4^th August 2019

Dear All,

It was Over Produce Show yesterday and as I am on the Committee it has taken up quite a bit of time this week preparing, setting up, handling the entries and recording the results. The latter involves a mega sheet of paper over one metre long as computers are not quite trusted for this tense activity! I was also exhibiting and came 2^nd in Veg with 7 x 1^st, 6 x 2^nd and 7 x 3^rd. The 1sts were for white potatoes, brown onions, shallots, mange tout peas, classic tomatoes, the vegetable collection and apricots.

Gathering Exhibits

Winning Collection

Waiting for the Presentation of Cups

Children’s Entries

On Wednesday evening we travelled down to Bocking to view Esther & Emma’s chosen wedding venue called “Fennes”. The date has been set for 14^th December.

Fennes, Bocking

Fennes Garden

Walking resumed on Thursday returning to Guilden Morden for a very arable stroll through fields of wheat, barley, oats, beans and peas, most of which looked good and ready for harvest.

Oats under brooding sky

At Ian’s 80^th party last Sunday we met his nephew called Andy Hampsten, an American ex professional cyclist who competed in the Tour de France eight times and came 4^th on two occasions. He also won the Giro d’Italia in 1988. He fell out with Lance Armstrong over drugs and now runs cycling tours in Italy in the summer and makes expensive bikes in the winter. He was a very nice guy – perhaps the nicest professional cyclist I have ever met!

Ian’s 80^th: Kate with Mr & Mrs Pook

Andy Hampsten

Love

 Mike & Kate