how do you like them apples?

The apples from this tree have always been Luke's favourite and I think they are mine, too. The fruits look unexciting but taste wonderful, sharpish and crisp. They make lovely juice as well, and stay on the tree until the end of October if we or the blackbirds haven't eaten them.

When he was growing up here, Luke could see this tree from his bedroom window and often snuck down late at night to pick the apples. For the last few years he hasn't been around at apple time, and last autumn I picked about 20, wrapped them in newspaper and stored them in the cellar for when he came home next. We then forgot about them until yesterday, when D brought up the apples and unwrapped them. They weren't as crisp as they once were, but still edible, so we made them into a crumble for tea.

If the amount of blossom on the tree is any guide, we are in for a bumper crop of fruit this year. Whether Luke will be around to enjoy them is anyone's guess. For his sake, I hope not...