Delightful for an afternoon, Green Ridge make a crispy mix of sparkling spring water, white wine and elderflower cordial. Buy it made of chardonnay or sauvignon from Tesco, Safeway, Morrisons and Waitrose at £1.99 a bottle.

The nicest butter I've come across recently is Bridel's Au Sel de Guerande which is laced with crackly bits of sea salt from Brittany. Try it slashed over new radishes. Waitrose supermarkets, £1.39 for 250g.

Durham's gain is London's loss. Baker & Spice in Walton Street and Queen's Park (queue behind David Puttnam, Tania Bryer, Terry O'Neill et al) has lost one of their patisserie chefs, Mark Lazenby. His new venture, Cathedrals, opens in Durham this month.

Why not book a fungus-finding holiday this October? Manoir de Prevasy in Brittany offers a guide and cooking advice. Call 020 7485 7063.

Can't, shan't, won't cook? During the long holiday why not persuade your children to learn to cook at the Kids Cookery School? Call 020 8992 8882 for details of courses, ages 3 and up.

If you want to make ice cream try Gaggia's Gelatiera (£299). Italians are the best ice creamers so they should know. From Divertimenti, London: website, www.divertimenti.co.uk.