Mum and Aunty Biscuit have been busy in the kitchen.  The plum jam has been followed by setting away experimental batches of both plum brandy and plum vodka.  The sloes have been collected and are now in the freezer along with some beans and tomatoes.  There are also now some jars on the worktop waiting to go into the larder.  We have two jars of plain pickled onions, two jars of pickled onions which also contain mustard seeds and small but evil chillies and finally a jar of pickled eggs.  It is important apparently to remember that pickles need a particular type of lid – plastic coated I understand from overheard conversations – otherwise the vinegar will attack it.