Two trees stand at the bottom of a garden in Crickhowell. We pick on the last Sunday of September, whatever the weather, because by October the wasps have the fruit.

This year it rained. Three of us picked 61 kilos in two hours, got soaked and stoned them in the kitchen the next day with the radio on. That is all there is to batch 14.

We have never bought damsons in. If the trees fail, the chutney waits for next year.