Cambridge

Charlot King's Blog

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Hello Friends,

I wanted to post this time about Cambridge.

​For those of you who Follow me on Twitter, you will know that I spend a lot of time walking about the place, snapping what I see. A bit of a flâneuse. Mainly just lucky to live in such a beautiful city.

Being a shutterbug is partly because I feel like I just have to capture moments. When life is so fleeting, I want to make sure I never forget, and then want to share the magic.

Which brings me onto nostalgia. I do not find myself having sudden longings for the past, but do hold fond memories close to my heart, as we all do. 

Cambridge, however, breaks all the rules and I think I partly write about it because I want to highlight the magic, if not forever, then for others to share of so many past memories.

I have been lucky to live in other vibrant places, London, Brighton, even Rio de Janeiro and New York for a few months at a time. But Cambridge stole my heart long ago.

People often ask me why I am so loyal. It isn't just because I studied here, or because there is an unbelievably beautiful river that runs through it. Nor is it because all the cars have been banned from the city centre and you can walk about in peace and without breathing the fumes. It isn't because there are a large number of parks and open spaces right in the heart of it - Midsummer Common, Jesus Green, Christ's Pieces, Parker's Piece, Lammas Land, Stourbridge Common to name just some. Of course, all these things play a part.

It isn't because my family have flourished here, built good friendships, feel safe and happy here. But that makes a huge difference.

It is mainly the people, the attitude. An ethos which almost rises up into the air from a collective spirit and swirls around the city like a protective atmosphere. The feeling which I get from this is warmth, hope, then collective pride.

Cambridge is more than friendly. There is a sense of belonging. People aren't passing through. They have found Cambridge, almost like a secret, and are not budging. Perhaps because many have found something which is so elusive. Happiness. 

Importantly, I don't believe Cambridge is tribal. A word, sadly, which is growing in our vernacular. It is welcoming, inclusive to those in need. 

Now, this all sounds a bit sickening if you do not live here. And, who am I to say. I suppose I wanted to share to give more insight into why I write about the place. Why my murder mysteries are set here. 

I was wondering - and have in the past whether to write a 'tour' book, highlighting the places I have written about and wondered if there would be an appetite?

Happy weekend all,
Cxx

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