16th December 2018

Dear All,

The news of the week was Esther ringing on Monday to announce that she was engaged to Emma. Yes, I was surprised – and I don’t always manage surprises very well! but she is very happy so we wish them well.

Back on Planet Earth we finished “Just Vegetating” on Monday with “Oriental Vegetables”. Kate produced a Beetroot chocolate cake, Chickpea and carrot crepes, crispy onions, Fried green tomatoes and Black bean hummus. They have been an excellent group this year and we were presented with a £202 collection for Moldova.

I had another Wisley meeting on Tuesday judging Winter cabbage and Shallots. Kate came with me and we travelled on to Hove.

We did a little Christmas shopping on Wednesday and walked to the sea which was decidedly frisky. We saw the outside of a flat that Mary-Ann & Andy will be hiring after the New Year while their house is being knocked about. Albert is undergoing serious potty training but would not wee in the restaurant toilet, only up the wall outside!

Bonding

Fierce Cheetah

Temporary Quarters

I missed Over Garden Club Christmas party on Wednesday but left 4 photos for Glynis to stage and was awarded 2 x 1^st, 1 x 2^nd and 1 x 3^rd.

3^rd in Animal, Bird or Insect in a garden

2^nd in My Garden

1^st for a Shot from the Garden Club visit to Dorset

1^st in Garden Flower

The weather for our Thursday walk was far kinder than the previous week with unforecast sunshine for most of the morning. We started at Babraham and took in Stapleford and Wandlebury. Our leader Philip, worked at Babraham Hall after leaving the army so was keen to point out all his achievements including having a large wood planted on the estate.

Near Babraham

Wandlebury Gatehouse

Posing in Philip’s Wood

Babraham Hall

Kate and I went for flu jabs later that day and fortunately did not suffer serious ill effects.

“Biographies” on Friday was the usual pre-Christmas “Bring a reading or poem about Winter or Christmas”, followed by a quiz and buffet. I was charged with the quiz which was not taken too seriously.

On Saturday I collected a Christmas tree from the Fenwick “Help Yourself” plantation – still only £2 per ft.! Football was Bar Hill v Cherry Hinton and definitely not for the faint hearted weather-wise!

We have just received an email from Ali and Robin with photos of their progress clearing their patch in Devon - it looks like a challenge!

Love

Mike & Kate