14^th August 2022

 

Dear All,

Another week dominated by heat coping strategies. We are still taking a boot full of water to the allotment each day and Kate is still qualifying for a “Friends of the Trees” badge by tending several of the smaller trees on The Green.

In 1976 we rechristened “The Green”, to “The Brown” and this year it could equally apply.

 

 

The Brown Green!

 

Kate and I were leading the Thursday shorter walk but for the first time ever we were the only short walkers to turn up. The group leader decided to transfer from the longer walk and  join us so as not to waste the recce we had carried out the week before. Then another man joined us because he had suffered an unusual accident. He put his sock on that morning then went down to breakfast, he felt a sharp pain in his foot and when he removed his sock a spider jumped out having bitten his big toe. “It felt like a wasp sting” he said – so beware!

The walk started at Abington Pigotts near Royston and took in Litlington, Steeple Morden and Guilden Morden. It was hot but bearable as there was a gentle breeze for most of the time. Our “short” walk did 8.4 miles whereas the so called long walk covered 9.3 miles and included a stop at a pub!

 

 

Down Hall 16^th century Gatehouse

 

 

Steeple Morden church

 

 

Wild Flower meadow at Steeple Morden

 

As a hot day activity I cleaned out the fish pond on Tuesday removing considerable amounts of pond weed. It was strange wearing wellies for the first time in about 6 months. On the same day our car was in the garage having a new started motor fitted as it was making an alarming noise when engaged. As usual the cost was one arm and one leg!

We have fitted in two trips to Coton Garden Centre this week to replace a faulty aquarium LED light system. When I mentioned that we had not had it very long the man said that if we returned with evidence of proof of purchase he would refund the cost – hence the second journey.

During her frequent visits to the trees on The Green, Kate has noticed a man sleeping on one of the benches and having engaged him in conversation discovered that he is Algerian who is working on one of the village building sites as a nightwatchman. He lives in Harrow so has a complicated journey home and chooses to sleep rough in the day times while writing a book. Kate has offered him a bed but he has so far not taken up the offer.

We have had quite a lot of bat activity in the garden at nights this week. And figs are prolific – I picked 19 one day.

The Cambridge News theme this week was “Flight” and I sent in a photo from Costa Rica of a spider monkey jumping between trees.

 

 

Spider Monkey in Flight

We are off to Hove this afternoon for a couple of days to mind grandchildren while parents are working. Kate has cleared out the loft of all Mary-Ann's art work so she may be in for a nasty shock!

love

 

Mike & Kate