letter 7th December 08

7th December 2008.

Dear All,

We arrived back from Cuba at 4.30 pm yesterday having travelled through the night. The freezing temperatures were the first shock having got used to 25 to 30°C for a couple of weeks and we were straight out to the Over Day Care Centre helpers Christmas meal (our help was doing a couple of quizzes) – the imminence of Christmas was the second shock.
Everything about Cuba was very interesting: the politics, history, economy, architecture, scenery, agriculture, birds, plants, music, environmental issues etc. and we were fortunate to see it in the way we did in a small study group. We have only been on a group tour once before (to India) and you wonder beforehand what the group dynamics will be like. In fact, there were some fascinating characters which added to the holiday: age range from 20 to 75, a few members of the communist party and most very pro Cuba and interested in environmental issues.

The Malecon

The Capitole, Havana

We started with four days in Havana then travelled south to Trinidad (the town not the island) for four days and returned via Santa Clara (one day) to Havana for another four days.
Havana has some tremendous buildings from the Spanish occupation but most are crumbling and in need of attention. The economy is creaking following the break up of the Soviet block but after severe hardships in the 90s they are gradually recovering.
Older folk who remember what it was like before the revolution are still behind the government but younger ones are becoming more restless. Castro seems to have cunningly deified Che to shift the spotlight and most places have wall to wall Guevara posters, statues, slogans and souvenirs.
People had told us that you would not travel to Cuba for the food and that is probably true, but it was not too bad: rice and black beans are the staples usually with pork, sometimes chicken or fish. Food variety was a bit limited partly due to the recent hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Music is endemic and it was not possible to have a meal without live musical accompaniment. The biggest surprise for me was the extent of waste land most of which had formerly grown sugar cane. I expected with food in short supply they would cultivate every inch but because fuel and fertilizers are scarce this is not the case.

An Organoponica

Trinidad Beach

Our itinery included: walking tours of old Havana, Trinidad and Santa Clara
A medicinal herb production site
Two large “organoponicas” - urban vegetable production enterprises
A meeting of the CDR Committee for the Defence of the Revolution
Two vegetable markets
A community food preservation project
An old sugar mill
A mountain jungle walk
One afternoon on the beach!
A mountain eco university site
Two swims in mountain pools
The Che Guevara mausoleum
A scale model of Havana used for city planning
Havana Botanical gardens – 600 ha
A solar energy project
A highland eco research centre
A river regeneration site
The National Institute of Agricultural Science
In addition we visited the museum of the Revolution, the Cuban art museum, the Trinidad Romantic museum, a Cuban cinema, the Revolution Park, the Malecon (seafront), American Embassy, John Lennon statue and a few other things which I won’t bore you with (but could if you insist!) All in all a busy schedule but very informative.
I have pruned the photos from 700 to 500! and aim eventually post them on Flickr.



Guess who?

Love

Mike & Kate

16th November 2008

16 th November 2008.

Dear All,

A new experience this week, after my “Geodydssey” class I was asked to do a talk at the Senior Citizens club at the Community Centre in Chesterton. I was not sure what to expect but most were on the ball and asked intelligent questions. It must have gone OK as I already have another booking for another similar club in Cambridge.
Monday night was Over Cricket Club AGM, the club is going through a transition having lost several senior players mostly by moving away but there are some excellent youngsters and the club has been running 4 colts teams. We are unique in the whole county by having a lady chairman; she does an excellent job so no complaints.
I was at Wisley again on Wednesday and for once both journeys were trouble free. We were judging autumn cauliflowers and checking leeks but the main purpose was to hear about some rearrangements at the RHS. It used to be the only organisation that I attended that never worried about money but that is changing at present. As we were early we had quite a good look round before the meeting. The new glasshouse is settling down quite nicely and autumn colours were still hanging on.

Wisley trees Wisley rockery


Nerines and Christmas Cactus

Our Thursday ramble started at Longstowe and progressed via Kingston and Caldecote to Bourne (of clinic fame) returning to Longstowe, 9.7 miles according to those with hand held sat navs!
On Friday I wrote next month’s Gardening Column, patched the cricket wicket, cleaned and went to Tescos – who says life isn’t full!
Saturday I dug some more garden, planted some more broad beans, watched Over Reserves and went to a party for my friend who recently biked across the States.
We have been out for lunch today and have spoken to Ben who has just had a week in Egypt including climbing Mt Sinai.
No letter for the next two weeks as we hope to be in Cuba from next Saturday.

Love

Mike & Kate

9th November 2008

9th November 2008.

Dear All,

The Monday “Geodyssey” class was on the “Bagel Theory” for the development of the solar system – I’ll explain it when I understand it! It is all to do with another planet smashing through our system when it was forming and leaving a hole like a bagel but not in the centre so it changed the centre of gravity. On an easier to understand level the tutor lent me two CDs of Hubble telescope photos and these are very spectacular. I have copied them should anyone want to see them.

Whirlpool Galaxy & Crab Nebula

I have been to work two days this week as it was our big open day for onions where we have samples of all the current years’ trials on show – something like 150 different varieties. I had to miss the ramble this week because the open day but have had some exercise digging. I have now finished all the heavy land and now have the “boys” land to do. I planted out broad beans this week so hope the resident squirrel and mouse population are not too hungry!
I have been asked to help with the revision of the “Oxford Book of Food Plants” so spent much of Friday checking scripts. It was first published in 1969 with hand painted illustrations which look a little dated.
I watched Histon knock Swindon out of the FA Cup yesterday with Brian Tyrell. They played well but have a rather direct “kick and chase” style of play – not what Ipswich purists are used to!
Kate has been suffering with cystitis this weekend and is currently in bed recovering.
We received our itineries for the Cuba “Environmental study tour” this week; we should leave on the 22nd. It looks interesting but with one or two political items.


NIAB Onion Display

Love

Mike & Kate

2nd November 2008

2nd November 2008.

Dear All,

Our “Geodyssey” lecture this week was held in the Geology Dept of Cambridge University and was on “Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Continental Drift” with a guest lecturer Dr Alan Smith. It was very interesting and after we had time in the Sedgwick Museum which specialises in fossils and rocks. As it was half term it was heaving with kids as they put on special events in the holidays.



Sedgwick fossils
Passing the Guildhall J noticed there was a photographic exhibition by the Cambridge Photographic Society so I took that in as well and that was excellent (and free!).
I moved some delicate subjects into the greenhouse on Monday which was just as well as we have had a series of “white over” going down to -6C.
On Tuesday I went to London on the train for the Annual Mission Meeting in the friends Meeting Place at Euston. There were about 1700 there and various new and established missionaries reported either on what they hoped to or had achieved. Sarah Clay from Colchester had been in Peru for 2 years and seemed to have been doing very similar work to the Garlic’s in Ecuador who we helped with Dave and Jen last year. At lunchtime three of us went to the British Museum so it has been an “exhibition overload” week.



British museum exhibits
On the way back the train was delayed at Hitchin and someone said “it’s snowing” we all said “pull the other one” but it was and had settled over an inch.
I went to work on Wednesday getting onions and data sorted for a steering group and open day next week.
My ankle keeps swelling up on and off and it was not too good Thursday but I decided to try and walk it off on the ramble. This one started at Waresley and skirted Waresley, Gransden and Hayley woods and Great and Little Gransden villages. 9 miles and I made it OK without too much pain but the ankle is still swollen.



Little Gransden
On Saturday the church had an “Awayday” at Perry on the banks of Graffham Water. This was lead by those eminent theologians Graham and Mary Brown together with John Law! It went very well and the attendees seemed very pleased with it. M & G came back to Over for dinner and insisted on seeing our holiday photos! John has just returned from China where he has been judging their national photographic competition. He has also been made a “Grandmaster” for winning a UK competition. He took 9000 digital photos in China before his camera gave up with metal fatigue – but luckily he had a spare film camera!
We had a baptism at chapel this morning – Toni Morley followed by a bring and share lunch co-ordinated by Kate. It all seemed to go very well,

Love

Mike & Kate

26th October 2008

26th October 2008.

Dear All,

Historic week as I used my bus pass for the first time; how does it feel to have a younger brother with a bus pass? As it happened I could hardly walk with gout so took the “Park & Ride” into Cambridge for my “Geodyssey” class. This week it was the moon and meteorites – do you know that the largest meteorite to hit earth was over 50 tons, 3m x 3m x 1m flattened cube of solid iron and landed in Namibia?
On Monday evening I did another Garden Club this time at West Wickham inland from Horseheath. It was unusual in that it was in the middle of nowhere and there were no street lights so the venue took a bit of finding, in addition there were about 30 there but only 2 men.
On Wednesday I was at Wisley planning RHS vegetable trials for next year. It was a beautiful day with spectacular autumn colours on view which made up for the M25 which was constipated in both directions (can you be constipated in both directions?)


Quercus rubra at Wisley


My ankle was fit enough for the Thursday ramble; this one started in Furneux Pelham and was 9 miles via Hare Street and back again. There was a record turn out of 35 and we managed to lose one chap who turned up after everyone else had finished lunch.
On Friday I was just brushing my teeth at 9.30 am prior to a trip to the dentist when I had a phone call from NIAB. The next lorry for Moldova had arrived 24 hours early with 2 Rumanian, non English speaking drivers – would I go and sort it out! It was sorted as they needed to sleep for a statutory period before the return trip. Loading was not too bad on Saturday but we had to be very careful not to exceed the Shipping List by weight or articles, as we did last time under threat of fines or blacklisting. This load is mainly school items – desks, chairs, projectors, tables plus clothes.
Over beat Histon A 3 v 2 in the pm but were a tad fortunate.
Kate has been working very hard as usual having to go in on Saturday and Sunday to attend to her cells. We have been entertaining this lunchtime: Margery Johnson, David and Rebecca Smith plus children.


Wisley apple display

Love

Mike & Kate

19th October 2008.

Dear All,

This week I started my U3A courses designed to stretch mind and body! Monday was “Geoddysey” which covers how the solar system developed and the characteristics of the stars and planets. It was a bit high powered and made my brain hurt in places, but nonetheless very interesting, especially as it was liberally illustrated by pictures from the Hubble space telescope.
Thursday I joined the ramblers at Sutton near Biggleswade for an 8.25 mile walk from Sutton via Biggleswade, Sandy and Potton. The best part of the walk was through the RSPB headquarters at Sandy Warren, where numerous trees are rapidly adopting autumn colours. The group were very friendly but again high powered as in: “I lectured in Physiology” or “I research in stem cells” or “My daughter-in-law writes for the Guardian (Jess Cartner-Morley)” but very friendly. The distance was no problem but the pace was reminiscent of Graham Brown on a bad day so no slouching!


Sutton

I did another Garden Club talk this week at Coton: “Salads AYR” they were very friendly but it never ceases to amaze me how different various clubs are. Some are so formal you would think it was a City board meeting (minutes, apologies, outings, competitions), others so laid back that they could be in the Caribbean (this is Mr Day – he will introduce himself!)
My friend John Lane who was biking across USA finished Friday in 48 days – he had allowed 64 so obviously made excellent progress. He kept a daily blog which makes entertaining reading. His average was 70 miles per day and the whole journey was 2,820 miles. You can check it out on: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/cyclelane
Getting stuck into the winter digging and pruning in the garden and have planted winter lettuce, more onion sets and sown broad beans. We had home grown potatoes, leeks, sprouts, parsnips, squash, blackberries and raspberries today for lunch. The muntjac will be added as soon as I get a good recipe as he stripped a whole row of lettuce this week!


Onion Squash

Watched Over lose away at Hardwick yesterday but it was a pleasant afternoon – and football has never been just about wining – ask Ipswich, Southampton, Derby, Spurs, Colchester, Norwich (need I go on?)

Love

Mike & Kate

Letter 12th October 2008

12th October 2008.

Dear All,

We enjoyed a good week in Cornwall and as reported in the postcards the weather was much better than forecast. We stayed in a very smart house at Gorran Haven for which Gordon managed to get a 25% late booking discount. It had a magnificent view of the harbour of which it would take some time to tire.

View from House


Every route into Gorran Haven involves 5 or 6 miles of narrow lanes and often through Mevagissey which was a constant bottleneck – but all part of the holiday. We arrived in rain having reached Dartmoor in record time then taken “the pretty way”. On Sunday we went to Gorran Haven Baptist Church for their harvest thanksgiving (2 squash and 5 packets of cheese!). We met a couple from Suffolk whose niece comes to our church – small world, at least amongst closet Baptists!
Sunday pm was sunny and bright so we did a 6 mile coast walk towards Mevagissey with excellent views. Bob and Carol’s windscreen wipers broke on the way down so Monday we sought out the nearest Vauxhall agency which proved to be in Truro. As it was a dull day we went to Falmouth taking in Pendennis Castle and the Maritime Museum via Mylor. The museum was good value with collections of boats and all things nautical through the ages and an under sea level basement with glass panels so that you could view seas life like a real time aquarium.
Tuesday was the Eden Project and I was mightily impressed, so many people had said “you will enjoy Heligan more than Eden” that I did not have high expectations. In fact I thought it was excellent with so many hidden twists and extras.



You might have seen this before!


Wednesday was wall to wall sunshine and we headed to St Ives as some of the group wanted to visit the Tate Modern. Kate and I explored the town and it was looking its very best as befits a town that attracts artists because of the quality of the light. The reports on the Tate were not very complimentary but it did open the discussion on art that it was meant to provoke. On the way back we explored the Roseland Peninsula as this is where Kate’s paternal grandfather was born. We found the house, which is at Froe and very grand on the bend of a river. It was being renovated and the builders let us walk round and photograph from all angles.
Thursday we went to Heligan and found the lost gardens. It is splendid and on a Thursday in October far from crowded. It was so good to see a decent vegetable garden at a posh garden! We only spent the morning there as Bob and carol had visited recently and did not accompany us. In the afternoon we did another coastal walk near Veryan to Nare Head – again in sunshine.
Friday was “chill out” morning then to explore Mevagissey and Fowey followed by a meal at the local pub called the “Llawnroc Inn” (think about it)
We left about 9 am Saturday and made a couple of stops. The first was at St Neot near Liskeard on the edge of Bodmin Moor. A new lawn game is sweeping the nation called “Smite”, it is a form of skittles which are struck with a log and then they are stood where they fall. You can score either by counting the number of skittles felled or the score on a single one. I am told it is better after a drink or two. Anyway it is distributed from a farm at St Neot and we called in to this idyllic spot to collect a few that had been ordered from work. We also called in on Jonny Whitfield who grew up opposite in Over and now lives near Sidmouth. We arrived home at 6ish in time for the second half of the England match.


St Ives at it’s best

Love


Mike & Kate