We had just finished supper, when Brian received a text from our neighbour. Translated it said ‘Would you like some courgettes?’ He sent us a photograph of 5–6 courgettes, which on first look, just seemed like ordinary courgettes. ‘Ooh’ I said, ‘yes please’. Within 5 minutes of Brian texting him back, he was pulled up in front of his gate opposite us, in his van. He jumped out, opened the back of his van and said, “Voila, livré à la maison”, which roughly translated is ‘Delivered to your house’.

I joined Brian at the back of the van, and saw them for the first time, ‘Wow’ I exclaimed, ‘they are huge’, thinking that we will just take one or two. They were more the size of marrows…award winning marrows! ‘Please, you can have all of them’ , our neighbour said, at which point they started to share some ideas for recipes for them. They had been grown in his mother’s garden, and I think they had plenty still for themselves. I have already used one to make sixteen portions of Ratatouille, and I’m thinking of pickling some, and wondering how I can use the rest. I have to say the one I have used was very delicious.

Home delivery

Two seater

The list