11th July 2010

11th July 2010.

Dear All,

Highlight of this week has been Monday’s trip to Hampden Court Flower Show where I was presented the award of “Associate of Honour” from the RHS for life time services to horticulture by Sophie, Countess of Wessex. It was baking hot and I had to wear a suit but fortunately was able to ditch it soon after the lunch. Kate and I sat on a table with The Lord Lieutenant of Surrey and his wife and Vince Cable’s wife. The show was very good especially the Home Produce garden where they had transplanted a huge area of vegetables, flowers, cereals and sunflowers and kept them alive during the hot weather.

Sophie, me and the new RHS President




Hamden Court exhibits

The garden has needed some serious watering this week to keep things alive, it reached 118°F in the greenhouse.
Our walk this week started at Dalham near Newmarket and was a circuit via Barrow and Gazeley including the remains of a castle and the grounds of an estate. After we were invited to nearby Kirtling to the home of one of our number Roger Gilmour, this turned out to be a mansion with 26 acres! He was once director of Porton Down germ warfare unit - so it was Pimm’s for the second time in a week!

Dalham cottage

Roger’s place

On Friday I thought it would be a good chance to burn a small bonfire as it was very dry, I watered the ashes to make sure they were out and we changed to go to Sutton for a BBQ to celebrate Adrian Hart’s birthday. The start of the BBQ was delayed for 45 mins and Kate looked out of the window and saw the hedge and log pile alight. It took 45 minutes and 2 hoses to put it out! It was a good job we had not left at the original time.


Fire site

I was judging Little Paxton Produce Show yesterday but the entries were a bit weedy so it was not a very long job.
Kate has joined Esther at the Albert Hall today where they are practicing and singing “Gloria” by Karl Jenkins. It is the first time it has been performed and in Latin so I hope it goes well.

love

Mike & Kate