I came, I saw, I portered*
The great Judge Judy once said, “I think that you’re supposed to know when it’s time to say goodbye”. As I prepare for my imminent departure from Cambridge, I like to see it less as a goodbye to the city I have come to love above all others, but more of a ‘hello’ to new adventures.
Coming to the University city changed my life beyond all recognition and, despite not being a scholar or academic of any kind, I was able to realise my dreams and reach a potential I never imagined possible within the strange and wonderful walls of this esoteric world. More than that, I have been lucky enough to have you all alongside me for what has been a most unexpected emprise. And, as far as unexpected emprises go, this is just the beginning, I assure you.
But now it is time to go. There are those I love even more than Cambridge, endeavours even more pertinent than PorterGirl. Without doubt, Cambridge will always be a part of me, but perhaps more importantly, I will always be a part of Cambridge.
*Relying on schoolgirl Latin as opposed to being a Classical scholar, I struggled to find a direct translation for ‘porter’ as either a noun or verb. So, seeing as our English word porter is derived from the Latin portātor, from past participle of portāre (to carry) I decided to go with that, as it’s a nice first conjugation word and easily popped into the singular perfect tense. I am sure far better educated chaps than my good self will have plenty to say about this pitiful translation but, quite frankly, bollocks to them.
Lucy Brazier 
Bollocks to them indeed! Portavi sounds uncommonly Latin to me (especially since it is almost 50* years since I did Latin at school).
Cambridge is a wonderful city, but I’m sure wherever you are going (I’ve forgotten – I’m sure it was on one of your posts) will improve greatly from your presence.
*Jeez!
I do love a bit of Latin but mine is so rusty now I’m probably just talking nonsense. Mind you, I do that in English, too…
I’m off to Northampton – an unremarkable town these days but with an interesting history, parts of which I’ll no doubt bore you all with at some point. The local council has just gone bankrupt, so it’s known for something, at least. The most important thing, though, is that it contains Mumsie! A national treasure!
Ah, I remember, now. Yes, looking forward to hearing all about Northampton and its almost certain up-coming renaissance!
Woe, woe, thrice woe, the end of an era, much wailing and gnashing of teeth, like the Doctor we await the next incarnation, not in the flower obviously, you know what I mean.
I feel the woe, I really do. But it’s time to move on. And I am not defined by Cambridge, as much as I shall miss the place. The next incarnation won’t be much different, I suspect, just located elsewhere. But who knows – that’s the fun part!
Wherever life takes you we shall follow, well within reason.
There will always be toilet and catering facilities within easy reach, I assure you.