28th July 2024

 

Dear All,

With the start of school holidays, the swimming timetable has altered but we managed a later swim on Monday in a slightly crowded pool. In the afternoon we visited Oakington Garden Centre which is having a large overhaul and Tesco’s. It was also the time for rejoining U3A and filling in our course choices for the coming year.

I had a follow up blood letting to check kidney function on Tuesday and unusually for me the nurse struggled to access a vein and apologised for treating me like a dart board! Vegetables are continuing to come on line with plenty of tomatoes, cucumbers, French and Runner Beans, in addition we have harvested second early potatoes Charlotte and Kestrel and the sample is very large.

 

 

Tuesday’s Harvest

 

Weeds seem to enjoy the warm wet weather so it has been a challenge to keep on top of them. With Over Show looming I made a practice loaf of bread on Tuesday and it was OK but Kate thinks it could be better!

Wednesday evening, we entertained the CEEM committee for a meal before holding a meeting. The good news is that the Firemen’s uniforms have reached Moldova at last the bad news is that the Charity Commission seem to think we should fill in a set of 10 forms.

Kate and I were leading the walk on Thursday as it was starting in Over and crossing the river at Brownshill Staunch and circumnavigating Barleycroft Lake in Bluntisham. It was good conditions for walking – not too hot and the fussiest lady member actually said “This is the best walk we have had this year!”

 

 

Ouse Fen Bank

 

 

Approaching the Staunch

 

 

Barleycroft Lake

 

 

Stabiliser Cattle

 

John Lane and I prepared the cricket pitch Friday morning but at 8.30 pm we were summoned to the square as a group of youths had lit a bonfire in the middle including a aerosol can which exploded. The police were called but predictably did not appear but a fire engine did. We cleared up the mess and there was not too much damage apart from an ugly burnt patch.

On Saturday morning it was Men’s Breakfast time and I was asked to speak on John Hullier who was a Protestant martyr burnt at the stake on Jesus Green in Cambridge during Bloody Mary’s reign in 1556. Actually, I had not heard of him so it involved a little research but there was a good turn-out of about 30. Later I put together an exhibit for the Over Show. It is it’s 50^th anniversary this year and I have listed, with photos, some of the oldest varieties which are still grown.

Over had another good win in the afternoon dismissing St Ives 3rds for 151 and knocking off 152 for 5 wickets.

Regards

 

 

Mike & Kate

 

21st July 2024

 

Dear All,

Not a great start to the week as I woke at 2.30 am Sunday night with a severe abdominal pain. After trying various pain reliefs, I woke Kate and she drove me to Hinchingbrooke Hospital A&E for a fun night and morning being passed from pillar to post while they assessed what was wrong. The pain was very reminiscent of a kidney stone which I have suffered twice before but it didn’t seem to be in quite the right place. Four doses of liquid morphine had some affect but intra-venous Paracetamol was finally most effective. A CT scan showed a kidney infection and a small stone with the likelihood of a larger one having passed through. Not to be rushed we waited a considerable time for medicines complicated by the fact that the man sitting opposite was called “Michael Way” so they were concerned that our diagnoses and medications could be muddled! We eventually arrived home at 3 pm, 11 hours after arriving at Hinchingbrooke.

The Fun Fair at the Carnival involved some serious lorry power and as they left at the weekend, they sunk in causing serious damage to the cricket outfield. I was called in for an on-site discussion with some of the Parish Council on Tuesday morning as they were worried that the ground would not be playable on Saturday. I spent some time on the motor roller on Wednesday morning and although it was not good it was playable.

Tuesday evening was the church AGM and meal which Kate was IC. It seemed to go OK and Gordon did a masterful PowerPoint presentation of the accounts.

Kate has finished painting the garden seat an attractive shade of dark green and did not appreciate remarks aligning it with the Forth Bridge so that repainting might start again next week!

 

 

A Job Well Done

 

Plenty of harvesting this week with Runner and French Beans coming on stream and plenty of tomatoes and cucumbers to go with beetroot, lettuce and water cress. Courgettes have been slow for some reason but Sweet Corn has needed badger protection. The first sowing is here and I erected a barricade, the later sowings are at the allotment and I have transferred the electric fence.

 

 

Barricade

 

The Thursday walk this week was starting from Brent Pelham and as we did not fancy a 70-mile round trip we decided to do a recce for a walk we have been asked to lead in August starting at Hail Weaton just over the A1 beyond St Neots. It proved to be a tough day as it was very hot and not too interesting so we arrived back hot, sweaty, tired and in Kate’s case with a nasty heat rash – there must be easier ways of enjoying ourselves! We saw several Red Kites and a bank of an unusual flower called Centaury.

 

 

A Friendly Farmer (from Derry)

 

 

Unusual Barn with Pigeon Loft

 

 

Tree Skeleton

 

 

Centaury

 

I have been preparing a talk on John Hullier for next Saturday’s men’s breakfast. He was one of the 16^th Century Cambridge martyrs burnt at the stake on Jesus Green.

Over 2nds had a remarkable victory on the Green yesterday as chasing a modest 119 against Ransey 3rds they were 34 for 6 but a father and son combination put om 86 to see them home with 8 balls to spare.

Regards

 

Mike & Kate

 

14th July 2024

 

Dear All,

After swimming on Monday, it was a little gardening between showers – planting late leeks and spare melons outdoors and digging up the autumn allium land. In the afternoon Richard Cox and I visited Paul Warrington to have this years Over Produce Show entry chart printed – he is a professional draftsman and has a giant printer. His office is at the bottom of his parent’s garden so we had to pass his parents’ house en route and we noticed his father dozing in an arm chair. Sadly, next morning his father Gary Warrington was found dead in his arm chair! He was a legendary local who had been Fen skating champion in his youth.

On Tuesday our car passed its MOT and then in the afternoon Kate had a request from Lorna to accompany her to Hinchingbrooke hospital as her son William had dislocated his knee cap and needed a scan. This was above and beyond the call of duty but she went and had a long frustrating wait as the machine had broken down the previous day and although mended had created a long back list. They eventually had a 2 hour wait which made Kate late for the family zoom and outing to Haddenham where Kate and Gordon had put on a meal for Adrian’s birthday. 12 gathered including Valerie and Lesley Gawn. Lesley has been diagnosed with a form of lung cavity cancer and has just begun treatment.

On Wednesday I sowed recently dug areas with Green Manure crops: Mustard, Phacelia and Crimson Clover. And in the evening happened to catch a football match where the result was never in doubt!!!

Our walk this week started at Brinkley and took in Burrough Green, Carlton, Weston Green and Willingham Green and to answer Mary’s recent query no we did not see anybody else all walk. We had decent weather and apart from many wild flowers we encountered several Linseed fields.

 

 

Linseed

 

 

Ford at Weston Green

 

 

Carlton Church Bells

 

 

Curious Spectators

 

 

Brinkley Flower Meadow

 

 

Friday was Glynis Fenwick’s funeral at the crematorium, it was a Humanist service with a large congregation. Although the lady in charge conducted it very professionally, she did not know Glynis and I think that always makes it a bit cold and difficult.

The Carnival seemed to go off pretty well with no serious rain. The funfair section was larger than ever and the chapel stand did good business with the Olympic Quiz, Bucket/Ball game, Lego and R&R section. We gave away 300 goodie bags to children. We have just returned from picking up litter which was not bad but the big funfair lorries have sunk in the Green due to recent dampness. We are entertaining a man from the London City Mission who is speaking this morning called Marat Kurbanov. He is of Ukrainian/American extraction and had to leave Ukraine just before the invasion. He was roped in to help with the Carnival stand and we took him on a walk round the Fen last night.

 

 

Chapel Stand Quiz

 

 

Dodgems

 

 

Axe Throwing

 

 

Grateful Recipients of Goodie Bags

 

Regards

 

Mike & Kate

 

7th July 2024

 

Dear All,

After swimming on Monday, I spent some time helping Kate prepare the Day Centre Quiz. It is not due until October but Kate diligently prepares throughout the year so as not to be caught out closer to the time.

Ben arrived on his bike at 10 pm en route from London to Durham for a University reunion. He stopped off at Boston then York before completing 517 Km on Friday.

I trimmed the substantial hedge behind my allotment this week in readiness for moving the electric fence to guard the Sweet Corn.

On Wednesday we drove down to Kirby and Frinton for Muriel’s funeral. We were initially given the wrong venue for the interment then foolishly went to the wrong church for the thanksgiving service – still it made for an adventure and it was good to catch up with David, Jackie, Mary and Graham and a few others I had not seen for about 60 years! After we joined Jackie for a stroll along Frinton beach then back to Glebe for a chat.

Our walk on Thursday started at West Wratting and took in Western Colville, Willingham Green and Weston Green. It was dry but quite windy and the so-called short walk was actually 9.6 miles!

 

 

The Old Windmill, Weston Colville

 

 

Oat Crops near Willingham Green

 

 

Icknield Way near Willingham Green

 

 

West Wratting Hall

 

Friday was the usual trip to Tesco’s followed by Oakington Garden Centre and planting and resowing Lettuce. Amelie became a teenager today but was not too thrilled about the prospect!

Saturday morning, I mounted photos for the Carnival Quiz next Saturday on Famous Olympians. We had 25 mm rain during the night which was welcome as ground had been setting solid. I dug the softened land where Broad bean and Pea had been removed. Later I joined Mervyn at the Community Centre to watch England v Switzerland. The Centre was heaving with two screens on the bar and a large one in the main hall. All the junior football teams were there and a couple of hundred others.

 

Regards

 

Mike & Kate