5^th August 2018

Dear All,

So the drought goes on – the temporary relief of the heavy shower last week has now disappeared and it is back to brown grass and watering. It is Over Show next Saturday and it will be interesting to see what has survived – or who has been heavily watering!

I had a Vegetable Forum meeting at Wisley on Tuesday and Kate came with me to share the driving. The downward journey was OK but coming back there was am 60 minute queue at the Dartford tunnel which delayed us sufficiently to hit the Cambridge rush hour. We were judging Chinese cabbage, Shallots and Aubergines and all three trials were quite good. Wisley was looking well but I guess they lavish more TLC (and water) than most.

Chinese cabbage

Aubergines

Wisley Exotic Garden

Hanging basket Petunia trial

We walked the 5^th section of the Stour Valley Path on Thursday from Long Melford to Stoke-by-Clare via Glemsford, Cavendish and Clare. The villages are all full of chocolate box cottages but you do not see much of the river until you hit Clare. It was, of course, rather warm – a two water bottle day – but tolerable.

Cavendish

Clare

Stoke-by-Clare

Philip Shaw (our walk leader) came for a PowerPoint lesson on Friday as he has to give a talk on their recent cruise round South America, with some emphasis on geology and the Andes, this brought back memories of Ecuador.

We dug the remaining main crop potatoes (Rooster) this week – good quality and low yield are the norm this year, but they should keep well.

We were on Street Patrol on Friday night. It was shirt sleeve weather all night and although not terribly busy we had five serious intoxicated individuals to deal with. The worst case was a 25 year old woman was very upset and initially would only talk to a street life lady with a dog. It later transpired that she claimed to have been raped earlier in the evening. An Irish lad from Galway had been helping with harvest at Warboys and was due to return home this weekend but claimed he had spent £300 and rather over indulged! Being Irish he remained cheerful even though he was rather sick and had trouble walking in straight lines.

Ben was in Stockholm last weekend, Esther and Emma this week and we are due on the 13^th. All are entrusted with luggage to bring back as Mary-Ann and the children are returning at the end of the month to re-enrol Amélie in school in Hove.

Love

Mike & Kate