2^nd March 2025

 

Dear All,

 

“Just Vegetating” this week was “Potatoes” and Kate produced: Celeriac, potato and mushroom gratin, Curate’s Pudding & Spicy potatoes with tahini and soy.

As it was a sunny on Tuesday Kate helped me trim the trees at the bottom of the garden. I then dug Salsify, Globe Artichokes and Skirret for Kate to practice cooking for the next two weeks of Just Vegetating” on “Minor Crops”

 

 Salsify, Skirret, Parsnips & Globe Artichokes

 

Adrian came for lunch then we did a local shopping trip via Highgate, Berrycroft and Oakington Garden Centre for bird seed, plant labels and compost.

The U3A Earth session this week was on Soils – so not altogether new!

On Wednesday Derek Medlock and Joyce came for coffee. Derek has had bad session with a suspected stroke. He was taken to Nottingham hospital (near where they live) in an ambulance then left in a corridor without being seen for 8 hours! He is hobbling badly while waiting for a hip operation.

Norman Ingle was here for lunch then I led the Group meeting on books that have aroused discussion points. I presented “the Salt Path”, Kate “The Outsider”, Norman “One of our Own”, Carol “The Screwtape Letters”, Bob mentioned all the books he had read! And Liz the German book she was translating in a U3A class. David was on a course, Kate & Gordon away and Norman & Rosemary poorly.

Our Thursday walk this week started at Spaldwick and circled round to Grafham Water. There had been serious over-night rain and I cannot recall a walk with more surface water, which of course meant a little mud as well! Fortunately it was bright and sunny for most of the way. The pub was old and quaint but service was very slow.

 

I think you get the idea!

 

 

Grafham Water

 

 

Fire in The George, Spaldwick

 

The Biographies subject this week was “Arthur Koestler” He was born in Hungary and wrote several major novels, two volumes of autobiographical works, two volumes of reportage, a major work on the history of science, several volumes of essays, and a considerable body of other writing and articles on subjects as varied as genetics, euthanasia, Eastern mysticism, neurology, chess, evolution, psychology, the paranormal and more. He was serial womaniser, married three times and died in a suicide pact with the third wife.

 

 

Arthur Koestler

 

In the afternoon I planted some new strawberry plants of the recent variety Malling Century and sowed Water Cress in the hot frame. After we decided to do a short recce in Knapwell Wood to see how muddy it would be for a walk we are leading next week. The recce was OK but on the way back we had a puncture in a fairly new tyre. When I tried to change the wheel after we got home the locking wheel bolt came apart leaving a stump that I could not move. Kate called the AA and after a considerable struggle a helpful operative managed to extract it and replace the emergency wheel with 4 bolts. I drove to Kwick Fit at Bar Hill on Saturday morning where they did not have the correct tyre in stock and was told if they had they would not be allowed to fit it if a bolt was missing! I managed to obtain some bolts from Marshalls in Cambridge and have booked a refit for Monday afternoon.

Over continued winning ways with a 2 v 0 victory against Hemingford and are now joint top with Shelford but behind on goal difference.

  

Best Wishes

Mike & Kate

 

23rd February 2025

 

Dear All,

 

“Just Vegetating” this week was “Legumes” and Kate produced: Quick-fried runner beans with cheddar & hazelnuts, Miso and peanut butter chickpea salad and Mixed Bean Masala.

I managed to book flights for the next adventure to Moldova on Monday departing 24^th April accompanied by David Smith and Ben who is coming to explore one of the few countries he has not visited!

I had some blood tests on Tuesday then we had a session at the allotments – Kate pruning and I was mending the old fruit cage which has suffered this winter. In the afternoon I tuned into U3A Earth – topic Pollution this time. Top 10 Pollutants in the Sea:

1.      Cigarette filters

2.      Food wraps

3.      Plastic water bottles

4.      Plastic bags

5.      Caps & lids

6.      Cups, plates & cutlery

7.      Straws & stirrers

8.      Glass bottles

9.      Beverage cans

10.  Paper bags

On Wednesday I trussed up 5 parcels destined for Moldova hoping for their safe delivery, 4 containing seeds.

Another U3A Zoom on Wednesday was on the topic of “Fluid Earth” mainly about volcanoes. In the evening the Garden Club talk was delivered by a lady from our local Oakington Garden Centre describing how it was started by a couple who are still involved but now joined by their daughter and employing 40 people.

The walk on Thursday was really tough going with mud, hills, a shower and blustery wind. 9 miles was plenty! We started at Barley and took in Barkway and Nuthampstead Bury. On the plus side there were great views and plenty of snowdrops and aconites.

 

 

Snowdrops at Newsells

 

 

Skinned Tree

 

 

Narrow Door in Barkway church

 

 

Barkway Wagon Wash

 

There were two presentations in “Biographies”. The first was W.G. Hoskins a Historian of the English Landscape. He was an expert on Devon and wrote 30 books on the English countryside. His main book was “The Making of the English Landscape”

 

 

W. G. Hoskins

 

The second offering covered Mohammad Yunus from Bangladesh. He developed a system of funding farmers which stopped them going into serial debt by by-passing the money lenders. This was extended fishermen and fabric workers

 

 

Mohammad Yunus

We had a visit from Rachel, Grace, Arthur and Nathan Burrell on Friday, they are lively company and you certainly know you have had them!

On Saturday it was a Men’s Breakfast with a talk from Giles Cornell the Senior Pastor of the Lighthouse church in Ely. They are very active in the community working with the homeless and offering several other projects.

Over continued their good form beating Comberton 5 v 0. Evidently last week supporters of the defeated Hardwick attacked the referee after the game!

Mary-Ann, Andy, Amelie & Albert have been holidaying in Italy this week and you can probably guess where from this photo:

 

 

Pisa

 

Best Wishes

Mike & Kate

 

16th February 2025

 

Dear All,

 

“Just Vegetating” this week was “Salads- Fruit” covering Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers & Aubergines. Kate produced: Stuffed Peppers. Courgette cakes & Courgette and Aubergine bake.

Esther had her first eye operation and initially seemed happy with the outcome but it cannot have been very nice.

 

 

Esther & Emma Post Op

 

On Tuesday Kate and I travelled to Oundle to collect some crockery which Esther had brought on-line to match some they already had. We expected it to be in a container but it was loose so we had to improvise with scarves and paper to try and make it secure for the return journey.

 

 

Oundle Crocs.

 

In the afternoon I had another U3A Earth … Zoom session – this time on the Hydrosphere covering everything to do with water: oceans, acid rain, weather, heat and CO2 storage, life, pollution.

In the evening I went to the Local History meeting which was on Victor Ekins a Battle of Britain hero from St Neots. The presenter had interviewed as many of the survivors as he could and written a book about Victor Ekins. The average age of the pilots was 20,

 

 

Victor Ekins story

 

On Wednesday Norman Ingle cane for lunch as usual prior to Church group at the Kitsons. After I sowed early peas in gutters in the greenhouse.

Our Thursday walk started at Barton and looped round via Grantchester. Highlight was crossing the Green Burial site at Barton Glebe which has been planned very strictly with no headstones or gardening. The weather was dull but dry but the mud index was high!

 

 

Muddy Start

 

 

Barton Glebe Cemetery

 

 

Barton

 

 

Barton Village Pond

 

“Biographies” subject on Friday was Benjamin Franklin who was a polymath as a Printer, Publisher, Newspaper man, Politician, Scientist, Diplomat and Founding Father. Franklin has been described as the most accomplished American of his age and the most influential in the type of society America would become.

 

 

Benjamin Franklin

In the afternoon we went to Oakington Garden Centre to buy onion, shallot and garlic sets and some have been planted in module trays in the green house.

With one eye on the local weather Albert has constructed an ocean going liner this week!

 

 

Cunard Liner!

Over came back from a 5 minute goal behind to win 5 v 2 against Hardwick in a chilly drizzle on a very heavy pitch yesterday. In the evening Steve and Ruth two of the walking group arranged a secret surprise party for Lesley and Howard who organised our week in North Wales last August. They had invited them for a meal but not told them there would be another 12 of us there as well!

 

 

 

Regards

Mike & Kate

 

9th February 2025

 

Dear All,

 

Another crowded session in the swimming pool – peoples New Year resolutions seem to be lasting longer this year! Just Vegetating was Salads – Leaf, Shoots and Roots. Kate produced: Braised Celery with cheese & Onion sauce, Squash, Onion & Quinoa salad and Strawberry, Mint, Olive, Lambs lettuce & Hazelnut salad.

After I had a visit to HSBC to try and sort a difficulty with the CEEM account then joined a couple of walkers: David and Howell for lunch in their favourite venue Weatherspoons!

We walked on Tuesday this week as it was a local walk starting at Bar Hill and taking a novel route to Dry Drayton and Madingley. It was a bright and sunny day but with plenty of seasonal mud.

 

 

Dodgy Bridge

 

Little Boxes at Dry Drayton

 

 

Madingley Wood

 

This was followed by the first of two Memorial Services this week this time at Whittlesey for Gordon Foster’s father Alan.

Contrasting with this fellow CEEM members Laura & Philip produced their first baby on Tuesday named Nicolas Peter.

 

 

Philip, Nicolas & Laura

 

Norman Ingle was here for lunch on Wednesday as usual followed by Church group at the Kitson’s – Matthew Kitson started a new job on the Science Park this week.

I was sent a Survey form from Imperial College, London, which I completed this week regarding my experience with COVID – it was very detailed.

On Thursday we delivered some surplus chapel chairs to Emmaus at Waterbeach. This is an amazing charity set up with so much donated and put on for sale. I squandered £3 on two shirts!

In the evening it was the Over Produce Show committee meeting to plan this year’s event in August – this time with added craft classes!

There were two subject for Biographies this week: Winnie Seebolm and Ryszard Kapuscinski. Winnie lived at Hitchin and was frustrated by Victorian conventions but managed to be one of the first ladies at Newnham College, Cambridge and wrote numerous letters which gave an impression of what life was like in those days but died aged only 23. Ryszard was a dare devil Polish reporter who rose from a persecuted beginning to travel the world and receive numerous accolades.

 

 

Winnie Seebolm

 

 

Ryszard Kapuscinski

 

 

The second Memorial Service was for my cousin Peter Nunn who had been a missionary in Colombia for 40 odd years. There was an interment on Friday and a Thanksgiving service on Saturday which was on Utube. Mary & Graham went to both but we watched the Saturday session on –line.

Kate went to Ladies breakfast Saturday morning where the speaker was a poet.

Over won a hard fought battle with Newmarket Reserves 2 v 1 yesterday.

 

 

Regards

Mike & Kate