25^th January 2026

 

           Dear All,

A month since Christmas already! We started the week with the usual swim/Just Vegetating sandwich, the JV subject this week was “Alliums” and Kate prepared Chestnut & Shallot Tarte Tatin, Creamy baked leeks in cheese and Tomato, Strawberry and red onion salad. So far so good they seem a lively class with plenty of questions. Kate had a busy day as after she attended the U3A Book group this month discussing “The Franchise Affair” by Josephine Tey.

Kate joined the Tuesday U3A walk at Stretham this week, I was still not up to it so did my own stroll round Over Fen spotting deer for the 3^rd week running.

 

 

Fen as in Hereward the Wake’s day

 

 

Off Middle Way

 

 

Beachwood House, Fen End (formerly Althea’s home)

 

In the evening I attended the Local History group who had an entertaining talk about Darwin when he was in Cambridge.

On Wednesday Kate helped me sort and list the Flower seed donated by Fothergill’s for Moldova and we totalled 674 packets to go with the 882 vegetables and 137 herbs. We just hope they arrive safely!

Later it was the local Garden Club which had a record attendance for a talk on “Bulbs, Corms & Tubers” by a man who knew what he was talking about but went on far too long with rather poor photos.

Kate and I went to St Ives on Thursday to buy presents for Moldova. In the afternoon we had yet another visit associated with the solar panels as the Government is changing the level of support and this is a good excuse for companies to try and get involved. I was not in a good mood as I was trying to get a “Proof of Identity” on-line via the Government web site as this is a new requirement for company directors and I am a Director of CEEM/Moldova Matters. I failed to register so had to do it via the Post Office in Cambridge on Friday.

The “Biography” topic on Friday was unusual as he was still alive. Anthony Ray Hilton was wrongly convicted of two murders in Alabama and sentenced to the death penalty. He was on Death Row for 28 years before being retried and found not guilty. The officer who arrested him told him ““You know, I don’t care whether you did or didn’t do it. In fact I believe you didn’t do it. But it doesn’t matter. If you didn’t do it, one of your brothers did. And you’re going to take the rap. I’ll give you five reasons why they are going to convict you. Number one, you’re black, Number two, a white man gonna say you shot him. Number three, you’re gonna have a white district attorney, Number four, you’re gonna have a white judge, Number 5 you’re gonna have an all-white jury.

You know what that spells? Conviction, Conviction, Conviction, Conviction, Conviction.”

 

 

Anthony Ray Hilton

In the afternoon Kate and I went to Berrycroft Stores and Oakington Garden Centre to stock up on compost.

Both Over teams won 2v1 on Saturday.

 

Mike & Kate

 

18^th January 2026

 

           Dear All,

We managed a swim Monday morning then Merv dropped us in Cambridge for the first session of “Just Vegetating” which as ever was on “Carrots & Parsnips” Kate’s recipes were: Carrot Marmalade, Carrot Cake and Parsnips with miso and honey.

We have been supporting Marius the 22 year old Moldovan lad with leukaemia and I tried an application to the Thornton Trust which was set up by the family of Sue Colquhoun who sadly died last year. This week they have promised us a donation of £5,000.

Lawrie came on Wednesday to help me catalogue and sort the seed Fothergill’s donated for Moldova. So far we have listed 882 vegetable packets and 137 herbs without starting on the flowers.

We did not join the Thursday walk for various reasons but I attended the U3A Travel Writers course – this month the book was “Motor Cycle Diaries” by Che Guevara. There was a lot of discussion about whether it was a genuine travel book and how good it was.

 

 

Jenny Miles called in on Thursday with some mugs as a thank-you for entertaining her while Tony was in hospital.

“Biographies” restarted with a presentation on “Casanova”, who was an adventurer and writer born in the Republic of Venice and travelled extensively throughout Europe. He is chiefly remembered for his autobiography, written in French and published posthumously as "The Story of My Life". That work has come to be regarded as a unique source of information on the customs and norms of European social life in the 18th century. The most notorious aspect of Casanova's career are his many complicated sexual affairs with women, stretching from his early adolescence to his old age – but they seem to be fairly normal for his class in that age!

 

 

Casanova

 

In the afternoon Atlas Tree Surgery trimmed up our Magnolia tree.

 

 

Trimmed Magnolia Tree

 

Kate has been gearing up for the Chapel New Year Social meal menu which she is heading up with Jane Gregory:

 

Menu

Starters

Mackerel Pate

Home Made Tomato Soup

 

Main Course

Cypriot Chicken

Peas & Carrots

Sweet Corn

Herby Potatoes

Puddings

Many & various

Coffee or tea & Mints

 

 

Shallot peeling

45 attended and I presented the Review of the Year.

Healthwise I have tried stopping Statins this week to see if that helps as my muscles still feel weak and achy.

 

Mike & Kate

 

11^th January 2026

 

           Dear All,

The snow on Monday morning was a bit of a surprise. Merv phoned to cancel swimming and that seemed to be a good decision. We only had a dusting but there were claims that we had 2 feet of snow!

 

 

Snow Dusting

 

 

2 Feet of Snow!

 

On Monday it was Tony Miles funeral at the chapel with refreshments at the Community Centre afterwards. Tony was raised in Hampshire near Basingstoke and worked for most of his career in the YMCA.

We did a local walk on Tuesday taking in the pond and Mustill’s Lane allotments. The pond was frozen enough for children to skate which caused discussion on the village Facebook page about safety! The temperature in our greenhouse went down to -7C.

 

 

Frozen Pond

 

On Wednesday afternoon we drove to Kentford near Newmarket to pick up seed donated by Fothergill’s for Moldova. On the way back we called into Oakington Garden Centre to buy seed potatoes.

 

 

Seed

On Thursday we travelled to Waterbeach to collect recycled Soil improver from Cespa Thalia. We managed 10 bags full then called in at Emmaus for lunch and purchase a few glasses.

Friday was the U3A Walkers New Year Social which involved a bring and share meal and I did a Review of the Year.

Germination tests are well underway and I have already pricked out carrots, tomatoes, aubergines, beetroot and salad onions.

Healthwise my blood pressure is improving but I am still lacking in the energy department so taking it easy.

Best wishes

 

 

 

 

Mike & Kate

 

28th December 2025

 

           Dear All,

There was a good turnout for the Carol Service last Sunday evening with the “star billing” being the “turn up and sing” men’s choir.

 

 

Ben arrived at lunchtime – on the train for a change!.

Monday and Tuesday were Brussels sprout collection and distribution days. David Cook accompanied me to Wilden in Bedfordshire and we assembled 50 stalks and a net which were all dispensed by Tuesday lunchtime.

We left for Hove by 9am on Wednesday and the roads were thankfully fairly quiet. After lunch we inspected Mary-Ann’s new allotment and a workforce of 6 of us was able to make some impact on clearing it as it had been left for a while.

Kate and I attended Holland Road Baptist church on Christmas morning together with a large congregation of more than 200. After we walked to Hove seafront which was packed with strollers with a few hardy souls in the sea. We met Mary-Ann, Amelie and Albert who had been encouraging friends in the sea.

Andy cooked a fantastic Christmas lunch which was greatly appreciated.

 

 

Hove Seafront

 

 

 

Brighton Old Pier

 

 

Christmas lunch

 

 

Present Time

 

Esther and Emma had acquired a new game called “Outsmarted” a bit like Trivial Pursuits but played on the screen with up to date questions and this proved very popular.

On Boxing Day it was back to the allotment where we again made an impression.

 

 

 

 

We called in at a local Garden Centre on Saturday morning and purchased a few fruit bushes to start the planting cycle.

Amelie and Albert were good company and spent quite a lot of time constructing kits between games and screen gazing.

 

 

Albert with Tank

 

 

Amelie with All Day Pyjamas!

 

Kate and I left at 2pm Saturday and got home safely despite a 60 delay at the Dartford Tunnel. So an enjoyable few days which as ever seemed to pass too quickly.

 

 

Best wishes

 

 

Mike & Kate

 

4^th January 2026

 

           Dear All,

A fairly quiet week to start the New Year. On Monday I assembled my new Christmas toy – a Germination tent which was rather different from what I was expecting but it is looking promising and I have already got seeds on test.

 

 

Germination Tent

 

We stocked up at Tesco’s on Tuesday and had a walk round Over Fen. Kate joined the U3A walk on Thursday but I walked locally. In fact we have walked locally nearly every day this week, the best being round Swavesey Fen on Saturday in very cold and bracing conditions.

 

 

Swavesey Pond

 

 

Middle Fen Drove

 

Navigation Drain

 

 

Navigation Drain

 

 

River Ouse

 

 

Hardy Canoeists

 

I have been revising “Just Vegetating“talks as well as a few other talks which are lining up.

In between, I have had 3 doctor’s appointments in a month and can tell you lots of things I haven’t got but they are still baffled as to what is ailing me. I have high blood pressure, low energy, tingly feet and a few other aches and pains.

Best wishes

 

 

 

 

Mike & Kate