Mid-July at Haddock's.

Vegetable gardening is all about 'expectation'. It's setting the seeds, planting out the seedlings, and waiting impatiently for the results. Along the way there are frustrations, battles with errant wildlife, and occasional disappoinments. But generally, if we do our work correctly, we are rewarded.

I love to see the baby peppers and aubergines emerge from their flowers, and the red cabbages begin to form heads. But one still needs to be vigilant, an infestation can be just around the corner, or weeds can be ignored in favour of the harvest.

Already, everything we eat comes fresh from Haddock's, and there's now no reason to buy any fruit or veg' until spring 2011; unless I have a sudden craving for bananas or pineapples.

I've lived like this for most of my life. My parents were wise enough to always have good fruit and veg' gardens, with chickens, bantams, and ducks thrown in for good measure. I thank them for having given me the desire to do likewise!