Cambridge - The Sequal

So its back to Cambridge, two weeks work away from home.

Cambridge's dreaded road system failed in its many attempts to get the better of me this time. The 'Cycle Gangs' are still here, still out in force, still trying to wound any unwitting pedestrians with their savage razor like handle bar designs, panniers and child seats. 'Yeah go on, ring that Bell, dare you, double dare you, I'm ready for you this time you B'stards.' [The new tactic, look them straight in the eye and lift your backpack up into the 'Ready to Swing' position!!! ;-) ].

Isn't it a strange feeling, being alone somewhere you know, but knowing no-one? Straight to 'The Slug and Lettuce', the advantage of modern 'Town Life', everything is designed to a set format and the 'Slug' is fitted out exactly the same here as it is at home, comfort in familiarisation. Write a Blog entry before finding a bit of tucker and a few Sherbets.

Cambridge is still the same; same streets, same shops and the same people doing the same thing they were last time I was here. [OK so it was only a month ago].

'Elite' students, most of who look far to 'swoty' to be enjoying an extreme student life, to restrained to appreciate these are the best years of their lives. Aren't they meant to be out there partying, 'Gamble, Screw and get pissed'? Most of them it would seem, far prefer an Iced-Macchiato in Starbucks before retiring home to watch the 'X' Factor and taking an early night.

The 'Rich' inhabitants; university dons and top flight conference business men are all here, frequenting very expensive boutiques and over priced department stores. Even the town 'Market' is expensive, trying to sell fake watches at almost the price of the real thing. Still to be found are the 'Yuppie' bars though, intermingled with Pubs trying on the 'Ye Olde' image that don't sell beer anymore, only bottles of 'Euro Fizz' and Bruschettas. ['Guinness and nuts, sorry squire we stopped that when we had a refit!']

Then there's the Tourist, millions of them. Punt loads of Japanese taken on-mass down the river Cam for twenty minutes while being given some inane historical dialogue they don't understand by students who aren't fortunate enough to have a Daddy who is a Company Chairman, their actually have to pay their own way through Uni.

Even the 'Poor' look rich! The 'Big Issue' salesman was wearing a DKNY jacket and the homeless are camped by the river in new looking polyester Tents. [It wouldn't surprise me to see that they had traded in their mongrels for standard poodles!!!]

Cambridge is odd. It appears the 'Lower Class' feel obliged to fake being 'Middle Class' and the 'Upper Class' feels gratified, with the whole structure perpetuating the class system with its elitism, it just phoney. Beautiful architecture in a beautiful part of the country, but just so far removed from reality it feels like a temporary fix ready to be demolished for a new shopping Mall. It's hanging on to something that has no relevance in today's society, its drowning and taking a last breath, and it knows it.

Now, don't get me wrong, there is a little 'Snob' in all of us, that part of me likes nice things, that part of me like Cambridge. It just feels like someone's stolen Cambridge's 'Sole'. The place isn't at all chilled, just 'up itself', it seems to believes its own tourist propaganda.

The solution? Welcome, 'Pimp My Ride' to Cambridge ;-) Let the Cars Back in!! ;-)

Ciao Ciao
Confused From Chichester

I BLOG There4 I am