11^th March 2018

Dear All,

Our snow did not linger long – unlike Stockholm, where it has snowed every day since the family returned and the latest pictures are of them sledging and skating on the sea! Albert has been to nursery four days this week and seems to be recovering very well.

 

I have done a little more work for Riverford this week and on Tuesday Kate and I had a rare outing to the shops: Kate to find a new lampshade amongst other things and me to continue stocking up for Moldova. We have a new addition to our party a German chap called Philip from St Neots who I have yet to meet.

We had our last “Silk Road” session later that day. Least said – it could have been better. In the evening I had a Garden Club talk at Balsham where I was surprised to meet up with an old NIAB colleague and footballer Reg Whitehouse.

The sunshine on Wednesday encouraged me to start outdoor gardening, weeding and topdressing alliums, broad beans and brassicas. I also harvested the last of the Brussel sprouts and later in the week dismantled the vegetable cage and started digging. In the evening I did the first shift babysitting for Grace Burrell while Kate was at pilates.

Our Thursday walk started at Godmanchester traversing the largest enclosed meadow in the country taking in Brampton and Huntingdon. It was overcast and occasionally spitting but nothing serious. The A14 was usually within audible distance and had to be crossed a couple of times.

Godmanchester

River Ouse

Huntingdon Town Hall

Huntingdon Packhorse Bridge

Kate went to a lecture at Madingley Hall in the evening entitled: “Brexit – it’s effects on the Veterinary Profession and Meat Production“ evidently 50% of vets currently come from the EU including 95% of abattoir vets.

Biographies on Friday featured “Caroline Norton” a 19^th century writer who was instrumental in getting the law changed for women following divorce as she left a brutal husband who took all her money and kept their children.

Caroline Norton

Football was incident packed yesterday as we initially went to Sawston to watch Sawston v West Wratting but this was abandoned before half time as a Sawston player collapsed with a heart spasm. We then drove to Fulbourn for the second half of Fulbourn v Linton and Fulbourn ended with nine men following two dismissals.

Happy Mother’s day to all who qualify – Esther is planning to join us for lunch today.

Love

Mike & Kate