17th November 2013

17th November 2013.

Dear All,

I have been to five talks this week – and unfortunately I was giving four of them!

On Tuesday week 6 of “Just Vegetating” was on “Legumes”, mainly Peas and Beans so there was a good selection of bean salads to sample as well as Kate’s chickpea rissoles.

  

Beans

On Thursday I had to miss the usual walk to give a presentation to the “NIAB Trust” an august body of eminent growers and retired bankers who steer NIAB’s aims and ambitions. They recently extended the funding that we receive for Moldova and I had to report on progress and discuss other possibilities of raising money. It seemed to go alright and they asked the right questions.

In the evening, I was at Chesterton Garden Club then on Friday it was my turn to introduce a Biography. I had chosen “C. B. Fry” who played for England at both cricket and football, played in an FA Cup Final, held the world long jump record, also excelled at rugby, shooting, diving, skiing, skulling, boxing, tennis, riding and golf. He worked at the League of Nations, was offered the kingship of Albania, wrote for numerous magazines and was author of several books; he was a broadcaster, stood for Parliament three times and ran a naval cadet training school. Apart from that I don’t know how he filled his time! His party trick was to leap backwards from a stationary position onto a mantelpiece – and he could still perform this aged 70. So not much to go at for my talk!

  

C B Fry

The fifth talk was a U3A lecture on “Alzheimer’s” by Dr Eric Karran who is researcher in charge of the main Alzheimer’s charity. He was very clear in explaining diagnostics (gappy folds in your brain), plaques (accumulation of waste products in your brain) and tangles (neurons dying), symptoms – loss of memory, reasoning powers, language, visual perception, executive function, comportment, interpersonal behaviour and personality. The onset can be 15 years before symptoms become apparent. Medicines like Aricept have a modest short term effect and it is claimed to cost $604 bn per year or 1% of GNP. Prevention? “what is good for your heart is good for your brain” so diet, exercise, no smoking etc. HOW ARE YOU FEELING?!

We have also enjoyed a few meals out this week. I went to the NIAB “Wrinklies” lunch on Tuesday then we were invited to one of our walking, Just Vegetating colleague’s birthday meal in the evening. Kate lunched with the walkers on Thursday and we had a Deacons & Wives meal at Kate & Gordon’s on Friday. Last night we met up with Sue & Duncan Colquhoun and Hilary Allen for a meal and catch up at The Chequers in Cottenham.

Mary-Ann started her new job this week, early days but it is walkable in 30 mins.

Pictures just in from Moldova where work has restarted on the extension to the pastor’s house at Leova to cope with a severely handicapped daughter.

Love

Mike & Kate

3^rd November 2013.

Dear All,

It was good to see you all last Sunday, I hope you all enjoyed the occasion and have returned your “Vintage” clothes to the back of your wardrobe? It was nice to see Esther with her work colleagues, choir and other friends. One of her work team told me what a good manager she is, but I won’t repeat that in case it swells her head (touch of my father?)

  

I hope you all survived the gales without undue damage, we escaped very lightly here.

Gardeners amongst you will know that this is digging time so no need to explain how I have filled my leisure hours this week. This week’s tip is that it is a good time to sow “Cut & Come Again” salads for winter use. I have sown Rocket, Corn Salad, Lettuce, Mizuna and Mustards.

In “Just Vegetating” this week we covered “Salads – Roots, Shoots & Leaves”. It seems to be going OK but the sun has the annoying habit of coming out every Tuesday am to compete with the Powerpoint.

The U3A film was “We have a Pope” and another example of one that you might not choose to watch, but was in fact very good. The opening scenes included a gathering of cardinals assembled to choose a new Pope all praying “Please don’t choose me Lord”, “Please let it be somebody else” etc. and when they eventually chose an inoffensive old codger he panicked and ran away. It was very amusing – but tastefully done.

My car sailed through it’s MOT this week – which is unusual as the local garage usually finds something to expand the bill!

Our Thursday walk started at Ardeley, near Stevenage and took in Wood End and Cottered; 10.25 miles and a bit sticky underfoot. The pub was quite small but has an arrangement with the cafe at the Open Farm opposite, so we were split up for lunch. This did not go well so Philip was forced to take command – this did not, however,  result in speedier service!

The “Biography” topic this week was “Charles Dickens”. It was presented by a rather nervous lady who spoke at a rapid rate of knots and even then did not half finish all she had prepared, so there will be another session next term.

I watched a thriller yesterday as Over travelled to West Wratting and triumphed 4 – 5. Defences were not on top.

Mary-Ann applied for a job at a branch of London University near Brighton together with 150 others and has been offered it – so well done to her.

Love

Mike & Kate

21st October 2013.

Dear All,

A quick dash to Scotland this week to visit Tom Webster at Barcaldine, north of Oban. We decided while driving back from Snowdon that another long drive would be hard to endure, so we flew up to Glasgow from Luton and hired a car. The drive to Luton was made interesting by patchy fog which delayed the plane for an hour.

Tom is incredible in that besides having one leg he has mild leukaemia and an enlarged prostate gland to go with his 90 years. He got half way up “the Cobbler” (2,900 ft) for his birthday and walks his “wee dog Gracie” 3 times a day.

It is a 90 mile journey from the airport to Barcaldine via Loch Lomond and as we had an early flight we had time to walk round Port Appin on the day we arrived before travelling to Oban to sample what Rick Stein rated “the best Fish and Chips he had tried” – and it probably was.

On Thursday we drove up Glencoe, Glen Etive and Glen Orchy. The weather was dry with mist hiding the tops of the mountains but the autumn colours made some photogenic scenes.

 Glencoe

Un daunted

                                                  Gracie

  

Glen Orchy

Friday we walked to Tralee beach and met up with Gloria, an artist and friend of Tom’s who invited us back for tea and cake. Later we visited the old Bonawe charcoal fuelled iron smelting site at Taynuilt then explored the shore next to Tom’s house at Barcaldine.

On Saturday we had another beach walk before visiting the local Sea Life centre which had a splendid aquarium of mainly salt water fish together with a few seals and otters. In the afternoon we explored Oban including climbing up to McCaig’s Tower for panoramic views.

 Bay at Barcaldine

                                                        Bonawe Iron works

 McCaig’s Tower

                                                                Oban

We left Glasgow at 1.50pm and were home by 5.30pm arriving at Luton in torrential rain as we hadn’t needed waterproofs all week in Scotland (it rained every night!) but got soaked waiting for the bus at Luton.

Our second session of “Just Vegetating” was spoilt by the beamer playing up and producing purple tinted pictures which have now been diagnosed as being due to a fault in the wire between laptop and beamer.

Planted onions, garlic, shallots and spring cabbage today as well as picking raspberries, runner beans, sweet corn, squash and leeks.

Kate’s operation has been postponed due to her being tested positive for MRSA. This is very frustrating as she has to have several more tests and the operation has been put back by at least 6 weeks.

Love

Mike & Kate

13th October 2013

13th October 2013.

Dear All,

Busy sort of week, Monday: swimming, replacing cement round upstairs windows, digging, deacons meeting.

Tuesday: the first session of “Just Vegetating” the U3A class we are teaching. It seemed to go quite well once we had come to terms with the facilities in Castle Hill Methodist church. The first session was on “Carrots & Parsnips”. I spoke on the history, importance, breeding aims, nutrient content, commercial growing and garden growing. Kate talked about recipes having brought some samples and encouraged exchange of favourites from the class.

Kate had an appointment at Addenbrookes in the afternoon re her foot. It was the usual frustrating experience involving copious waiting about but she has emerged with a date for an operation in November.

On Wednesday I went to the Lincolnshire Brassica Open Days together with David and Lawrie from our walking group. We managed to visit all five companies in the Kirton, Spalding area. One of them, Sakata, is celebrating 100 years and the first 100 visitors were given a large Spanish melon and a gift pack of useful (?) gadgets.

The demonstrations were very good considering the dry weather in Lincolnshire this summer and the severe pest pressure.

 Elsoms

  

Sakata

  

Nickerson

  

Rijk Zwaan

The Thursday walk started at Widdington,south of Saffron Walden and took in Henham and Hamperton. It was over 10 miles and the windiest walk we have experienced this year, but dry underfoot so a reasonable experience.

Friday was cricket pitch winter maintenance day. We managed to assemble a gang of 4 this year so it was not such hard work as last year when there was only two of us. We have to scarify, fertilize, seed and apply 50 bags of top soil. We just about managed it before the rain began.

On Saturday I returned the motor roller to it’s winter quarters at Cook’s Farm in the fens, then watched the first half of the top of the table clash between Over and Lakenheath. Over were winning 3v1 when I left but I gather it ended 3v3. I had to leave to attend Esther’s 40^th celebration meal near Margaretting. Ben, Mary-Ann, Andy and Amélie were all present so it was an enjoyable evening.

Love

Mike & Kate

6th October 2013.

Dear All,

“If we had survived what tales we would have told of human courage and endurance” – well we did survive our assault on the summit of Snowdon on Tuesday. The ascent was rather grim and foggy but fortunately it cleared for the descent which made a world of difference. I am sure they have added a few hundred feet to the height since we last climbed it about 25 years ago! Maybe flat land East Anglian walking is not ideal preparation but Esther had no problems – it was a job to keep up with her! She has now knocked off about 30 of her 40 pre 40^th birthday challenges.

We walked up the Pyg Track in 3 hours and down the Miners Track in 2.5 hours and the threatened rain did not materialise.

Setting Out  

                                                                 Visibility Moderate

No we Didn’t!  

                                                              Near the Summit  

                                                 

 The Summit (I think!)  

  Made it  

 New Building at Summit  

                                                                  

                                                 So that’s what it looks like!

Llyn Llydaw

                                                                 Looking back

           

We stayed at Borth y Gest beyond Porthmadog, overlooking a fine sandy bay.

 Borth y Gest

The house would have slept 8 so we rattled a bit. On Wednesday we explored Criccieth, Pwllheli, Caernarvon and Harlech and Thursday morning walked into Porthmadog via the coast path before Kate and I returned as I had a Garden Club appointment at Ashwell that evening.

On the way down on Monday we broke the journey at Wroxeter, a restored Roman site and Attingham Park near Shrewsbury which had a fantastic walled garden.

 Wroxeter    

                                                               Attingham Walled Garden

Friday I took delivery of a new backup mower for the cricket square so tried it out by giving the whole pitch a shave as well as the back lawn. The main cricket mower has been nothing but trouble all year so this is a welcome addition.

Keen gardeners will not need me to tell you that runner beans are still cropping well and it is time to start winter digging.

Love

Mike & Kate