daytime

Sunday, 21 April 2013

21st April 2013

21st April 2013.

Dear All,

Not too much to report this week as we are still both struggling healthwise. Kate can’t throw off her virus and still has ear ache, coughing and sore throat. I went to Addenbrookes A&E for a couple of hours relaxation(waiting) and to have my ear examined and was passed fit to fly to Moldova. Since then my foot and ankle have been rather painful with gout so I am hobbling.

So it has been mainly gardening and preparation for Moldova this week. Gardening included writing a letter to RHS on behalf of the Vegetable Forum to complain about the shortcomings of their proposals for future trials.

I also had to compile a Gardening Column for the Over News and deliver a talk to Hauxton Garden Club. As my left ear is still not working the talk sounded very strange and echoing to me.

Yesterday was Messy Church and Kate was IC food despite not being 100% and in the evening we attended a meal for the Association churches at Whittlesey. We took Norman and Rosemary so I was quite glad of the cotton wool in my ear!

Messy Church

Love

Mike & Kate

Sunday, 14 April 2013

14th April 2013

14^th April 2013.

Dear All,

It has been an interesting week healthwise. Kate has been suffering from a cough and ear ache for a couple of weeks and being a man I took it to new levels this week. A seismic cough was followed by conjunctivitis and then severe ear ache and bleeding from my left ear. I had to go to the emergency clinic in Cambridge yesterday and have a perforated ear drum. All very exciting with the prospect of travelling to Moldova coming up!

The week began sedately enough with Glynis Fenwick and I travelling to Upper Caldecote near Biggleswade to visit Peter Maudlin, a farmer who used to host NIAB Brussels sprout trials. He was always very helpful and still collects sprout stalks for me every Christmas even though he no longer grows the crop. He had a serious heart op a couple of years ago and now has problems with leaky valves and an enlarged heart. Their farmhouse kitchen is just like a farmhouse kitchen should be – straight out of a Giles cartoon with piles of stuff everywhere.

On Tuesday Kate and I joined a crowd of 110 for a charity walk for SOS Villages. It was a gentle 5.5 miles starting in Barrington followed by soup, bread and cheese but raised £1200.

SOS Villages Walk

On Wednesday I was at Wisley for a sprouting broccoli trial and serious discussions about the cut backs in their trials programme. The journey down was one of our worst taking over 4 hours due to an accident involving the death of a pedestrian on the M25.

Mendicino new Sprouting Broccoli

Due to coughing and being unable to open my eyes on Thursday we both missed the Thursday walk. John and Terry came for a meal in the evening to discuss the next Moldova trip. Terry had an ear problem, John skin cancer on his ears and a bang on the head with a metal pole – we could be quite a crew!

I have been officially asked to judge the Fruit & Veg at Over Produce Show this year – some have honours thrust upon them........ I have agreed as long as I can have a say on clarifying the schedule which always causes some discussion “wash or not wash, peel or not peel etc.”

On Friday Kate helped me pot on the 300 tomatoes that have been lurking in our dining room. These are destined for Moggerhanger and have caused great anxiety in this cold and frosty spring.

Tomato crop with indentured labour!

Love

Mike & Kate

Sunday, 7 April 2013

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

Sunday, 31 March 2013

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.