25^th October 2026

 

           Dear All,

We missed swimming this week and I had a TIA telephone consultation and need to have a full blood assessments.

U3A World War 1 class covered the triggers which led to war which included Austria worried by Serbia, Germany giving Austria a blank cheque, Russia supporting Serbia, Germany wary of France and Russia, France wanting to reclaim Alsace/Lorraine, Britain fearing Germany dominating Europe and everyone mobilising,

In the evening the Swavesey History topic was John Clare the Peasant Poet, Born in remote countryside at Helpston near Peterborough as a twin in 1793, he was the weakling yet his sister, Bessie, died young to John’s lifelong sadness.  The house where he grew up is now a museum in his memory.  His mother was illiterate but his father had some schooling and John seems to have been an intelligent person.  He worked in the local fields but was an inadequate labourer due to lack of height and strength and changed to being a limestone burner producing quicklime.  Aged 13 years he heard his first poem which was about springtime which thrilled him and he started to write poems celebrating the beauty of the natural world with detailed descriptions of flora and fauna, and a keen awareness of the rhythms of the seasons.

 

 

John Clare

 

On Wednesday our former walk leaders Philip and Margaret called after a 4 week cruise to collect some Broccoli plants that we have been looking after which they ordered while away. It was Kate’s turn to lead the Bible study group this week on Daniel chapter 1.

Garden Club in the evening was on plant names and was more interesting than the title promised!

On Thursday I started with a haircut then had my first ever physio session with an American lady working on my sore knee and numb arm.

Biographies this week featured a virologist Lionel Crawford who the presenter claimed was an unsung hero. His research helped us understand how viruses contribute to cancer and screening has saved countless lives but he received very little recognition in his lifetime.

 

 

Lionel Crawford

 

On Saturday there was a special Church meeting to discuss the way ahead for an ageing congregation, nearly everyone tuned up and there was good discussion about whether we should employ an assistant.and what else we should try.

After I watched Over 3 v 1 Soham Res in a deluge.

Ben runs his Sierra Leone marathon today and has sent a few photos.

 

 

 

 

Mary-Ann, Andy, Amelie and Albert have travelled to Lanzarote for half term.

 

 

Best wishes

 

Mike & Kate

 

18^th October 2026

 

           Dear All,

Last week’s quiz raised £1040 for the Day Centre, a little less than last year but still worthwhile. I have had three trips to Cambridge this week for U3A classes, Tuesday it was the 2^nd session of World War I: Rivalries, Tensions and Triggers with the rise of Kaiser Wilhelm and the assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand. He was an avid hunter who kept meticulous records of the 274,889 birds and animals that he slaughtered in his career!

Kate had a covid jab on Tuesday and unfortunately reacted badly and has been feeling poorly ever since.

It was my turn to lead the Bible study on Wednesday so you can ask me anything about Malachi!

My next U3A session was Travel Writers on Thursday discussing “The Road to Oxiana” by Robert Byron. It was published in 1937 and covers his 10 month visit to Iran and Afghanistan mainly studying the architecture. He was an ex Etonian from a privileged background and some people in the class were annoyed by this while others thought it an excellent travel book.

Later I cut the grass, resowed Mizuna and Pak Choi for winter salads and removed all but one tomato plant.

The Biographies topic this week was Sarah Churchill Duchess of Marlborough she was an English courtier and noblewoman who became one of the most influential women of her time through her close relationship with Anne, Queen of Great Britain. She became the Queen’s closest advisor and ended up extremely wealthy due to shrewd investments. She was responsible for Blenhiem Palace being built and was devoted to her soldier husband John Churchill but managed to fall out with all of her surviving 5 children.

 

 

Sarah Churchill

Later Kate helped me at the allotment topping the asparagus and moving a little more muck.

 

 

It was a Men’s Breakfast at chapel Saturday morning with Neil Thompson as speaker, he used to captain St Neots cricket team when we played them in chapel matches. He is now fund raiser for the Romsey Mill Project needing to find 2 million pounds a year

Romsey Mill is a charity committed to overcoming disadvantage, challenging injustice and promoting social inclusion with young people, children and families. Each year, they work with over 2,000 individuals and families, from Cambridge city and across areas of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough,

 

 

Neil Thompson

 

I watched Over Reserves beat Histon Hornets 2 v 0 while the 1^st team held table toppers Shelford to a 0 v 0 draw.

Ben is off to Sierra Leone today running in a charity Marathon and Esther and Mary-Ann are in Glasgow for a depleted cousin’s reunion without Emma and Jacky.

 

Best wishes

 

Mike & Kate

 

11^th October 2026

 

           Dear All,

After swimming on Monday we visited Oakington Garden Centre and I purchased some Spring Cabbage plants to replace my pigeon damaged plants and some Broad Bean seeds which I sowed later. Kate also purchased some perennial plants.

On Tuesday I had a dental check up followed by the first U3A session of the term on the history of World War 1 with an introduction to the Great Powers of Europe particularly looking at the problems facing Asquith in 1914. These included Poverty, Industrial Unrest, Female Suffrage, and Ireland. I followed this with a flu jab

Wednesday was the annual Brassica Open Days in Lincolnshire. I travelled with Vaughan and David who volunteer in the walled garden at Wimpole Hall. We had a damp start but it soon cleared up. We managed to visit 6 sites: Hazera, Clause, Sakata, Syngenta, Elsoms and Tozer. Considering the drought most plots were not bad. Highlights included the Clause Calabrini, Sakata Orientals, Syngenta Salads, Elsom’s Radicchio and Tozer’s Squash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We met up with the U3A walkers for lunch on Thursday as they were meeting at Over, it was good to see them as we have not been walking recently.

Biographies restarted on Friday where the first subject was Will Adams (1564 -1620) the first European to visit and settle in Japan...

He arrived in Japan as one of the few survivors of the ship Liefde under the leadership of Jacob Quaeckernaeck. It was the only vessel to reach Japan from a five-ship expedition launched by a company of Rotterdam merchants the predecessor, of the Dutch East India Company. Soon after his arrival in Japan, Adams and his second mate Jan Joosten became advisors to shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu. He took a shine to Adams and was loathe let him leave.

 

 

Will Adams

 

Friday night was the annual quiz which we organise to raise funds for the Day Care Centre. As usual Kate thinks up most of the questions (I am allowed to do Sport).It was the 17^th time we have produced the quiz and it went well with Rebecca helping the computing and Adam introducing improved audio equipment. There were 82 present and we await the financial result.

 

 

 

Best wishes

Mike & Kate

 

4^th October 2026

 

           Dear All,

After swimming on Monday I planted Garlic, Shallots and over wintered onions. Kate had a doctor’s appointment and discussed her painful hip and knee and was recommended physio and given a booking for Friday.

 

Here she is practicing:

 

 

I have been tackling the FYM mountain and have dug 3 patches so far.

 

 

 

There is still some colour on Kate’s allotment.

 

 

 

Kate gave Adrian a bread making lesson as he has been given a machine.

Bob Kitson had a trial session at the Day Care Centre as he has regressed quite badly in recent weeks.

I have been working on my Biographies subject this week, this year’s choice is Robert Louis Stevenson. U3A term begin on Monday and my other course is WW1.

Someone posted some interesting photos of Over Green through the seasons on Facebook this week;

 

 

Over thumped Longstanton 5 v 0 in a cup match yesterday.

 

Best wishes

 

 

Mike & Kate

 

27th September 2026

 

           Dear All,

After swimming on Monday I revised my harvest report for Sunday’s service – 4” rain March to July, 12.24” so far in 2026.

Geoff Pake called in the evening to carry out PAT tests on my projector and Lap top.

On Tuesday we harvested Gourds, Squash and Pumpkins ready for Harvest Festival. I also started digging in the FYM pile at the allotment while Kate has been battling with a serious weed flush on her patch.

I had another Addenbrookes appointment on Wednesday this time a DVD session on diet.

On Saturday we attended Gransden Agricultural Show, It is one of the proper Shows to survive with a good display of cattle, sheep, pigs and goats and numerous horsey events. There was a large craft tent as well as a produce display with fruit, veg, eggs, flowers and agricultural crops. The veg were not impressive but the rest were good.

 

 

  I got back in time to see Over beat Soham Reserves 2 v 1 then in the evening there was a Harvest Supper at the chapel.

 

 

 

Chapel Harvest Decorations

 

I had my show trophies delivered this week after engraving including a new one donated for the best onions.

 

 

 

Best wishes

 

 

Mike & Kate