Sunday at 'Uncle Paul's'

Phoebe, Lola and Calum

Shelly and Paul

Last Sunday we spent the afternoon at 'Uncle Paul's', Calum's godfather, in Milton Keynes.

His New Year's Resolution was to see more of Calum and he was as good as his word.

He and his partner Shelly cooked us a delicious Sunday lunch and we sat and chatted happily all afternoon after stuffing our faces!

We also saw Phoebe, Paul's very beautiful daughter and part-time model. She, Calum and Lola had a good catch up as they've know each other all their lives.

It was a really lovely day - very relaxing, just like a Sunday should be.

My Australian Friend Phil

Phil at King's College

Me and Phil

Lola, Phil and Calum
Phil in Gros Franck

Old Friends
I've known my Australian friend Phil for 31 years, which seems like a lifetime.

We met as teenagers when we both had a Saturday job in a chip shop. I can still remember the smell of the cooking fat that clung to my hideous nylon overall. When I got home, the first thing I did was jump in the bath to get rid of the awful stink.

However, working with Phil made it fun. I called him 'Larry' and he called me 'Sheila' and he tolerated me speaking in a fake Australian accent. I thought it was funny at the time. We enjoyed seeing who could the serve the biggest portion of chips before being told off by the manager.

It wasn't glamorous, but it paid for my Saturday nights out and that was all that mattered.

A Proper Penfriend

When I met Phil, he was on one of his round the world trips - he's now done four or five. I've always admired that about Australians. They know how to travel.

Inbetween visits to the UK Phil and I have kept in touch by letter. He's a proper penfriend as he doesn't even have email, or a mobile phone. I like that about him.

I'm Coming to Visit

So when a familiar blue airmail letter arrived with the news that Phil was coming to visit, I was very excited.

We hadn't seen each other for ten years.

Just the Same

When Phil arrived, he looked just the same, only slightly more lined and, as always, extremely tanned. I'd forgotten quite how tall he is - at 6ft 4 he seemed to to dwarf the rest of us.

I'd done lots of baking and the warm, sweet smell of fruitcake, flapjack and chocolate brownie filled the kitchen. Phil said he noticed it as soon as he walked in and it made him feel instantly at home, reminding him of his mother's baking.

The children took to him straight away, but then again Phil is so relaxed and friendly, it's impossible not to like him. He was like another member of the family.

We toasted his arrival with champagne - our neightbours Ken and Shirley joined us - and spent a very happy afternoon chatting about everything under the sun.

A Trip to Cambridge

The following day Phil and I spent a day together in Cambridge. He hadn't been there for 20 years and loved it, although it was absolutely freezing.

However, we warmed ourselves with hot croissants in Gros Franck and hot soup in Trockel Ullman inbetween seeing the sights of Cambridge. Phil especially liked King's College.

Time Flies

Phil was only with us for a couple of days because he had a incredibly packed schedule but I'm so pleased he came to see us. We had the most fantastic time and I know we'll always be friends.

Who knows, one day I might even make it to Australia!

Behind the Scenes at the Museum

Calum on work experience at The Fitzwilliam Museum

The Henry Moore sculpture outside the museum

Work Experience at 'The Fitz'
Calum has just completed two weeks' work experience.

He spent his first week in the Education Department at The Fitzwillian Museum in Cambridge http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/ which he described as 'one of the best experiences of my life'.

That says a lot about the museum and the people who work there.

Calum's Highlights

• going round the museum on his own when it was shut - that was his favourite bit!
• working with groups of primary school children from deprived backgrounds
• putting together displays for the noticeboards
• preparing teacher and visitor packs
• going 'behind the scenes' as a member of staff
• attending a preview of the new exhibition - Treasures of Today, Silver from Goldsmiths' Hall, London, 1980-2006
• lunch in The Fitzwilliam Cafe
• meeting a member of staff who is as mad about art and basketball as he is!

An Early Start

I'd thought Calum might find it difficult getting up at 6.15am to catch the 7.10am train to Cambridge but he was always up on time and didn't complain once.

I enjoyed the luxury of having company for breakfast and a travelling companion on the train. It was also nice to be able to meet up with Calum in Cambridge, take him out for lunch (which I did twice) and hear about his day when he came to collect me from my office in the evening. Every time I saw him he was full of enthusiasm about what he'd done during the day and couldn't wait to get back the following morning.

A Lasting Impression

There's no doubt that his time at The Fitwilliam Museum has made a lasting impression on Calum, so much so that's he's going back as a volunteer in the summer.

He had a brilliant time, but he also worked incredibly hard and had a really positive attitude. I think that made all the difference.

The education staff also thought highly of him and said they 'would be delighted to have him back at any point'.

Well done Calum.

It was thanks to my good friend Rachel who works at The Fitz that Calum was able to do his work experience there. She also treated us both to lunch at The Snug, one of my favourite haunts.

Thank you very much Rachel - we really appreciate it.