Now that the summer holidays are over and the kids are back in school, it seems like an age since our wonderful summer holiday in France! The first 4 nights of our stay were spent in a bed and breakfast in the most beautiful location in the Loire Valley (see below). The building we stayed in forms part of an old priory including a chapel dating back to the 1200s. Our host, Bernard and Jeneviere, grow all of their own fruit and vegetables on site and in particular Jeneviere is a whizz with jam and chutney making. As a thank you I thought it only fitting to send one of our gorgeous gift preserve kits from Mac & Ninny. What a nice thought to imagine these lovely jam jar covers adorning the jars in their beautiful farmhouse.

As tomatoes and berries ripen over this month (& last) many people are busy making chutneys and jam and our gift preserve kits have become bestsellers. I just wish I had done a better job on my allotment so that I could make my own!! Next year...