4th February 2024

 

Dear All,

It was back to swimming on Monday and the pool temperature had risen to 29 C. Just Vegetating this week was “Brassicas” and Kate produced: Swede baked with thyme and honey, cauliflower curry, and carrot and cabbage stir fry. In the evening, we had a CEEM committee meeting to discuss Phil and Laura’s recent visit (during which they got engaged!) and progress with collecting second hand fireman’s uniforms.

French History covered the Age of the Cardinals: Richelieu and Marazin 1610-61. Not quite so many deaths this week but still plenty of unrest and conflict.

Cardinal Richelieu

On the way back from Cambridge we called in at Oakington Garden Centre for lunch hoping to buy onion and shallot sets but they were not in yet.

Ben was back for the family Zoom in the evening. He managed to see two days of the Test Match and survived a few adventures especially the experience of riding an Indian train. Meanwhile Mary-Ann had assembled her new small greenhouse.

New Greenhouse

On Wednesday I was leading the church group as David is starting a month’s sabbatical. I reviewed the book “Streets of Gold” which is the story of the London City Mission which started in 1835 when London was gripped by Cholera, unemployment and poverty following the Industrial Revolution.

The garden has dried enough to allow a bit of digging following beetroot and leeks. Last week’s set backs have been remedied so the fish tank leak has been fixed and the LED light replaced.

The Thursday walk started at Burrough Green south of Newmarket and took in Great Bradley and Stetchworth. It was sunny all morning which made considerable difference. Again, we saw a substantial herd of deer.

Mangold heap

Damp spot

 

Fallen tree barrier

Ravens Hall

 

Deer Grazing

The subject of Biographies this week was “Catherine de Medici” She was Queen of France from 1547 to 1559 by marriage to King Henry II and the mother of three French kings Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III and survived 69 years at a hazardous time of history.

Catherine de Medici

 

In between times I have been updating the Vegetable variety list that I produce for Just Vegetating, revising the talk for next week and loading the laptop for Sunday’s services.

I tried shredding the fruit tree pruning’s Saturday morning but it was not a great success. Over beat Ely Reserves 1 v 0 in an exciting game to go top of the table briefly.

 

 

Regards

Mike & Kate