8th July 2012

8th July 2012.

Dear All,

A fairly busy week, on Tuesday we attended a NIAB “Wrinklies” tour of Cambridge Botanic gardens led by ex NIAB employee Aubrey Bould who seemed to know every tree and the story behind it.

Black Walnut

Giant Redwood

Cambridge Botanic Gardens

On Wednesday Kate and I joined a Blue Badge tour of the Olympic site together with Ian Gordon one of our walking group. Although we were not allowed onto the site it was an interesting visit seeing the regeneration of the area and hearing about the plans for afterwards. The icing on the cake was the view from the 3rd floor of John Lewis, Westfield, where they had thoughtfully supplied binoculars and scopes.


Olympic Stadium

Swimming Pool

Thursday was the wedding of the year, as Kate and Gordon’s daughter Anna married Lee at Hengrave Hall, near Bury St Edmunds with no expense spared. The hall is a 16th century building which was in the Kytson family for many generations before becoming a hospital in the 1st World War, then a nunnery for 36 years. A property developer brought it with the aim of turning it into apartments but was refused planning permission so switched to providing a venue for events – mainly weddings.
The weather was kind as it was a rare sunny day so we spent much of the time in the gardens. Gordon is now a happier but much poorer man.

Anna & Lee

Hengrave Hall

As a contrast Friday was a funeral for Edna Johnson a formidable lady who was the wife of Frank who used to spend all his time looking after the Green to keep out of the way.

On Saturday I was asked to take part in an outreach farm walk in Willingham by the farmer Geoff Pake. I did a talk in the barn while it was fine, then they mounted trailers to visit a new Community Farm and the plan was to then go round Geoff’s farm but by that time it was tipping down so that part was abandoned. They laid on a BBQ and they were able to do that in a Dutch barn .

Amélie was 1 year old on Thursday and celebrated by having her first day at nursery. Kate is joining Esther’s choir singing in the Albert Hall today. Esther has been having trouble with her eyes with night time pain and blurred vision. She has started treatment so hopefully it will do the trick.

Love

Mike & Kate