18^th December 2022

 

Dear All,

Waking to snow on Monday was not a complete surprise due to the recent temperatures – but it always creates a ripple of excitement even in us old folks! We decided that the conditions were not really conducive to swimming, especially as the pool was cool the previous week. I made it to Cambridge for the last session of “Next Question”, this week’s quizzes were on Buildings, Chocolate and Music.

Q. What is the name of the Queen Mother’s home in Scotland? Which county is it in?

Q. What choc bar is named after a small dog?

We were sorry to finish “Napoleon” this week but organised a card and gift for the tutor. This week covered his Legacy and ultimate demise on St Helena aged 52.

The sunshine and frost combined to create some remarkable cobweb shots this week but I guess everyone noticed them?

 

Cobwebs

 

On Wednesday I met up with Peter Rickard who used to be Director of Arthur Rickwood EHF and we carried out joint carrot trials in the early days of polythene covering for earliness. He was widowed 8 years ago and said that he had not visited a doctor for 12 years – until this year when he has broken a leg, broken a shoulder and discovered to have an irregular heart beat!

The walk on Thursday was fantastic as the sun shone from a cloudless sky and the frosted scenery was spectacular. We met at Horningsea and walked along the River Cam to Clayhithe then back inland from the river. Kate and I were leading and the countryside was so attractive that we added an extra mile (actually we missed a turning!)

 

 

Towards Bate’s Bite Lock

 

River Cam

  

River Cam near Clayhithe

 

River nr Waterbeach

  

Winter Berries

 

In the evening the chapel joined with the C of E for carol singing round the village. It was rather chilly but 12 people braved the temperatures and we were fairly well received calling on most of the houses in the High Street and James Wadsworth Way including the haidressers, the shop, the pub and finishing in the Community Centre collecting money for the Day Care Centre.

  

Carol Singers

 

The last session of Biographies followed the tradition of everyone bringing a reading or poem followed by a quiz (I recycled some of  the Day Centre Quiz) then everyone brought in food and drink to share.

Kate then volunteered to pick up Grace and Arthur from school and we fed and entertained them as Rachel is not 100% at present. Adrian called while they were here and Arthur asked “What are you doing here?” A. “Keeping warm just like you!”

On Saturday I had a scout round Bedfordshire to order Christmas Brussels sprouts. Good news there is enough for everyone – even Esther!

Kate has a cold and is coughing impressively and Ben phoned after a bad night with possibly cracked ribs after a football collision. Hopefully he will come up on Friday when the trains should be running should he find cycling painful. Mary-Ann annd family plan to arrive Boxing Day and Esther and Emma the day after.

 

 

Love

Mike & Kate