Persimmon

This is the home of our local farmer, and the biggest landowner around. It is an impressive house with spectacular views over the valley beyond. And at this time of year I am always intrigued by the amazing crop that appears on his persimmon tree. Not a leaf on it, just fruit - and sweet as honey at that.

But just in case you are tempted to be a little jealous of our farmer's good fortune, you should know that about ten years ago he fell from his tractor into a harvesting machine and was torn to shreds - losing an arm, most of the fingers on his other hand, and very nearly his life. We heard him screaming from our house. But such is the character of the man that following his recovery he was out working every day as hard as he ever did.