9th December 2018

Dear All,

“Just Vegetating” this week was “Minor Crops b” – artichokes, cardoons, sweet corn etc. Kate prepared: Sweet Potato gratin in coconut and chilli, Fried Sweet Corn with ginger and chilli, Squash, sage and chestnut roll, Salsify and Oca. One more week to go. I actually managed to get the reglazing of the largest greenhouse completed on Monday after another trip to the Business Park. Evidently the cutter had difficulty with centimetres and millimetres as he read 106cm as 100.6cm – easily done I guess but not great if it is your job!

Kate and I did some Christmas shopping on Tuesday before she attended her course at the Scott Polar Museum.

Wednesday was an indoor day as it was mizzling all day here so I put in time on my next Biography subject “John Stevens Henslow” who started Cambridge Botanic Gardens on the present site and is most famous for mentoring Darwin.

We were at Steeple Bumpstead on Thursday for our walk. It was very sticky and slippery underfoot as most of the time we were on clay and there was a good ration of cultivated fields.

Steeple Bumpstead Moot Hall and the Fox & Hounds

Wiggens Green

A Serious Drill

Near Helions Bumpstead

“Dietrich Bonhoeffer” was the subject of this week’s “Biographies”. I expect most of you will know he was a German theologian who opposed Hitler and after initially escaping abroad decided to return to Germany and was eventually imprisoned and hung two weeks before the liberation.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

In the evening we attended the Over Pantomime this year it was “Beauty & the Beast”. It was again very good with the right mixture of fine performances and forgotten lines and gaffes!

Over beat Whittlesford 5 v 2 yesterday having gone 2 v 0 down in the first 15 minutes. It was again a full on clash with a player from each side leaving the pitch in some pain. In the evening we were invited to Matthew and Rachel Burrell’s for a meal – we had looked after their daughter Grace when their second Arthur arrived and Rachel had a serious operation. We were asked to be Godparents for Arthur.

Kate has been suffering with a bad back this week, probably due to furniture shifting last Saturday.

Love

Mike & Kate

2^nd December 2018

Dear All,

Yesterday was what you could call a full day with a Men’s Breakfast, helping friends move house, a little glazing, football, Over Christmas Market and grand switching on of the Christmas lights followed by a busy night on the streets.

The speaker at the breakfast, Ed King from Swavesey, has worked for the British Antarctic Survey for forty years, mainly as a Geophysicist measuring the thickness of the ice at the South Pole area. He has no doubts about climate change and has some amazing photos of life down under.

Stan and Maya, our Bulgarian friends, have been renting a house in Fen End and to their surprise it has been sold over their heads. They have managed to find another house in Kirby Close near the War Memorial and were enacting a DIY removal yesterday. I think I drove my car full about eight times before a white van appeared with a Bulgarian mate to shift the larger stuff. They have the heaviest suite I have ever encountered! Kate was helping unpack and started cleaning the old house which she claims probably hadn’t been cleaned while they lived there!

I decided to replace the damaged panes in the glasshouse as it had not been patched for a year or two – 5 panes in all 4 rectangles and a trapezoid. I had three quotes: £120, £87 and £60 the lowest from a recent set up on Over Industrial Site. When I collected them on Friday only one was the right size so I had to take them back and they were recut, Yesterday when I tried to fit them three were still too short!

I watched Over 4 v 1 Soham in the afternoon then on to The Green for a Christmas market and the switching on of the Christmas lights. Folk had complained that the old lights were a bit weedy so they raised cash for replacements so now we have coloured lights all-round the Green and serious flashy ones on the pavilion.

Over Lights

Street Pastors was one of those nights you remember, firstly it was wet before midnight but still plenty of people around as it was payday weekend and office party season. We had three difficult cases: we were called to Ballare to a lad called Chris who was sitting outside “owl eyed” staring like a zombie. We couldn’t get much sense out of him but the security guys found three mates inside who confirmed he was on Ketamine and Ecstasy, as they were but he “often got like that!” They carted him off but they had to get to Bishops Stortford. Next we found a large chap outside Lola Lo head down and uncommunicative, it turned out he was Dutch and knew little English. We gave him water and said we would return later. When we did he hadn’t moved and we tried to get him to the Nightlite café but he was too heavy and his knapsack weighed a ton. Meanwhile we found a girl crumpled on the steps closer to Lola Lo with her head between her knees also uncommunicative, drugged up and shivering. The security people at this club were spectacularly unhelpful and didn’t know whether she had friends in side or anything else. As they were due to close in 20 minutes we wrapped her in a blanket and hoped friends would come out and recognise her – but this did not happen. What to do? She had a phone with a flat battery but we found her driving licence with her address on it. We decided to frog march her back to Nightlite so we could pack up our base then take her home to Fen Drayton hoping her address was current. This we did and found the house, she had a front door key but it would not work as there was a key already in the lock indoors. Finally we had to bang on the door at 4.45am to try and rouse the occupants. Fortunately this worked and her sister took delivery of her!

On Monday we managed a swim before “Just Vegetating” which this week was “Minor Crops a” Kate produced Baked Celeriac in butter, Jerusalem Artichokes, Butternut Squash curry, Celeriac salad and Swede in garlic, honey & hazelnuts.

On Tuesday I spoke to the Cambridge U3A Garden group who meet in a Catholic church. Unfortunately there was a clash with a funeral so my talk was periodically accompanied by serious hymns!

On Wednesday there was a historic moment as the public phone box was removed from the corner of the Green. In the evening I was at “Royston Greenfingers club” for talk number 246!

Goodbye Phonebox

Our Thursday walk started at Rede near Bury St Edmunds. The forecast rain did not materialise but it was very windy which did not improve things.

The Plough, Rede

Near Somerton

Somerton

Kate leaping a stile

“Biography” subject was “Daisy Bates” who was born in Ireland but emigrated to Australia, married three times and eventually became a rather eccentric champion of the aborigines.

Love

Mike & Kate

25th November 2018

Dear All,

So it will be Christmas Day a month from today Ho Ho – I just thought I would remind you in case it had slipped your notice!

It has been a quieter week finishing winter digging and clearing, mucking and digging both greenhouses but still harvesting the first Brussels sprouts, cabbage, parsnips, leeks, oca, sweet potatoes, artichokes and scorzonera – the last four are for “Just Vegetating” as we begin “Minor Crops” tomorrow. Last Monday it was “Potatoes” and Kate produced: Hasselbank potatoes, Homity pie, Olive oil mash with herbs, garlic and lemon and Mrs Beetons Curate’s pudding. Very little was left!

It was a Church Business meeting Tuesday evening and Over Garden Club on Wednesday where a Hungarian lady talked about how they celebrate Christmas and made traditional decorations.

Our Thursday walk took us to Castor near Peterborough. We do not get a large turnout when it is north of Cambridge as people are put off by the A14 but it was a very interesting walk. Castor was the site of a Roman settlement including the second largest Roman building in Britain. The route took in the Nene Valley Park with large lakes and a good scattering of water birds including cormorants,

Castor Church

Bridge over River Nene

Nene Park Lake with Cormorants

Guelder Rose berries

Castor Water Mill

Our car greeted the first signs of winter by refusing to start, eventually needing a new battery. Extracting the old battery took the garage about 15 minutes – come back the Austin A35 and the Morris Minor!

The “Biographies” topic was “Horatio Nelson” presented by Gill a formidable old lady who graduated before ladies were allowed to receive degrees! In the evening we were in Cambridge again for another “Homeless” briefing – a better one than two weeks ago. People who do fantastic work in helping in Day and Night shelters are not necessarily good at speaking and putting the message over.

Football was a little chilly yesterday but we watched Bar Hill 1 v1 Linton. Ipswich continue to be the strongest team in the Championship by holding the rest up!

Love

Mike & Kate

18th November 2018

Dear All,

“Just Vegetating” this week covered “Legumes” – mainly Peas and Beans and Kate presented Bean Burgers, Courgette & Chickpea pancakes, Hummus with cinnamon, lime & ginger and All in one pasta with chickpeas and tomato sauce. In the evening Terry Rugg came over to discuss plans for Moldova. He is doing a good job keeping the website up to date and getting stories and photos from the locals. Check http://www.moldovamatters.org if you are interested.

On Tuesday we were back at Bishops Stortford for another U3A group and Kate came with me for company. In the evening we had a “Homelessness” briefing in Cambridge from the City Council, The Community Safety Team and “Winter Comfort” the Day centre for the homeless. The presentations were not the best but you could glean some interesting information. There are now 500 hostel places for homeless people in Cambridge, 90 rough sleepers known by name by the Safety Team and Winter Comfort help 75-80 each day with food, showers and clothes washing.

Wednesday I had another talk, this time at Hitchin Garden Club on “Growing in Cuba”. They are a moderately large group who are all ageing together and likely to pack up as “no one can work a computer!” This was my thirteenth talk in a month so it is about time I retired!

There was a large turnout for the walk on Thursday: 22 in one group and 29 in the other. We started at Croydon (Cambs not Surrey) just beyond Wimpole Hall and took in Shingay and the deserted village of Clopton with good views from the ridge.

Little & Large

Shingay fron Clopton Ridge

Clopton deserted Village

The “Biographies” subject was one nobody had heard of “Mary de Rachewaltz” who it turned out was an illegitimate daughter of Ezra Pound. Her mother Olga gave her away to a peasant woman at birth to be brought up on a farm with 13 others on the Italian/German border. She remained there for 10 years then Ezra and Olga took some interest in her and sent her to school for the first time. She was able to translate some of Ezra’s poetry but then he was imprisoned after the war as he had backed Mussolini. She returned to the Tyrol to be a shepherdess, but a handsome man swept her off her feet and they brought a run down castle in north Italy where the lady who presented the biography had met her with her journalist husband, who was writing about Ezra. She is still alive aged 96.

Over v Milton was a lively affair yesterday with a couple of mass brawls – one involving the spectators – there is nothing like sport for building up understanding between communities!

In the evening we attended “From the Trenches to Tipperary” in Over Church Hall. A music hall type presentation of songs and stories to celebrate the armistice, together with a WWI menu of Surrey Stew, Apple tart and Trench cake. It was performed very well by our local postman and his wife.

Love

Mike & Kate

11th November 2018

Dear All,

I’ll begin with a heartwarming story that I should have mentioned last week. On Friday I caught the guided bus into the centre of Cambridge, getting off at Drummer Street bus station before “Biographies”, in order to send some money to Moldova via Western Union. As it was chilly cycling down to Swavesey to catch the bus I had worn gloves for the first time this winter. When I got to “Biographies” I found that I only had one glove and returned home muttering. It happened that we were on Street Pastors that night and while on patrol just before midnight we found the glove just outside the bus station about 14 hours later.

“Just Vegetating” this week covered “Salads – Fruit” and Kate produced: Tomato, Strawberry & basil salad, Mutabbal, Aubergine bake and Roasted Stuffed Peppers.

Following on from the large delivery of FYM last week, I mentioned to a few people that they could take some including one of the neighbouring allotment holders and a couple of fellow walkers. David Cook one of the walkers turned up on Monday afternoon to collect a share but when we got to the cemetery we discovered that Peter Kerley from allotment No. 1 had cleared the whole heap! As I had spread my area too thickly we managed to find enough for David but it was a bit of a surprise.

On Wednesday we managed to get double booked – Mary had mentioned the possibility of a Day sibling lunch but did not confirm the date and I did not check back. Meanwhile it was Gordon Foster’s birthday and we were invited to lunch at the Sutton Gault Anchor. Maybe it was judgement but Kate and I did not feel well internally after the lunch blaming the chicken!

In the evening I had a Garden Club talk at Fordham and called on a former NIAB colleague Stephen Morley afterwards. He wished to be remembered to those who remembered him.

Our Thursday walk started at Kimbolton and took in Stow Longa and the edge of Graffham Water. The weather was kind but the combination of rain the day before and several freshly cultivated fields made for slightly challenging going.

The Sun Inn, Kimbolton

Kimbolton High Street

Looking back at Kimbolton

Looking towards Stow Longa

Graffham Water at low tide!

On Friday we were pleased to entertain Ali & Robin who are about to move to Devon and start the “Good Life” in a converted chapel with some land, a tunnel and a greenhouse. They came to “pick my brains” which usually does not take long! It was good to see them and wish them well for the venture.

It has been a good week for digging and I turned over half the allotment in two days and planted out over wintered broad beans.

Football was “a game of two halves” yesterday as sunshine gave way to an almighty downpour – fortunately we were at Cambridge University Press ground where there is a pavillion with a view of the pitch.

Love

Mike & Kate

4th November 2018

Dear All,

We managed to fit a swim in before “Just Vegetating” on Monday but it is a bit of a squeeze leaving the car in Histon and catching the guided bus into town. These have become less reliable recently as they have a chronic shortage of drivers.

“Just Vegetating” this week covered “Salads – Leaves, Roots & Shoots” and the recipes included: Fennel, Pistachio & oven dried Grapes, Warm Butter Bean salad with olives and various nuts and flowers to add to salads.

We both travelled to Cambridge on Tuesday, Kate shopping and I turned up at the Cambridge U3A Garden Club where I thought I was speaking only to find that I had the wrong day!

On Wednesday Les Cook delivered a large load of FYM to the allotment. We covered most of the allotment and still have a rather large heap left if anyone would like a helping – it could solve our Christmas present offerings this year.

Thursday was not a great day for walking as it was a little moist throughout and the journey to Halls Green near Stevenage was interrupted by a couple of accidents. The walk was still interesting with the leaves starting to change colour and various sorts of livestock in the fields.

Autumn Colours

Walkern Dovecote

Alpacas at Hall Green

That sort of day!

This year the chapel have volunteered to help with the Poppy Day collections as the British Legion men are getting long in the tooth. We were due out on Wednesday but decided that knocking on doors on Halloween evening was not a great idea so we postponed until Thursday evening. It took some time and it is a sign of the times that several folk did not have any cash in the house.

“Biographies” was a little different this week as our Australian history lecturer chose “The Aborigines” as whole rather than an individual. In Tasmania they used to organise Abo shooting expeditions for sport!

We were out on the streets Friday night, it was not very busy but we had two difficult cases which took a long time. We were summoned to the first just as we were due for our break and found a girl collapsed in Rose Crescent after drinking and smoking weed. Her father was summoned but he had been drinking so arrived on a bike. Getting her home was a problem as taxis won’t take anyone who looks drunk. Eventually she was able to reach a seat in the market place and given water and blankets until in shape to get a taxi.

The second was a lad face down outside Vinyl the new club under Waterstones. As we couldn’t get any response from him we were forced to summon an ambulance and they revived him sufficiently to get a taxi.

Our walk leader Philip came round on Saturday as he is wrestling with putting a PowerPoint presentation on his cruise round South America and wanted some extra photos from our Ecuador outings. We were back at West Wratting for football in the afternoon and fortunately the weather was kinder but still a little chilly!

We harvested the first Sweet Potatoes this week.

Love

Mike & Kate