18th October 2009

18th October 2009.

Dear All,

We have had a hectic social whirl this week! Following the 50th party last Saturday we had a meal out with some of the Ramblers on Monday, a church group meal on Friday and a 50th wedding celebration this Saturday. The Monday meal was best at the “Duke of Wellington” in Willingham, they specialise in home made pies – everything from steak and mushroom to haggis pie via frankfurter and kidney. It was the best pub meal we have had for sometime. The 50th anniversary was for Lily and Michael Firth who were in Over for 30 years but retired to March 3 years ago, all 3 of their sons passed through Covenanters and one is currently a missionary in Latvia. Lily hails from Singapore and is a forceful lady who taught all 3 of our children to play the piano. Her cooking skills were somewhat unimaginative and the menu was the same each week “Monday – cheese and potato pie, Tuesday sausages” etc The party was in a roadside café between Thorney and Guyerne and much livelier than expected.
On Monday I began my new U3A course on “Cambridge College Gardens” The idea is to be shown round by the head gardener who explains the history and thinking behind the layouts. This week was Magdalene and although the gardens were not spectacular it is a good chance to see what lies behind some of the secretive Cambridge walls.

Magdalene College, Riverside courtyard


Magdalene, Pepys Library

Magdalene, Fellows garden

The new term of Rambling started with 50 people turning up on the first week which stretched the pub catering to the limits and evidently the group was well strung out (I was in Northumberland). This week it was down to 34 and one of those had to be picked up in a car as out military leader shows no mercy to the weak and halt! Actually they have started shorter walks called “Convalescing Walks” for those who are struggling. This week was billed as 10.5 miles but turned into 12 starting from Horseheath and rounding Castle Camps.
Ben has been up this weekend, he has put in an offer for another flat and hopes to hear whether he has been successful tomorrow. We took him to the Darwin Exhibition at the Fitzwilliam – only to find that it had finished last week! still fortunately there are a few other pictures worth examining there as well. He is planning a cycling holiday in Spain in November so we went map shopping and also examined the Corpus Clock which was installed at Corpus Christi last year. This is well worth a look next time you are in Cambridge.


Corpus Clock

It was autumn “spring cleaning” at chapel yesterday and winter digging is underway in the garden even though it is so hard and dry penetration is a problem. Star plant this week is a Swan Necked gourd which came too late for harvest festival but is beautiful anyway.



Swan Necked Gourd
Love


Mike & Kate

11th October 2009

11th October 2009.

Dear All,

We have enjoyed a good week in Northumberland with the weather better than expected in October. We left Over at 7 am on Saturday with Gordon and Kate and Bob and Carol – all 6 travelling in Gordon’s Alhambra, so luggage was kept to a minimum. We had breakfast in Newark and lunch with Kate F’s sister in Yarm, arriving at our destination - Warenton, a hamlet near Bamburgh by 3.30 pm. The house was an old mill and very comfortable.

The Old Mill, Warenton

Bamburgh Castle
On Sunday we went to Alnwick Baptist church, which was fairly lively then had a picnic at Craster and walked along the coast to Dunstanburgh Castle.

Dunstanburgh Castle
Monday we drove the pretty way to Berwick via Wooler, Etal and Duddo. We walked the Berwick walls and explored a bit before crossing into Scotland ending up in Eyemouth where the sea was pounding the seawall and seals were swimming amongst the boats.

Berwick Road Bridge

Eyemouth

Tuesday was our only wet day so we made for Alnwick and managed to view the castle gardens without getting too damp. These are very impressive designed by the duchess with exotic fountains, a bamboo maze, old English rose garden, a poison plant garden, water sculptures, a large walled ornamental garden and a large tree house and walk.



Alnwick Castle Tree House
When it really rained we made for the famous “Barters Second-hand Bookshop”. If you have never been it is worth going north alone for with stacks of books, a log fire and “help yourself “refreshments.
Wednesday dawned fine so we made for Holy Island exploring the Abbey ruins and castle before walking round the island in brilliant sunshine. In the afternoon we made for Seahouses and fish and chips.Thursday we drove inland to the Northumberland National Park and the Cheviot Hills. We walked from Hethpool over Great Hertha and back along Elsdon Burn. The weather was fantastic and the scenery marvellous. We also explored a couple of other valleys into the hills at Harthorpe and Old Middleton – probably the best day of the week for me.



The Cheviot Hills
On Friday the weather was dull, we went back to Ingram in the Cheviots to explore a fourth valley then on to the coast to Amble, Walkworth Castle, Alnmouth, Alnwick and Beadnell.
Saturday we had a good return journey via Downtown and were home by 2.30 pm. In the evening it was Hilary Allen’s 50th birthday party arranged by her daughter Bryony at Bar Hill so that rounded the week off quite nicely.

Love


Mike & Kate