4th November 2012.

Dear All,

We enjoyed two long walks this week – but on reflection “enjoyed” is probably overstating the case. We are down to lead a “short” walk next week so we carried out the “reccy” on Wednesday. This is fairly local starting at Stow-cum-Quy, following Quy Water to Anglesey Abbey and Lode then across to Bottisham and Little Wilbraham before returning by the Little Wilbraham River to Stow. It was actually nearly 9 miles which I think contravenes the Trade Descriptions Act – and difficult to shorten. The beginning and end are by water and attractive, the middle crosses the A14 followed by some exposed fields so is more of a slog.

On Thursday we began at Great Crishall and took in Little Crishall and Langley. There had been heavy rainfall during the night so ditches were gurgling and even the grass paths were saturated. We finished by crossing a recently ploughed large field of especially glutinous clay. Sometimes you have to remind yourself that you are doing this for pleasure!

Chrishall church

  

Heavy Going

After the walk I popped into the NIAB Onion Open Day which was well attended. Alasdair Findlay, a farmer/breeder from Bedfordshire has been breeding his own varieties of Brussels Sprouts and red onions for many years. This year his new red onion came top for yield and he was very chuffed. He phoned me next day to say that he had been on the point of giving up a few years ago but I had encouraged him to keep trying – sometimes it all seems worthwhile........

NIAB Onion Demonstration

In the evening Nick Bolton from Nickersons Seeds came for dinner to meet John Law and myself as he wants to start something in Latvia similar to what we are doing in Moldova. He attends a New Frontiers church in Bury St Edmunds and the best man from his wedding is working as a missionary in Latvia. Charismatics should be good at broadcasting seed!

Our U3A film on Tuesday was “Albert Nobbs” about a couple of women disguising themselves as men to get on in 1920s Dublin. The acting was brilliant but it was a bit sad.

The biography this week was “Rudyard Kipling”. Born 1865 in Bombay, boarding school in England from aged 5, Returned to India as a journalist aged 17 for 7 years and did not go back again. Back to England to start writing. Travelled extensively, married and settled in Vermont, returned to Devon then “Batemans” in Sussex. Friend of Cecil Rhodes, Helped Baden Powell start Scouts. First Englishman to win Nobel Prize for Literature. Wangled son into WW1 but devastated when shot aged 18. Daughter brought Wimpole Hall. Collected Poems book 3” thick. Died 1936, buried in Poets Corner.

Plenty of gardening this week, planted broad beans, harvested last of runner beans and tomatoes, topped asparagus, dug dahlias and carried on digging.

Esther left for Bulgaria on Friday, Mary-Ann is in Glasgow for the cousins get together, Ben and 2 mates arrived last night before running in the Lode Half Marathon. We wish them well as it is currently pouring with rain. Ben flies to Turkey on Monday.

Love

Mike & Kate