20^th December 2015.

Dear All,

Black Eye Friday warning issued as police and Army take to Cambridge streets

By Cambridge News  |  Posted: December 18, 2015

By Tara Cox

Police deal with a late-night incident

The highlight this week was our Friday night stint with “Street Pastors” in Cambridge. The night has been christened “Black Eye Friday” due to activities in previous years. We did not see much violence this year but, of course plenty of over indulgence and consequent sickness and helplessness. We were in the Nightlite cafe which for the occasion was shared with 12 Territorial Army, 12 St John’s Ambulance, a couple of NHS and up to 20 police for the briefing. I guess it was based on previous experience but this year seemed a tad over the top. It was reasonably quiet up to midnight and not over populated after but those who were brought in were fairly serious cases with a few needing drips or ambulances to take them to A&E. One of the NHS men was from A&E and he said that 33% to 50% of cases admitted to A&E have mental problems and the system to treat them is failing badly.

Our worst case was brought in by the SPs at 3.30am and the TA turned him away saying it was too late so he was sent to us and the St John’s folk so instead of getting away at 4 am we were there until 4.40 am, bed at 5.30 am!. All in all the TA were not a great asset and there seemed to be too many not very useful people about, but some very sad cases came in and most were helped to a degree.

On Thursday our walk began at Ridgewell and took in Stoke-by-Clare where we were given mince pies and mulled wine by one of our members before walking back to via Baythorne End (where Esther might remember bailing out of the car!) to Ridgewell for a Christmas lunch.

U3A Ramblers being addressed by Philip

Baythorne End

I fetched a Christmas tree from Fenwick’s plantation on Tuesday. Richard planted about 200 several years ago and only sells a few each year. Consequently the remainder are about 15’ tall so have to be felled and cut to the required length. Still at £1 per foot are still the biggest bargain around.

Friday it was Ken Elsom’s 90^th and we dropped in for a drink and yesterday Carol Kitson reached 65.

I watched Over 3 v 2 Cambridge City Res. in shirt sleeves yesterday – unseasonable for the shortest day.

Christmas preparations seem to be well underway. We expect Esther and Ben for Christmas Day together with Adrian Hart, with Mary-Ann, Andy, Amelie and Bert late on Boxing Day.

Best wishes to everyone, We hope your Christmas and New Year go well.

Love

Mike & Kate

13^th December 2015.

Dear All,

We have been down to Hove this week as Andy has been in Dusseldorf. It was Amélie’s first Nativity Play and I was privileged to go along with Mary-Ann. There was a cast of thousands and Amélie was 6^th angel – but with the best halo and wings!

Bert continues to develop in a very solid way and is very serious about eating, sleeping and an occasional bellow. We were able to fit in a little Christmas shopping while we were there, mainly in the next street which is very handy.

Before that we completed teaching “Just Vegetating” this week covering “Oriental Vegetables” including birthday celebrations for one member and we were generously donated £75 worth of garden tokens. We were then asked for lunch at the Milbournes, Graham was one of the NIAB Directors and an enthusiastic member of the course.

Our Thursday walk was local starting at Oakington and taking in Longstanton, Rampton, Westwick and Histon. I did the “short” walk as my back was not 100% but it ended up as 9.7 miles so not that short!

Histon

In the evening we attended the Over Pantomime which this year was “Jack & the Beanstalk” and was very good.

Our last “Biographies” of the term featured a couple of quizzes, readings about winter and some snacks. In the evening I had my last Garden Club talk of the year (number 199 in total) at Barrow near Bury St Edmunds

Love

Mike & Kate

6th December 2015

6^th December 2015.

Dear All,

Not too much to report this week as I went to bed with slight back ache on Tuesday night and woke up in considerable discomfort on Wednesday and it took me about 15 minutes to get out of bed. I got a cancellation doctor’s appointment who ruled out gall stones, trapped nerves and slipped discs and diagnosed “just mechanical damage! – it could take 4 weeks, take these powerful painkillers” I have no idea where it came from or what triggered it but it has severely restricted my activities this week. Meanwhile I had generously passed the “man flu” on to Kate so we have been a rum pair this week.

We managed “Just Vegetating” on Tuesday but have missed Home Group, Walking, Biographies and Spanish – the latter because Kate’s tutor was also indisposed.

I did manage the Men’s breakfast yesterday which was well attended (23) and the speaker was Shaun, the manager of Over Community Centre who has been on a Mission to the Dominican Republic mainly building houses for people living in ghetto conditions.

Men’s Breakfast

So no gardening, no housework! but plenty of time for preparing Annual Reviews and Christmas letters etc. I hope things improve next week.

.....and here is one for Mary

Love

Mike & Kate

29^th November 2015.

Dear All,

Question: How do you turn a normal gentle cold into a severe case of Man Flu?

Answer: Spend 6 hours walking round the streets of Cambridge on a cool damp night!

I can’t remember having a cold last year; I have now managed 2 in a month. What started with a sore throat and ticklish cough seemed to improve with the Thursday walk but we were on Street Pastors Friday night and it doesn’t seem to have improved things – perhaps I should write a paper for the “Lancet”? Consequently I have stayed in yesterday and today. We were accompanied on patrol by the Mayor of Cambridge who was along as an observer. As is usual it was reasonably quiet for the first hours but livened up for the last couple when the effects of an evening of imbibing become manifest. There were several rough sleepers about – not great weather for this activity and there is evidently a gang of Polish men giving them a hard time in Cambridge.

We were due to go for more SP training on “Alcoholism and Homelessness” yesterday so Kate went alone and reported that it was very interesting. So here are some awareness questions:

What is the average age that a person is classified as an alcoholic in the UK? (41)

How much does the Government spend on alcohol awareness? (£1m/pa)

Alcoholism is a special problem with ex soldiers

What percentage of people killed in road accidents are over the limit for alcohol? (25%)

What percentage of homeless are classified as alcoholics? (51%)

What percentage of those classified as alcoholics are white or Irish? (96%)

In the last 10 years what has been the increase in the number of 11-15 year olds seeking help for alcoholism? (100%)

What percentage of secondary school teachers drink to a dangerous level? (25%)

John Law has travelled to Moldova as in Burlacu they have made great strides in building a new church (with Dutch, German and UK help) and converted the old building into a Drop In Centre for the elderly and Street Kids. They have made an excellent job of it and John has gone to attend the opening.

Before

After

On Thursday our walk started at Leighton Bromsgrove which is to the north of the A 14 opposite Graffham Water. There were great views from a ridge overlooking the A 14 but the scenery was not spectacular and the mud was an especially sticky variety.

Leighton Bromswold

Buckworth

The Biography on Friday was “Samuel Pepys” – the first time we have had a repeat but the lady presenting was an expert so it was still interesting. Do you realise that he was MP for Harwich?

Love

Mike & Kate

22nd November 2015.

Dear All,

Well winter seems to have arrived – no snow here, well just a wet flurry, but -4°C in the greenhouse last night. The wind was more serious taking a large end pane out of the larger greenhouse and blowing open the garden shed even though it was locked. It damaged the lock so I have had to replace it.

I was at Wisley on Wednesday for the annual Planning Meeting for next year’s trials. As has been the case in recent years, it was a fairly acrimonious meeting as RHS believe in “Mushroom Management” and make imperious decisions which are handed down by minions. Consequently our chairman resigned and I have been asked to take over. It is a bit like taking over the wheel of the Titanic!

There was a terrible accident on the Guided Busway on Wednesday night and Jenny Taylor (who used to be Dennis Whitfield’s secretary) was hit and killed by a bus. Kate was talking to her on Monday so it is a bit of a shock. It is the first fatality on the Bussway in 4 years.

The “Just Vegetating” topic was “Legumes” this week and Kate and other provided an exciting array of dishes to sample.

Our Thursday walk started at Barrington and took in Orwell, Little Eversden and Harlton. There were a few steep climbs (for Cambridgeshire) but it was a good walk. Barrington has a fantastic and extensive village Green and the recently abandoned chalk pits are due to be filled with the extractions from the new CrossRail workings which are reportedly half way complete.

Orwell Pits

Barrington Village Green

Break Time

The “Biography” subject was “Keith Douglas”, hands up those who had heard of him? None of us had either. He was a second World War poet who fought through El Alemein and was killed 3 days after the D-Day landings aged 24. He had however been injured at the end of the African Campaign and had time to publish some poems and write a book about his war experiences entitled “Alamein to Zem Zem”. Why do we know several WW1 poets and none from WWII?

It was Messy Church yesterday but the numbers were low. I watched football in the afternoon in what might be called a fresh breeze, in fact it was blooming freezing!

  

Latest from Hove

Love

Mike & Kate

15th November 2015.

Dear All,

We drove down to Hove on Tuesday afternoon after “Just Vegetating” “Salads- Fruit” – Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers and Aubergines. Bert had just received a leg full of injections but bravely recovered reasonably well. Amélie is getting used to school and apparently likes school dinners. I went with her and Mary-Ann on Wednesday and it does seem like a well run establishment and a little different from Rolfe School, Thorpe-le-Soken!

Kate, Mary-Ann, Bert and I walked to Brighton and back later in the day. As usual it was very busy and there are hints that Christmas is on the way!

Bert post medication

Serious Puzzle Session

We were leading the walk on Thursday starting at West Row then following the River Lark through Mildenhall to Barton Mills and back through Worlington. We had not managed to fit in a recce but had led the same walk 2.5 years ago. The sun shone, no ploughed fields and water and trees – what could be better?

River Lark

Barton Mills

The Biography talk was on “Francis Walsingham” – Queen Elizabeth Ist Spy Master, and once Recorder of Colchester.

Yesterday I watched Over 2 v 3 Brampton in pouring rain then we headed south again. I don’t recommend the M11 in a downpour! We called on John and Muriel in Upminster and showed them pictures of the Cousin’s Reunion in Guernsey before attending Havering Singer’s Autumn Concert in Harold Wood. Esther is a committee member and is responsible for the publicity posters and concert programme. Last night it was Vivaldi’s “Gloria”, Mozart’s “Symphony 29” and fittingly his “Requiem” which was dedicated to those suffering from the Paris attacks. The music is not my number 1 choice but it was performed to a very high standard and the conductor, Keith Mostyn, is worth the entrance money by himself.

Love

Mike & Kate

8th November 2015.

Dear All,

We have just returned from a few days in sunny Rome. It was 20°C plus every day and shirt sleeves all the way – no wonder Italians are laid back and don’t take work too seriously! We flew out of Stanstead on Tuesday afternoon and arrived at the Hotel Priscilla at 9 pm. The hotel was well situated near the Metro and bus routes not far from the Borghese Gardens, but it was not in its first flush of youth with intermittent water supply and breakfasts of limited scope and imagination. However it was reasonably priced and we did not spend long there. We were very expertly led by Alan Winfield who took the “Italian Cities” course I attended at U3A earlier this year.

On Wednesday we explored Ancient Rome: the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, Capital Hill, Victor Emmanuel Monument, the Jewish Quarter and the River Tiber. We had been before when Esther was 3 and Kate was expecting Mary-Ann. Things had not changed a great deal but prices had increased: 12 euros for the Colosseum and no reductions for the elderly!

Colosseum

Roman Forum

Arch of Septimus Severus

On Thursday it was St Peter’s and the Vatican Museums. The queues for St Peter’s were predictably long and we did not greatly enjoy the visit and took a walk back to the River Tiber. The Museums were much better with some incredible exhibits especially the Egyptian section and the Map corridor culminating in the Sistine Chapel which was, as usual, rather crowded. We travelled to and fro on the Metro this day returning at rush hour which was just like the Tokyo underground and a challenge for 25 aging participants!

St Peter’s Basilica

Roof of Map Corridor

Museum Spiral Staircase

On Friday we took in the Chiesa Nuova to see the Rubens paintings, the Piazza Navona with its iconic fountains and collection of artists and living statues desperate to make a buck or two, then a French church to see three Caravagio’s followed by the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Evidently it is always pot luck as to which is being restored and this week it was the Spanish Steps that were covered with scaffold and out of bounds. We finished up with afternoon tea in the Borghese Gardens.

The Pantheon

Trevi Fountain

Having a “clued up” guide was a huge advantage and even though the party would probably qualify for U4A and contained an eccentric or two it worked well and we met some interesting people.

Love

Mike & Kate

1^st November 2015.

Dear All,

It was good to catch up with many of you last weekend at Beaumont celebrating 50 years of Dave and Jen’s “OK marriage”. We enjoyed the occasion and thanks to all who worked to provide and clear up. It was good to see Mary progressing with predictable grit and determination.

Kate has been struggling with the cold I generously passed on to her, but seems to have recovered in time for our trip to Rome on Tuesday.

I ended up with three presentations this week – such is retirement. The “Just Vegetating” topic was “Green Salads”. Numbers and enthusiasm seem to be keeping up. In the evening it was “Turkey” at house group (country not bird) then it was my turn at “Biographies” on Friday and I had chosen “Mark Twain”. As besides being a writer and humorist he had also been a typesetter, printer, journalist, travel writer, steam boat pilot, miner, inventor and lecturer so there was plenty of material to go at.

Mark Twain

Our Thursday walk was hard work this week perhaps because we were both getting over colds, but also a few hills and a modicum of mud. We started at Renhold near Bedford and took in Wilden and a further loop northwards.

Wilden

Renhold

I had a trailer load of muck delivered to the allotments shared with a neighbour. It was excellent well rotted material and I have managed to dig my share in already.

On Wednesday I was at Wisley again and despite heavy rain on the way down we kept dry on the Sprout and Leek plots. The visit included some serious taste panel work on 11 sprout varieties which should never be undertaken lightly!

Wisley Autumn Colours

Esther has at last started her respite care this weekend. Kian arrived Thursday night and is staying until Sunday or Monday.

Congratulations to Andy on being “Employee of the Year” for his division of Ericssons – all that and Albert too.

Albert’s latest (smile not wind!)

Love

Mike & Kate

18^th October 2015.

Dear All,

Kate left after “Just Vegetating” Tuesday to help out at Hove as Andy has been abroad on business. To update the naming situation it is spelled Zander not Zanda and the preferred abbreviation for Albert is Bert or Albie not Bertie – but I expect he may well contribute to the discussion about that when he is older. He seems to be a “good doer” and eats and sleeps with equal enthusiasm. Amélie also seems to have settled better at school.

Bert

I did not join them as I had a Garden Club talk at Histon on Tuesday, attended the Brassica open days and RHS trial in Lincolnshire on Wednesday and supported a funeral on Thursday – thus missing the walk for the third week running.

“Just Vegetating” this week covered “Alliums” and everyone who was free came back for a second week – which is always encouraging!

The Seed Trade demonstrations are always a high standard and this year was no exception but some brassicas were running a little late. The “in topics” were broccoli which looks like Tenderstem which some are calling “Calabrini” and Cauliflower rice which is just finely grated cauliflower which can substitute for rice. Kate tried it on Amélie and she loves it.

Calabrini

3 Wise men with Cauliflower in Lilliput

Cauliflower & Broccoli Rice

Sakata Display

The funeral was for Dick Lawson the American husband of Carol who I used to take to work. He was from Georgia but enlisted in the airforce and flew regularly to Vietnam. The USAF were present and draped the coffin with a “stars and stripes” which was removed and folded with great ceremony and presented to Carol.

The “Biography” subject this week was William Cobbett of “Rural Rides” fame. He was a strange mixture of campaigner for justice for the rural poor but also a conservative who did not want things to change.

It was the annual quiz on Friday night raising funds for the Day Centre. There was a full house of about 70 and it seemed to go well. Rounds this year were: Seaside, 50:50, Close to Home, WW1, Missing Vowels, Flowers, Fleeting Fame, Flying Things, Pot Luck and Film Posters. Re-enactment at chosen venues is always available for a fee!

Yesterday was Messy Church Day. It is a lot of work and attendance was down yesterday due to a variety of reasons. In the afternoon I attended a briefing for our U3A Italian trip next month. The venue was billed as Milton but changed to Cherry Hinton sadly only half received the email about the change so it maybe does not auger well for the smooth running of the trip?

We are pleased that Mary seems to be responding well to her refit and we look forward to meeting up with most of you next weekend.

Love

Mike & Kate

11^th October 2015.

Dear All,

The long awaited naming of the baby took place on Friday when he was registered as ALBERT ZANDA ARTHUR RUSSELL to be known as Bert or Bertie – think Einstein not Steptoe!

Ben, Natasha, Bertie, Ameleie and Mary-Ann

We spent yesterday in Hutton helping Esther catch up as well as celebrate her birthday. We re-hung a gate, cemented some loose bricks, cut the grass, trimmed a hedge, tidied borders, emptied compost bins, stuck cloth on pew feet and fitted a new wheel to the wheelbarrow. After we celebrated with an Indian meal in Shenfield.

Birthday Goodies

Garden Straightening

We started teaching our U3A course again on Tuesday, the first session is always a bit interesting to see who turns up and their response to the course, but it seemed to go well.

Kate is also taking Spanish and on the Botanic Gardens course. I am on “Biographies” again and we started with Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington who came across as a thoroughly unpleasant individual.

On Thursday I was on RHS business at Wisley judging Kale, Brussels Sprouts and Leeks. Wisley was looking good in it’s autumn colours and for once the journeys to and fro were easy.

Wisley

Dahlia Trial

Leek Trial

You will not need reminding that this is the week to plant overwintered onion, garlic and shallot sets and we have also planted a new strawberry bed at the allotment.

There has been vigorous activity at No. 17 next door with a caravan installed and a minidigger in operation.

Love

Mike & Kate