RAE fellowship

We are in Cambridge for all of May, via my Royal Academy of Engineering Distinguished Visiting Fellowship Award. This provides funds for air, lodging, and other expenses, and enables me to start a collaboration with Steve Young's Dialogue Systems Group.   Although I must admit that being associated with a School of Engineering is very strange indeed. Steve's staff suggested a service which has provided us with a very modern 1 bedroom (furnished) flat. It seems to be about a 20 minute walk from everything (my office, the train station, the main market square).

On arrival Thursday, our first order of business was to try to revive our dormant HSBC account from Edinburgh.   Seemed a good thing to do after being up all night on the plane and miserably jetlagged. Almost 3 hours later, however, Mark's account seemed to be ok but not mine!  Still have to deal with this. We then wandered around a bit until we could eat dinner at The Clarendon Arms, which was a very nice pub a few blocks away from our flat.

On Friday I went to the University to do adminstration.  Got keys, computer accounts, and then the whole group was taken to lunch at Browns. I have the use of  Steve's office when he is being Provostish, or being in the grad student and postdoc bullpen.  Then went to the regular weekly group meeting.  Was wondering where everyone who I walked over with disappeared to, but then about 5 minutes later they showed up with a pot of fresh brewed tea.

Back at the flat, Mark had been out exploring food (what else) and we had our first Kahrs-cooking meal.  Turned on the telly only to find that Have I Got News for You was on, even with many of the same people from years ago.  As is Masterchef, another of our former favs.  Other things that are still the same - no screens on windows, eggs not refrigerated.