retiredmartin

December 25th 2025. Cambridge.

Up until COVID we’d try to be away every Christmas, as far from turkey dinners as possible. 10 years ago it was Cuba, one year we were in a Travelodge in Workington.

This year, duty calls. As you’ve already seen, Dad had the approved roast in Waterbeach,

while we feasted on crisps, houmous, dry baguette and some stew Mrs RM magically knocked up in 10 minutes in a bare Sunnyside.

At least no-one made us wear party hats and singalonga Jona Lewie, and the clearing-up took 5 minutes.

December has been a disaster for walks, but I did drive the boys into Cambridge to do the traditional post-lunch 4 mile meander (a tradition that starts and ends in 2025).

Parking is FREE on Christmas Day, the best thing about the day, and we start at Castle Mound for the view to the Urals, or possibly Uttlesford.

To the right (above) a chap drops his water bottle, and apropos of nothing tells James its a tradition that it must be picked up by his wife while he stands on one leg. Or something. Cambridge folk love their tradition, it’s why the most cutting-edge gigs inn town are Kurt Weill recitals.

The only notable features of Cambridge on this day are a) the vast numbers of Japanese tourists, wondering why shops are shut and b) the near virtual absence of locals.

Actually, there were a few locals, eating very non-traditional Hot Pot or Sweet and Sour Chicken in Chinese Canteen and Seven Days, seemingly without the 300% mark-up of a Hungry Horse. We’ll got to one of those next year, says Mrs RM.

You’ve got the colleges and museums to yourself today, the exteriors, anyway.

The lads spy an open pub (Spoons shut at 2).

I was only in the Mill a few months ago, a small smartish town pub packed with diners paying rather more than the folk in Regent Street’s Asian gems, with space for a few drinkers at the bar.

James and Matthew aren’t keen on sitting at the bar, either, but it’s this or nothing.

Matt’s not keen on paying nearly £18 for 2 pints of Landlord and the small bottle of Asahi 0.0 (it’s not bad) for DES Dad, and their assessment on the Tim Taylor is a bit muted as well. But at least the Mill was open to drinkers mid-afternoon on the 25th.

The inevitable walk along the Backs brings a sight of a heron,

but no sighting of a takeaway for tea.

In years past I reckon you might have got a kebab and chips at Gardenia, the “college takeaway”,

but that has just joined the Eraina and Clowns on the list of “legendary lost Cambridge cheap eateries”.

Luckily, Mrs RM had the spaghetti bolognese on the boil.