9th June 2024

 

Dear All,

After our swim on Monday morning, I headed to Cambridge to meet up with Lawrie, Howell and David – mostly walking wounded from the Rambling group at Weatherspoon’s. I also managed a little shopping beforehand. In the afternoon I attacked the hornbeam hedge planted by our neighbours which is now about 8 ft tall and not in any way an asset to gardening!

The electric fence has so far been a success and Kate has been picking strawberries and raspberries each day. Otherwise, we have been harvesting new potatoes, Broad Beans, Mange Tout Peas and Spring Cabbage.

The garden and allotment are getting full up now as this week I have planted Sprouting Broccoli, Kale, Romanesco Cauliflowers, Winter Cabbage, and early Leeks and sown Fennel, Salsify, Beetroot and Radish.

We did not go on the prescribed U3A walk this week as I had an appointment in the afternoon at NIAB. Instead, we recced a local walk that we are due to lead next month round Over Fen and across the river to Bluntisham. David Cook cane with us. It was a good time to explore the Fen as there were plenty of water birds and the Bee Orchids around Barleycroft Lake were at their best.

 

 

The Hardinge Statue in Over, donated to their ancestor the Viceroy of India

 

 

Burling’s new breed Stabiliser Bulls

 

 

Cook’s ancient breed English White Cattle

 

 

Brownshill Staunch Lock Gates on the River Ouse

 

 

Ox-Eyed Daisies in the Hanson Wetland Reserve, Bluntisham

 

 

Bee Orchid

 

The NIAB appointment was to attend the retirement of Tricia Cullimore who had worked there for 52 years!

In the evening Over put on a commemoration marking 80 years since D-Day with a pop-up café, marching with various groups, music, speeches culminating with lighting the Village Beacon.

 

 

Speeches and Parade

 

 

Beacon

 

On Friday after Tesco’s John and I prepared the cricket wicket which looks quite well after a difficult spring. I then demonstrated modest woodworking skills making a wooden base for one of our recently donated water butt recycling timber from last week’s table demolition.

The web camera has captured badgers, deer and fox this week and a fox has just strolled passed out window in broad daylight while we were dining!

 

 

 

Night time visitors

 

Over had a good win at cricket this week beating Wisbech 3rds by 30 runs in mostly warm sunshine.

We have heard that the Firemen’s uniforms that Geoff and I took to the depot at Deeping in April should have started their journey to Moldova yesterday.

Regards

 

Mike & Kate