29th August 2021

 

Dear All,

A fairly busy week for elderly retired folks this time! On Monday there was veg harvesting with sweet corn coming on main stream and beans, cucumbers, tomatoes and courgettes still cropping well. Adrian Hart called in at midday and was unusually persuaded to stay for lunch. We booked a visit to Highgrove for the end of our Cotswolds walking holiday in October – just to keep an eye of HRH and count the dog ends in the garden! In the evening we had an Appraisal meeting with our pastor David Smith, but as he is doing well it was not as painful as these sessions at work were sometimes.

On Tuesday we made a rare visit to Cambridge on the guided bus to buy maps for our planned visit to the Scottish borders and for new walking boots for me. My current pair have cracked along the toe line and although a temporary fix with tile sealant is working at present, I guess it will not last! In the evening I watched Foxton 1 v 2 West Wratting with Dave Harrower.

I was sorting cricket wickets by myself on Wednesday morning as my colleague John is on holiday in France. This involved mowing the whole seven strips with one machine and close cropping the strip for Saturday with the Lloyds machine. By the time you have rolled the wickets, painted the creases and marked the boundary it takes all morning by yourself.

At lunchtime I met up with 4 of our walking friends for lunch at the George & Dragon at Elsworth. It was very busy, another sign of returning normality? In the evening I watched Over 0 v 1 Isleham.

Kate and I were leading the Thursday walk beginning in Over. We met at the Community Centre but drove to the RSPB car park to shorten the walk round Willinghan Fen, the gravel workings, the new Information Centre, Earith and back along the Rothschild Way and Ouse Fen RSPB. We spotted Roe deer on three occasions and the Red Arrows gave us a free display.

 

Gathering under threatening skies

 

 

Roe Deer

 

 

Rothschild Way

 

 

Red Arrows with accompanying flock

 

 

Red Arrows trails

 

On Friday I accompanied Kate to Tesco’s at Bar Hill then sowed Spring Cabbage and more lettuce. Later I had a couple of pessimistic emails from ex RHS Panel members about current veg trials at Wisley and Bridgewater. Neither site is good this year so I am not missing very much. Vegetables do not seem to be very high up RHS’s list of priorities.

In the evening I caught the second half of Over Res 2 v 1 Milton I the final of a pre- season  Ken Garner memorial tournament, so counting last Saturday only 4 matches in 7 days!

The CN feature this week was “Luxury” and I had a photo of Ceausescu’ Palace in Bucharest.

 

 

Ceausescu’s Palace

With love

Mike & Kate