A HANDFUL OF BEANS

With November upon us and a dry day at last, I was keen to get on with some autumn tidying in the garden. It didn't last long, however - the fingers were chilled to the marrow in 15 minutes.

Taking down the runner bean wigwam, I found some beans I'd missed. Too tough to eat now, they may do for next year's seeds. But aren't they pretty? Looking at them it is easy to see why Jack fell for it - they are a wee bit of magic.