30th March 2025

 

Dear All,

I have been coughing and sniffing for England this week so have not been far. Generously I have now passed the cold onto Kate – who seems less than grateful!

The Moldovan friends asked for craft materials for their “Meal Deal” children so we have been accumulating them this week.

We have spent quite a lot of time in the garden. I have dug sprout, parsnip and cabbage land, dug trenches for beans, planted onion sets, beetroot, salad onions, cauliflower and calabrese.

We met up with some ex NIAB colleagues for lunch at Girton Golf club on Tuesday and later booked a couple days away at Caister-on-Sea in 2 weeks time.

I had another appointment with SpecSavers audio department on Wednesday to  modify the hearing aids so that they do not move in my ears.

The Magnolia trees out front are more or less at their best this week.

 

As we were both suffering we did a local walk ourselves on Thursday crossing Over Fen, the River Ouse and circumnavigating Barleycroft Lake. It was a good day for wildlife as we saw thre Marsh Harriers, two Muntjac Deer, two Egyptian geese, numerous other ducks, geese, cormorants and gulls, several bumble bees and four badger setts. We had lunch in the Community Centre.

 

 

Duce’s Ponnd, Fen End

 

 

Ouse Fen

 

 

Stunted Willows at the River

 

 

Barleycroft Lake

 

 

Break

On Friday after a trip to Tesco’s I hekped Adrian sow Parsnips, Carrots, Beetroot, Swede, Salsify, Scorzonera, Salad Onions and Radish.

In the evening we had a CCEM meeting after a meal at the Pake’s.

Andy graduated with a Master’s Degree from the Open University in Constructive Writing. There was a graduation ceremony in London on Friday and the family stayed the night with Esther and Emma.

On Saturday I wrote up the minutes from the CEEM meeting, dug at the allotment and watched the first half of Over v Wisbech St Mary. I had to leave at half time as we expected a courier to pick up the parcels for Moldova. Unfortunately he did not materialise so we still have a stack in the front room!.

 

 

Moldova Parcels

 

Kate had a generous parcel from the family with scones, jam, clotted cream and some cakes to mark Mother’s Day.

 

 

Mother’s Day Goodies

 

 

 

Best wishes

Mike & Kate