CYHA News

The Monthly Newsletter of Chelmsford YHA Local Group

March 2013

A Blast from the Past

Cast your mind back to the beginning of December, to a chilly weekend in Cambridge, for this month’s article from Trudi. A weekend involving a lot of eating and sampling real ales in a number of the excellent local hostelries.

A slightly more recent chilly weekend was spent in Brighton in the company of ghosts (including a six-foot tall spectral willy), taking in the sea breezes, the fun of the pier and the culture & refinement of the Royal Pavilion. We learnt about Phoebe Hessel, a so-called she-soldier (a woman fighting under the guise of a man – apparently they didn’t undress much in the eighteenth century) and the extra-marital activities of the Prince Regent. We saw fabulous pre-Raphaelite stained glass by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones, toured the famous Lanes, ate oysters and a slightly dodgy Italian, and drank quite a lot of beer. A great way to spend a winter weekend.

Ali

Cambridge Culture Weekend

Thanks to everyone who attended the Cambridge trip on 2^nd/3^rd December! After suggesting it, the well oiled CYHA machine took over from me, successfully resolving administrative issues and bureaucratic bungles.

Double Helix sculpture on the cycle path to Cambridge

There was no traffic chaos to report, only the heroic journeys made by Dave, Ali and Tom on their bikes. The only complaint (from Ali) was that it was "a bit cold"!

Cold was one of the themes for the weekend. The other was Plague and Pestilence, as Dave P supplied a historical guided walk detailing the perils of visiting the city, which had rivers running with deceased beasts and entrails, and was surrounded by swamps spawning malarial mosquitoes. Maybe the cold kept the bugs (and definitely the mosquitoes) at bay, but it was somewhat difficult to imagine the dangers and discomfort of leper colonies, workhouses and extreme poverty as we investigated college courtyards and coffee shops, and enjoyed Fitzbillies famous Chelsea buns.

We partook of lunch in the Castle pub, realising we had lingered too long to complete our itinerary. I hurried a small group away to Kettles Yard, a beautiful and tranquil house owned by an artist and given to the University. Cressida and Mike (who have been viewing lots of houses recently!) commented on the lack of utilities! – but as an exhibition space for eclectic objects, Kettles Yard really impressed us, and was light and bright even on an increasingly bleak afternoon.

Perhaps fittingly, we retreated to the warmth of the Scott Polar Research Institute, recording the exploration of Antarctica by various expeditions, including Scott and Shackleton. Most of us were familiar with the stories, but it was still poignant to see Captain Oates’ sleeping bag, the remarkable photographs taken with cumbersome equipment, and packets of uneaten biscuits.

Mill Road yielded more appetising fare on the way home, as street food featured in the multi-ethnic Winter Festival. The group ate later at the Golden Curry, which was enjoyed by all.

Sunday morning was gloriously sunny, so we opted to walk along the Backs and admire the long shadows cast by the winter sun across manicured lawns, terraces and bridges.

We milled around like proper tourists until the lure of Christmas shops proved impossible to resist and people began to disperse and take advantage of the retail opportunities. Maybe someone spent the afternoon in the Calligraphy Exhibition at the Fitzwilliam, but most of us headed for the Grafton Centre or John Lewis. Still, basically, we’d had a very cultural weekend!

Trudi

St Peters Way part 2 - Margaretting to Bicknacre

It was a rare sunny day as 19 of us from CYHA and Hike Essex set out from Margaretting, destination Bicknacre. We encountered obstacles such as a low tunnel under the Great Eastern railway with a stream alongside, lots of Essex mud and wayward way marks, including one point in Stock where St.Peters Way was left, right, and straight ahead all at once. There were highlights too; lunch on the cricket pitch at Stock, a pint in the Three Compasses at West Hanningfield, woodland with snow drops and views of the rolling Essex Countryside.

Thank you to everyone who turned out for a well attended February walk -don't forget the next instalment from Bicknacre to our first sight of the coast at Maylandsea, on Sunday 14th April.

Jim

Congratulations

Warmest congratulations to Andrew and Carol who announced their engagement at Christmas, and will be getting married on 13th May.

Please send any comments on these pages to Dave Plummer

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		CYHA News The Monthly Newsletter of Chelmsford YHA Local Group March 2013

		A Blast from the Past Cast your mind back to the beginning of December, to a chilly weekend in Cambridge, for this month’s article from Trudi. A weekend involving a lot of eating and sampling real ales in a number of the excellent local hostelries. A slightly more recent chilly weekend was spent in Brighton in the company of ghosts (including a six-foot tall spectral willy), taking in the sea breezes, the fun of the pier and the culture & refinement of the Royal Pavilion. We learnt about Phoebe Hessel, a so-called she-soldier (a woman fighting under the guise of a man – apparently they didn’t undress much in the eighteenth century) and the extra-marital activities of the Prince Regent. We saw fabulous pre-Raphaelite stained glass by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones, toured the famous Lanes, ate oysters and a slightly dodgy Italian, and drank quite a lot of beer. A great way to spend a winter weekend. Ali Cambridge Culture Weekend Thanks to everyone who attended the Cambridge trip on 2^nd/3^rd December! After suggesting it, the well oiled CYHA machine took over from me, successfully resolving administrative issues and bureaucratic bungles. There was no traffic chaos to report, only the heroic journeys made by Dave, Ali and Tom on their bikes. The only complaint (from Ali) was that it was "a bit cold"! Cold was one of the themes for the weekend. The other was Plague and Pestilence, as Dave P supplied a historical guided walk detailing the perils of visiting the city, which had rivers running with deceased beasts and entrails, and was surrounded by swamps spawning malarial mosquitoes. Maybe the cold kept the bugs (and definitely the mosquitoes) at bay, but it was somewhat difficult to imagine the dangers and discomfort of leper colonies, workhouses and extreme poverty as we investigated college courtyards and coffee shops, and enjoyed Fitzbillies famous Chelsea buns. We partook of lunch in the Castle pub, realising we had lingered too long to complete our itinerary. I hurried a small group away to Kettles Yard, a beautiful and tranquil house owned by an artist and given to the University. Cressida and Mike (who have been viewing lots of houses recently!) commented on the lack of utilities! – but as an exhibition space for eclectic objects, Kettles Yard really impressed us, and was light and bright even on an increasingly bleak afternoon. Perhaps fittingly, we retreated to the warmth of the Scott Polar Research Institute, recording the exploration of Antarctica by various expeditions, including Scott and Shackleton. Most of us were familiar with the stories, but it was still poignant to see Captain Oates’ sleeping bag, the remarkable photographs taken with cumbersome equipment, and packets of uneaten biscuits. Mill Road yielded more appetising fare on the way home, as street food featured in the multi-ethnic Winter Festival. The group ate later at the Golden Curry, which was enjoyed by all. Sunday morning was gloriously sunny, so we opted to walk along the Backs and admire the long shadows cast by the winter sun across manicured lawns, terraces and bridges. We milled around like proper tourists until the lure of Christmas shops proved impossible to resist and people began to disperse and take advantage of the retail opportunities. Maybe someone spent the afternoon in the Calligraphy Exhibition at the Fitzwilliam, but most of us headed for the Grafton Centre or John Lewis. Still, basically, we’d had a very cultural weekend! Trudi St Peters Way part 2 - Margaretting to Bicknacre It was a rare sunny day as 19 of us from CYHA and Hike Essex set out from Margaretting, destination Bicknacre. We encountered obstacles such as a low tunnel under the Great Eastern railway with a stream alongside, lots of Essex mud and wayward way marks, including one point in Stock where St.Peters Way was left, right, and straight ahead all at once. There were highlights too; lunch on the cricket pitch at Stock, a pint in the Three Compasses at West Hanningfield, woodland with snow drops and views of the rolling Essex Countryside. Thank you to everyone who turned out for a well attended February walk -don't forget the next instalment from Bicknacre to our first sight of the coast at Maylandsea, on Sunday 14th April. Jim Congratulations Warmest congratulations to Andrew and Carol who announced their engagement at Christmas, and will be getting married on 13th May.
Please send any comments on these pages to Dave Plummer