In honour of my school friend and her husband who are, at last, making their second visit to The Gables, I have prepared seasonal dishes with quinces and pears poached in wine, sugar and cinnamon.  There is cabbage with a cheese and peanut sauce, runner beans in lemon juice and butter, French beans in vinaigrette, pink fir apple potato salad, roasted butternut squash with red onions, garlic and feta cheese ( courteousy of last weeks guest who brought a selection of cheeses as a gift), Apple and plum jam crumble, honey cake and lemon drizzle cake and also (as an appetiser) salsa made from the last of the tomatillos and other dishes too.  But more important than the food is the chance to sit and relax with dear friends and share the sunshine and the sunsets and the peace and quiet of The Gables.