia by the exiled Decembrists, mixing history, music and travel writing.
I spent a year in Cambridge as a post grad and met my husband who both grew up and studied in Cambridge. We visit frequently as my mother - in - law still lives in the city. I love it for all the reasons you’ve pointed out. Also, where else can one find cows in a meadow in the middle of a city?!
I’ll often go Christmas shopping in Cambridge as it’s only an hour or so from where I live in North London and all the shops I need to access are concentrated in a far smaller area. I love Cambridge market for fresh produce, too. I can then go to Evensong at one of the colleges before driving home.
I lived and worked in Cambridge for four wonderful years; open air Shakespeare in the Botanic gardens; walking by the river; lights glittering off the wet cobbles; timed commuter one way systems on Silver st.; Kettle’s Yard; bizarre jazz in pubs; the Corn Exchange; golden ginkgo trees in autumn; the feeling that ideas were important and that anything was possible. Still miss it.
Sitting here in Tasmania, Australia early on what promises to being a glorious late spring day, reading your post and being transported to the life of my late Mum. She was born & lived in Wilburton and went to school and worked in Ely. Her family had lived in Fens for generations. She met my Dad, an Australian, who was posted to RAF Mepal, during WWII and came to Australia as a war bride. While we visited the area with Mum over the years it was her remembering of her other life that bought it to life for me and your post resonates so clearly. Thank you.
Gosh, what a lovely paean to Cambridge, we will all be wanting to move there now.
Dear Jane, what a wonderful treat to find new Yarnstorm (via Persephone books). I loved and have missed old Yarnstorm, and refer to The Gentle Art of Domesticity often. Perhaps you remember when I brought my Phoebe (then a baby) to Loop in Islington to give you a pair of socks for your Phoebe. My Phoebe is a teenager now and I see that yours is of course an adult! Best wishes: I will keep reading. Anna
Hello Anna, it's lovely to hear from you. I do remember you and Phoebe coming to Loop - that was such a nice event. Hope you and Phoebe are both well.
Thanks, all well.
Also local to the Cambridge area is www.hazelpress.co.uk do contact us as we are also knitters! An uplifting November ramble around Cambridge through your eyes...wonderful and thank you, daphne@hazelpress.co.uk
Realising afresh the joys and privileges of the years there which I probably didn’t fully appreciate at the time. Met my husband there , too. I then returned years later for further study/training and experienced more of its gloriousness.
Cambridge has a special place in both our hearts so thank you for this glorious piece reminding us of what we had nearly 50 years ago.
Now to find a copy of Siberian pianos!
I live north of Cambridge in a little village near Ely & used to work in Cambridge & my husband has always worked there. I don’t visit very often these days but your post has inspired me to look at & revisit it with fresh eyes. Thanks
Homesick for a place I’ve yet to see……
Already someone else has endorsed List Pianos of Siberia. If you like travel books mixed with a lot of personal encounters in what, on the surface appears a bonkers project it is a great book to read.
Finding your atmospheric photos and delight prose is one of my joys on a Sunday morning. Thank you
Thanks for a very good read. I have happy associations with Cambridge and really enjoyed your piece. And yes, ‘The Lost Pianos of Siberia’ is as good as it sounds! A fascinating book.
Nearly moved to Cambridge with my father’s job in the 70’s. It would of been such a different life. Such a lovely place. Moved to Cheshire instead!
Whilst I very much didn’t study at Cambridge, my then boyfriend, now husband did. I used to joke that I experienced all the delights of Cambridge without the hard work. But that really is true. Yes we went to May Balls, punted on the Cam, enjoyed garden parties and an awful lot of Pimms. But when he was in supervisions, I used to wonder the city taking in all the places you mentioned. It really was a world away, in every sense, from Preston where I studied. We haven’t been back for about 15 years, but we keep talking of visiting. It would be a joy to see the children’s reaction when they discover that Daddy really do go to Hogwarts!
I live in NYC but work for a company based in Cambridge and have had the pleasure of visiting for work a number of times, in all seasons. I love how you've captured the feel of November in particular here. (One of my memorable trips years ago involved being in town for Bonfire Night and going to a pub meetup with people from a walking group I'd found online, then watching the fireworks.)
I have a former high school attending Cambridge for her Master’s. I love thinking of her experiencing this history and community. Thank you for the vivid picture.