Just the sort of day I like – inventing and practising recipes to demonstrate at the Derwent Valley Autumn Festival this weekend. The salmon was donated by Tassal.

It’s finally cold enough outside to have an excuse to light old Carmichael the stove – already a pot of beetroot is bubbling away on the hotplate. There’s nothing quite like the warm cosiness that comes from a slow combustion oven.

And so to work, if indeed it can be called that, more like play or recreation.

See everyone at the Festival on Sunday – make your way to Taste of our Valley Avenue to hear presentations by local producers, sample some of their wares and generally have a great day.