23rd February 2025

 

Dear All,

 

“Just Vegetating” this week was “Legumes” and Kate produced: Quick-fried runner beans with cheddar & hazelnuts, Miso and peanut butter chickpea salad and Mixed Bean Masala.

I managed to book flights for the next adventure to Moldova on Monday departing 24^th April accompanied by David Smith and Ben who is coming to explore one of the few countries he has not visited!

I had some blood tests on Tuesday then we had a session at the allotments – Kate pruning and I was mending the old fruit cage which has suffered this winter. In the afternoon I tuned into U3A Earth – topic Pollution this time. Top 10 Pollutants in the Sea:

1.      Cigarette filters

2.      Food wraps

3.      Plastic water bottles

4.      Plastic bags

5.      Caps & lids

6.      Cups, plates & cutlery

7.      Straws & stirrers

8.      Glass bottles

9.      Beverage cans

10.  Paper bags

On Wednesday I trussed up 5 parcels destined for Moldova hoping for their safe delivery, 4 containing seeds.

Another U3A Zoom on Wednesday was on the topic of “Fluid Earth” mainly about volcanoes. In the evening the Garden Club talk was delivered by a lady from our local Oakington Garden Centre describing how it was started by a couple who are still involved but now joined by their daughter and employing 40 people.

The walk on Thursday was really tough going with mud, hills, a shower and blustery wind. 9 miles was plenty! We started at Barley and took in Barkway and Nuthampstead Bury. On the plus side there were great views and plenty of snowdrops and aconites.

 

 

Snowdrops at Newsells

 

 

Skinned Tree

 

 

Narrow Door in Barkway church

 

 

Barkway Wagon Wash

 

There were two presentations in “Biographies”. The first was W.G. Hoskins a Historian of the English Landscape. He was an expert on Devon and wrote 30 books on the English countryside. His main book was “The Making of the English Landscape”

 

 

W. G. Hoskins

 

The second offering covered Mohammad Yunus from Bangladesh. He developed a system of funding farmers which stopped them going into serial debt by by-passing the money lenders. This was extended fishermen and fabric workers

 

 

Mohammad Yunus

We had a visit from Rachel, Grace, Arthur and Nathan Burrell on Friday, they are lively company and you certainly know you have had them!

On Saturday it was a Men’s Breakfast with a talk from Giles Cornell the Senior Pastor of the Lighthouse church in Ely. They are very active in the community working with the homeless and offering several other projects.

Over continued their good form beating Comberton 5 v 0. Evidently last week supporters of the defeated Hardwick attacked the referee after the game!

Mary-Ann, Andy, Amelie & Albert have been holidaying in Italy this week and you can probably guess where from this photo:

 

 

Pisa

 

Best Wishes

Mike & Kate

 

16th February 2025

 

Dear All,

 

“Just Vegetating” this week was “Salads- Fruit” covering Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers & Aubergines. Kate produced: Stuffed Peppers. Courgette cakes & Courgette and Aubergine bake.

Esther had her first eye operation and initially seemed happy with the outcome but it cannot have been very nice.

 

 

Esther & Emma Post Op

 

On Tuesday Kate and I travelled to Oundle to collect some crockery which Esther had brought on-line to match some they already had. We expected it to be in a container but it was loose so we had to improvise with scarves and paper to try and make it secure for the return journey.

 

 

Oundle Crocs.

 

In the afternoon I had another U3A Earth … Zoom session – this time on the Hydrosphere covering everything to do with water: oceans, acid rain, weather, heat and CO2 storage, life, pollution.

In the evening I went to the Local History meeting which was on Victor Ekins a Battle of Britain hero from St Neots. The presenter had interviewed as many of the survivors as he could and written a book about Victor Ekins. The average age of the pilots was 20,

 

 

Victor Ekins story

 

On Wednesday Norman Ingle cane for lunch as usual prior to Church group at the Kitsons. After I sowed early peas in gutters in the greenhouse.

Our Thursday walk started at Barton and looped round via Grantchester. Highlight was crossing the Green Burial site at Barton Glebe which has been planned very strictly with no headstones or gardening. The weather was dull but dry but the mud index was high!

 

 

Muddy Start

 

 

Barton Glebe Cemetery

 

 

Barton

 

 

Barton Village Pond

 

“Biographies” subject on Friday was Benjamin Franklin who was a polymath as a Printer, Publisher, Newspaper man, Politician, Scientist, Diplomat and Founding Father. Franklin has been described as the most accomplished American of his age and the most influential in the type of society America would become.

 

 

Benjamin Franklin

In the afternoon we went to Oakington Garden Centre to buy onion, shallot and garlic sets and some have been planted in module trays in the green house.

With one eye on the local weather Albert has constructed an ocean going liner this week!

 

 

Cunard Liner!

Over came back from a 5 minute goal behind to win 5 v 2 against Hardwick in a chilly drizzle on a very heavy pitch yesterday. In the evening Steve and Ruth two of the walking group arranged a secret surprise party for Lesley and Howard who organised our week in North Wales last August. They had invited them for a meal but not told them there would be another 12 of us there as well!

 

 

 

Regards

Mike & Kate

 

9th February 2025

 

Dear All,

 

Another crowded session in the swimming pool – peoples New Year resolutions seem to be lasting longer this year! Just Vegetating was Salads – Leaf, Shoots and Roots. Kate produced: Braised Celery with cheese & Onion sauce, Squash, Onion & Quinoa salad and Strawberry, Mint, Olive, Lambs lettuce & Hazelnut salad.

After I had a visit to HSBC to try and sort a difficulty with the CEEM account then joined a couple of walkers: David and Howell for lunch in their favourite venue Weatherspoons!

We walked on Tuesday this week as it was a local walk starting at Bar Hill and taking a novel route to Dry Drayton and Madingley. It was a bright and sunny day but with plenty of seasonal mud.

 

 

Dodgy Bridge

 

Little Boxes at Dry Drayton

 

 

Madingley Wood

 

This was followed by the first of two Memorial Services this week this time at Whittlesey for Gordon Foster’s father Alan.

Contrasting with this fellow CEEM members Laura & Philip produced their first baby on Tuesday named Nicolas Peter.

 

 

Philip, Nicolas & Laura

 

Norman Ingle was here for lunch on Wednesday as usual followed by Church group at the Kitson’s – Matthew Kitson started a new job on the Science Park this week.

I was sent a Survey form from Imperial College, London, which I completed this week regarding my experience with COVID – it was very detailed.

On Thursday we delivered some surplus chapel chairs to Emmaus at Waterbeach. This is an amazing charity set up with so much donated and put on for sale. I squandered £3 on two shirts!

In the evening it was the Over Produce Show committee meeting to plan this year’s event in August – this time with added craft classes!

There were two subject for Biographies this week: Winnie Seebolm and Ryszard Kapuscinski. Winnie lived at Hitchin and was frustrated by Victorian conventions but managed to be one of the first ladies at Newnham College, Cambridge and wrote numerous letters which gave an impression of what life was like in those days but died aged only 23. Ryszard was a dare devil Polish reporter who rose from a persecuted beginning to travel the world and receive numerous accolades.

 

 

Winnie Seebolm

 

 

Ryszard Kapuscinski

 

 

The second Memorial Service was for my cousin Peter Nunn who had been a missionary in Colombia for 40 odd years. There was an interment on Friday and a Thanksgiving service on Saturday which was on Utube. Mary & Graham went to both but we watched the Saturday session on –line.

Kate went to Ladies breakfast Saturday morning where the speaker was a poet.

Over won a hard fought battle with Newmarket Reserves 2 v 1 yesterday.

 

 

Regards

Mike & Kate

 

2nd February 2025

 

Dear All,

 

After swimming “Just Vegetating” this week was “Brassicas” covering Cabbage, Cauliflowers, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Kale & Kohl Rabi. Kate produced Caulifloer Curry, Swede roast with nuts and honey and a Cabbage and Carrot stir fry.

I have been working on Moldova talks and testing seeds in the propagating frame.

The church group topic this week was the jolly subject of “Hymns & Readings you would choose for your funeral!”

Ben has been skiing in Austria this week and sent back a couple of scenic photos.

 

 

 

Obergurgl Austria

Kate and I led the walk on Thursday in bright sunshine (one of the leader’s duties to ensure good weather!). We were back at Broughton, north of St Ives where we had a long recce 3 weeks ago. There was some mud under foot as there had been several rain showers in the previous week but in all it was more enjoyable than the recce. The circuit took in Little Raveley and Kings Ripton and finished with 5 styles in the last half mile.

 Ploughed field

 

Little Raveley church

 

Wennington Wood

 

Style number 3

 

The “Biographies” subject this week was “Carl Gustaf Mannerheim” who was born in Finland in 1867 and attended Cavalry School in St Petersburg. He rose through the ranks in Russia but eventually returned to Finland commanding troops in the Winter War. He became President of Finland in 1944.

 

 Carl Gustaf Mannerheim

 

We hosted a CEEM meal and Committee meeting Friday evening to plan things for this year. David Smith and I are likely to go to Moldova in April but the dates have not been agreed as yet.

Over came from 2 – 0 down to draw away at Foxton on Saturday. We equalised in the last minute and there was a considerable mass brawl following this!

Kate finished her jigsaw puzzle in time for the meal on Friday – just one piece missing!

 

 

Regards

Mike & Kate