28^th September 2014.

Dear All,

We had an excellent week in Flanders – the weather was mostly kind, the guides first class and the company and walking both very good.

It was our first trip through the Euro Tunnel and it was quick and painless – it was difficult to see that we were moving. Our hotel was in a wooded ridge above Kemmel with a superb view and our group of 25 took over the whole place. Guides were booked for the first three days to explain the battles and take us to various monuments, graveyards and museums.

The first day we visited Essex Farm (Advanced Dressing Station), Pickem Ridge, site of the first gas attack, the Harry Patch memorial, the German Cemetery at Langemarck, the Canadian “Brooding Soldier” memorial and Tyne Cot Cemetery where we found Kate’s grandfathers brother’s name on the wall. This was all before lunch which we took at Nieukierke before watching a film “Zero Hour” in Kemmel before walking back to the hotel.

 Hotel & View

Essex Farm

Langemarck

Tyne Cot

On Tuesday another guide met us at Mesen and explained the various stages of the war and we walked to the Irish Peace Park, the Pool of Peace and tooking various water filled craters which resulted from the tunnelling under the German trenches and detonating large amounts of explosives. We had lunch at Wijtschate then visited the restored trenches at Bayernwald. On the way back we visited a WWII “Secret Bunker” under Kemmelberg.

Irish Peace Park

Bayernwald Trenches

On Wednesday with the same guide we drove to Ypres and walked from Hill 60 along a ridge taking in Hills 61 and 62 which changed hands many times during the combat. After lunch in Ypres we spent the afternoon in the very impressive Flanders Fields museum and stayed on for the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate. There were several hundred people there due to the centenary.

Hill 60 Bunker

Ypres Centre

Menin Gate

Thursday was long walk day and Philip led us round the Rodeberg – about 12 miles but good scenery and weather. After some of us visited Talbot House, the Toc H building at Poperinge started by Tubby Clayton to provide peace and rest behind the front line.

We had some time to kill on Friday morning so we explored the border town of Bailleul where the main surprise was a horse drawn dustcart.

Dustcart

We arrived back at 5pm on Friday and Kate was in charge of cooking for 40 at the Harvest Supper last night!

Love

Mike & Kate

20th September 2014

20^th September 2014.

Dear All,

We are off to Belgium visiting the WW1 Battlefields with the walking group, tomorrow so a brief missive tonight.

A bit of travelling this week: Wisley Monday, Biggleswade Wednesday, Walk at Clare Thursday, Scunthorpe on RHS business on Friday.

At Wisley we were judging late carrots and revisiting the tomato trial. For once the M25 was kind and we had reasonable journeys both ways.

  

I went to Biggleswade on Wednesday with Jim Burr to pick up some vegetables for the harvest festival and took Jim for the ride and coffee at Waresley.

Our Thursday walk started at Clare and followed the river Stour and took in Belchamp St Peter. It was sunny and a good walk.

I had an early start on Friday leaving at 5.50am to get to Normanby Hall, Scunthorpe by 9am. RHS Fruit & Vegetable Committee had a meeting there and were meant to answer questions from the public afterwards. This did not create too much interest so 6.5 hours travelling for not a great result. Normanby House was owned by David Cameron’s father-in-law but is now National Trust. It has a large Park, house and walled garden.

It has been Messy Church today (it’s 2^nd birthday) and about 45 turned up. Kate was in charge of food.

I have been asked to do a bit more work for Riverford so had to fit in a report somewhere today.

Love

Mike & Kate

14th September 2014

14^th September 2014.

Dear All,

Hove week this week and we drove down (now cricket has finished) on Tuesday after I had visited NIAB for the second time in two weeks. This time it was for the Sweet Corn open day but first I popped in for coffee with old colleagues. The Sweet Corn was the tallest I can remember but it had suffered from lodging following the flooding and wind last month.

  

Our journey to Hove was one of the clearest we have had so credit to the M25 as I am usually complaining about it. We arrived early so explored Shoreham-on-Sea while waiting for Mary-Ann to clock off.

Shoreham Lighthouse

On Wednesday we called in on friends we had met on the Turkey trip who live at Bexhill-on-Sea and were invited to stay for lunch. After we spent the afternoon at Eastbourne and then called in at Beachy Head. Eastbourne was planned by the 7^th Duke of Devonshire and most of the roads have Derbyshire names so Kate felt at home. The population was decidedly geriatric but the buildings and flower beds were in good condition and the pier being repaired after last years fire.

Eastbourne Pier

Eastbourne Flower Beds

Beachy Head

Posed Smile?

The Beachy Head car park ticket has the Samaritans telephone number on the back and a chaplain was sitting in a clearly marked car in a prominent position.

The Thursday walk was fairly local starting at Arrington and taking in Wimpole and Whaddon. I managed it this week and the feet have improved since then.

I was judging Shelford Show yesterday which was reasonably well supported for a late show. Like most shows it is run by a powerful mafia of formidable ladies and our escorts are given a list of punitive instructions.

  

Shelford Show

I began squash harvest this week and the weather has suited particularly the butternuts this year.

Love

Mike & Kate

7th September 2014

7^th September 2014.

Dear All,

We had two days in Derbyshire this week. On Monday we drove up to Duffield to meet up with Kate’s mother’s cousin Michael Severn and his wife Pauline. He is a retired headmaster and has spent considerable time researching the Severn (Kate’s mother’s line) family tree. This includes trips to Canada where cousins were sent as Barnardo’s Boys as well as visits to Flanders to find the grave of Grandfather’s brother who was killed in the 1^st World War.

Pauline & Michael

 Military momentos

After we called in at a log cabin development at Darley Dale and then on to Bolehill to catch up with developments (or lack of them!). We stayed the night in a farmhouse B&B at Western Underwood – where wheat harvest was just beginning!

Bolehill

On Tuesday we visited Calke Abbey near Derby. This was given to the National Trust in need of repair but they decided to preserve the house as it was and not completely renovate it. There are many rooms crowed with “stuff” including a plethora of stuffed birds and animals in glass cases. The grounds were huge with herds of longhorn cattle, rare breed sheep and deer. There is also an attractive walled garden – so well worth the visit.

Calke Abbey

Walled Gardens

On Wednesday I was invited back to NIAB to learn about a new project they are starting called “The Hasse Hub”. They have won a £500K grant and been given a packhouse at Soham to look into waste in food production. Tesco’s are on board and several organisations gathered to express interest and support. It remains to be seen whether I have anything to offer but it was an interesting day.

Kate led the walk on Thursday that we had recced the previous week. My left foot was swollen so I rested it. The instructions with “Febuxostat” warn that “it can take 6 months to kick in and can initially make symptoms seem worse”. I think I can concur!

 Offending Limb!

On Friday we had a briefing - military style! for our Flanders trip at the end of the month: maps pinned to wall, routes outlined, menus to choose from, battles explained, deployment of vehicles planned. I don’t think we have to dress in military uniform for meals but I am not ruling it out!

Love

Mike & Kate