We began with a delightful morning in the company of Juliette, one of Ian and Eileen's four adorable grandchildren.

Wimpole Estate is a large estate with the house being the largest in Cambridgeshire (c. 1640). We meandered some of its 3,000 acres of parkland and farmland enjoying the California weather we brought with us. Halloween will be a heatwave day, breaking all records. Can't wait. 

We then attended a wonderful concert by the Cambridge Choral group. The theme was Italian, which totally fit our 'theme'.
We were all thoroughly enthralled with this Theorbo (a kind of lute).
Lunch and a walking tour of the quaint village of Cambridge followed. What an amazing explore of the place known as the home of the University of Cambridge, founded in 1209 and consistently ranked one of the top five universities in the world.



To see this town properly, it is fun to get on the River Cam for a pleasure punt. A punt is a flat-bottomed boat with a square-cut bow, designed for use in small rivers or other shallow water. Punting refers to boating in a punt. The punter generally propels the punt by pushing against the river bed with a pole. A punt should not be confused with a gondola, which is propelled by an oar rather than a pole.

Punts were originally built as cargo boats or platforms for fowling and angling, but in modern times their use is almost exclusively confined to pleasure trips.

The University was hosting the Festival of Ideas and we all agreed to see author Alexander McCall Smith, one of the world’s most popular and prolific writers. We were mesmerized as this engaging man discussed the art of combining traditional publishing formats with contemporary writing, the themes of his book series and the people who encouraged the characters. It was a very entertaining seminar.
Mr. McCall Smith was busy, so we snapped a candid photo anyway. Interestingly, Ian and Eileen chose to wander away as I stalked him- funny stuff. Dinner was 'home' in the countryside.