11th November 2018

Dear All,

I’ll begin with a heartwarming story that I should have mentioned last week. On Friday I caught the guided bus into the centre of Cambridge, getting off at Drummer Street bus station before “Biographies”, in order to send some money to Moldova via Western Union. As it was chilly cycling down to Swavesey to catch the bus I had worn gloves for the first time this winter. When I got to “Biographies” I found that I only had one glove and returned home muttering. It happened that we were on Street Pastors that night and while on patrol just before midnight we found the glove just outside the bus station about 14 hours later.

“Just Vegetating” this week covered “Salads – Fruit” and Kate produced: Tomato, Strawberry & basil salad, Mutabbal, Aubergine bake and Roasted Stuffed Peppers.

Following on from the large delivery of FYM last week, I mentioned to a few people that they could take some including one of the neighbouring allotment holders and a couple of fellow walkers. David Cook one of the walkers turned up on Monday afternoon to collect a share but when we got to the cemetery we discovered that Peter Kerley from allotment No. 1 had cleared the whole heap! As I had spread my area too thickly we managed to find enough for David but it was a bit of a surprise.

On Wednesday we managed to get double booked – Mary had mentioned the possibility of a Day sibling lunch but did not confirm the date and I did not check back. Meanwhile it was Gordon Foster’s birthday and we were invited to lunch at the Sutton Gault Anchor. Maybe it was judgement but Kate and I did not feel well internally after the lunch blaming the chicken!

In the evening I had a Garden Club talk at Fordham and called on a former NIAB colleague Stephen Morley afterwards. He wished to be remembered to those who remembered him.

Our Thursday walk started at Kimbolton and took in Stow Longa and the edge of Graffham Water. The weather was kind but the combination of rain the day before and several freshly cultivated fields made for slightly challenging going.

The Sun Inn, Kimbolton

Kimbolton High Street

Looking back at Kimbolton

Looking towards Stow Longa

Graffham Water at low tide!

On Friday we were pleased to entertain Ali & Robin who are about to move to Devon and start the “Good Life” in a converted chapel with some land, a tunnel and a greenhouse. They came to “pick my brains” which usually does not take long! It was good to see them and wish them well for the venture.

It has been a good week for digging and I turned over half the allotment in two days and planted out over wintered broad beans.

Football was “a game of two halves” yesterday as sunshine gave way to an almighty downpour – fortunately we were at Cambridge University Press ground where there is a pavillion with a view of the pitch.

Love

Mike & Kate