Ullenwood scene

L to R: Philip Dixon, Frank Green, Anna Collinge ? Naomi Jackson, and Jo Bacon at Ullenwood. This is from Jane Dineen's 1980 collection. It looks to C-H-M as though it may be after breakfast just before going up to site. The alternatives are pre-supper one evening or a Thursday before going into Cheltenham.

Thinking of supper, a correspondent writes:

"Dear Crickley Hill Man,

I write to you in desperation. I'm at my wits' end and need your help. Last night I made a celeriac mash which, though delicious, had a slightly sludgy colour to it as the celeriac went brown during its initial cooking in salted water. What caused the browning I don't know and seek your advice as to how to prevent this happening in future. The only alternative course of action is for me to foreswear celeriac for ever more; as you imagine, a potential middle class nightmare on a par with running out of organic couscous. Please help.

Desperate of Selly Oak"

Dear Desperate of Selly Oak,

Fear not: you need not suffer permanent social ignominy. Celeriac oxidises quite fast after it has been peeled, a little like the flesh of apples: the cure is the same: as you prepare the celeriac before cooking, pop it into acidulated water (the juice of half a lemon will do the trick) and the distressing browning that you have suffered will not happen.

Crickley Hill Man.

Later: an e-mail arrives in C-H-M's inbox headed

'Acidulated Response' :

"Dear Crickley Hill Man,

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have saved my marriage.

'Desperate of Selly Oak' (as was)."

Glad to be of service ...

A cheerful crew

A dumper full of diggers: Sue Bauman (was Lee Jeffs) sent me this shot of Naomi Jackson, Sue, Sonia and Dave Hollos, Kate Gilbert and Mike Taylor (complete with his exceptionally long scarf). The grey dumper truck tells me this comes from the 1980 season.

Work scene 1980

Jane Dineen must have got her magnifying glass out to manage to spot even Naomi Jackson, Philip Dixon (examining) and Anna Collinge in this atmospheric 1980 shot. C-H-M had forgotten a feature of digging when the site is dry and dusty: all diggers face away from the wind to stop the dirt blowing into their eyes: the breeze must have been from the south that day as most people are facing north.

The Friendship Quilt

One of the many delightful moments during the reunion: the display of the friendship quilt made by Kate Gilbert, Corky Gregory, Naomi Jackson, Sue Lee-Jeffs and Lucy Loveridge in 1981 and given to Ros Cleal at the time of her wedding to Dave Southwood. Admiring the quilt, left and right, Maya and Alexandra Domeshek, Kate and Eric's daughters; holding the quilt, left to right, Ros, Lucy, Corky and Kate.

I drove Kate, Eric, Maya and Alexandra down from London on Friday and Kate talked about the quilt as we drove: little did we know, as she mentioned it and explained how it came to be made, that she would be reunited with her handiwork the following day!

Dr Ferris is mischievous ...

Here's 'that nice Mr Ferris' (as Julie-Ann Morrison would say) looking as though butter would not melt in his mouth. But he sends me the following mischievous e-mail:

"I wonder if it occurred to you, seeing the displayed friendship quilt on Saturday, that there might be a very fitting way to celebrate and recognise the fantastic romantic exploits of the Crickley diggers over the years by incorporating the information on Dr Phillpotts's flowchart into a textile design, something like Tracey Emin's tent, although you might feel that something the size of a circus big top is more appropriate in this case. Let me know what you think."

Lucy Loveridge, Kate Gilbert, Corky Gregory and Naomi Jackson would certainly have some sewing to do, but it's probably just as well Dr Ferris isn't within clouting distance. Do I correctly divine the views of the expert sewing team?

Perhaps Attic red-figure pottery, c. 520 - 460BC, would be a more appropriate medium? Who were the painters amongst us?