Saturday 15^th September 2018 ( 2pm to 11pm) marks the return of Star Wing’s popular hop-picking event for the second-year at their brewery in Redgrave, Suffolk. Kicking off at 2pm, all ages and abilities are invited to roll up their sleeves and enjoy an afternoon of picking hops, followed by a hearty hog roast and live music courtesy of The Ludlam Pikes and Mick the Baker Band.  As a thank you, the first 50 pickers to arrive on the day will receive a voucher for a free hog roast and a free drink from the bar, including Star Wing’s distinctive ales made from the hops grown from the very soil on which the brewery stands – what better way to be rewarded for your efforts.  For more information visit www.starwingbrewery.com or call 01379 890 586.

One of my home grown veggies has enjoyed the heatwave this year. It's the freaky Serpent of Sicily, also known as a cucuzza. Seeds from Franchi - Seeds of Italy. I'm going to see if this one will reach the ground.

Here's a new monthly food and flea market for you, to be held at Clare Town Hall on the third Wednesday of every month. Starting on October 17th. Check out their vintage kitchenalia.   They'll also be holding a Food and Drink Fair before Christmas and are looking for a caterer to run their Cafe at this event. Anyone out there?

I drove last time darling ... it's simply not good enough to expect the designated driver to settle for a J2O or a can of coke, so I am beginning to rate my restaurants, pubs and cafes according to the drinks offered for drivers. Here are a few of the great drinks that I've been offered when driving this summer. Gigembre - ginger syrup, lime and soda. Ghost Ship (available from Adnams). Bee's Knee's Prosecco style fizz (available from Morrisons). Mint Sparkle- apple juice, elderflower cordial, soda water, mint leaves. Virgin Mary - tomato juice, Worcester sauce, tobasco. Shirley Temple - ginger ale, grenadine, orange juice. Homemade lemon barley water. Homemade ginger beer. Seedlip Garden - botanicals without the gin (available from Waitrose).  Damson Spritz made with a homemade damson cordial. Fresh Red - Rooibos espresso, apple juice and a squueze of lime. Strawberry Cooler- strawberry, mint and lime. More ideas here.

After working all day at Holkham I couldn't leave for home without a hunting out a tasty bit of fish for supper. The problem is everywhere gets booked up in the season and I didn't want fish and chips and hadn't got time for a full 3 course meal. Chancing it I stuck my head in the door at the nearby Wells Crab House and the lovely Maitre D' offered my daughter and I the bar seat (more of a shelf, but a perfectly good place to eat a snack). We ordered four starters: Potted Shrimps (pictured) A crab tart. Smoked Mackerel Fishcakes and Pan fried Scallops with a ham fritter. Perfectly hitting the spot and washed down with an alcohol free Adnams Ghost Ship. More about Drinks for Drivers in another blog.

The best place for breakfast and to lift the spirits for my daughter after yet another operation at UCLH. 30 years of leg equalisation treatment and the after effects of pins and plates being removed from her bones deserves The Big Breakfast at Honey and Co. Warren Street. 4 minutes hobble from the hospital. We ordered everything!

• the starters that I could fit in the shot, there were more
• green shakshuka
• the breakfast menu
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A cafe in Walsham le Willows that I've been meaning to try and it's on my doorstep, so off for a birthday breakfast with Mr SF on a gloriously warm June morning. We were the first to arrive and sat outside to enjoy our scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on sourdough toast. (Woosters bread, woo hoo!) Then a second round of an American pancake with fresh fruit and honey. Divided opinion on this, and I don't think cooked to order as although light and fluffy it lacked that straight out of the frying pan edge. Mind you the fruit was freshly sliced and the honey runny and enjoyable. Coffee was robust, very drinkable so we had two each. This cafe has a gorgeous garden and friendly staff, although they need to be more careful about recording what the customers eat as we were undercharged. Maybe not everyone has two courses at breakfast? I did point out the missing items from the bill by the way.

• I want a clematis like this
• courtyard garden
• the menu
• American pancake with fruit and honey
• scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on sourdough
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This whole page newspaper advert is vile in every sense of the word Tesco. Which box in your Core Purpose and Values does it tick?

Edit: Thank you followers for making a noise about this. It was noticed.