Country giving

My sweet friend Marie-Claire left these on my front steps today.

Living in the countryside involves a good deal of giving and receiving, especially in the summer and autumn when people's gardens are groaning with fruit and vegetables. There's so much of everything that people practically beg you to take stuff off their hands and will resort to any means - fair or foul - to get rid of it.

A friend once asked if I wanted some of her surplus courgettes. "Sure, I wouldn't mind a couple," I replied. Imagine my surprise when I came home to find 2 large boxes of courgettes sitting in the boot of my car.

Occasionally, I have to plead with people to stop giving me produce. Two kilos of strawberries are most welcome; fifteen kilos of strawberries not so much. I don't mean to sound blasé, but have you ever tried making huge quantities of strawberry jam during a heatwave?

Still, when I see how much organic produce costs, I know how lucky I am.