I was too late to help with the black currants as I was showing my lovEly neighbour around the property and then skiving off with coffee and cake and chat in the lounge whilst Jeremy made the most of the sunny December morning.

By the time I joined him he had measured the rows, five feet apart, and was digging holes two feet from each other in the three rows to prepare for the thirty raspberry canes that arrived in the post.

My job was to sprinkle the deep rich manure around the base of each cane and mix with the earth that Jeremy had dug from the holes and at the end of each row the boss came along with the rake and ensured that the canes were snug and secure in the ground.

We took care to walk along the duck boards ( what is it with ducks and the Gables ) so as not to compact the earth upon which we were walking. we will not have raspberries for two years as they only fruit on two year old wood.

So it’s “jam tomorrow” but, too be fair the plum trees were so laden with fruit this summer I have enough jam in store to last us until the raspberries come into their own!