WE HADN’T been at Blackberry House for long when we heard about Catherine Watson’s Pumpkin Growing Competition. Our front garden was full of tendrils of pumpkin wanting to swallow any other matter that stood in their path. I sent a photo to Catherine of our pumpkin patch to which she kindly replied with an admiring statement but no offer to join the obviously select group of pumpkin growers vying for first prize.
Around 10 years later (Did someone pass on? Move away? Give up?) we were invited to compete and – can you believe it – our pumpkins didn’t take.
In an effort to still be a part I covered a ping pong ball with a few petals, popped some dried tendrils on the top and hoped that we would win – at least a smile.