Barsham farmers' market,

It's quite an industry nowadays the farmers markets. In Suffolk we are fortunate to be surrounded by farms and markets in abundance. This is my autumn and winter hobby - to visit them all, get an understanding of who sells what and where and who buys what from where. The boys accompany me and yesterday (at the Beccles fornightly one) Gregor complained that there weren't any children's things. I explained that it's about sharing one another's interests: he comes to farmers markets and car boot sales and I go to the park and the zoo. There.

This was in a village called Barsham, the other side of Beccles, on the Norfolk/Suffolk border and 15 minutes drive away.

Besides vegetables, fruit, meat and fish, there were plants, crafts and books. At the back of this barn the doors opened onto a lawn with a pond to one end. I will have to make sure that the boys don't wander off at such events since there is no greater hazard for little toddlers.....

Gregor soon found a stall which took his fancy - chutneys and pickles. Of course you are able to try all these delights, and finally, about 20 broken crackers later, we settled on a Kashmiri chutney for 3 pounds. Goes great with cheese and onion in a toasted sandwich, by the way!