2^nd November 2025

 

           Dear All,

After swimming on Monday the “10 Turning Points in European History” topic was 1565 “The Nest of Vipers” the Ottoman Turks attempt to conquer Malta. The Ottoman Empire had expanded rapidly under Selim 1 and Suleiman the Magnificent but The Knights of St John had been expelled from Rhodes and settled in Malta. From there they harassed the Ottoman trading ships so Suleiman decided to obliterate them, sending 25,000 men in 300 ships. If he has succeeded the Ottomans would have taken Spain and more besides. However the Knights, together with local Maltese and the Spanish infantry managed to defeat them thus stopping the spread of Islam in Europe. The Knights of St John eventually evolved into the St John’s Ambulance organisation.

 

 

In the afternoon it was another funeral this time for Dr Peter Friend the father of one of my cricket colleagues and an eminent geologist. I had never been in a room with about 200 geologists before and kept thinking about Bert in the “Big Bang Theory”.

As we were expecting visitors on Thursday we decided to walk on Tuesday carrying out a recce from Cottenham to Rampton for a walk we are due to lead next week. I entitled the photos “I Spy Fly Tipping – with the odd burnt out car!” It is a favourite area for Travellers to off load items so perhaps not the most scenic walk we have ever done! We did see a pair of Roe Deer and the bushes were laden with sloes.

 

 

Fen Potato field

 

 

Fly Tip No.1

 

 

 

Sloes

 

 

Friendly Ponies

 

On Thursday we entertained most of the Burrell family who moved from Over to Norwich last year. We were expecting them early as this has happened before but in fact they went straight to the Community Centre and met up with some other folks and we joined them for Lunch. They came back to us in the afternoon. They were not here for very long so the house recovered quite quickly!

 

 

Grace & Kate

 

 

Rachel, Arthur & Nathan

The Biography topic on Friday was “Martin Luther” who had been the subject of “10 Turning Points” the previous week so deja view again!

 

 

Martin Luther

 

In the evening we had a CEEM meeting at Geoff and Janet Pake’s to receive a report from the group who went to Moldova in September as well as plan next year’s visits. CEEM is due to change its name to “Moldova Matters Ltd”

In the garden this week I have removed and dug the outdoor tomato area and we now have quite a haul of green tomatoes. The salad crops in the greenhouse are coming along quite well.

 

 

Winter Salad Crops.

 

Over did not have a match yesterday so I went to the new Cambridge City stadium at Sawston to watch City Reserves v West Wratting with David and Mervyn.

 

 

Cambridge City FC

 

Best wishes

 

Mike & Kate