Cambridge with Peter

Friday we had another walk into town after delivering the kids, and this time we had a cream tea at Fitzbillies. Peter liked it but said it wasn't as good as Devonshire tea in Australia. Hmm, something to look forward to. We had a brief stop at the Fitzwilliam museum where Pete found a pretty entertaining political comic of John Bull being tempted by various political theories in the form of apples on a tree around the time of the French Revolution. (Am I close, Pete?) Alas, this was one of those rare moments when neither of us had a camera.

And then, finally, a car and a drive out to the American War Memorial/Cemetary. They have a very nice map there covering an entire wall of the memorial building showing all of the different kinds of planes and ships used in 1944 and 1945. I think this shot to the left shows the path from the US to the UK via Iceland that Grandpa took. This turned out to be a good stop for us. We were able to get just enough information from the office there to find the site of Grandpa's air base during WWII. (More on that later.)

Saturday Bruce and Pete took the girls to the Imperial War Museum which houses the largest collection of US Planes outside of the US. They took the kids to see a plane like grandpa flew during WWII, among others.

Bruce was amazed to find that they were able to walk through a concorde and stand next to a missle. We were able to get back from the museum with just enough time for Pete to take the girls for a swim in the public pool before it closed for the day, flumes and all. The same pool mom took them to twice, and probably the last time we'll make it over there before we leave.

Sunday Pete and I took the kids to Norwich via Attleborough and Deopham Greene. With Pete's brilliant navigation we drove straight to the Attleborough train station that is the current host of a plaque thanking the men of 452nd Bomb Group, and possibly, we imagined, where Grandpa may have taken a train to or from the base while he was located there.

The plaque above the door there reads, "Memorial dedicated to the men of the 452nd Bomb Group (H) who sacrificed their lives in World War II that the ideals of democracy might live." From there we crossed the freeway over towards Deopham Greene where the air base was actually located. We'd been warned by the guy at the cemetary that it was probably just a farm, so we didn't expect much. We were pleasantly surprised to find a marker alongside the road showing exactly where the airstrips had been (which now look very much like farms).


This marker had recently been visited on Rememberance Day. There was an etching on the top showing the triangular shape of the three runways and a depiction of the planes they flew. We looked around as we drove toward Norfolk for any other landmarks that might have been there 50 years earlier. We did see a very small church, and an old farm, but that was it. The information we had also indicated community buildings that are still standing, but are being used for somekind of industry.


We decided to call ourselves lucky and head for Norwich. We got there in time for a late lunch at Pizza Express at the forum where Mom and Dad and I had eaten several weeks ago. And then a quick walk through the castle keep before it closed. Too late for the dungeon tour we had hoped to make, but just in time for the last tour of the keep where we learned that very special ten-year-olds had been employed as cleaners of the king's behind at one time. We also learned about the Celtlic Princess (?) Bouticus who protected the people around Norwich from the Romans for some time. Her name happens to be Bruce's pet name for his personal behind (booticus maximus), especially when he is entertaining the kids. Memorable.

It was only 4pm, but the sun was already setting. We had promised the kids shopping, but even in Norwich every last store including the mall was closed at 5. Just as well, had to get Miranda home for her homework.