University of the 3rd age (Cambridge) - NOT amateur radio

Friday is the day I go into Cambridge for my U3AC lecture. I go every Friday. Sadly, today there were rain showers, that I managed to dodge.

The photo shows Cambridge in autumn. 

Cambridge Pret A Manger - NOT amateur radio

As I was in Cambridge for my U3A course on Samuel Pepys, I called in to Pret A Manger for a coffee and bread roll. Surprisingly it was less busy than last week. I have always found the staff helpful and polite and prices reasonable.

Spitsbergen - NOT amateur radio

Every 2nd Tuesday, I go to the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge for a U3AC talk on the Arctic and Antarctic. Today, the talk was about Spitsbergen high up in the Arctic. Very interesting too.

We are very lucky in Cambridge having such good speakers/lecturers and a wide choice of subjects. Last term I studied the Anglo-Saxons!  This was very far removed from electronics. It was enjoyable nonetheless.

It is so good to learn with no exams, no notes (unless you want to) - in fact learning about things that interest you for pure pleasure.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitsbergen

Smart phones - NOT amateur radio

Tuesday is one of my days in Cambridge doing Polar Studies at the Scott Polar Research Institute. The course is run by the University of the Third Age. We are very lucky to have a huge range of courses in Cambridge. We are lucky to have many ex-university lecturers.

See http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/ .

In a not very scientific study into smart phone use, these were my findings, just looking:

• Younger people are the main users
• About 1 in 10 (at least) seemed to be using these
• More women than men seemed to use these (keep away, don't speak to me, acknowledge my private space?)

OK, I hear you say, so what, but this is a social thing:  in days gone by there was eye contact, people chatted to each other. At the very least people acknowledged each other. It seems most young people have lost the skill of face-to-face contact; the phone seems more important! If this is OK, OK. Sadly, as a boring old git, I think this will come back to bite us.

Illegal parking - NOT amateur radio

On Thursday this week I went to my usual University of the 3rd Age course in Cambridge on the Anglo-Saxons. The Park and Ride car park had been illegally occupied by travellers for the second time this year. They are being evicted. They we completely blocking the disabled parking spots.

U3AC - NOT amateur radio

Mondays this term I have been attending a University of the Third Age course in Cambridge. I go into, and out of, Cambridge on the bus using my (free) bus pass.  I am doing a course called "Living with less". Although I often disagree with the lecturer, I find the course informative.

As I usually have some time after the course, I get a bite to eat in different places in the city. At the moment my favorite is Le Patissier, opposite St John's College. This is a small place, but prices are reasonable and I have found the service very good.

Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Bikes in Cambridge outside Sydney-Sussex College

Most Mondays this term,  I go into Cambridge for my U3AC course, "Living with less". The course is very good.  I travel into Cambridge and home on the bus and enjoy the bus ride. It involves a walk through the centre of Cambridge, which is quiet at this time of year.  In the summer it can get busy with language students and visitors. I am fortunate to have a wide choice of U3AC courses and Cambridge on my doorstep. Many people travel the world to see sights I just take for granted.

The Search for Life in the Universe - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon I have my U3AC course on the above subject. We have a great variety of courses in Cambridge. We are very lucky having many ex-university people with a wish to share their vast knowledge.