Meeting Up.

Any more Gransnetters who would like to join us, that is Merlotgran, GrannyHaggis, myself and nelliedeane for lunch in Ely in ten days time, you are very welcome!

Hi are there any gransnetters in Glasgow?

...I was walking my dog last summer when a young boy stroked her and asked her name. When I told him, his mum said 'oh, that's a character in your favourite book', and I hadn't realised till then that I'd named her after Hattie.

They skated to the cathedral when the river froze over. I think Hattie met Barty there. I love that book ......

Nice one, MaggieP . Didn't know Ely featured in Tom's Midnight Garden, crimson. None of my GC have mentioned it so I'm off to Amazon to have a butchers.

Ely is a place I've wanted to visit for years, ever since reading Tom's Midnight Garden. Alas I won't be able to get there this year but, those of you who do meet up can I be there in spirit [or spirit ] with you?

Great, we now have four Gransnetters hoping to lunch in Ely soon.

Thankyou Maggiep that's lovely,depending on the dates I will be there

Annobel, we used to swim in the river Wissey at Borough Fen as we were lucky enough to have two long hot summers in '74 and '75. Oxbrough Hall and the Iceni village at Cockley Cley were favourite places to take visitors as well as Kilverston wildlife park - now sadly gone. OH is a keen birdwatcher and remembers the nightingales. Happy Days.

Nelliedeane, are you going to join us for lunch in Ely, towards end of June or early July? Would be great, the more the merrier, who else is out there nearby?

Foulden Fen was where we once went to hear the nightingales singing. So quiet at first that we thought nothing was going to happen then, gradually, they started tuning up and eventually the sound seemed to come from every bush. Magic!

yes Merlotgran it is a very beautiful part of the country,I haven't been to the water gardens yet but we are planning to do so this year we have lived in Norfolk for 4 years,we live on the other side of the A47 in a village called Sporle,but have recently moved from a village called Holme Hale, my GD goes to school in Swaffhamxxxx

I lived in Foulden, nelliedeane and our children went to school in Gooderstone. There was a great feeling of community there and it was a lovely place for young children to grow up.

GrannyHaggis

Merlotgran I am currently living in a village near Swaffham,until last year I lived in a smaller village also near Swaffham,I wonder if it would be either of those ones that you lived in.xx

Looking forward to meeting up with MaggieP and merlotgran in Ely in the not too distant future.
Thanks for the suggestion MaggieP !

Thanks for the pm, MaggieP Look forward to meeting up. Hope Grannyhaggis can make it as well.

Thanks merlotgran, Ely is only 40 mins away, maybe more attractive than Downham. My son and family lunched at The Cutter last week!
Waiting to see if GrannyHaggis can also join us but look forward to meeting up if we can find a date? Sending you a PM (if I can!)

We moved here in 1975 Maniac and at first I hated the Fens. We'd had two very happy years in a small village near Swaffham and I did not want to move but it was an essential career move for DH. That was a long time ago and I have gradually come to terms with the flat landscape which is a godsend now that I have arthritic knees. I also love the huge skies, dry and sunny climate, Ely Cathedral and the rivers. Maybe the folk festival you mention was Ely Folk Festival which is still a very popular event?

Had happy years in your area in the 80s.Lived Burwell,worked Newmarket and Soham.Cycled to work in good weather as it was so flat and easy.Crashed my car on a treacherous icy night in Soham
Remember lots of folk music up there.One weekend riding pillion on DS’s motor bike we chanced on a wonderful folk festival in a field in middle of nowhere with Martin Carthy, Watersons, Kipper family etc. We sat on the grass and stayed all day/evening.

So it seems. I'm very relieved you don't know him. I was getting worried he'd hear about my antics an GN!
He thinks I'm a solid staid demure matron!
My Dd knows better!

No he's not Jon and he doesn't live in Witchford. He's a folk singer, morris dancer and self-sufficiency guru. We know how to live round here!

Yes it's witchford

Is his name Jon?

Do you mean Witchford or Witcham, jeni? I don't know of anywhere called Witchend but I know a pagan and very good fun he is too.