Upbeat

My dear Friends
From time to time I pop into my favourite hotel in Cambridge, the Regent, a small family business run by Italians. The former owner, Mrs P, who lives on the premises, handed over the business to her children, a brother and sister, who run the hotel with love and hospitality. If I feel a bit blue to begin with when I come in, I am sure to be consoled with wise advice and pots of tea by the time I leave.

The place has a fabulous view over the green and towards the police station; Anglia Ruskin University beckons nearby. As a former Technical College, this was the very first place I attended as a student in Cambridge, in my first weeks here in 1982. I have fond and happy memories of my Foundation course in Music, and still know many of the people who taught me in those days. When I got to know Alexia, who came here to study, I revisited the place and love to sit in the library, open all hours and very warm and comforting.

Cambridge has many amenities, and it is good to be reminded of them. I am happy that I have just booked myself a cinema ticket at the Arts Picturehouse to see a film on Thursday-relaxing in the tiny bar area upstairs is always nice too. The Fitzwilliam Museum is free, and convenient for the University, Catholic church and a series of Colleges, to say nothing of the Graduate Centre, where I once spent a whole day practising, dressing and resting before giving a concert nearby in Pembroke College.

Gratefulness is happiness-I once read a book by a German monk living in America whith that theme. Somewhere deep inside I must be longing for the other side of the pond, but its not so bad here after all.

Good friends and good wine - nothing better than that-and I shared a glass by the river with a new friend just the other day.

Lechayim! To life!
Shalom from
Sister Gila