27th October 2019

Dear All,

A good mixture of talks and gardening this week. I had a children’s talk on Sunday, “Just Vegetating” Monday, Women’s meeting Tuesday. Royston garden club Wednesday, NIAB conference Thursday and “Biographies” Friday.

“Just Vegetating” was “Brassicas” this week so it was kale crisps amongst other recipes. We did a presentation on the RHS for the ladies and Kate made carrot cakes. At Royston I did a talk on “Growing in Cuba”. The NIAB Conference was to mark 100 years since the Institute was founded and entitled “100 Years of Plant Science” and we were presented with a commerative book, a mug, a bottle of beer made from Proctor barley and a few badges.

Kate went walking starting at Arkesden.

The “Biographies” subject was “Jan Smuts” the South African statesman, military leader, and philosopher. In addition to holding various cabinet posts, he served as prime minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 until 1924 and from 1939 until 1948. His father described him as “a queer fellow with little intelligence” but he went on to get a double 1^st in South Africa and Christs College, Cambridge. He was an outstanding tactician in the Boer War but supported Britain in both WWI & II. Although his life made a huge impression he is controversial because he believed “that native Africans are unfit for politics” which foreshadowed segregation.

Jan Smuts

We had Arthur & Grace again on Friday afternoon – both with sniffles. I finished digging the allotment this week between the showers and Kate has been busy planting wallflowers,

  

Allotment

Wallflower Planting

Yesterday there was a party at the Community centre to mark Rosemary Fosters 80^th birthday. I was honorary photographer and Kate and other folks made cakes or puddings.

 

Ancient Fosters

More recent Fosters

The Cake

With love

Mike & Kate