31st July 2022

 

Dear All,

As I write this it is RAINING – well a sort of heavy drizzle but not to be sneered at as so far, we have only recorded 1mm in July. This means for the last month we have been transporting a boot full of water to the allotment each day to try and keep plants alive. I dug my maincrop potatoes yesterday as the tops were dying back – the first time ever in July.

 

 

Boot full of Water

 

Last Sunday we had a joint service with the new church in Northstowe who meet in the Secondary school. It is an attractive school and the church seems to be thriving with young families and plenty of children, Northstowe itself is a bit soulless with just houses and schools with no shops or community buildings so far.

On Monday I was in Chelmsford with three walking colleagues to watch Essex v Somerset cricket match. It was not the most exciting days play as the wicket was dead and only 3 wickets fell all day and one of Essex’s less exciting players scored 123 not out. However, it is always and occasion and the highlight for my colleagues was the Beefsteak tomato I took for lunch. I took a bite and it was so juicy that it splattered them juice and pips even a metre away! One of their wives was an English lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University and when she was told of this incident composed a 9-verse poem which I am attaching. I have mixed feelings about this – it is the first time I have been immortalised in verse but there is inevitable poetic licence with the facts!

 

 

Lawrie, Ian & Rob – pre lunch!

 

 

Chelmsford Cricket ground

 

 

We had a NIAB Wrinklies lunch at Girton Golf course on Tuesday. Kate got sat next to a very boring man who only talks about Field beans so was not greatly impressed.

Our Thursday walk started at Therfield above Royston and trekked south to Sandon and Kelsall. It was a walk we led in February when several fields were too muddy to cross, this week it was quite a contrast! Every field we crossed was a mosaic of cracks. Harvest was about 60% done in that area.

 

 

Goats near Therfield

 

 

Sandon Manor Dovecote

 

 

Grand Canyon Cracks

 

Later I had a trip to Stanstead to pick up Stan the Computerman and his family who had been in Spain for 10 days. Their car was written off shortly before they left and their usual lifts could not make it. It is not my favourite journey as the airport layout seems baffling but it worked out OK despite the fact that their flight was 30 minutes early and I was still in Over when they landed.

Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Beans and Courgettes are still cropping freely and Sweet Corn is coming on well. I have planted fennel and more lettuce this week and Kate is still watering trees on The Green and had made an experimental batch of Red Currant ice cream.

I had two photos in the Cambridge News this week – but I won’t bore you with details!

love

 

Mike & Kate