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March 31, 2007

St Andry

It's been a week of dull, gray weather - the kind of weather that makes me feel like I really belong in St Andrews. Not a tourist in sight and the students are on their break so the town feels quiet. J and I took a walk a few days ago down the East Sands, along the Sea. The water was rough and unfriendly. I stood on the long pier that juts way out into the middle of the deep and stared at the horizon, revelling in the sound of the crashing waves. And thought about all the moments that have happened right at that point - battles, escapes, murders - all right where I was standing. So many significant events for the life of the Church and for the life of this country.
And academic life has flourished here for over 600 years. On that very pier students, in their red gowns, have made their Sunday parade for centuries. It is easy to see what draws students here - is there anyone who has not felt the pull to be a part of a revered tradition? What a privilege to study in this town "happy beyond words" as one said so long ago.
"'St Andry', Love's for thee not dead, Whate'er thou taught's of knowledge, In days when we, not deeply read, Were yet red-gown'd at College!"

Posted by j and b at 11:34 AM | Comments (1)

March 19, 2007

Beefeaters and Puccini

We climbed in the car and headed south
Trying to stay on the left.
Stopping at Durham by the Tynemouth,
With Bry’s navigation quite deft.

Our friends Brad and Abi then jumped aboard:
Off towards Cambridge we sped
To stop and buy books that we couldn’t afford
(at least that’s what bank statements said).

A lunch of baked tatties, a stroll by the Cam,
The choir at Kings closed the day.
Their tone was perfection, in hymn, song and psalm,1
From thence to London away.

With Starbucks' assistance our tour began
Westminster Abbey up first.
The church was enormous, ritzy and grand,
(though entries fees all be cursed!).

The graves of the monarchs may interest some,
Or poets, or so many more.
But we sought and found Countess Lennox’s tomb
Where we sat ‘til our bums all felt sore.

(For those who don’t know, be ashamed of yourself:
She’s Lymond’s great nemesis.
Strong, cold and wicked in all her great wealth,
His downfall near-brought by her kiss.)

Then to the Tower (where prices would rise),
To take the Beefeater’s tour.
There hundreds of souls had met their demise
Out on the ‘beheading moor’.2

Madame Butterfly with dramatic flair
Closed our evening’s delights.
We climbed into bed, sweet notes in the air
Until the morning daylight.

Our souls went to All Souls where they found delight,
Then off for a stroll in the park.
But life in the North called us back before night
And we got back to Durham by dark.

1. Pronounced Scottish style as ‘sam’.
2. Thankfully, none while we were present. And that’s not the technical name; it just rhymed better.

Posted by j and b at 11:11 PM | Comments (4)

March 07, 2007

Off to London

J and I are headed to London this weekend with the Matthews. I'm so looking forward to a long weekend away and some time with Brad and Abi. We're cramming a lot into just a few days - J has never seen the Tower or the Abbey...And on Saturday evening we have Madame Butterfly at the Royal Albert Hall. Apparently they flood the stage for the performance. I'll let you know if the rumors are true.

Posted by j and b at 10:23 PM | Comments (4)