10th March 2019

Dear All,

We were on the streets last night and thanks to the rain most of the action was inside the clubs so we had a fairly quiet – but rather damp night! We were not due on duty for a couple of weeks but as ever they were short-handed and the schedule was rearranged.

Spring must be coming as we received our first batch of frog spawn this week!

Plans for the next trip to Moldova on 2^nd April are gradually taking shape assembling talks, seed, craft materials and gifts. There are just two of us this time Terry Rugg and myself. John is still in Turkey and sends photos and brief emails fairly regularly. We have been sending him books as he is short of reading matter and OXO cubes as these seem hard to come by in that part of the world.

Our “Wicken Fen” course covered grazing animals this week: Konik ponies and Highland cattle. The ponies are extremely tough and spend all year outside and refuse to eat any rations even hay.

Konik Ponies

“Biographies” subject was “Erskine Childers” author of the “Riddle of the Sands” and advocate of Irish Home Rule. He organised a shipping of guns in 1914 and was mistrusted by both the English and the Irish and was eventually executed by firing squad by the Irish in 1952. His son eventually became the fourth President of Ireland.

Erskine Childers

Walking wise we were at Ickworth near Bury St Edmunds on Thursday. It is an excellent site for walking and the weather was kind.

St Mary’s church Ickworth

The Round House

Ickworth House

Ickworth Estate

It was Merv’s birthday this week and we were invited round for a takeaway on Friday night.

Over came down to earth with a bump yesterday losing 2v1 to fellow promotion hopefuls Orwell in a match spoilt by the wind.

Love

Mike & Kate