29th May 2016.

Dear All,

It has been a fairly busy week -  one of those when you wonder how you had time to go to work!

On Monday we had the Cousin’s Reunion organised by Mary & Graham meeting at Ruislip Lido where we had a bargain meal (carvery £4.59) and a walk round the reservoir followed by tea and chat at 13 Farm Avenue. There were just 8 of us as Guernsey folk did not travel this year and John & Muriel are reluctant go to unfamiliar destinations.

On Tuesday I prepared a cricket pitch, met up with John Law to deliver his post Moldova luggage and discuss the way ahead, met ex NIAB Wrinklies for lunch at Girton, had a discussion at Addenbrookes about arthritic feet, conducted a net practice for the chapel team then hosted the church midweek group.

On Wednesday Kate and I moved the vegetable net to the allotment and planted Brussels sprouts, sprouting broccoli, kale and cabbage in it. In the evening the chapel cricket team began their season with a narrow defeat to Anglian Water.

Our Thursday walk started at Therfield above Royston. It is a great area for walks with several hills and very rural. Later I had to take the cricket mower to Gog Magog for repairs – it is very sensitive and doesn’t enjoy long trouble free periods!

The Fox & Duck, Therfield

Sandon church

Friday we were walking again as we had to recce for leading next week at Radwinter near Saffron Walden – a good walk but plagued with several areas of vigorous nettles – definitely not a walk for shorts!

Derreck Medlock, a former next door but one neighbour with the large rabbit collection, has been clearing the bungalow this week and called in with Joyce for a drink in the evening. He has been agonising about whether to sell or rent or move back. He still hasn’t made up his mind, meanwhile the estate agent have increased the notional value by £50,000 in a year of being empty!

We were on Street Pastors last night. It seemed a long night, fairly quiet at first but with quite a lot of broken glass and bottles to collect. Later there was the usual clutch of youths enjoying their night out by being violently sick and a couple of fights but nothing too serious.

Love

Mike & Kate

22nd May 2016.

Dear All,

We have been down to Hove for a couple of days this week as Andy was away in Stockholm. We travelled down on Tuesday via NIAB to drop off the Gromwell seed I had collected in Moldova. We arrived at lunch time and after lunch took Albert for a walk along the front to Brighton. He is a good natured youth and spends a good deal of time smiling or copying his sister. He is not built for walking yet but can sort of shuffle backwards!

Amélie seems to enjoy school and goes off happily most days.

Hove

Our Thursday walk started at Debden south of Saffron Walden. It is relatively hilly thereabouts but it was a good walk – everywhere is suddenly much greener. The village pub has been taken over by Yuva a Nepalese outfit and was excellent value.

Debden

Near Newport

I had a Garden Club talk in the evening at Hundon beyond Haverhill. I don’t especially like going out after walking, but it happens sometimes. I couldn’t get near the village hall where the talk was scheduled for cars. I didn’t really think they had all come to hear me – it turned out it was the local cup final next door!

Otherwise it has been catching up with the garden and allotment: digging, rotovating, planting, cutting grass and weeding.

We hope to catch up with some of you at the cousin’s reunion tomorrow.

Love

Mike & Kate

15^th May 2016.

Dear All,

Well there has been what my father would have called “a lot of shanking about” since my last letter: Moldova, 3 days catching up and a visit to Docwra Manor then six days in Yorkshire.

I think I sent you all the report of the Moldova trip so I will not repeat myself. I haven’t had time to sort all the photos yet but hope to put them on Dropbox this week.

The three days back involved a lot of sowing, planting and weeding although Kate had done a good job in preventing serious frost damage. No matter how mild it has been there always seems to be a frost while I am away. In addition, the cricket pitch needed preparing for the first match of the season and we had a chapel outing to Docwra Manor gardens at Shepreth. This is the home of Faith Raven, mother of Sarah Raven who is a renowned garden writer and runs a plant nursery. She is married to Adam Nicolson from Sissinghurst – a descendant of Harold Nicolson and Vita Sackville-West. It is an interesting garden with several distinct areas.

Docwra Manor

The Yorkshire trip was with our U3A Walking Group organised with usual precision by Philip Shaw. We left on Sunday taking Jutta with us, she is a German lady who lost her husband just over a year ago. A few of us stopped en route at Gilling East and walked to Ampleforth School. This has the finest array of sports fields and facilities I have ever seen at a school – truly a site of privilege! Lawrence Dallaglio, the ex England Rugby captain was evidently a difficult former pupil.

Ampleforth School

Most of our group of 36 were staying at Sneaton Castle, Whitby but 6 of us were in B&B nearby. I think we did not miss out too badly as they were not too impressed with their “School Dinner” catering – give them a spell in Moldova I say!

On Monday our first Whitby walk was to Robin Hood’s Bay along the coast. The weather was extremely hot and the views excellent. 10 of us walked back on an inland route eventually clocking up 15 miles.

Near Robin Hood’s Bay

Tuesday both short and long walks involved a railway journey, the longer walk to Danby and a return across Little and Greater Fryup Dales, Glendale Rigg and the Esk Valley – 16 miles this time. This was followed by a meal in the famed “Magpie” Fish Restaurant offering a choice of about15 sorts of fish.

Overlooking Little Fryup Dale

On Wednesday the organised walk was on the coast again but north this time. We had reccied this in February so took the day off taking the train again from Grosmont to Goathland exploring around Goathland then walking back to Grosmont. (8 miles)

Near Malyan Spout

Thursday was the Ruswarp loop walking from the castle up onto the moors and dales above Whitby, meeting up with the short walkers for lunch at Falling Foss only 12 miles making 60 miles for the week.

The Hermitage

The return journey on Friday was direct with no planned stops so we were home by 3.30 pm with more gardening and cricket pitch preparation to catch up. Amazingly we did not have any rain in Whitby while most of the rest of the country – including Over seemed to have been soaked.

Love

Mike & Kate