7th April 2013

7^th April 2013.

Dear All,

Dare we say that spring has arrived? Yesterday I planted my maincrop potatoes, broad beans, peas, beetroot, silverskin onions, scorzonera, salsify, radish, carrots, parsnips, leeks, aubergines and peppers. Earlier in the week I had sown herbs, flowers cauliflowers and cabbage in the greenhouse so things are starting to move even if not unconditionally warm.

In addition I have spoken at two Garden Clubs this week so growing is in the air. The second slot was at Bourn for the 11^th time! I did my very first talk there in 1979 – they must have very short memories!

It was our turn at Godalming this week. They are waiting for developments on buying and selling houses but hopefully it is still all on track. On Wednesday we went to Petworth House again, this time we were able to get inside the house where there are a phenomenal number of paintings: 19 Turners, as well as Van Dycks, Blakes and a magnificent room lined with woodcarving by Grinlin Gibbons. Amélie was most impressed by the central staircase which was huge, carpeted and gentle thus affording considerable opportunity to demonstrate her climbing skills. The house was very child friendly with a chest in each large room for dressing up, puzzles or playthings.

Petworth House

Daffodils

Gibbon’s Wood carving

  

 Ready for the off 

        Dressing up box

Main Staircase

Kitchens

Our Thursday walk started at Leighton-Bromswold west of Huntingdon. There was a decidedly keen wind about and 11 miles seemed plenty.

I fetched the heavy roller from its winter quarters on Friday so serious preparations are underway – another sign of spring.

Kate has been suffering with a sore throat this week (not of Scandinavian proportions!) but of course ploughs on.

Love

Mike & Kate

31st March 2013

31^st March 2013.

Dear All,

Well for ice and snow forget Norway and Sweden – they can’t hold a candle to Derbyshire in the spring!

We had to abandon the proposed walk round Wirksworth last Sunday as it was cut off and we were advised not to attempt it so we drove straight to Hathersage and Grindleford which were our bases for the week (half the party in each). Kate and I arrived at lunchtime and walked up the hill towards Stannage Edge, the road at the top of the hill was blocked by a 10ft drift so we spent quite some time pushing cars out that were stuck.

Above Grindleford

On Monday we met at the public car park in Hathersage but had to clear snow and ice before we could park. Our leader modified all the proposed walks to keep to lower land but this was the toughest route as we were still experimenting to see how the “land lies”. The answer was that it was lying under quite a lot of snow. The slower walkers gave up after an hour or so but the rest of us battled up towards Stannage Edge. The snow was too deep to reach the top of the ridge but we got within 100 yards and although hard work was absolutely beautiful. We had lunch in a pub at Bamford.

 Below Stannage Edge

On Tuesday we started from our hotel: “The Maynard at Grindleford” and walked up the hill towards Froggartt Edge and White Moor. The going was easier apart from a 200 yard stretch of knee deep drift just before the pub. Some of us walked back and I managed to lose a gripper from my boot so when we got back Kate and I went to search for it. This took until 5 pm so it was a long day.

 White Moor

Near Grindleford

On Wednesday we started from the other hotel in Hathersage and climbed over 1000ft over Abney Moor which was rather bleak. On the route back we encountered Offerton Lane which was completely blocked with snow and I was sent ahead to scout a route which involved this party of elderly hikers walking on top of the stone wall to get through!

 Abney Moor

                                                                  Offerton Lane

Thursday was a gentler affair walking from Heath to Hardwick Hall. Kate and I then called in at Bolehill where there was still a considerable amount of snow.

All in all a memorable and exciting trip.

Wirkworth Moor

Love

Mike & Kate

A few shots of Norway and Sweden 5th to 17th March

Tromso

Vesterman & Lofoten Islands

Abisko

Lulea

Stockholm

3^rd March 2013.

Dear All,

It has been a busy day with a reunion for ex Covenanters. For the benefit of my family those attending were:

Present

Sally Bostock

Sue Bridgeman (Hart)

Stephen Bridgeman

Jane Whitfield (Bridgeman)

Tracy Corbyn (Haskins)

Kiren Darashah

Anita Darashah (Boorman)

Brian Firth

Glynn Firth

Hilary Foster

Kathy Grange (Hebblethwaite)

Anna Grange (Mac?)

Cathy Johnson (Wright)

Rob Kean

Melanie Law

Emma Medlock (Donaldson)

Message

Stephen Adams

Dan Colquhoun

Ian Couper

Keith Couper

Esther Day

Mary-Ann Day

Malcolm Firth

Gillian Ryder (Nunn)

Juliette Sutton(Burgess)

Steven Wilderspin

It was a very good turnout considering another 9 are living or working abroad. Anita, Kiren, Kathy and Rob are in full time Christian work and talked about what they are doing and Malcolm Firth sent a clip from Latvia where he is a missionary.

   

A selection of Attendees

Kate was IC food again and nearly 70 stayed for lunch so much for Sunday being a day of rest. What we need is a holiday, which is fortunate because we travel to London tomorrow night for an early start on Tuesday.

I have chance my arm and planted onion sets, garlic, shallots and early potatoes before going and pricked out 280 tomatoes for Moggerhanger.

Love

Mike & Kate

24th February 2013.

Dear All,

We have managed two walks and a swim this week. We are leading a walk just as we return from Norway so carried out a recce on Wednesday starting at West Row then to Mildenhall, Barton Mills and Worlington. The route takes in a section of the River Lark and there were numerous panoramas of snowdrops in full flower. As the soil thereabouts is sandy it was much drier underfoot than of late.

Snowdrops

                                                   Barton Mills watermill

On Thursday the walk was in Hertfordshire: High Cross, Dane End and more hilly than us flat landers are used to, but an excellent walk with a large herd of deer and several large parks.

High Cross

 Lectures this week included “Receptors” in the brain, a discussion in “Science and Religion” and Charlotte Bronte (part 2) and Lord and Lady Grange in “Biographies” These folk lived in the 1700s during the Jacobite Rebellion. She was an unstable character and he arranged for her to be kidnapped and exiled to St Kilda for 10 years. Nobody knew where she was and a funeral was held in her absence!

We both managed the U3A film this week which was “A Foreign Affair” starring Marlene Dietrich and most remarkable for showing the ruins of post war Berlin.

The Sat Nav saved me some embarrassment this week as I was setting out to deliver a Garden Club talk at Offord and discovered that that the post code was in fact Orwell!

Esther fulfilled another of her challenges this week feeding the penguins at “Birdworld” together with Natasha, Mary-Ann and Amélie.

  

Zoo Quest

She has now gone to join Andy, Mary-Ann and Amélie at Welford – on – Avon for a few days holiday.

It was “Messy Church” again yesterday on the topic of Noah’s Ark and Kate distinguished herself with decorated animal cakes.

 Animal Cakes

A postscript to our burglary: I cut the grass for the first time this week and found the stolen wine stuffed in the hedge where the miscreants had evidently affected a rapid escape. We think it proves that we disturbed them when we returned.

Love

Mike & Kate