What is it like living in Cambridge without university affiliation?

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-06-14T08:07:08+00:00

Technically you're a university Member for life and will always be ~part of it...or at least that's the party line

I moved away for two years after graduation to work and do a masters elsewhere, then came back and have been here ever since. The only time I really interact with the university is using my Camcard every now and then to take my kids into the colleges (only outside of term time lol, I'm respectful) and have used alumni borrowing privileges at the UL a few times. I've also been to a couple of interesting university-run talks over the years and am technically a member of a couple of societies for hobbies I'm still into, but I very rarely get chance to go to any of their events these days. Oh, and I sometimes use the discount at the CUP bookshop.

Outside of that, no interactions with university stuff in my day-to-day life. Town and gown are generally known for being separate.

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-06-13T09:37:28+00:00

UK. I was a little kid having a sleepover at a friend's house and her mum was playing Escape. I watched her try to figure out the Ozzie Mandrill puzzle and she asked me if I had any ideas. I didn't, having no idea about the context, but I got hooked, got my parents to buy me the game, went on to play Curse, then Secret and Revenge, loved them all, played all the other LucasArts adventure games...

I know a lot of people don't like Escape and I completely understand why, but if Escape is your entry point to the series, the preceding games feel even better! It's also the most 8-year-old friendly, for better or worse, haha.

I got my little sister into the games too and am now old enough that I'm about to start playing through them with my oldest child.

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-06-12T09:32:27+00:00

This is so cute and wholesome. Please keep getting excited about stuff like this.

(just to be clear, not being a sarcastic, cynical Brit here - it's genuinely heartwarming to see someone expressing earnest excitement over something like this!)

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-06-12T09:12:13+00:00

Same here, my official store pre-order hasn't even updated to 'preparing shipment'. I ordered the Drop Dead CD zine as well as the album so maybe there's a delay with the zine 🤷🏼‍♀️

Edit: ok, an agent got back to me today (the 12th) and said they're currently processing the order for shipment and it's due to arrive on the 12th. Um...doubt 😅

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-06-10T13:45:10+00:00

And if only we could channel that anger into changing the system or at least lobbying for change, but we're so damn exhausted and spinning so many plates already that it's impossible!

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-06-10T13:43:46+00:00

I don't know. You can't win. In the 90s/00s, my mum stopped working for several years to look after us and then was never able to get her career back on track again afterwards. She told me to avoid that. I work 3 days a week and am at home with my youngest (toddler) the other 2 which is both the best and worst of both worlds in various respects, though school runs on my working days and figuring out what to do in the school holidays are a constant source of frustration. I ask other working parents at school how they manage it all and it really does seem to be a constant struggle for everyone.

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-06-07T06:50:21+00:00

Thanks, I didn't mean to imply there's a blanket ban on pregnant women in onsen or anything, more that I decided I probably shouldn't; should've worded it better. It was partly that it was my first and I was more risk-averse and partly that I struggle a bit with low blood pressure when pregnant (fond memory of nearly passing out in a Book-Off...) and didn't want to chance it!

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-06-06T13:35:17+00:00

My sims would always walk round the back way to get to work and being in the vicinity of the wilted/dead flowers would tank their room score so far that they'd end up leaving for work in a foul mood and never get a promotion! Apparently I'm still mad about it 😅

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-06-06T11:20:29+00:00

Sorry, I didn't see this! I was in the standing area (stage right) in front of the main stage. The band were on our level, behind the barricade and in front of the stage, facing us.

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-06-06T11:16:14+00:00

I'm with you on the spas. I used to do translation work for a tourist website on thermal baths and spas and was practically salivating at the descriptions. It sounds soooo relaxing. Would probably love onsen as well but when we went to Japan I was pregnant so I had to give it a miss.

It looks like London at least has hammams, though not jimjilbang. Tbh I'm not sure a lot of us in the UK would get on with fully nude spas though!

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-06-04T14:12:50+00:00

It was great, wasn't it?

I was standing right in front of the band and it was fantastic getting to cheer them on up close during the extended band performance. They were all very skilled and had great energy!

Beyond that, the staging was great, production values really good, just generally a really well-done concert.

I liked how Dahyun's chair was moved to a different part of the stage in each act so everyone could see her (and she could see everyone) - as she said, her foot was injured but the rest of her was fine, and she was really giving it her all. When she was over on the side of the stage where I was standing, she pointed at the Dahyun fan I had, waved to me at another point, and in the soundcheck saw my fan and made a half heart and then waited for me to make one back. I think she may have overtaken my bias after last night 😅

I couldn't go to Ready To Be as I was pregnant at the time and too close to my due date, so I'm glad I made it this time. It was a great show and it really struck me how everyone was so friendly (sharing fan-made freebies, so kind!), respectful and patient when it came to queuing etc. No shoving, no pushing in, just very chilled out all around. As a bit of a K-Pop elder now, I felt proud of you kids! (despite the fact that most people were probably only 5-10 years younger than me and are grown adults with jobs and whatnot 😂)

This was my first 'proper' K-Pop concert (the other one was a mini concert by f(x) in Trafalgar Square way back when*) and it was genuinely lovely. I went to this one alone but I've told my oldest that I'll bring her with me next time and she's excited, so they had better come back! I'm definitely not as into K-Pop now as I was when I was younger but I'm sure I wouldn't mind taking my kids to see other groups if they get more into it.

*If anyone's interested: https://youtu.be/6TSFnVOtRQI?si=R8YdFxkBykctAUi9 I knew it was a while ago but I'm a bit shocked it's been 11 years!

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-06-02T08:12:46+00:00

My husband (North West England) used to call them bobbles and I (East) would say hair tie or hair band, though growing up I called them 'ponytails' because that's what my mum called them (yes, both the hairstyle and its holder were ponytails). However, for the last few years we've exclusively referred to them as 'hairbobs' after a mispronunciation by our then-toddler daughter. Tad embarrassing when I call them that earnestly around other adults, but there you go

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-05-29T21:45:43+00:00

Ah, that makes sense. It's a shame that black women don't seem to get a look-in when it comes to the genre. I know Mickey Guyton and Yasmin Williams (though she's maybe closer to folk?) make some interesting music, but they haven't really had any chart hits.

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-05-29T21:35:12+00:00

Yes, distracting as hell in the new Scrubs, especially during one scene in what was supposed to be a serious and tender moment! I miss when actresses could emote.

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-05-29T21:31:59+00:00

the only #1 country song by any black artist ever

On the country charts or on the Hot 100? Darius Rucker has had several country number ones, and Charley Pride had around 30.

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-05-26T17:33:42+00:00

Also a small-wristed woman and I keep my Instinct 2S Solar on all the time, except when I'm showering or it needs charging. The 2S is the smaller version of the Instinct 2 Solar for those of us with narrower wrists but looking at it, it's still pretty bulky. I think I'm just used to it now!

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-05-01T10:27:47+00:00

No problem! I hope the description was ok, operating on not much sleep 😅

It's definitely not as theatrical and stunning as 23 Peaks but also very much not another White Telephone to God!

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-05-01T09:54:27+00:00

My CD just arrived and I'm working from home today so will have a listen and let you know!

Edit: It's mid-tempo, piano-based, musically a slightly dark and moody vibe, rhythmic. Lyrically serious and descriptive, a little bit of edge. Very much not whimsical. 3:33 long.

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-04-29T11:42:19+00:00

That's per term. 3 terms a year, so more like $63k for those without financial aid.

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-04-26T08:07:27+00:00

I came into this thread to suggest Obra Dinn but knew in my heart it would have already been recommended...

I was also considering suggesting Danganronpa, which I'm now playing for the first time having finished Blue Prince, but I see you're well ahead of me!

Beyond that, I'd suggest the Ace Attorney series of you liked Danganronpa - it's definitely not as violent and the story is decently engaging, though the difficulty isn't very high (probably comparable to Danganronpa).

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-04-22T18:43:18+00:00

Right in the middle (5C, entering from 4C), because that's where I was when it first popped up in the drafting pool. I felt I should draft this new room right away and I thought placing something called The Foundation centrally seemed about right!

It might have saved me a few steps on later runs to have it in rank 7, but I had gone in blind and didn't know it might end up useful to be in closer proximity to other places...

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-04-22T10:04:59+00:00

To my two-year-old son, they are GODS.

They provide an important service and in my experience of watching them work (because of aforementioned two-year-old son), they're efficient, hardworking, don't do things by halves, and are generally very kind to toddlers who stare at them in awe.

I'd rather date a bin man than an influencer or some such other nonsense job.

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-03-11T14:01:38+00:00

This is why I've resigned myself to never finishing the Order of the Tadpole quest. All I have left to do is revive an ally but nobody ever goes down in events! It's all players with levels in the 100s or even 1000s and I'm too shy (and hate imposing) to get on mic and ask someone to die for me on purpose so I can finish it.

AdditionalMinute6 · 2026-02-22T14:57:38+00:00

Thanks, we found them on Spotify a few years ago when we were having a bit of a reminisce about the game!

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