26^th February 2017

Dear All,

Wednesday saw the last of Kate’s daily expeditions to Addenbrooke’s so relief all round for now. She has a follow up consultation on the 5^th April for discussions about the next step as she does not want to take the prescribed tablets (Letrozole) because of the possible side effects. Evidently other tablets are available but so far so good as she has come through this stage very well determined not to let it get on top of her. One surprise was that a charity donated a “Goodie Bag” to celebrate the end of the radiotherapy sessions.

Hospital Goodie Bag

Swimming was back on the agenda on Monday and we were joined by another recruit, Jenny who has moved into the village and started at chapel after she and her husband Tony had a career working for the YMCA in some tough localities in London.

In “Just Vegetating” this week I taught “Potatoes” and Kate introduced Homity Pie, Latkes and Delia’s Potato Chocolate cake.

“60s Music” was “Poetry in Motion” mainly deciphering the lyrics of  “Procal Harum” and the meaning of “a whiter shade of pale”! It was interesting but the presenter was a little full of himself. Kate celebrated the end of her sessions by going to Pilates! But wisely opted out of the Thursday walk which thanks to Doris was quite challenging.

We met at Ousden 4 miles south of Newmarket and the attendance was well down on normal “when the going gets tough – the smart stay at home!” There was some underfoot mud, plenty of surface water and severe gusts of wind which were a little unnerving as so many trees were littered with fallen boughs.

Near Ousden

  

Water Force

  

Damp Underfoot

Running Deer

In the evening we were invited to a former walking colleague -  Sandra’s for a meal. She had to retire from our group as she tripped on a paving stone at Southwold January 2016 and broke her hip.

The “Biographies” group turned up at our usual meeting place in the Friends Meeting House on Friday morning and it was mysteriously locked and deserted. We eventually found an alternative room in the University Union building but so far have not discovered what happened. This week’s subject was “Gertrude Bell”. No I hadn’t heard of her either, but she was a sort of female Lawrence of Arabia. She was a writer, traveller, Political officer, administrator, spy and archaeologist in the Middle East. Because she had travelled extensively in the area she was recruited in WW1 get Arab support and after was involved in the Cairo Conference and running Iraq.

We have a baptism at church today which is a major undertaking uncovering the baptistery then filling and heating the water.

I watched a full blooded top of the table clash yesterday as Hardwick beat Great Shelford 2 v 1 with a last minute goal. Both sides were fortunate to end with 11 men!

Love

Mike & Kate