drove to Aldeburgh and spent £25 I haven't got at one of the fish sheds. Bought two large dressed crabs, one for me - one for dad; a skate wing, a piece of cod, prawns and mussels for a fish soup that I cooked when I got home. Not very much money really for one of the most dangerous jobs there is - out at sea.

Also bought two types of pears and some apples from the side of the road in Coddenham.

Went to Pea Porridge last night, used to be The Chalice, by the Old Cannon on Pease Porridge Green - hence the name, and couldn't fault it. Starter of squid with chorizo was great combination, squid clearly fresh, tender and complete with tentacles unlike the de-squeamified frozen versions. My main was lamb (with a crispy artichoke fritter balanced on at least four chunky slices of  perfectly pink tender meat) and a dessert of chocolate tart with stem ginger ice cream, with a glass of dessert wine we shared. Ruth had snails with bone marrow, hake with butter beans and prawns, followed by a plate of cheeses that were delicious - served with a tiny bowl of  chestnut honey - a strange sweet & metallic aftertaste I have never had before, but so good to be served something new in Bury. This is was good as it gets round here. www.peaporridge.co.uk

On the way back from Suffolk-meets-Islington Satis House in Yoxford I see free marrows on the side of the road and lots of pumpkins as we near Halloween. Have already made pumpkin soup at home so don't buy one, and fed up with marrows/courgettes.  Stop at Yoxford pub on the way home and visualise the home made casserole or delicious sandwich I would like to find on their menu, unlikely on a Monday I know. Choose liver and onions. Yet again served vile dry chunky liver, glutinous gravy, frozen veg and huge pile of instant mash that you could plaster a house with. At least it didn't have redcurrants on it like the one I had once on the way to Newmarket once.

Little herring-shaped signs on the side of the A12  look interesting and eventually find a leaflet for this event 24th-25th October at Middleton Farm shop.  Their blog is at at www.suffolkherringfestival.wordpress.com    Unfortunately I don't like herrings or kippers - too boney for me - but I love the smell, and soft roes and might try and find time to go and have a look. 

There is an abundance of huge dusky purple sloes in the hedge at my sisters house - bigger than these - they are so big I am not sure if they are sloes or damsons? They have the sloe mouth-puckering taste but am I supposed to wait until there has been a frost to pick them?  I dug up some of the artichokes last week because the leaves were yellow and dying - although I know its a bit early - I couldn't wait to look at them as it's the first time I've grown them, they were big and bright white, but had no flavour at all. Apparently they need frost too, I could put them in the freezer...? I  have a nearly empty bottle of gin so gather enough sloes to fill it, prick them all over, add sugar and a cheap bottle of gin from Elmswell Co-op and we'll wait and see.

Lunch with Sarah at West Suffolk College's Zest restaurant, one of the best value meals in Bury and a chance to contribute to the experience of young people training to be in the restaurant business. I had nice lamb hot pot with some far too vinegary red cabbage (I told them) and then Key Lime Pie.  Sarah had veg option which escapes me now. Abundance of service from students and both meals lovely - under £12 for two .

Lunch with two American student backpackers who are staying with me for two days, after showing them round the Abbey Gardens. Went to the Cathedral Crypt restaurant as it had to cheap and more or less English. Sure enough - Liver and Bacon - but not hungry enough today.  Had really nice Root Vegetable soup that came with bread (£2.95) and they had Bacon Rolls (£2.75) as well, although the Americans didn't seem to know what a bacon roll was. We shared a lovely Gooseberry Crumble Tart (£2.95) with custard, but I can't understand why it has to be a crumble on top of a tart. One or the other would be fine wouldn't it?

Nothing much left in here now...a few carrots for later, coriander, rainbow chard that refused to grow, spinach and three lots of broccoli. The artichokes are at the back and to the left my bay tree that got too big for its pot...and a chicken that shouldn't be there. There are three and they are not allowed near the veg. and no, I won't be eating them but I do like a fresh egg. The football grew by itself. I have made a new plot ready for next year, small - but it was all I could force the children to do.

Emmetts of Peasenhall (www.emmettsham.co.uk) Pinneys of Orford (www.butleyorfordoysterage.co.uk) and Suffolk Food Hall (www.suffolkfoodhall.co.uk) were all in the Independent's 50 best food shops on Saturday.