Sunday, 23 July 2023

 

23rd July 2023

 

Dear All,

 

Monday was a longish day as after swimming we dug 2nd early potatoes at the allotment. I followed this with a haircut and bean and tomato harvest. About 6.30pm there was a loud knock on the door and Joyce, Derek Medlock’s partner from two doors up appeared in a very shaken state. She claimed Derek had gone berserk shouting and raving and she was terrified as he had put her in hospital twice with broken bones. They do not live here but in Nottingham but kept the bungalow as an occasional stop over spot. Kate calmed her down but she was too frightened to go home and eventually phoned her son in Nottingham to fetch her. He arrived at 10.30pm having been diverted off the A1 and took back to his house. Derek left next morning having done a quick search for her on the village Green! We do not know how this story has played out yet.

Tuesday was the church AGM which this year was preceded by a successful “Bring & Share” meal.

On Wednesday I accompanied two of our walking colleagues to Chelmsford to watch Essex v Kent in the Cricket County Championship – the 1st day of a 4-day match. Essex had a very good day dismissing Kent for 207 and scoring 104 – 0 in reply. Meanwhile Kate attended the Garden Club Summer Social – albeit briefly as she mistook the starting time!

 

 


Sir Alistair Cook in full flow

 

We were leading the walk on Thursday which was local at Fen Drayton lakes. It was good conditions for walking being dry and fairly cool. We stopped at a couple of hides to view the birdlife.

 


Elney Lake

 

 


Moore Lake

 


 

Geese, Ducks, Cormorants and Gulls

 

 


Path by the River Ouse

 


 

Fen Drayton architecture

 

On Thursday Kate and I were interviewed by Kate Baker a young lady studying for a MSc in Gardening and the Environment especially Wildlife. We tried to explain that some sort of pest control is essential in the vegetable garden while in the flower garden it can be different.

After we had to go to Coton Garden centre for sealant as our fish tank has sprung a slight leak.

Kate and Gordon celebrate 50 years of marriage this week and held a reception at their house in Haddenham on Saturday afternoon. Neither Over cricket team had a game scheduled this weekend which was fortunate given the weather.

Pastor David is on holiday for a couple of weeks so we have a guest speaker this morning from the London City Mission, he came up last night and stayed with us. His name is Emmanuel Chanda and his family originate in Zambia.

 

 


Emmanuel

 

It has been another productive week in the garden with Runner beans beginning and French beans, courgettes and cucumbers coming out of our ears!

 


 


Love

 

Mike & Kate

 

 

 

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