26th July 2020

Dear All,

More of the same this week: walking, gardening, ZOOMing, cricket preparation plus a bit more Vermuyden and photo sorting – but not complaining.

Two new walks this week, on Tuesday we drove to Somersham and explored the orchards and allotments, saw the first active combine and had coffee in the garden centre.

Somersham Centre

First Active Combine

Our longer walk was on Friday this week and we took the river bank route to St Ives via the Pike & Eel, Needingwoth and Holwell catching the Guided bus back. We were accompanied by Lawrie & Maureen from U3A and Dave from football. Lawrie is a Newcastle supporter and Dave an Arsenal supporter so they could cheer each other up!

River Ouse from the Pike & Eel

Holywell

The Kelly Gang waiting for the Guided Bus!

We prepared four cricket pitches this week: U10s, U12s, U15s and adult – all different lengths and the adults managed a practice match yesterday before the heavens opened.

On Thursday I had a U3A ZOOM session training for leading (jointly) Biographies on line next term learning how to add PowerPoints etc.

I had a morning repainting garden furniture on Wednesday keeping the 25-year-old table I made with Dad going for a little longer.

Ancient table

The garden continues to be very productive with Runner beans and Climbing French beans coming out of our ears this week and they have been distributed to at least half a dozen deserving causes.

Runner & French beans

We are hoping to travel down to Beaumont tomorrow as it is Bob Coles funeral – we will not be allowed into the service but there is a book of condolences and then we hope to catch up with Dave and Jen for the first time since last November.

With love

Mike & Kate

19th July 2020

Dear All,

It was good to see Esther and Emma last Sunday for lunch and a little exercise in the garden. They are in the process of swapping the old raised beds for smart new “high rise” versions.

During

After (we had gone)

Esther & Emma behatted

I managed a trip to the barbers on Monday – booked appointments, social distancing, masks and no pensioners rates!

I ordered a new double cold frame pre lockdown and it finally arrived this week I kit form so it has been assembled and painted but a bit late to be useful this year.

 Cold Frame

Kate has been in full face mask production mode this week so we will be OK for shopping and bus rides!

Facemask factory

Our Thursday walk was back to Barleycroft Lake, Bluntisham this week together with Dave Harrower my old football/cricket colleague. I told him we usually take a piece of fruit for half way and he turned up with a tin of peaches and a tin opener because they did not have any fresh fruits at home. The lake was much quieter as the gulls and terns had fledged but there were still loads of geese, swans, ducks, coots, and we saw oyster catchers and an egret on the way.

Dave with opener

Barleycroft Lake

Geese on the Lake

After 3.5 hours walking, we prepared two cricket pitches in the afternoon which took a couple of hours cutting, rolling and marking out after which I was not too frisky!

With love

Mike & Kate

12th July 2020

Dear All,

Another week dominated by ZOOMs, walking and gardening, but with the relaxation of lockdown we have also been to a garden centre and started serious work on the cricket square. With a couple of damp days, we have also added to our biographies and I have been reading round “Vermuyden” for my contribution to the U3A “Biographies”.

Kate and I were leading the chapel Sunday afternoon ZOOM this week – which was an interesting experience with multiple contributors, 3 or 4 seems plenty for a successful session! On Monday we had a virtual deacon’s meeting then Thursday a regular appointment with local walking friends. Friday a 4pm slot with The U3A walkers and the highlight of course a 6pm meeting with family. How did we survive without ZOOM?

We took Merv & Pat for another walk after the Sunday ZOOM from Swavesey Square to the river and round via the Lakes. Pat was born and bred in Over but each week we seem to walk a path she has not ventured on before! As the forecast was not promising for Thursday, we did a shorter walk and postponed the longer one until Saturday. In the event it did not rain while we out Thursday and we over heated in water proof clothing. On Saturday we were joined by Lawrie & Maureen and walked through the orchard to Swavesey, then to the river and along the river to Webb’s Hole, on to Overcote then back along the flood bank to Mill Pits, along the road to the church to show them the Hardinge statue. On to Overcote Road, the Ouse Bank way, The Gravel, Middle Way, Furtherford, Fen End and home. The weather was just right, not too hot or cold and a good walk of 3.5 hours.

Swavesey Lake

By the River Ouse

 

Bullrushes - without Moses!

The Hardinge Statue

We ventured as far as Coton on Wednesday to replace filters in the fish tank, buy a couple of Panda Corys, a door mat and a few other essentials calling in at Berrycroft Stores on the way home.

After the walk yesterday we had a serious session on the cricket square as it seems likely that there will be games next weekend. We spent 2.5 hours cutting, rolling and marking out and after the walk I was not too frisky at the end of it!

Garden wise we harvested early and 2^nd early potatoes this week, and had a surprise when I found climbing French Beams were ready. Raspberries have been fantastic this year but are drawing to a close. Kate harvested a few apricots but hey have not been good this year. I planted fennel and the next batch of lettuce and thinned swedes, turnips, Pak Choi and Tatsoi. Courgettes, cucumber and tomatoes are kicking in and we harvested the first marrow.

We are off to Hutton to have lunch with Esther and Emma today – it will be the first time we have seen them in the flesh since Christmas.

Amélie and Albert have both got second hand all weather swim suits now so watch out for news of cross channel conquests!

Next Stop Calais!

With love

Mike & Kate

 

5th July 2020

 

Dear All,

Some signs of returning normality as we worked on the cricket square, I managed the dentist, Kate went to the hairdressers and we booked eye tests. However, caution is still the password as it will be interesting to see whether the virus spikes again with the recent relaxation measures.

As it looks likely that local cricket will return soon after Boris’s U turn, we spent Wednesday morning double cutting and rolling the square. The main snag appears to be the toilet facilities which evidently don’t match this week’s requirements – but that could change!

My trip to the dentist was surprisingly painless as what I thought was a lost filing was in fact a cap which I had fortunately taken with me to show the dentist and he merely cleaned things up and stuck it back on. Kate’s hairdresser actually phoned her up to see whether she would like an appointment and she was the second one back yesterday after the shop reopened.

I sent some seed to Moldova on the 24^th March for Oleg, our main collaborator to test – it arrived this week on the 1^st July!

 

 

Oleg & Angelica with seed parcel

 

June’s on-line 70^th birthday party worked quite well. We attended the virtual Museum tour and took part in a quiz. The quiz was presented by her Scottish brother-in-law who had a rather broad and soft accent which led to a certain amount of guesswork as to the question, let alone the answer!

Our longer walk this week started at our friend’s house in Histon and took in Oakington, Northstowe, Rampton and Westwick covering a couple of paths that were new to us. We also encountered a crop of Canary Grass for seed – it is used for birdseed.

 

Oakington Millenium Wood

 

 

Oakington Martyr’s graves

 

 

Canary Grass

Kate has strung the autumn sown onions, continued picking currants every day and just about finished strawberries and raspberries. I have sown late French beans, swedes, turnips, Pak Choi, Tatsoi and Corn Salad.

 

Local Craftswoman!

 

Today is Amélie’s 9^th birthday. She requested a dog so her uncle and aunts clubbed together to buy her a stick insect cage together with contents – close!

 

 

Stick Insects

With love

Mike & Kate