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Sunday, 24 December 2017

24^th December 2017

Dear All,

This is traditionally “National Brussels Sprout” distribution week – however it has been more problematic than usual. My usual supplier in Bedfordshire did not grow any this year due to a slipped disc and could only recommend one other grower several miles away – this for a county which once grew 17,000 acres of sprouts! I opted for trying Tesco’s home delivery of sprouts on stalks as they were the same price as buying direct from the grower. In the mean time we tried a recommended Farm Shop in Hilgay, Norfolk for a top up net of sprouts and filling vegetable gaps for fen celery and swedes. This proved to be an excellent Farm Shop and we would echo the endorsement should you be in the area! However my first experience of home delivery was not a success as Tesco had substituted bags of loose sprouts for sticks which was not what I needed so they were sent back and I had another trip to Hilgay to collect sticks.

I have spent a couple of seasonal days distributing 50 stalks and dispensing seasonal cheer – so much better than Christmas cards!

We have attended two Christmas lunches this week. On Monday it was the ex NIAB employees at Menzies Hotel, Bar Hill. The food was not great but it is always good to catch up with old colleagues.

On Thursday we had the walkers lunch at The Royal Oak, Barrington after a shorter than normal walk and mulled wine and mince pies at Philip’s home. Kate and I led the short walk round Barrington, Foxton and Shepreth. We had recced Saturday in bright clear weather but Thursday was misty and gloomy. The food was good but Kate enlivened proceedings by fainting and followed this by being violently sick. She had been fighting a virus all week so maybe had over done things. She spent the rest of the day in bed and is still very croaky with a bad sore throat.