daytime

Sunday, 22 February 2026

22nd February 2026

Dear All,

After swimming “Just Vegetating” this week was “Legumes” and Kate prepared Mixed Bean Masala, Sweet Potato feta with Butter Beans and Quick fried French Beans with Hazel nuts and cheddar.

We had a visit from the Burrell’s on Tuesday. Grace and Nathan were well behaved but Arthur is still Arthur!

Arthur, Nathan, Grace, Rachel & Kate

The parcels sent to Moldova arrived safely on Tuesday which is always a relief. In the garden I managed to transplant some Broad Beans and prune the autumn Raspberries while sowing the first batch of Peas in gutters in the greenhouse.

On Wednesday John thought it would be good to trim the cricket square in a brief dry window – I just about managed it but am still short of stamina. In the evening I was drafted in to speak at Over Garden Club as the booked speaker unfortunately died just before Christmas. I spoke on Oriental Vegetables especially my trips to China and Japan.

I spent time contacting Moldova on Thursday and arranging travel insurance with Kate. The weather seems to be challenging there at present!

Chisinau

The Biographies topic this week was Hendrick Witbooi. He led the Namibian people during their revolts against the German colonial empire. Witbooi is regarded as one of the national heroes of Namibia, and his face is portrayed on the obverse of all N$50, N$100, and N$200 Namibian dollar banknotes. Unfortunately the presenter struggled with his presentation due to old age and despite being an ex-University lecturer did not cover the subject very well.

Hendrik Witbooi

The Russell’s have been in Barcelona for Half Term week and seem to have had a good time.

Meanwhile Esther & Emma posted fine photos of the Northern Lights and few friends they made in the Arctic.

I didn’t walk this week but Kate did a local walk through the orchard to Swavesey then the river finding plenty of mud and water.

Orchard Path

Colourful Garden

Swavesey Fen

Flooded River

Overcote

Best Wishes

Mike & Kate

Sunday, 15 February 2026

15th February 2026

Dear All,

After swimming “Just Vegetating” this week was “Salads – Fruit: Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers & Aubergines. Kate produced Roasted stuffed peppers, Aubergine bake and Tomato with chick peas.

I had a blood test on Tuesday – 4 syringe full checking about 12 items! The results came back as severe shortage of Vitamin D and I was prescribed 4 tablets a day for 3 months. I am not convinced that a vitamin shortage explains how I have felt but we will see.

We had an ex NIAB employees lunch at Girton Golf club Tuesday lunch time where the standard of food has improved with the advent of an Italian chef.

I have sown Celeriac, Herbs and planted Ginger this week.

A couple of the seed bulks donated by Tozer’s are too large to send to Moldova so I have offered them to Over Garden Club. Chairman Richard Cox came round to discuss how best to use them.

Ben revealed on the family Zoom that he has run on 53 consecutive days – anyone want to better that?

On Thursday it was my turn to head up the Travel Writers Book Club and my choice this month was “Eight Feet in the Andes” by Dervla Murphy describing a 3 month walk down the Inca Way with her 9 year old daughter and a mule. It was another tale when you are not sure how they survived! Dervla’s most famous trip was cycling single handed from Ireland to India

Dervla Murphy & Daughter

Kate made some biscuits using a Peruvian recipe based on Maize meal. Kate came into Cambridge with me shopping for a warm woolly for Moldova.

The Biography subject this week was Bert Trautman the German goalkeeper who played 60 minutes of a Cup Final with a broken neck. He has in the Hitler Youth and had a checked war eventually being captured and sent to England where he was amazed at his treatment and stayed on after the war.

Bert Trautman

In the evening we hosted a meal and committee meeting for Moldova Matters mainly planning details for our forthcoming visit.

Thelwell comment on the Weather

We were relieved when the courier picked up the parcels for Moldova on Saturday evening: 5 parcels, 46 Kg, £70. Just hope they arrive safely.

Best Wishes

Mike & Kate

Sunday, 8 February 2026

8th February 2026

Dear All,

After swimming “Just Vegetating” this week was “Salads – Roots, Shoots & Leaves” and Kate produced: Braised Celery with cheese and onion sauce, Vegan chocolate and beetroot cakes and All tine favourite salad with carrot, cucumber, radish tomato and greenery.

In the afternoon we collected a pane of glass for the greenhouse from Cottenham. The first company quoted £70 but the second £15.

Mary & Graham visited on Tuesday with some craft beads for Moldova and plates for Esther to transform for Christmas. David and Ian were due to come as well but David called off with a cold. We had a very good lunch at the Community Centre.

I managed to flick off a tooth cap while flossing and a 10 minute session having it stuck back on cost £70.

Kate joined the U3A walk on Thursday at Little Downham where they encountered a fair share of mud. I again did a shorter local walk round the village.

Ex Apple Farmers house

Road Hazard Winnebago

Station Road cottage

McLeod Sculpture in churchyard

Hardinge Statue

Snowdrops

We were not able to hold the Biographies session in the usual Friends Meeting House on Friday so had to decamp to the Methodist church on Castle Hill. We were nicely settled in a warm upstairs room when a handicapped latecomer was unable to master the stairs so we had to move to the main chapel downstairs which was unfortunately unheated, so not a very comfortable session.

The subject was Caroline Norton a glamorous Victorian lady who had an unfortunate marriage with a violent husband who took her three sons away from her. She became friendly with the PM Lord Melbourne. Women at the time had few rights and she campaigned for access to her children amongst other rights.

Caroline Norton

We hosted a Chapel Events committee in the evening hopefully planning monthly events for the year.

I planted a few potatoes in containers in the greenhouse. I am still up and down and had a poor afternoon yesterday so did not attend football.

Best Wishes

Mike & Kate

Sunday, 1 February 2026

1^st February 2026

Dear All,

After swimming “Just Vegetating” this week was “Brassicas” and Kate produced: Madhur Jaffrey’s stir fried cabbage and carrot, Swede with honey & herbs and Cauliflower with poppy seeds and coconut cream.

I had another doctor’s appointment on Tuesday and got ticked off for dropping most of my pills but was allowed to continue with the experiment – so far without much improvement.

The cricket club mowers were collected for winter maintenance this week, somewhat later than usual as the engineer forgot.

I have arranged meetings and agendas for both the church Events committee and the Moldova Matters committee this week. I walked round Over Fen on Wednesday and Thursday this week but would have struggled to go much further. Kate joined the U3A walk at Potton on Thursday and for the first time everyone awarded the walk a 1 (=excellent).

Ouse Fen Bank, Over Fen

Pygmy Goat eating Christmas Tree

Iconic Tree

Stabiliser Bulls

This week I have managed to finish collecting gifts and seed for Moldova and packed four boxes ready for dispatch. Mary & Graham are bringing a final contribution next Tuesday. David and Ian are also coming.

Packing

Packed

Our “Biographies” class did not get off to a good start Friday morning as no warden appeared to unlock the Friends Meeting House so 20 or so elderly folks were left shivering on a damp pavement. Eventually somebody did arrive for other business and let us in – but no official warden arrived.

The subject this week was Eleanor Roosevelt. She was the longest-serving first lady of the United States, during her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms as president from 1933 to 1945. Through her travels, public engagement, and advocacy, she largely redefined the role. Widowed in 1945, she served as a United States delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1945 to 1952, and took a leading role in designing the text and gaining international support for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1948, she was given a standing ovation by the assembly upon their adoption of the declaration. President Harry S. Truman called her the "First Lady of the World" in tribute to her human rights achievements.