This Saturday was the Gonville and Caius benefactors lunch. We had booked to attend. Drove there by a round about route as we had to pick up my 10mm-20mm Sigma lens from the coach company. I had left it on the mini bus the previous weekend while visiting Richard and Andrea. Many panic phone calls on the Monday to ensure it was found before some one walked off with it.

So we went to Cambridge via the M25, and M11, and Stansted airport. Still arrived in time to park in the Park and Ride, partake of a cup of coffee in Cafe Nero and then have some bubbly at Caius.

Day remained sunny, though it did threaten to rain, and both Rosemary and I are sure we heard some thunder. Food was good, speech was rousing, still 75% of the alumni are yet to give to Gonville and Cauis, but by British standards the college was doing quite well.

Rosemary and I visited the library and saw some archive material, including the two charters for the college. All kinds of odds and ends, including a 17th Century notebook on the coal purchases for the college.

Back to catch the bus where we had to wait 35 minutes for it to arrive. If we are to be enticed away from our cars or parking in the centre, then the public transport has got to get much better. Cambridge Council has got to do better with its buses. I for one will never park in the Cambridge Park and Ride ever again. It spoilt a really nice day. Made it back home in time for a pint in the P&A with George and Annie.

New cooker wired into the mains. Again not as easy as it seems. Badly designed connections would not take the size of cable. Connector is right at ground level making it hard to connect, and the sharp edges of the hatch caused severe loss of blood. Definitely a down turn in design, the previous cooker was a doddle to connect with proper side bolts under which to connect and trap the wire. Electrolux needs to go back to the drawing board. [Ed’s note:  Steve is to undergo Grumpy Old Man syndrome management/minimization training very shortly before it is too late.]

The new Electrolux replaces an old electric Jackson, bought as a temporary measure more than 20 years ago and still working, and also the once-loved, oil-fired Esse range, which was bought a mere nine years ago and doesn’t work; useless thing.