12th February 2023

 

Dear All,

Not too much to report this week as I have been largely confined to barracks with what could be lightly dismissed as a seasonal cough. However the cough I had suffered last month was a light prelude to this one which at times felt like it was turning me inside out! – still that’s a man for you!

I managed the swim Monday and “Just Vegetating” which this week was “Salads – Green” and Kate prepared a mixed leaf salad with various toppings: candied nuts, seeds, flower petals, pomegranate and a couple of dressings as well as braised celery with cheese topping.

In the evening for light relief she took Lorna for yet another hospital appointment at Hinchinbrook.

I managed a little digging on Tuesday where beetroot had finished and over wintered Broad beans had perished due to a combination of muntjac and frost. I joined 3 walking mates for lunch at the Poacher in Elsworth and in the evening held a CEEM Zoom to agree on flights to Moldova, which were subsequently booked for the last week in April -PP (Putin Permitting!). Arthur came on his own after school and was much better behaved this week.

I had planned to help Adrian with a bit more digging on Wednesday but after a rough night decided to miss out followed by a similar decision for Thursday’s walk. Kate did however go and this week’s photos are down to her. They started at a very quaint pub in Withersfield near Haverill and journeyed via Burton End and West Wickham.

 

 

The White Horse, Withersfield

 

 

Old Nissen Huts near Withersfield

 

 

Burton End

 

 

Gnarled Tree

 

I managed to get to “Biographies” on Friday as I had the PowerPoint on my laptop. The subject was “Michelangelo” presented by Vivian Perutz daughter of Max Perutz of Nobel fame. She had assembled 43 slides so it was well illustrated! . He started off as a poet and sculptor and was bullied into painting by various Popes and Medici’s. The Sistine chapel roof took him 4 years.

 

 Michelangelo

 

Esther and Emma paid a visit on Friday for lunch and dinner and Esther spent most of the time in between cleaning the house. A welcome service for aged parents! My bathroom now positively glows and smells of roses! – I hardly like to use it!

  

Help The Aged!

 

Kate has patiently worked at a second jigsaw since Christmas and wishes it to be known that this isn’t how she spends most of her time!

 

 

 

Kate & Puzzle

 

This weeks dreadful earthquake was 200 miles from where John Law is now living on the Turkey/Syria border at Mercin. They heard the noise and have been hosting refugees who arrived in pyjamas! The photos he has sent are devastating. Relief is gradually being organised but volunteer hosts have to find the money for food themselves so he is appealing for money.

 

 

I decided football yesterday would not improve my cough but did make the Men’s Breakfast as the speaker was Norman Ingle who related his experiences as a Magistrates Court Recorder.

 

Love

Mike & Kate