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