All good blogs must end sometime

My last free day in Cambridge - perfect, sitting at my favourite cafe drinking excellent Americano whilst gazing at King's College Chapel sans scaffolding. Tomorrow band rehearsal, sound check then gig, Sunday quick afternoon punt to remove hangover, off to London to meet Cambridge friends and Hamilton friends, Man Booker short-listed author readings, then a final sightseeing day before the adventure will truly end. But all endings become beginnings as well, and as the clock strikes midnight Tuesday night into Wednesday at two score and 15, I become a working stiff again. Clients, and being asked the age old lawyer's query again and again: "What should I do?", which is a question that happily NO ONE has asked me in over one year.
Final observations:

1. When your heart says do something important in your life - do it, even if it takes 42 steps to get ready;
   
2. When you get there, live it to the fullest; and
3. When you are done, come back again for a little while and revisit it for proper reflection.
   

Number of projected lifetime friends from all parts of the world: more than 10
Effect on long-term: emotional uplift that maybe only a sailing adventure could match.
Overall Cambridge experience: 15 out of 10.

A few final thank yous:

• to Susanne for being there with me all the way
• to Marc, Jessica and Erik for showing me that they really were grown and capable of managing on their own without us, and visiting us even when it wasn't all that convenient
  
• to Elaine, Gene and Elly for incredible suuport when we needed it
• to my old friends and relatives who made sure that my life would continue unabated back home, and a special thanks to the 22 who came to be part of Paul's cambridge exerience personally.
• to my new friends, for letting me into your lives without thought to age or background. As a result I have people to visit and entertain for years to come.
  

Goodbye Cambridge, but its effect will no doubt continue forever.

Examination update

Tomorrow is my last exam. Although I have been looking forward to this day for some time, it is bittersweet for me. The last exam exam means that the essential part of my Cambridge adventure is over. Yes there are parties, graduation , visits and some wonderful travel to cap off the year, but I can't help thinking that we will be moving straight into wind down mode, much the same way that wind up mode last summer took most of my attention. I look around at our little apartment, with pictures, posters and nicnacs are placed around to make it home. Susanne and I have gotten used to so much less, and have learned that the absence of cars, household things. televisions, and yes even back decks does not make one unhappy (although I still REALLY miss Snyder's pretzels). To be honest, I haven't really missed things - I have only missed people, which is why winding down is not that bad, because I will be seeing you all very soon, and returning to my wonderful former life. Wish me luck on my last one (its a bitch - restitution) and we'll see you in August (or before if you are one of the lucky people who are coming to visit!).

EXAMS!!!!!

Tomorrow is the first exam that I have written since March 1984. That's over 26 years, the same month that Jessica was born. I've studied all I could - let's see how the old memory holds out. More when I come up for air.

Why I Love Darwin College

Its been awhile me blogger watchers.
Quick blog after another great formal evening. Darwin College people arrived at Sidney Sussex College for a graduate College exchange. I should be studying but I had a great day, getting through Unjust enrichment. So much fun studying academic discourse with its incredible desire to explain more than the topic allows. So we head out. All my Darwin friends are there. My birthday mate Ciara. My band mates Amelie, Anja and Antoine. My favourite people fron 10 Barton residence - Laura, Arnaud. Nikon our college ambassador, and Jonathon the biologist sitting next to me. I am amongst friends. The party gets a bit rowdy, and Antoine and Lauren are called upon to make a speech thanking our hosts. As we have been a bit loud, they tell everyone that they are from Lucy Cavendish, another fairly staid college, to not have our behaviour imapct our beloved Darwin. Its a great joke, we all howl with laughter.
We have had three great weekends in a row. Sailing in the River Orwell (George named himself after this river, and Artur Ransome's stories took place in its estuaries). The next weekend at Susanne's Uncle and Aunt's 60th anniversary, in Denamrk, eating and drinking a la Dansk. Then last week speaking to colleagues at the Hamilton Law Association's London trip and tickets to Alan Bennet's new play "The Habit of Art"at the National Theatre.
In three weeks I will be finished, and in six graduated. Too fast. I need to slow it all down, get my bearings once more before heading back to reality. This place is so amazing. I miss my kids, family, friends, colleagues so much, but I don't want the sail to end.

Hit the Road Jack

So its been awhile, you blogees.
This last month or so saw us in Paris, London and enjoying a visit from Susanne's cousins from Denmark. It also contained an event which I shall never forget.
First the trips and visits. Paris was spectacular. We arrived late Friday night after Susanne snuck away from work early, ready for a weekend in gay paree. You see, Susanne always told me that you always need an up-to-date passport, as you never know when someone might invite you to spend a weekend in Paris. Well I invited her, and she had the aforementioned passport ready for the challenge. The bus trip to luton airport was longer than expected but we had plenty of time at the incredibly exciting Luton airport. CDG airport in Paris was a breeze, as was the Metro (subway) downtown. We checked into our little hotel recommended by our french friend Arnaud, and set out immediately to find some good french wine. After a carafe of the house best at a neighbourhood bistro, we had a sleep and up to meet Susan Nelson, in town to see daughter Kate Nelson, Kate's babies and to celebrate Sue's birthday, all on the way to Egypt. Susanne, Sue and I had a lovely walk through the streets of Paris, winding our way around the Seine, down the picturesque market street called Mouffetard, saw the Pantheon and then to the Arc de Triomphe to meet John Nelson, Kate and babies for a further walk down the Champs-Elysees. The great walks that we took that weekend were also compliments of Arnaud.
That evening we did a birthday dinner at a wonderful restauant in a old train station (La Gare) near the Eiffel Tower. The next day, off to the Louvre, for a day of amazing art, another walk and a religious visit to Shakespeare and Co. before setting off back to London and home. The up-to-date passports worked as planned. The next trip was to London with Johnny and Annette from Denmark. After spending a few days seing the sites of Cambridge with them (formal hall at Darwin, college tours, a few pubs, good food and company), we set off to London, walking aroung Fleet Street, the Thames area, the Milenium bridge and finally touring the Tower bridge at dusk. After an afternoon pint, we slowly set off to Jamie Oliver's Restauant at Canary Wharf for some wonderful food, before heading back to Cambridge.

The final trip this month was back to London with my graduate law class to see the new Supreme Court building and Gray's Inn, one of the four tutelages where barristers are trained. We enjoyed a short talk by an amazingly easy-going English Chief Justice,a Privy Council case on appeal from Bermuda about conscription, a tour and lunch. Then an afternoon at two lovely old pubs again off of Fleet Street, and home.

Okay, you finally get to hear about the event.

The first big gig for our band happened yesterday. It was amazing.

Our two sets were:

First set

Hit the road Jack

Process of name Finding - original tune

Just a life - original tune

Don't stop me now - Queen

Teenage Kicks - The Undertones

Johnny B Goode

Second set

Sunshine of your love - Cream

Blues - original

Hedonism - Skunk Analie

Black horse - KT Tunstal

Piece of my Heart - Janis Joplin

Somebody to love - Jefferson Airplane

Long way to the top - AC/DC

Encore

Sweet Home Alabama - Lynard Skynard

Highway to hell - AC/DC

Starting at Don’t Stop Me Now, the crowd was on its feet, singing along, dancing, lighters lit, having a great time. By mid second set, we had a moge pit complete with body surfing. They went crazy from Janis Joplin on down. Not surprisingly, the Joplin song and Jefferson Airplane were my ideas to play. We played well, and have now been invited to perform at two college "May balls" as they call them. We may be asked to play in 2 more.

Life here is rich, with music, lectures and ideas filling my head everyday. Wow.

Classes this term were amazing both the ones part of my program and the ones that are available for free here. The free lectures have included a series on risk, and lectures on regulating international securities, traditional knowledge in patent medicines and the story of a convicted murderer freed on new DNA evidence. My new year's resolution this year was to go to every educational offering available, and I have done just that. We also attended a film conference dealing with the issue of mourning and lamentation in film. It was organized by our neighbours Anna Elsner, who has almost completed her PhD on Proust, and Richard Armstrong, a PhD film expert with a couple books on film already published (okay he is 50 years old, not in his 20s like most PhD students here - some as young as 21!).

My regular classes are even more enjoyable now that I am getting the hang of this academic stuff. Maybe my next blog entry that will happen when I am in the middle of my term review will contain some tidbits of knowledge that have come my way.

So tomorrow is the final week of Lent Term. Classes presenting new material are now mostly completed. A few new material classes and revision classes will be held during Easter term, which starts April 18. Until then, I have a month to finish the readings for lent term, take a few weeks off to enjoy the kids' visits and do a bit of travelling, then back to the books to study for exams end of May and early June. Other upcoming visits include Susanne's mother Elly, my parents for my graduation, brother and sister-in-law Steven and Karen, friends Glen and Sue from Montreal and friends Bruce and Judy from Cleveland.

Five months of our 10 month sojourn is in the books. Hard to believe that it is now more than half completed. Notwithstanding the experiences that I am having every day, I miss you all and I look forward coming home.

Magical Mystery Tour

In the words of John Lennon: Roll on. That`s the way this year has been. We are already 4 months into the journey, and it still rolls on, but as usual, there has been a certain amount of magic, sleight of hand shall we say. While I wasn`t looking, the magicians of Cambridge transformed the past into the future, right before my eyes. And a tour figured prominently in this month`s journey.

I organized a surprise party for Susanne`s birthday two days before her birthday. I invited 20, 18 came. The other 2 e-mailed their regrets. I did it all on facebook. The surprise worked perfectly - it was a great party. These were people that I met within the last four months, and they have truly become Susanne`s friends, too. What an incredibly intelligent group of people this University attracts. Three of the guests appear above, Blair from New Jersey studying Economics, Esther from Paris studying Engineering, and Nikon from St. Petersberg studying neuroscience.

Last weekend we went to London and took in a Rock and Roll London walking tour in the rain. It was magical - we saw the haunts of the stars of the British invasion - the Beatles, Stones, Yardbirds, Who, Traffic, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix - where they ate, drank, recorded, played. Then we returned to the National Portrait Gallery where we saw an incredible exhibit of 1960`s photographs - the same people who we learned about on the tour. I remembered being in London in `67 and `71, visiting Carnaby Street, Denmark Street, although I don`t think that I realized how special that era was. And better still, in London I had my first Roti in 4 months. We went back two days in a row! I was sure sad when I was all full up.

We also witnessed the party celebrating the end of the 800 year anniversary of the University of Cambridge. There was a terrific light display on the old buildings - absolutely amazing. On the same night we heard Paul Martin speak at the Cambridge Union. He was quite good, argueing that counties in 2010 had to view their own sovereignty from the perspective that now any country`s economics and treatment of the environment could have a profound effect on their country. No large country was strong enough to survive the collapse or polluting of any other large country, and it was the G20 that was hopefully going to be the vehicle to promote that understanding. I was proud to be a Canadian listening to his very worldly view. If only our present PM would talk and act like that.

Hope that everyone is happy, healthy and having a good time. We sure are.
Part of Susanne`s birthday present is a weekend in Paris, which is where we are off to next weekend.

Oh Yeah - we went to Robbie Burns night - no responsibilities to recite the Ode to the Haggis (although they ask me to do the Toast to the Lassies). Uncharacteristically, or characteristically this year, I refused, sat back and enjoyed myself - stress free. Even the Haggis tasted great.
Miss everyone.

P.S. I have tried to change my settings so that everyone can post comments. If you don't see your comment right away, don't fret as I have put a filter in so that I can see the comments before they go on the site. This is only to prevent flamers, and I promise to post anyone's comment once I ensure that it is from a friend, not a foe.

Happy Belated New Year

For us, new year started on September 24 when we arrived excited and exhausted at our flat at 63 Eltisley. Every part of our lives have changed - our haunts, our friends, our conversations, our life patterns, our routines, our modes of transportation(no cars), even our clothes! I now regularly wear a Darwin College scarf and routinely carry an umbrella, although I have not switched to tweed.
December has been a busy month, that started on a sad note, with Marc's and Patsy and Paul's visit ending, and quickly jumped back into high gear with the first performance of Troubled Felix live at Darwin College and a fantastic visit from long-time friend Dorothy Albrecht. The performance went very well, with me playing drums for some songs and congas and random percussion for the others. I've attached two videos. They are available on face book as well. The song "Leaky Beavage" is an original tune by the lead guitarist Stu Hohnen and lead vocalist Anja Baum. What a thrill to play in a band again, with talented musicians, who have now become my friends.
Dorothy's visit was perfect, with great weather, the last punt on the Cam for 2009, and some fun walks around town.
Michaelmas term ended, leaving me behind on my reading, so early December was spent catching up with the voluminous reading, trying to get on top of all this new stuff that I am learning. International concepts of family law, the awakening of the law of restitution, and trying to grasp world-wide intellectual property law filled my days. The readings have been stimulating, well chosen and topical. I am grateful for amazing professors, who have convinced me that after 25 years practicing law I still have a lot to learn!
Susanne finally made it to her Christmas break, and after a bit of frantic shopping, a few more end of year parties. we were off to Denmark for the holidays. Our hosts and Susanne's cousins Annette and Johnny, and Rasmus and Birgitte were perfect in making sure that we participating in all aspects of the season, including a welcome respite from English cooking.
The most amazing moments of all came when we were actually able to share Christmas eve festivities with our family in Hamilton. Being able to videoconference using skype was absolutely miraculous. We had tried a test run for Hannukah with my parents and the kids, and that was fantastic, and days later we did it again marrying Danish Christmas with Canadian Christmas. Being able to watch the family open the gifts that we sent, made being away from our family bearable. It was almost like being there. Even the danish Juleman was seen this year in Canada and we can now be thankful that "Pretty Tree" has now crossed the ocean ad become a Danish tree-dancing spectacle as wel!
Well here it is: what others are calling New Years' Eve, and since we have already had ours three months ago, we actually aren't all that excited about it. Cambridge is empty of people, being mostly a transient city, so we will be going to our favourite pub for dinner, then off to a party with some students who have also stayed around, and then tomorrow we will feast on local fish, scallops and crayfish cooked Caribbean style (this may be as close to a Roti as I come this year!)
My new years' resolution is to attend more of the academic talks available at Cambridge, as I realize that I only have six months left, so we have to make the most of it.
Miss you all and hope everyone has (had) a great new year.