25th January 2015.

Dear All,

The big adventure this week has been going out with the “Street Pastors” team in Cambridge last night. Apart from the street patrols on Friday and Saturday nights they now run a cafe called “NightLite” in St Columba’s church for those in distress to sober up, recover, chat, find friends etc. Hilary Allen has been helping since July but they are currently short of volunteers for both this and the patrols. They operate from 9.30 pm to 4.00 am so it is a serious test of stamina and last night was fairly chilly. Kate and I swapped between the patrols and the cafe and it is a fairly good way of making your life seem longer! There are to my surprise 10 night clubs in Cambridge, which mostly operate until 3 am, then the streets are alive with happy revellers in various degrees of excitement or intoxication. The Street Pastors help collecting bottles, sweeping up glass, handing out blankets, water, flip flops, rape alarms etc. Most drunks are happy and humorous (to themselves!) a few get aggressive but mostly it is vulnerable young ladies who have lost their mates or been dumped by boyfriends who are helped. I was n’t actually looking forward to it but in practice it wasn’t too bad. We got to bed at 4.45 am then someone phoned at 10 am to say they would not be at church this morning!

I started a new U3A course on Monday “Italian Cities” covering history, background, geography and architecture of a number of cities starting this week with Venice.

Question: Why was Venice built where it is?

Part of the talk was a photographic trip from the Rialto Bridge to Sala dei Maggior Consiglio evoking memories of a certain wedding and Graham’s face when presented with the gondola bill!

 Familiar Scene from the Rialto Bridge?

Venice Grand Canal

The Tuesday film was “Throne of Blood” a 1957 B&W Japanese version of Macbeth which was very good.

On Thursday the walk started at Cavendish taking in Glemsford with a few more hills than usual and as the frost was just coming out of the ground very sticky underfoot again. Some of the oilseed rape crops were completely hammered by pigeons.

Near Cavendish

“Biographies” covered “Lady Sackville” mother of Vita Sackville-West who led a decidedly colourful life.

I have been building a heated propagating cabinet for the greenhouse this week utilising a heating cable bequeathed by Esther. So far it seems to be working.

New Propagator

I hope you all watched Cambridge Utd nearly humbling the mighty Manchester Utd on Friday? After yesterday’s results it looks as though Cambridge’s path to the final is fairly clear!

You will probably have heard that Esther has been approved as a foster carer and is now able to offer respite fostering to children with complex needs (physical, sensory and learning disabilities). We are very pleased and proud of her.

Mary-Ann and Amélie were in Germany last weekend for Mary-Ann’s birthday.

Love

Mike & Kate

18th January 2015.

Dear All,

Still no snow locally, but it has been fairly chilly most nights. The new U3A term got off to a slow start as the office was broken into at the weekend and several laptops were stolen so Monday’s classes were all cancelled.

On Tuesday, I was invited to talk to the U3A Gardening group at Comberton, mainly mature ladies but full of questions. After we drove down to Hove in time to pick up Mary-Ann and Amélie from work and nursery. Both were suffering a little and Amélie was grizzly until midnight but after sleeping announced “I am better now” in the morning.

We visited the “South Downs Heritage Centre” at Hassocks on Wednesday. It is a combination of museum and garden centre but as it turned out the museum part is being completely renovated and closed, but the garden centre was huge and full of post Christmas bargains with a decent animal section to entertain Amélie.

We travelled back via Ditchling Beacon – the third highest point on the South Downs. The views were spectacular but as the wind was icy we did not walk too far.

South Downs Heritage Centre

View from Ditchling Beacon

On Thursday our walk started at Broughton, north of St Ives, and included the site of “The Secret Garden” music festival. There was plenty of mud but not so bad as some walks recently.

Little Reveley

Near Broughton

On Friday evening we were at Newnham College for the “Ramblers New Year Social”. It was well attended as usual with about 60 present and participants bring food under Philip’s careful guidance. Kate produced a much admired raised meat pie and I presented the review of the year.

“Biographies” started again on Friday and this week’s topic was “William Hogarth” who never recovered from being only 5 ft tall!

Yesterday was the January Messy Church. Kate was IC food and the numbers reasonable but appreciably creeping younger.

Messy Church

Love

Mike & Kate

11th January 2015.

Dear All,

Fame at last – I sent one of last week’s photos to the “Cambridge News” and it was published on Saturday. As it was the first time I have done this I assume they must be desperate!

Cambridge News

Two walks this week in similar locations. On Monday we parked at Longstanton Guided Bus Park and did a circular walk to Westwick returning on the Guided Bus cycle path. On Thursday the U3A Ramblers met at Cottenham and walked a loop taking in Rampton. It rained for quite a portion of this walk so it was not as enjoyable but underfoot it was not too bad. We met at “The Chequers” pub which was deemed safe as there has not been a murder for 3 or 4 years now!

 Damp Fens

We swapped our two 11 and 12 year old cars for another this week. The new one is a 3 year old diesel Peugeot 3008 with only 10,000 miles on the clock. At present we are still getting used to it as it has automatic handbrake, lights and wipers and seems bigger even though it isn’t very much larger. It also feels much more solid and you sit higher.

DA61HLF

We had an ex NIAB “Wrinklies” lunch on Tuesday. We had booked “The Old Crown” at Girton but when we turned up it was closed. The landlord was very embarrassed because someone had erroneously accepted the booking so he gave us £60 to spend in the more expensive “Felix”.

Last night was the annual church social. The food was very good as usual – even though Kate was not in charge, and I presented a review of the year.

Our aged neighbour, Hilda Dodson, died at noon yesterday. She was 99 on Christmas Day and had been unconscious for much of the week.

Hilda at 99

Love

Mike & Kate

4th January 2015

4th January 2015.

Dear All,

Happy New Year to all readers.

We enjoyed Christmas with all the family. Mary-Ann, Andy and Amélie left late Saturday when the roads were quieter and Amélie could sleep. Esther had to work Monday so travelled Sunday afternoon and Ben braved a very chilly Monday morning taking about 6 hours of enjoyment on his bike.

Kate and I had a clear frosty walk round the Fen on Monday – plenty of ice, mud and water.

Over Fen

The Pike & Eel from Overcote

I had a CT scan on Monday following up last year’s look at my lung, but as Addenbrookes is busy cancelling all appointments at present I have no idea of the result. I met up with Kate in town and did a little shopping: new walking boots for me, new coat for Kate.

We did not see the New Year in style as we were in bed by 10 pm! so we could be bright and bushy tailed for our Thursday walk. This was not so much fun as it was grey, overcast and muddy at Broughing and only 14 brave souls made it.

Near Broughing

New Boots broken in!

We popped into St Ives on Friday and our old pastor Malcolm McKinnon called in the afternoon. He and Donna are now living in California and enjoying the lifestyle. They came home for Christmas for Donnas’ brother’s surprise 50^th.

Saturday was very wet and all local football was cancelled so indoor activities only. I have two reviews to prepare so there is plenty to do.

Love

Mike & Kate