My very own Good life......

It's around now that I decide, most years, to become a smidge more self sufficient and have a go at growing my own veg and salads.

Before I know it I have this mental image of me wafting around my garden - I'm dressed in some strange looking hemp like smock thing in this fantasy, no idea why as it's not something I'd ever be seen dead in - picking trugs of colourful sweet peas and conjuring up gorgeous salads made from lettuces from my burgeoning veg patch.

In my dream the runner beans are rampant, home grown nasturtiums adorn my salads and we're feasting on carrots, tomatoes and potatoes from our own back garden. Our very own Good life.

And I'm not the only one, this year it seems everyone is aiming for a simpler life. One friend now makes cakes with eggs produced by chickens who roam her garden, while another has ducks and a third has just turned part of her garden into a vegetable patch. So long Sex and the City, hello Country Living.  

I have strong memories of sitting with my grandmother podding peas that she grew and let me pick as a treat. I must have been about six but can still remember how wonderful they tasted raw. She had a huge garden and grew masses of fruit and veg. My grandfather was equally avid and grew enormous marrows, goodness knows why as marrow has to be one of the most insipid vegetables ever.

Last year I did make a bit of a start - I even got to the garden centre and spent a small fortune on all the stuff I needed to grow my own lettuces. I was particularly chuffed with my blue flowery trowel and fork - it's important to look the part, after all. It was only later that I worked out that my  lettuce crop ended up costing around a fiver each.

The good thing about lettuce is that they'll grow for anyone and I soon had a lively little crop. I even fulfilled my fantasy of cutting lettuce from my own garden for a salad - twice. Unfortunately I then disappeared off on holiday and the family forgot about them so I returned to a dead brown mulch.

The little son and I had a go at runner beans after someone told me they were easy to grow. We built the wigwam in one of the flower beds, followed the instructions to a T but still ended up with the sum total of three stringy beans. It would seem I haven't inherited my granny's green fingers.

But I refuse to give up and this year we're going to have another bash. I've made a good start - I'm watching Gardener's World. I just haven't actually made it into my garden yet....but, hey, we've all got to start somewhere.