12th April 2026

 

           Dear All,

We have just returned from an excellent week with family and friends in Wrabness celebrating my four score years. The house lived up to expectations with plenty of space and enough paintings and artefacts to fill a medium sized gallery. Ben of course biked down from Cambridge having first roared up from London in headwind and suffering a puncture. He is currently running every day, I think his total is about 109 consecutive days.

Kate, Mary-Ann and I did a circular walk the first afternoon taking in Grayson Perry’s House for Essex and Wrabness shore.

 

 

Domine Farm Barn

 

 

 

A  House for Essex

 

 

Our First Meal

 

Kate and Gordon joined us for the second day, after showing them the house we travelled to Harwich to explore the Marine Heritage trail which included the Treadwheel Crane and a guided tour of on old Lightvessel.

 

 

The Human Treadwheel

 

Lightvessel LV18

 

Wednesday was scheduled as a sibling and cousin’s day so Mary and Graham, David, Stephen and Margaret assembled together with Jackie and Helen and Helen’s offspring Ewan and Robbie, who we had not seen for many moons. After inspecting a local wildlife Reserve we headed for a lunch at Weatherspoon’s in Dovercourt. In the afternoon the elderly part of the crowd took a walk through the Stour Woods to the River Stour. The woods were carpeted with Wood Anemones.

 

 

Wednesday’s Cast

 

254 years of Wisdom!

 

Thursday was fossil hunting day searching for sharks teeth on Walton beach. This was followed by chips on the beach and a walk to the Naze which entailed a hairy scramble up the breakwater as the tide was coming in and cut off the steps.

In the evening we were privileged to join the Glebe Farm “Skinny” tournament with 11 contestants. Ben won the trophy and Gavin the “Aunty Connie” award for the biggest loser!

 

 

Shark’s Teeth

 

 

Subsidence in Walton Cilffs

 

 

Winner and Loser

 

On Friday we were joined by Geoff and Janet Pake, Geoff came to Moldova with Kate and I this time and as a retired farmer found it easy to get on well with David. I showed them Stour Woods and Grayson’s house in the morning then David and Gavin gave them a farm tour in the afternoon. Faith set up archery for the others after Albert had demonstrated his skill in a combine cab and behind a tractor wheel!

 

 

 

Trainee Combine Driver

 

 

Ace Archers

Ben had of course ran to Beaumont via Harwich

So an excellent week. Kate planned the food as expertly as ever, Esther is incredible in planning activities for everyone and everyone seemed to enjoy the week – thank you all – I now definitely feel 80!.

Best Wishes

 

Mike & Kate