Last year, when we arrived at The Gables in mid August, we didn’t notice the beautiful cherry plum tree at the back of the house. This year it is laden with fruit, ripe for the picking and ready for jam making….tonight.


I was ready to make runner bean chutney last night until I discovered that I didn’t have a vital ingredient, Colmans dry mustard powder. Friends are coming to visit today bringing the final component for one of our favourite relishes so, if time allows, it will also be a chutney making evening too.