I can see clearly now

The markers Dorothy made me are in place. I can't get things mixed up now. A really useful Father's Day present.

On another note, Kate tells us she's eaten the first of her early potatoes - and jolly nice they were too. She gave me some of the same batch to plant, but I would say mine are nowhere near ready. Maybe another couple of weeks, I would estimate. Must be something to do with living 14 miles to the west of her (I hope).

A brilliant present

Trying to remember which seeds you have put in which tray is a nightmare - that's why they invented marker sticks.

But it's unhelpful when you're scratting around with silly little plastic markers and a blunt pencil, as I have been doing. So I was delighted with the Father's Day gift from my daughter Dorothy - a set of markers she painted herself.

Using some slate pointers and some wooden pointers she bought from Wilkinsons, she painted the names of the produce she thought I was growing. Jolly good guess too, only the sign for peas not useful at the moment.

I shall be out there in a minute with the markers. A very pleasing gift.