24th August 2025

 

           Dear All,

 

Last Sunday the Chapel Picnic seemed to go very well with over 40 attending at the Manderson Fishing Lakes. The weather was good and John Lane organised fishing for the children.

 

 

Picnic Gathering

 

 

Fishermen

 

 

Anything they can do!

 

Swimming was crowded again this week but you usually feel better afterwards.

Kate and I went blackberrying this week and there is an excellent crop, we collected over 4lbs in an hour.

 

 

Blackberry Crop

 

Another crop that has performed well is Melons, we have 4/5 like this:

 

Cantaloupe Melon

 

The Russell’s have been in North Wales this week and managed to conquer Snowden so were justly proud.

 

Summit Party

 

Our Thursday walk this week started at Soham and looped round to Wicken. Soham is surrounded by large areas of common land which was inhabited by numerous travellers’ type ponies. At Wicken we saw the Polish Konik ponies which seem to have been very fertile with about 100 in view.

 

 

Friendly Foal

 

 

Konik Ponies

 

 

 

Wicken Mill

Saturday lunchtime we had a major surprise when Kate answered a knock at the door and a guy was standing there saying “Do you remember me?” It was a New Zealander we had not seen for 40 years called Derek Mackay with his wife Tenise .In 1986, Kate was picking fruit while the children were small and these two NZ lads called Derek & Lockie arrived to help pick and were sleeping rough so we took them in. They were hoping to break into the Speedway world as Derek’s father was a major rider for NZ. We had lost contact but Derek was so pleased to see us and grateful for the hospitality. He remembered so much so clearly about the children, the food, and games of table tennis etc. It was really great to see them. They are over for 3 weeks taking in the Women’s Rugby World Cup and a trip to Scotland. And we have a welcome in NZ any time we choose to go!

Over had a massif victory yesterday scoring 284-2 while the opposition made 101. The outfield is suffering in the drought and 10 year old drainage channels are sinking so the game was nearly called off.

 

Best wishes

 

Mike & Kate