21st August 2011

21st August 2011.

Dear All,

Out and about this week: 2 days at Beaumont, 1 day walking, a day at Colchester and another at Hunstanton.
I went down to Glebe on Monday to see whether I could help with harvest but it is all very efficient these days, so I spent several hours riding in the air conditioned combine cab with Gavin watching the on board computer and video screen uninterrupted by breakdowns or set backs apart from waiting for the moisture levels to drop. As they waited to begin I was able to visit old and new haunts with David: the new “Faith Farm”, the seawall, Peter Genery, and the Cut demonstration site and lime kiln.

Combining Hobb’s Meadow

Newlands Meadow

Faith (on left!)& friends

Faith Farm Common Room

Cut Lime Kiln

Decaying barge at Beaumont Cut

Our walk this week started at Folksworth near Norman Cross, Peterborough. It was wet for the third week running – the first time I can recall this happening, but a good walk nonetheless with no cereal crops left to harvest at all.
On Friday I went to Colchester Castle Park to watch Essex v Gloucestershire. It was not the most thrilling days play but the sun shone throughout and there was a good crowd and atmosphere. I explored the castle during the tea break, it is a long time since I went inside but the Castle Park is very impressive these days.


Colchester Castle

Yesterday was our chapel outing to Hunstanton and again the weather was good. 24 made the trip and were joined by another 9 for a BBQ at Kate and Gordon’s on the way home.

Hunstanton

Kate meanwhile had gone to Hutton to help Esther entertain Mandy and Natasha who are down on a pilgrimage to see the baby today.

love


Mike & Kate

8th August 2011

8th August 2011.

Dear All,

Too busy to write yesterday - we had a chapel BBQ in the afternoon in the Kitson’s garden. About 50 turned up and it did not rain so pluses all round.

Chapel BBQ

Amazingly the “Guided Busway” opened yesterday – only 2 years behind schedule. I hope it is successful as it has a fair share of knockers but I guess it will need time to settle down.


Guided Busway

I started a new project for Riverford on Monday reviewing their vegetable varieties and cropping plans and recommending new varieties and trials. They grow at least 33 different crops at 4 major locations: Devon & Cornwall, Hampshire, Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire.
On Tuesday I was picking beans and courgettes for Andy who used to work with me. He is a workaholic but had taken his children away for a few days. So I was covering for him. It was baking hot and took quite a long time. The trials are located behind his ex father-in-law’s house and he is a steam engine fanatic.

Part of bean trial

Steam Engine

I finished stripping and painting the garage doors, tank and back yard cupboard this week, we are thinking of replacing the fascias and suffits with plastic. We have also been getting estimates for solar panels for electricity generation – so watch this space.
Thursday’s walk was very damp as it rained for all but 10 minutes at the start. We started at Toppesfield and walked to Stambourne and Gt Yeldham.
It has been a bad cricket week, we were unable to field 2 teams the previous Saturday due to a wedding, Thursday it rained when we were due to play at Kings College and last Saturday the opposition could not raise a team. We are due to play tonight and this is our last week of midweek matches due to the nights drawing in (you heard it here first!)
Here are this weeks baby photo’s evidently Andy is sure Mary-Ann has cloned herself – well Kate has the technology at her fingertips!

love


Mike & Kate