I enjoyed a rare pleasure this evening - I was at home and able to watch most of Gardeners World whilst I cooked our dinner. John wasn't due home till after 9.00 so I was able to enjoy having the TV all to myself for an hour. I was pleased to see Monty Don reminding people that bad weather was still possible at this time of year, although anyone who has set even a foot outdoors today should be perfectly aware of that fact.

I get very frustrated and angry at this time of year when I see the larger garden centres selling bedding plants. There really is no point in planting bedding plants until the beginning of June. Late frosts will almost certainly kill them off and anyone who buys them to go outside will simply be wasting both their tme and their money.

It's fairly ironic that in farming over 200 acres, we actually have no garden to speak of. We live in a tiny terraced house in a village so no garden there and as the farm land isn't ours, I can't really turn any of it over to vegetables. I do grow herbs, tomatoes and peppers in pots around the front door but I think it will be a while before my tender seedlings will be able to go outside this year.

Meanwhile, John is complaining bitterly because the grass won't grow. As lawn owners all over the country are probably pleased that the grass is still finding the weather rather too cold, on the farm we are getting rather short of the green stuff. That means that our cattle 'cake' bills are on the rise again. It's a good job that our lambs from last year are finally bringing in a good price.

At least the countryside is beginning to look a little more summery with even the rape starting to turn yellow as it comes into flower. At least the colours will be warmer even if the weather isn't!