Mid-1990s I lived in London. The timing was impeccable; it was the year that Blur released Parklife, Pulp finally broke through with His'n'Hers, Manic Street Preachers released the seminal The Holy Bible, and Suede completed Dog Man Star (one of my all-time favourite albums to this day). I was on the periphery of all these things, but a brief moment in time I lived where a major cultural shift was gathering strength before sweeping away everything in its wake. It is so odd to return to London now because the London of those halcyon days no longer exists. I have been back many times since the 1990s and, every time I visit London now, it feels like the city is slipping further and further away. London still exists but its heart is now on the outskirts of the city.
Shades of grey in the Bloomsbury area
Pomp & circumstance in Hyde Park. I was walking back from an appointment at the embassy.
Assyrian stone relief; British Museum. These depictions of sheep are important to Indo-European linguists, by the way.
Early highlight: Soviet revolutionary ceramics at British Museum.
After spending less than two days in London chasing my own tail, meeting with embassy staff, and doing research in the British Museum, I left for Cambridgeshire where my good friend Joanne Scrace lives. Staying with her proved to be the perfect antidote to all the razzmatazz of the capital (sorry, had to get another Pulp reference in there).
It spooked me slightly how much this looks like where I grew up.
After staying with Joanne & her gorgeous family, my batteries were recharged and I went to teach Nordic Knitting at Cambridge's beautiful The Sheep Shop.
Beautiful display - The Sheep Shop was full of gorgeous samples.
Sarah of The Sheep Shop - full of warmth and personality.
I had a fabulous time teaching the class - the students were smart and asked on-the-nose questions. I am only sorry that I could not stay longer and get to know everyone better. Hopefully this won't be my last time teaching in Cambridge!
I'll leave my return to London and my second class for another blog post. I have much to share - including some details about an exciting KAL and a brand new design.