6th September 2026

 

           Dear All,

Sunday evening we collected Adriana from Cambridge Park & Ride station at 9pm. She is the pastor’s daughter from Burlacu, Moldova and this was her first trip abroad. She had spent time with an uncle in Dartford and friends in Bristol and we entertained her for a couple of days at the end of her trip. I have known her since she was a baby on my second trip to Moldova in 2007, she is now at university in Chisinau.

We decided to give her the full Cambridge tour on Monday catching the Open Top bus for an 80 minute tour, followed by lunch in Weatherspoon’s and a visit to the Fitzwilliam museum.

 

 

Adriana

 

 

Punting

 

 

Mathematical Bridge

 

The Round Church

 

On Tuesday we explored Ely with a tour of the Cathedral then a walk to the river. In the afternoon we showed her the delights of Over: the river, church, Hardinge statue, Community Centre and chapel. She had a 6.30 am flight from Luton on Wednesday so we were up at 3 am to send her off in a taxi – not fancying an early morning drive.

 

 

Ely Cathedral

 

 

We met up with Geoff and Janet Pake on Tuesday evening to take Adriana for a meal at the Porterhouse pub in Willingham.

Kate has been busily sorting questions for the Day Centre Quiz and I helped with the sport round and tidying the PowerPoint presentation.

In the garden I have been distributing the composted rabbit manure and digging some in in the top greenhouse while Kate has renewed the Strawberry bed. I have also sown Green Manure crops for digging in later.

 

 

Strawberry Bed

 

 

Peppers have been very productive this year.

 

 

Emma has been pinned back together but is still in hospital – they are hoping she will be able to go home very shortly.

 

 

Emma’s Leg

Kate and I have booked a week in Mundesley, Norfolk from next Saturday after I have had a scan and meeting with my surgeon on Friday.

 

Best wishes

 

Mike & Kate

 

30th August 2026

 

           Dear All,

Last Sunday was the annual chapel picnic at the Manderson Trust fishing lakes. There was some initial doubt about it as one of the lakes was being partially drained to allow weed to be removed but it did not interfere with the picnic with a good turnout of 35, sunny weather and free ice creams.

 

 

 

 

   The Burrell family came to the picnic then departed for home in Norwich and we were left to assess the damage and rearrange the furniture!

Emma suffered a serious accident on Sunday while helping her mother sort her loft – she fell and was in considerable pain breaking her tibia and fibia and bruising her hip. Initially she was due to be sent to a London hospital for treatment but this did not materialise and it took until Thursday before a 7 hour operation in Basildon hospital.

 

Highlight of my week was taking delivery of two loads of FYM from Les Cook. It is good quality and well-rotted and I have already dug in a decent area – but gently of course!

Wednesday lunch time we were summoned to Norman and Rosemary’s to help celebrate their 65^th wedding anniversary.

We had our first decent rain for a long time on Thursday and already you can see the difference.

I have harvested 3 good melons this week and several Aubergines.

 

 We had a surprise delivery of flowers from Kate’s brother Philip this week.

 

 

Ben is on his travels again this time to Lichtenstein.

 

 

 

Lichtenstein

 

Over were held to a goalless draw yesterday in a match which ended in an absolute cloudburst

 

Best Wishes

 

Mike & Kate

 

23rd August 2026

 

           Dear All,

On Monday we were invited to Felicia’s 90^th birthday celebration at Kettles Yard Art Gallery in Cambridge. Felicia and Ian were members of our walking group. Felicia’s father was an American diplomat so she spent much of her childhood in Uruguay before returning to live in Arizona. She was at college with James Watson of DNA fame who courted her with the chat up lines” With your looks and my brains we could have wonderful children!” It was an interesting venue as we could look round the gallery for free. One of the guests was their relation Andy Hampsten who finished 4^th in the Tour de France twice.

 

 

Kettles Yard

 

Felicia & Ian

 

I had an appointment with the Spire on Tuesday and was signed off. Dr Andrews did not know I had an operation so was rather surprised. We mentioned Kate’s painful leg/hip and she said “Would you like me to take it on” and Kate was examined and X-Rayed on the spot and is still recovering from the shock. We await the results. In the afternoon I had a tooth cap replaced for the 3^rd time.

I have managed a couple of walks along the Burling concrete road so seem to be improving but my neck and calf muscle ache after a while.

We had a Show committee meeting Thursday evening to review the recent event and agree donations. We make enough to donate to the British Legion, The Day Care centre, Arthur Rank and the Community centre.

We picked the last of the Sweet Corn this week so retrieved the electric fence battery which has done a good job again this year.

The Burrell family arrived Saturday afternoon and are staying overnight minus Matthew who is laying a new floor. I think it is fair to say “we know we have got them”.

 

Over won their third match 1 v 0 Hemingford so are currently top of the league.

 

 

Best Wishes

 

 

Mike & Kate

 

 

16th August 2026

 

           Dear All,

Esther, Emma, Amelie and Albert arrived Monday lunchtime and we ate at the Community Centre. After inspecting the allotment and garden there was time for serious games including their current favourite Monopoly. Albert meanwhile has become a semi- professional Rubik cube solver and is willing to pass on solving tips to anyone interested.

On Tuesday we all went to Wimpole Hall as the children were keen to see the rare breeds but there were far fewer than there used to be just a large pig collection, a couple of heavy horses and a collection of ducks, chickens and goats.

 

 

Rubik King

 

 

 

Gloucester Old Spot family

The visitors departed after Wimpole and the next excitement was the Eclipse on Wednesday evening. Esther had equipped us all with special glasses and it was a memorable experience.

The main excitement of the week came on Friday as Amelie had chosen a “zoo experience” as her birthday treat and we all descended on Colchester zoo. She was able to help feed and clean various animals including Meer cats, elephants, cheetahs, sun bears and her favourites lemurs. The lemurs were especially friendly.

                                                         

 

 

Esther had also organised a giraffe feeding session for the rest of us which was an interesing experience as well.

 

 

Ben came back with us to collect the curtains that Kate has been relining. He is still clocking up the miles – a Marathon in the heat last weekend and yesterday’s run was the 244^th consecutive day!

 

Best Wishes

 

 

Mike & Kate

 

 

9th August 2026

 

           Dear All,

A few photos from the show last week.

 

  

Unfortunately our pond went dry due to the drought and hosepipe ban and it looks as though we have lost the fish.

My wound seems to be healing OK even if it looks a bit gruesome at present.

 

 

 

I had a telephone consultation with Addenbrookes on Wednesday and things seem to be going in the right direction. We have had a fantastic crop of figs this year – they really enjoy the heat.

 

 

We have booked a few days away in September at Mundesley in north Norfolk.

We did a moderate walk round Over Fen on Friday – the longest I have managed so far. Friday night Over football club hosted a pre-season tournament between 4 clubs and won it in less than ideal conditions due to the hard ground.

 

Best Wishes

 

 

Mike & Kate