As you may have noticed, we turned around in Cambridge and are now going back the way we came. There is no other way to get back to the canals. There is talk of a canal from Milton Keynes to Bedford which would be a dramatic shortcut, but unless the canal enthusiasts can raise two hundred million pounds it’s not going to happen. On the other hand, canal enthusiasts are a patient and persistent lot who are playing a long game so some time over the next century it may get built.

We are not waiting that long.

On the way back we can visit some of the attractions that we missed on the way out. It will be fun, just wait and see. We had time to take a tour of the cathedral today. The best story was that one of the staff of the cathedral told the catholic priest at St Etheldreda’s that they would like St Etheldreda’s hand back. “I understand,” said the catholic priest. “We’d like our cathedral back.”

Before the tour we had to listen to a short prayer, which turned out to be a pointed critique of government policy on the National Health Service. Sometimes the Church of England still manages to be relevant.

The cathedral also has a museum of stained glass, with a fine collection: medieval, Victorian, modern, religious, secular, all sorts of stuff. I like looking at the faces.

That’s St Catherine, staring at a model of the wheel on which she was to be tortured. She’s pissed because in spite of having a firework named after her, she didn’t get to be the patron saint of pyrotechnics. That’s Saint Barbara, because after her father chopped her head off, he was struck by lightning.

This one seems to be a stoner angel.

At least that angel is using a bow to play the fiddle. These Burne-Jones bored Pre-Raphaelite angels appear to be about to play their instruments with a giant leaf.

Don’t they look bored.

OK, here’s some not bored people.

I think they are part of the Brexit negotiation team.

This must be Theresa May’s cabinet.

I didn’t read the label on this one but I’m guessing it’s St George.

Or maybe Freddie Mercury. I get them confused.

A stained glass panel dedicated to The Swedish Physical Training Colleges’ Bed.

I don’t understand it either. I’m all in favor of Swedish Physical Training, so long as it is the Swedes doing it and not me, and I’m all in favor of bed, but the combination? Maybe the Swedes have some very different ideas about physical training.

Swedish physical training?

And now for something completely different. The Emperor Napoleon and Josephine played by monkeys.

Whatever.

Judging from her expression it’s not a good vintage.

This one is called Self Portrait IV

Otherwise knows as How do I get this paint off my face?

I was on the look out for more Ugly Baby Jesus contenders, but this one did not make the cut.

This looks like it should have been painted on velvet rather than glass.

The May Queen.

I sure hope this is a woodcutter, and not an executioner.

Two more stoner angels and then I have to get something to eat.