19th April 2020

Dear All,

And so it continues! 28^th day of walking and gardening. Highlight this week was a tour round the Manderson Trust fishing lakes at Overcote. These were originally donated for anglers with handicaps but are now open to all. John Lane – my cricket pitch colleague, is on the committee and spends most mornings working on maintenance and improvements. We happened to spot him on one of our walks and he showed us round (at social distance of course). There are 4 large lakes and a smaller pond. One is stocked with large carp – 2ft plus. We are very fortunate with the walks in that after 28 days we have not exactly repeated one yet and we have discovered several new routes.

 

Manderson Lakes

 

Lake 5

 

Carp

  

Brownshill Farm Rhubarb patch

Near Swavesey Church

Ash Flowers

Limousin calf

Garden wise I have planted Cucumbers, Peppers and Aubergines in a greenhouse and sowed Brussels Sprouts, Sprouting Broccoli, Kale, Cauliflowers, Leeks Runner beans, Climbing French Beans and Sweet Corn indoors for transplanting – some of these are a bit early but that is the season (and having time to spare!).

Highlight this year has been the Watercress, I have not grown it before as I thought it needed running water but grown in a pot and watered every day it has produced a splendid crop. Spring cabbage also started this week and asparagus is on-going. We had a decent rain on Friday night which has softened clods and made earthing up spuds much easier.

 

Watercress

 

Spring Cabbage Pyramid

Kate has come up with the idea of writing our biographies (a la David) for the benefit of our children rather than publication! It is to cover the time when they might say “I wish I had asked them that when they were alive!”. When compared to David’s account it might explain why there are 4 slightly varying Gospels!

We have had ZOOM sessions with some of the walkers and family this week and chapel are due to tune in at 10am.

John Bell rang yesterday; he has trouble with one leg and walking with a stick.

With love

Mike & Kate