MAKE the most of one day of sunshine to put in my remaining daffodil and tulip bulbs.

My back garden has for too long suffered from neglect as I have put any spare time in pursuit of nurturing the biggest pumpkin and the tastiest sweetcorn.

Away from the earth and into the kitchen, the weekend starts well with a dinner at our house for friends.

I stray too far from my comfort zone by attempting three new courses and would ask that you learn from me - never underestimate the stress of serving up food that has not been road tested before.

It seems to go well but the pudding that contains 1lb of chocolate and not a lot else even defeats the confirmed chocoholics in the room.

The conversation turns to sheds (honestly, dinner at our house is wild!) and husband agrees to help a friend put up a shed on his new allotment.

Shed envy grips me again. This affliction gets a hold of me at least once a year and is usually triggered by husband offering to help a friend put up their shed. In my head I am screaming like a spoilt child: "But I want a shed. When will you put up your own shed?"

But the words that come out are "Anyone for more pudding?"

I truly am the consummate hostess.

Also celebrate 11 years of marriage at the weekend and husband tries hard to convince me that he has forgotten.

I believe that it is possible for the date to have slipped his mind and prepare for all manner of bitter recriminations the next day.

Am immediately silenced when he produces a heart shaped jade pendant to replace a necklace lost when I fell off my bike.

Delighted but feel guilty to have doubted him. He has just earned himself a shed reprieve for another year.