12th
October 2025
Dear All,
It
has been quite a busy week in Lake Wobegon! It began Sunday afternoon when we
were invited to a Tea Party at the Friends Meeting house for leaders of courses
that are held there to meet a new warden. We were taught how to make roti and
entertained by a choir.
Roti Demonstration
After
swimming on Monday I caught the guided bus into Cambridge for a U3A class
entitled: “10 Turning Points in European History” led by Adrian Roberts who is
an ex teacher and excellent lecturer. The first session was on the invention of
metal type printing initially by Joannes Gutenberg producing the Gutenberg
Bible in 1453. Previously Bibles had been copied manually by monks in
Scriptoriums written on vellum typically needing 170 calf skins or 300 sheep
skins per copy. Gutenberg had a checkered career but the printing press soon
spread throughout Europe with considerable effects on language, literacy,
spread of knowledge and questioning beliefs.
Meanwhile
Kate attended Ruth Roberts’s funeral.
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On
Tuesday we both had flu and Covid jabs and ironically Hilary Foster had the
appointment between us at Bar Hill Tesco’s. Kate then had a Zoom session on the
stars.
Wednesday
was my regular outing to Lincolnshire for the Seed Trade open days. This year I
was accompanied by David Cook from walking and Over locals Richard Cox and
Adrian Hart. We managed to visit seven demonstrations. I was expecting some
poor plots after the drought but was agreeably surprised by the standard of the
plants. Apart from the usual brassicas there was a heavy presence of pumpkins
and squash this time.
Seminis Purple Broccoli
Tozers Pumpkins & Squash
Sakata Veg Display
Syngenta Coloured Cauliflowers
Elsoms Veg Display
On
Thursday Kate and I were leading the walk we recced last week from Haddenham taking
in Wilburton. It was a good day for walking – cool and dry.
Wilburton Manor
Not too Robust Bridge
Maple Tree changing colour
We
did not have time for the pub lunch as I had another new class this time on
“Travel Writers”. Kate dropped me off in town for discussion about the book I
mentioned last week by the Victorian lady Mary Kingsley in West Africa.
Everyone was impressed not only by her courage alone in a difficult climate
surrounded by cannibals but also by the humour with which she wrote.
It
was “Biography” time again on Friday with new leadership and a larger class.
The first subject was “Captain Vancouver” who gave his name to the city and
island in west Canada. He was probably born in Kings Lynn in 1757 and went to
sea aged 14 on Captain Cook’s 2nd voyage which lasted 3 years and
went further south than anyone previously. He then enlisted for Cook’s 3rd
voyage looking for the NW Passage which took in Hawaii where Cook was welcomed
as a god. However when he returned to repair a broken mast he was killed.
Vancouver rose through the ranks to become a marine surveyor initially in NW
America then Tasmania and New Zealand before returning to NW America where
eventually the island and city were named after him and another guy who was
gradually dropped from the name.
Captain Vancouver
Friday
night was the quiz which we organise to raise money for the old peoples Day
Centre in the village. Kate thinks up all the questions and I was Question master.
There were 13 teams and over 100 attending. It has raised well over £1000 in
the last two years but we do not have the figures for this year yet. This was
our 16th year as part of the chapels support for the Centre.
Quiz Gathering
Over
came unstuck yesterday losing 1 v 0 to Newmarket Res.
Best
wishes
Mike
& Kate
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