Another Day Out In Cambridge

Me at the Ronald Searle exhibition

Studio space at Anglia Ruskin

Vibrant flowers

Ronald Searle Rocks
Calum and I went to Cambridge yesterday and I took him to see the Ronald Searle exhibition at Anglia Ruskin. Ronald Searle is an amazing illustrator and his pictures are as quirky as they are clever. Seeing some of his most famous drawings close up felt like a real privilege.

It wasn't all laughs, though. There were some poignant war illustrations as well - the simple lines somehow capturing the anguish of the subjects. Harrowing but beautiful. But most of all it was a joy to see the characters I grew up with 'in the flesh' so to speak. I especially loved the 'fat cats' and St Trinian's girls. The pictures felt like old, well-loved friends.

A rare treat indeed.

ARU Open Day
It just happened to be an Open Day at Anglia Ruskin as well so there was a real buzz about the place. Calum and I went up to the gallery to have a look at some of the studio space used by art students. With the light streaming in, it looked fantastic. I was especially taken with the work of one student who painted huge flowers in vivid colours.

Cafe de Paris
Once we'd had a look round, it was back to the library for me and into town for Calum. However, we did manage a trip to the Cafe de Paris beforehand where I treated Calum to a caramel slice and a hot chocolate, as well as an enormous tuna baguette.

I go there on a Saturday morning for hot strong coffee and a piece of wicked chocolate biscuit cake on my way to the library.

Well, there has to be some reward for all that studying ...