If you had any kind of summer at all then congratulations, the nights are now seriously drawing in, and anyone lucky enough to have any kind of crops that weren’t submerged will have most of it harvested by now.

Thoughts are starting to turn to winter projects, preserving, roaring fires and hearty meals, spurred on by the fact that we have not one but two seasonal cookery programmes to enjoy at present, and that it’s too damned wet to do anything other than stay in, eat, drink and keep warm and gainfully occupied.

On a seasonal note, we are now pushing into the traditional shooting season, and there is plenty of fresh furred or feathered game out there for you to enjoy, regardless of whether it fell to your own hand, a friend or neighbour, or even that rare commodity a decent game-stocking butcher.

You’d have to be living in self sufficient exile not to know that there has been a serious financial upheaval across the world, Downsizer’s like many others have their concerns and worries, but the one thing we can always rely on is plenty of useful advice, and a quick trawl in the archives has uncovered a fair few useful threads on preparing quality meals, with decent, low cost ingredients. See what takes your fancy and post your personal favourites for others to enjoy.

Finally, a big thank you to all of you who have subscribed to Downsizer following our last editorial, and don’t forget our big food weekend which is planned for next easter.