4^th August 2024

 

Dear All,

It has been quite a busy week. On Monday John and I tried to repair the wicket after the bonfire the previous Friday. I then met up with three walking mates for lunch at the Over Community Centre. Later I prepared a PowerPoint for Geoff Pake about his 60 years as a fenland farmer.

We managed a swim on Tuesday and I dug the maincrop Desiree Potatoes at the allotment. Kate had brought a high chair home from the chapel as someone was saying it was filthy and needed replacing. Kate cleaned it and it was fine but the safety straps were difficult to replace and I had to drill fresh holes so it is now as good as new!

Apart from the above the week has largely been about preparing for the Village Produce Show. I missed the Thursday walk helping to fetch display boards from Rampton. Kate walked from Barley anticipating rain. “I may come back looking like a drowned rat” she said, in fact there was no rain and it was rather warm so she was actually drowned in sweat!

I have mentioned before that the Sweet Corn at the allotment is now protected by and electric fence but the planting here is surrounded by a formidable barricading fence. The first cobs were just ripening for the show when the badgers managed to trash it on Wednesday night.

 

 

Sweet Corn Wednesday

 

 

Sweet Corn Thursday

 

Thursday evening, we were at the Centre for 3 hours receiving and logging the Show entries. Norman Ingle helped me following the loss of Glynis and as we had also lost the main competitor who used to enter everything, we were worried that entries would be down, but in fact we just about had the same number as last year.

On Friday I had another funeral – the fourth in a month this time for Gary Warrington: Over born and bred so a large turn out at the Crem. Gary had been a builder and a local Fenland skating champion.

 

 

Gary Warrington

Friday evening the Show committee were back at the Centre to lay out the room for the show which is always an interesting study in human behaviour!

The show was the 50^th so we had extra exhibits about Over 50 years ago, a display of old gardening tools and I prepared an exhibit about old vegetable varieties that are still available today. There were also extra classes for a 50^th anniversary cake and flower arrangement.

I managed 14 x 1sts, 8 x 2nds and 6 x 3rds so won the Vegetable cup, the Photography cup and the overall cup – but it won’t change me!

 

 

Kate Preparing Flowers

 

 

White Potatoes

 

 

Collection

 

 

50^th Anniversary Cakes

 

 

Old Varieties Exhibit

 

 

Farm Animal Photos

 

 

Visiting Throng

 

 

Unknown Competitor!

 

Regards

 

 

Mike & Kate