19^th February 2017

Dear All,

12 down, 3 to go in terms of Kate’s visits to the Addenbrooke’s house of fun. This week has been much like last week in terms of frustration with the appointment system. All times are notional and no indication as whether it will be a short (20 mins Friday), medium or long (2 hours Wednesday) wait. As warned, she has been feeling more tired this week but still coping remarkably well. She did forego the walk last Thursday, but still finds it hard to sit back and do nothing – I think it is a Derbyshire characteristic, but I have observed it in Essex and other counties as well!

We missed swimming this week as the half term timetable does not fit in very well. We were teaching “Legumes” in “U3A Just Vegetating” Tuesday morning and Kate prepared Bean Masala, Kachori and Falafel (all recipes available on request). In the evening I had a Garden Club talk at Linton and on Wednesday night another in Over. Three talks in two days is not quite how retirement should work.

Malcolm & Ruth Firth were visiting from Riga and took a service on Tuesday night. Both the Firth parents are in a bad way, Michael is paralysed after a stroke and Lily has dementia and did not recognise Malcolm.

On Wednesday Kate and I went to Simpson’s Nurseries at Fordham to buy some fruit trees. Simpson’s is the best tree nursery hereabouts and they currently have a field clearance sale. We were after Fan shaped trees to go on the new fence our neighbours have erected. We purchased a Golden Gage, Plum Jubilee and a Conference Pear, all half price.

Fan shaped Plum tree

 I had to go back on Thursday to collect two of the trees as they had not been lifted on Wednesday and called in on Roger Morley and ex NIAB colleague who took over “Boyce’s Seeds” and father of Stephen (who my children will know). Roger has just had his fifth heart operation but is planning a cricket comeback this year!

“60s Music” this week was much better billed as “A Selection of Soul Classics from the 60s”. It included Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Percy Sledge and Aretha Franklin.

I did the Thursday walk which started at Howlett End, 4 miles south of Saffron Walden. As you can see from the photos the sun shone and the mud was tolerable – not nearly as bad as 2 weeks ago.

The White Hart, Howlett End

Cole End

Approaching Wimbush Green

Friendly Observers

The “Biographies” topic this week was “Dmitri Shostakovich” the Russian musician and composer. He had the ill luck to coincide with Stalin and lived much of his life in fear of elimination but somehow survived. He wrote 15 symphonies, the first when he was 19 years old. His nervousness about being bumped off led to heavy smoking which eventually killed him. He did however have time to marry 4 times and was a keen football supporter and referee.

We were invited to the Kitson’s for dinner on Friday evening and were back there for coffee yesterday as Geoff Barnes was on a fleeting visit (he now lives in Fressingfield, Suffolk).

Kate cleaned the fish tank this week so we have restocked it – mainly Neon Tetras and Red Platys with a single Placostomus to eat the algae.

Restocked Tank

I watched Brampton v Eaton Socon yesterday in somewhat warmer conditions than of late.

A few more seeds have been started in the propagator this week: lettuce, cabbage, cauliflowers and tomatoes. Also as our walk leader Philip is currently on a 3 month cruise! round South America, I have been entrusted in raising his tomatoes.

Most of you will know that it is the biennial? “Cousins Reunion” this weekend at Esther’s. I believe Rosie, Jackie, Helen, Mary-Ann and Albert have gathered for craft work and news updates (gossip?). Amélie has stayed with Andy which seems to suit her very well.

Love

Mike & Kate