My Uncle Vinny

The occasion is really tempting: TEO has the chance to go and visit his Uncle Vincenzo who lives in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. With RyanAir (let's draw a veil over this company) we take off for London Stansted and from there, driving on the wrong side (but luckily we have our driver Vinny), we head for Cambridgeshire, a county in eastern England, to drop our suitcases in the "City" of Peterborough. The programme is challenging and one of those that makes your mouth water. Five days to spend some time with the family, relax and visit Peterborough (of course), Cambridge and London. The only unknown, as always, the weather! The forecasts at departure aren't the best.

It's cold, there's a cold wind and above all it's raining! Faithful to the philosophy "there's no such thing as good or bad weather but good or bad equipment" we don't let it get us down and set off with our heads held high and morale intact! Unfortunately as the days go by the forecasts, especially the British ones, notoriously always reliable, confirm the tendency towards bad weather. We have to revise the programme "downwards". We manage to see Peterborough "rocked" by a freezing wind and "lit up" by a lovely sun that gives us good hope for the following days. In Cambridge a downpour awaits us that halves the planned visit. London is off! Too bold to do an hour and a half of train (each way) with the risk of getting trapped in the station! Maybe next time. If there was ever any need, here's a good excuse to come back and visit my uncle Vinny again.

The alternative doesn't take long to arrive though; taking advantage of the various momentary clear spells, we immerse ourselves in the landscape offered by the Cambridgeshire countryside. On reflection, despite the weather not always being kind, we can say we had no small amount of fun.

The more observant won't have missed a certain familiarity in the title. To be honest it's not our own invention but we've taken and adapted it from a famous and very funny film: My Cousin Vinny (Year 1992; Director Jonathan Lynn). Joe Pesci is a rookie lawyer who takes on the defence of a cousin (Ralph Macchio) accused of theft and murder along with a friend. He is helped by his girlfriend, an expert in engines (Marisa Tomei). If you haven't seen it we highly recommend it.

THANKS to Vincenzo for hosting us and offering us a splendid weekend.