6^th May 2018

Dear All,

On Thursday we walked the second section of the Stour Valley Path from Cattawade to Nayland. It is a beautiful section of the walk as it goes through Flatford and Dedham and this week bluebells were showing everywhere. After recent weather it was boggy underfoot on occasions but the sun shone so it was very enjoyable. The journeys to and fro were frustrating with numerous traffic lights and two accidents on the way back.

Flatford Mill

Willy Lott’s Cottage

The Stour at Flatford

Muddy section near Dedham

Cricket season began in earnest yesterday so John Lane and I had a morning cutting, rolling and marking wickets for two games this weekend. The outfield grass- which is someone else’s responsibility has been going berserk so the green resembles a hayfield once he had cut it this week.

Plenty of gardening this week sowing winter brassicas, squash, pumpkins, spinach, salad onions, leeks, parsnips, red beet, lettuce and more sweet corn and planting lettuce, cucumbers, aubergines and celeriac. I also helped Ken who is over 90 sow carrots (as he cannot see well enough) and earth up his spuds.

We celebrated Kate’s birthday by lunch at Oakington Garden Centre, then it was our turn on Street Pastors again so we had a long night out on the town –what more could any girl want?! We are hoping to meet up with the children in Brentwood next weekend to celebrate properly as Mary-Ann and family are over this week. Andy was due to walk round the Isle of Wight yesterday – 105 km; we haven’t heard the outcome yet.

The streets were fairly quiet on Friday for a bank holiday weekend; the worst case lad had to be fetched by his mother from Saffron Walden at 3 am. The police have been reorganised and we had five at the briefing and encountered them throughout the night in a deliberate attempt to be seen on the streets. They are planning to grade each night red, amber or green according to the likely liveliness and match their presence to the rating.

We are looking forward to seeing you all next week either at the cousins reunion or Kate’s birthday gathering.

Love

Mike & Kate