With a large crowd expected at the weekend it was a morning spent in the barn kitchen. Spinach rice is fine for everyone even (I hope) our gluten free guest.

Jeremy brought in some new potatoes which he grows in bags inside the greenhouse and polytunnel until space demands that they come outside.

There were some fresh peas to add to the boiled potatoes to make a favourite salad with some mayonnaise. Then it was outside to trim some bushes and remove brambles and sticky, climbing weeds. The roses are in their glorious, first flush.

I saw a recipe in the weekend paper for a strawberry crumble slice and I had to try it out today. It’s made with butter, brown sugar, oats and flour and the middle is a layer of homemade strawberry jam and sliced fresh strawbs, I didn’t bother with the other ingredient of either cranberries or raisins. They look tasty which is a pity as I am trying to cut down on sugar. I just returned from the dentist, again. A legacy of daily sweets throughout my childhood and (I admit) into old age!