Disjointed observation

Having had a "real" Christmas tree again this year we took it across to Hinchingbrooke Park this afternoon to use their Christmas tree chipping service. Exchanged one used Christmas tree for two rubble sacks of pine tree chippings for use round the garden.

We also took Theo for a decent walk round the pond which was frozen over and you could see in a few places that the ice was about an inch thick. It's warmed up somewhat today so the ground was very mushy but the mush was cearly on a bed of ice!

When we got back to the cafe and visitor centre we noticed that there was something to go and look at in the visitor centre so mooched down and found a small collection of stalls connected with "greener living". One of them was Nene River Organics. They do organic veg boxes but the last time I checked out their website they didn't deliver here (despite my regularly seeing one of their vans parked up locally). Turns out they now do deliver in this area so we'll consider that.

As we were about to go we scored a bonus. We were chatting to the ladies on the Nene River stall and they suddenly asked if we'd like to take a small veg box. It has been on display all weekend and would be given away to someone as they couldn't sell it - they said that they almost always forgot when there was a show coming up and got their own in and then ended up giving stuff to neighbours. When we accepted they then offered us some of the fruit from their display. We now have the contents of the box: valor potatoes, carrots, onions, green cabbage, red russian kale/cavolo nero and leeks (all UK origin) and sweet potatoes (ES) and butternut squash (ES/IT). And then we also have mushrooms, 1 large beetroot, 1 avacado, 1 mango, 1 grapefuit, red onions, 4 apples, large piece fresh ginger (which they tell me I can freeze and just grate straight from the freezer), garlic and a good sized bag of jerusalem artichokes. All for free!

I think we need to do some serious veg eating!

And tomorrow R has a job interview (although we think the location is going to rule it out).