daytime

Sunday, 6 October 2019

6th October 2019

Dear All,

On Wednesday night we attended a lecture at Bethel, Swavesey on “Global Warming” by Ed King who has been a member of the British Antarctic Survey for 40 years. He presented data and photos of the melting of glaciers and warming of the seas which were very alarming so much so that scientists in the field now refer to it as “Global Heating”. Although saving the situation largely depends on national governments, particularly in China and the USA he did mention personal responsibility and what individuals can do. He listed the things that his family had implemented:

Only fly when there is no alternative

Recycle/compost rubbish

Insulate and line loft space

Repair broken items

Write to MPs about issues

Eat less meat

Donate to relevant charities and campaigns

Share tools with neighbours

Use recycled building materials to construct garden sheds

Move nearer to work place

Buy a smaller car

Install solar panels

Plant trees

Replace single glazed glass

Recycle old furniture

Fit blinds and curtains

Use local shops

Swap one car for a motorbike/bicycle

Use energy saving bulbs

Install wood burner and reduce oil use

Triple glazed windows and mega insulation in home extension.

Send the list to friends and relatives (actually I added that one!)

Here endeth the lesson! But it is a topic that needs taking seriously.

It has been a week for serious digging as I have dug half the allotment, Ken Elsom’s garden and odd bits here. I have also constructed a new compost bin, largely because I have a wasp’s nest in one of the existing bins. I decided to build a new one so as not to disturb the nest but it involved a certain amount of digging out of a bank and cutting through roots and out of gratitude one of the wasps stung me!

New Patented Compost Bin!

Kate has been into apple juice production – the 2019 “Golden Delicious” vintage looks very promising at present, with excellent mouth feel and a cheeky piquancy!

Our walk this week started at Ousden south of Newmarket and despite rain in the previous days remained fine and not too sticky underfoot. Philip our esteemed leader is back in hospital, possibly because he tried to return to fitness too soon. It is his 80^th birthday this coming week and a celebration planned on next week’s walk has been postponed.

View of Ousden church

Spring Wood, Wickhambrook

U3A term begins again tomorrow so we have been revising presentations and recipes this week.

It was Ken & May Elsom’s 70th wedding anniversary on Tuesday – not an everyday experience. Ken was a bricklayer and went to work each day with a collar and tie! They had an open house on Tuesday and invited people to a buffet at the Community centre yesterday at 4pm – so no football this week.