I am a bit ashamed that my last newsletter was just before Christmas. Does anyone else even notice? The festive season was suitably festive and as ever a little bit frantic. There was a marvellous Christmas lunch with all of the Kitchen Garden staff and Board members which can make me feel a bit emotional. I started this adventure with my then PA and good friend Anna Dollard in my spare bedroom in 2001 and now look what has happened. So many young energetic people all working with common purpose, each with great stories to tell of their interactions with students, schools and communities…

Summer has arrived with many lovely sunny days but there has also been unseasonal rain. The river is very high but we have not had any significant flooding as has happened in so many other places. One benefit is that my garden is romping ahead. Everything seems to grow about a centimetre every hour. The buddleia is a sight to behold with its waving blue spikes. The salvias are blooming, the lavender and sage all out a riot of silver, purple and blue. The wall is almost covered in flowering, scented jasmine. And my recently planted New Forest Pansy tree Cercis Canadensis is so happy in its situation…

I was so honoured to be asked by The National Gallery of Australia to design and oversee a dinner to celebrate both the 40^th anniversary of the Gallery on October 8^th but also to coincide with the opening of a major exhibition of the works of major Australian artist Cressida Campbell.  We already had a connection. My book The Cook’s Table is bound with a reproduction of Cressida’s After Lunch on the front cover, and Kitchen on the back cover. I have pored over every detail, and been delighted over and over again. The images were so appropriate for a book that celebrated the true pleasures of the cook’s table – simple dishes, not meddled with, idiosyncratic and highly personalised table settings, fresh herbs, grapes, and of course a wine glass…

We were to meet the Hon Kristy McBain, Minister for regional Development and the local member for Eden-Monaro. Also a mother of 3 small children. Kristy loved what she saw and how could you not. Small school. Simple setup. 12 students made such a great meal for us. Lemon myrtle tea, leek, silverbeet and feta muffins with green leaf and cherry tomato salad, rhubarb, yoghurt and honey cups. Bursting with pride. And such a lovely bush garden advised by staff from Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens in selection and placement of suitable plants with excellent identification signs. I nibbled on a saltbush leaf and was told by teacher Jessie that her plan for students to make lillypilly jam to eat with their own scones was foiled when the students crunched on many of the bright pink fruits straight from the tree.

‘Never say never’ one is advised. Wise advice. I find myself writing again. This time it will be a book of family-friendly recipes inspired by what the students in the kitchen garden programs across the country have been preparing and enjoying. I am making adjustments so each recipe will make a family-sized portion rather than tastes for twenty. I have been having fun cooking and sharing some of the test dishes with neighbours. Six of us had a most enjoyable curry night. Today I made little meringues and quince jelly and perfected Anzacs. My nearest neighbours are foodies and when there is just a little to share, I send my sample or taste via a scarlet string bag lowered over the balcony…