29th June 2025

 

           Dear All,

 

Pests continue to be a challenge in the garden but the electric fence has been a success so far protecting a decent crop of strawberries. This week we have moved it to the allotment to guard the Sweet Corn.  We walked on Tuesday this week as it was a local walk starting at Fen Drayton and circling round the lakes taking in Swavesey. Fortunately it was about 15C cooler than the previous week.

 

 

Dutch style house in Fen Drayton

 

 

Crossing Far Fen

 

Boat on River Ouse

 

 

 

River Ouse

 

 

Holywell

On Wednesday I had a seasonal shearing followed by church groups at the Kitson’s where mother Etty celebrated her 104^th birthday this week.

On Thursday I tackled the 8 foot hedge planted by next door. It is rather too tall and affects the garden beside it.

On Friday John and I prepared the cricket pitch which is understandably dry but seemed to play well on Saturday as the opposition hit 349 runs which Stag Party weakened Over could only reply with 150.

I decided to lift my early potatoes, Lady Christl, as the tops had died off. The skin quality was excellent. In the evening I had arranged a tour of the RSPB reserve in Over Fen. RSPB wanted to charge participants £12.50 a head but we managed to get three volunteers to do it for nothing but took a voluntary collection. It was a good evening with 17 turning up and we managed to see a fox, a Bittern, a Great Egret and a Crane.

 

 

Participants

 

Crane

Saturday there was a Men’s Breakfast at the chapel with an excellent speaker Dr Ed King from the British Antarctic Survey. I had to dash away to Judge the Fruit & Vegetables at Stapleford Show but the M11 was constipated so I arrive nearly an hour late, Fortunately the judging did not take long even though the number of entries and the standard was higher than usual.

 

Stapleford Exhibits

 

Ben has sent a few pictures from Sao Tome Principe and seems to be enjoying himself. He is due to run a Maraton today.

 

 

Principe

Amelie is undertaking a Duke of Edinburgh hike and camping challenge this weekend – so we wish her well! Mary-Ann completed a course on Women & Empowerment and received her award in London.

 

 

Amelie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best wishes

Mike & Kate