25^th July 2021

 

Dear All,

I hope you have enjoyed/endured the heat wave this week and not been drowned in thunder storms after? We were a little apprehensive before the walk on Thursday as several dropped out due to the prospect of over heating but in the event, it was a bit cooler and our leader chose as much shade as possible. We met at Stoke-by-Clare, which is a pretty Suffolk village on the River Stour and took in Ovington, Ashen, Ridgewell and Baythorne End (a village which Esther might remember!). Wildlife highlights were a decent sized grass snake and a clutch of white butterflies drinking out of a muddy puddle.

 

 

The Lion, Stoke-by-Clare

 

 

Stoke-by-Clare High Street

 

 

Grass snake

 

 

White Butterflies

 

 

Baythorne End Park House

 

The week began with a Cemetery Trustees meeting – on site and the church AGM. The Cemetery actually looks quite good as we have a new chap for the maintenance with the trustworthy name of Jo Swindell! The AGM marked the end of my time as a deacon after 42 years. After a long period without church meetings this was a 2.5 hour marathon!

The garden continues to be productive and we have been distributing cucumbers and courgettes far and wide. Tomatoes and runner and French beans are building up and autumn raspberries are taking over from the summer ones. Following the Night cam photos of our garden wildlife we should not have been surprised that the badger attacked the sweet corn this week so that has been placed behind security fencing! Kate’s flower border is showing up well and the peanuts have started to flower. I have been filling the spaces of harvested crops with mustard, Phacelia and crimson clover.

 

 

Antirrhinums & Salpiglosis

 

 

 

Peanut

 

 

Badger handiwork

 

We had a Zoom session with Moldova yesterday as we are finding it increasingly difficult sending money to them due to money laundering precautions. Igor and Lucia in Chisinau have now had their first vaccinations and Igor is still working on-line organising lorry pick ups in the USA! A local farmer gave us a £500 donation towards CEEM this week. Terry who has travelled to Moldova with me in recent years has had his hands full helping a step son with a serious drug problem, including the excitement of his flat being used as a distribution centre!

The Cambridge News photo feature this week was “Plant Life” and I entered a tree trunk from the Havana Botanic Gardens.

 

 

Havana tree trunk

 

We are looking forward to a trip to London on Tuesday to meet up with as many cousins who are fit and able to make it to Harrow!

 

With love

Mike & Kate