11^th April 2021

 

Dear All,

Spring decorating fever has hit 19 Willingham Road, driven as ever by Mrs Day! This time it is the study, which is of course lined by a large number of books, each of which has to be examined to see whether it’s future existence can be justified. I don’t know about you but I do not enjoy discarding books, so it is a painful process, but necessary I will concede!

 

 

Study

 

 

Labour Force

 

We both had our second jabs this week without serious after effects. Mine was administered by an old friend Sue Colquoun, which was a surprise.

We began serious cricket square preparation this week, rolling, cutting, marking creases and weed control. It has been soggy most of the winter and has now set hard with some patches of moss so has not emerged as well as usual.

 

 

Cricket Square

 

 

On Thursday morning we discovered an envelope on the doormat which simply said “19 Mike Moldova” on the outside with £500 in notes inside – no idea who it is from.

Our local Facebook page has been excited by the sighting of a White-Tailed Sea eagle over the RSPB reserve – definitely the largest bird seen hereabouts.

 

 

White Tailed Sea Eagle

 

Our Thursday walk started above Royston and climbed the Icknield Way to Therfield. There are things called “Hills” there and being on chalk it was very dry. There was a large array of cowslips and one hill is covered with fairly rare Pasque Flowers. It started very chilly but by the end it was warm enough for a picnic.

 

 

Icknield Way above Royston

 

 

 

 

A Hill!

 

Pasque Flowers

 

 

Chalk Woodland

Our Biographies group have continued to meet on Zoom despite term being over and each week someone is asked to talk about their past. This week John Bastable told us about being a headmaster in Papua New Guinea. He was based in the mountains where there is an incredible level of violence. They had a 10’ razor wire fence round the house, armed guards, panic buttons and guns in every room, a steel bedroom door and two large dogs. Despite that he and his family stuck it for 4 years and claimed to quite enjoy it!

 

Football was back on yesterday with the league being abandoned and an end of season cup competition replacing it, result Over 1 v1 Huntingdon Utd.

 

Mary-Ann and Andy are hoping to move house – not an easy task in Hove, but have made an offer for a place near Hove Park so fingers crossed time!

The rain gauge needed reading for the 2^nd time in 24 days with a massive 1mm recorded!

 

With love

Mike & Kate