I planted a few seeds about 12 days ago, I made a makeshift mini-greenhouse, plastic box and some glass I found out the back of the shed [see inset image], held down with 4 of my favorite beach pebbles.Then I watched, and began to wonder, paranoid that the out-of-date sticker on the packet of cougettes might be true, not so, I should have known that courgettes are the only veg that could still grow in abundance in a post-nuclear state. As yet the bean seeds I planted out in-situ are being stubborn but at least the pot beans are keen. Like many homegrowers the next stage in the courgette calender is to decide what vast array of dishes to prepare. These little darlings are yellow ones and I am hoping that when young they will go well sliced-up raw in salads and then later griddled and covered in a mustard based dressing, or baked with oily fish and slices of knobbly lemons.

Putting these sketches in the art catagory is stretching the plans I had for this section as art was ment to be the more hi-brow end of my waffling but instead I have lowered the tone at embryo stage. These are examples of the faces that fill my handsized sketchbooks, mostly drawn on the train. Occasionally I branch out and sketch in coffee shops and pubs, but people in these spaces tend to be far too alert and I get caught pen in hand, guiltly as charged. I have never had an actual altercation with anyone but I have had several hard stares, my primary goal is not to be noticed so the stares tend to send me skuttling off for cover.

The spuds are on their way up, not long since going in. This is a really exciting time, a spot of gentle howing and earthing up. I can’t wait, there are no words available to describe the taste of PF-As fresh from the earth. I grew them a couple of years ago and the crop was quite healthy, I refuse to use chemicals, not because I am hardline eco-warrior material but mostly it costs money and for me food grown should be as free as possible. Most plants will do their best for you, tough love thats what they need.

Could this be the key to unlock the secrets of crop circles, a mower with a flat tyre?

Floating on the horizon and clearly seen from almost all directions as you approach is the magnificent cathedral that sits central to the small city of Ely, it dominates the City Centre and dates from 1081. The Lady Chapel is particularly beautiful including the scratched messages in the ancient stonework whispering out to you as you rest in suitable silence midst the hushed gasps from the visitors.

This DIY construction is proving rather good as a feline defence shield, and the rabbits that have shacked up under our shed, as yet, haven’t been inspired to destroy the framework. The cane pyramid is recycled from last years pea crop and the sticks are the twiggy ends of the walnut tree. Would Geoff Hamilton be proud of me? Below you can see a close-up of the walnut twigs and the makeshift structure to protect my radish, which are coming along very well dispite the rain that has battered them of late.

On May 5th I planted some spuds, pink fir-apple, two rows of about 8, possibly a little too close but time will tell. It has rained a lot since so hopefully off to a good start. Note the spade in situ, evidence of hard labour, or rather the smallness of my spud bed.

Hidden in a beautiful wooded garden north of Barnstable in Devon is the Broomhill Art Hotel, a must for fans of sculpture and teacakes. We sat out on the terrace looking down at the garden that is packed full with a wide variety of sculpture. You can take a stroll down to the stream on a woodland walk and follow the path back up through the trees to the area shown in the photograph. The figure here was part of a visiting exhibition of several similar figures and others in further states of decay surrounding them, it was rather disturbing and extremely memorable.

Visit the hotel website