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