15th January 2023

 

Dear All,

I started the week with “Man flu” and spent 2-3 days with a steadily dripping nose but fortunately it did not develop into a severe cough or sore throat. I skipped swimming but Kate went with Merv. It was not ideal that I had a Garden Club talk at Downham Market on Monday night but it was difficult to cancel so I turned up and it was not too bad and a decent crowd.

We attended an ex NIAB employees’ lunch at Girton Golf Club on Tuesday – a chance to catch up on every one’s ailments! My old boss Bill Chowings attended from near Watton in Norfolk so we were very pleased to catch up with him.

Norman Ingle came for lunch again on Wednesday and we were hosting the Church group in the afternoon as the usual hosts, the Kitson’s were due to attend a funeral in Newcastle. As it turned out they were not fit enough to travel. In the afternoon there was a Zoom session of U3A Biographies presented by an elderly member who has not been able to attend the class for a year after a heart problem. His topic was D.H. Lawrence of controversial reputation banned in his lifetime and after for pornography but defended by others who considered him the best novelist of his generation. He eloped with one of his tutor’s wives who was German so he had difficulties in WWI as well.

 

 

D.H.Lawrence

 

Our Thursday walk was really hard going due to heavy over night rain which created soft muddy conditions underfoot. I think most people found it tough going but after a few days under the weather I was rather fatigued to say the least! We started at Brinkley south of Newmarket and took in Willingham Green, Carlton and Burrough Green. The route crossed the upreaches of the River Stour twice.

 

 

River Stour near Carlton

 

 

Carlton church

  

 Burrough Green

 

 

Burrough Green church

The first classroom session of Biographies featured Michael Servetus a Spanish theologian, physician and cartographer. He was the first European to correctly describe the function of pulmonary circulation. He was a protestant who greatly aggravated John Calvin as he published books criticising him and eventually Calvin had him burnt at the stake!

 

 

Michael Servetus

 

Yesterday was the chapel New Year Social, Kate was IC food with Jane Gregory for 42 and I presented the annual review. It is a long evening as we did not get home until nearly 11pm after clearing up but most people seem to appreciate it.

 

 

Kate & Jane in command

 

 

 

Part of the clientele

 

The Christmas jigsaw puzzle has proved a challenge this year as it was started on Christmas eve and has not yet quite completed – but the end is in sight!

 

 

Jigsaw

 

Over lost 1 v 0 to Wisbech yesterday in damp conditions with a very fussy referee who booked half the team and sent the captain to the “Sin Bin” for 10 minutes. And Ipswich conceded in extra time for the 4^th time this season.

 

Love

Mike & Kate