28th March 2010.

Dear All,

We spent the day with Esther yesterday catching up on a few jobs and listening to her sing Handel’s Messiah with Havering Singers in St Peter’s church, Harold Wood.

Havering Singers warming up

Mary-Ann joined us in the afternoon and she should have met up with Andy who has been travelling in Spain, France and Holland last week. The jobs included removing a box round pipes, mending guttering, cutting the grass, planting apple trees and pruning raspberries.

In the afternoon Esther had to practice with the musicians and soloists so Kate and I went to Hyde Hall, the RHS garden near Chelmsford. It was very neat and orderly and showing quite a lot of colour for the time of year.

Hyde Hall Pond

Hyde Hall Winter Border

I have caught up with the garden by planting maincrop spuds and some late shallots but mainly sowing has been under glass. We appear to have another water leak from the mains as a small bog has formed near the rhubarb. The Water Company came to check and think they have located yet another leak in the road. This makes about 12 in the last 5 years.
I went to Thornhaugh near Peterborough on Saturday to talk to an organic vegetable box scheme company who want some help with trialling. They quickly expanded up to 9,000 boxes delivered a week but the recession has seen this contract back to 6,200.
Our walk on Thursday started at Quendon near Saffron Walden and circled round Berden and Rickling, just over 11 miles. Addenbrookes put me on some new medication for rheumatism and so far they are not helping as I felt dreadful after the walk and have had four migraines!

Extra Pictures from Costa Rica from colleague with telescopic lens

Love

Mike & Kate