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