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20 flowerheads 2 oranges 2 lemons 50 grams citric acid 2lbs sugar in 3 pints water

Wash flowerheads and quarter oranges and lemons. Dissolve the sugar in the water over heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Allow to cool. Pour sugar syrup over flowerheads and oranges and lemons. Add citric acid. Stir twice a day for three days. Decant through a sieve into bottles. To serve dilute with still or sparkling water.

Is it possible that spring is finally on the way?

The sun came out on Saturday so we hit the beach for sausage sandwiches and a play in the sand. Crow Point sits at the end of Saunton Sands and can be reached by car heading out of Braunton to Velator.

Slim pickings this year, there are quite a few of them but they are all rather small and sad looking.

Love it or hate it, Damien Hirst certainly knows how to cause a stir. The Quay restaurant is packed and the harbour is buzzing. Another great reason to head to Ilfracombe this weekend.  You can find out more information about Damien Hirst on Artsy.

Our raspberry canes have taken over the top end of the garden and we have been picking punnets of them every day for weeks now.

We set off from Ilfracombe in the morning for a 12 mile walk along the coastal path taking in all of our favourite places; Ilfracombe Tunnels, Lee Bay, Bull Point, Morthoe, Barricane, Woolacombe and Putsborough beaches and finally Baggy Point. We arrived mid afternoon in Croyde in time for tea at Sandleigh.

In a Devon tea it's always cream first and then the jam, but if you were down the road in Cornwall it's butter first, then jam, then cream.

Sri Lankan curry on the beach from 6pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in the holidays. Take a rug and something to drink and watch the sunset.

Squeeze 4-5 lemons, dilute with about a litre of water, infuse with mint leaves and add sugar or honey to taste. Serve chilled from the fridge with ice cubes. Thank you Clara!

We are eating every meal outside, desperate not to miss a moment of sunshine while it lasts.

30 elderflower heads 1 litre water 1kg sugar 2 lemons 30g citric acid Shake any bugs off the flowerheads and place in a large pot. Boil the water with the sugar and citric acid until dissolved then cool slightly and pour over the elderflowers and lemon. Leave to infuse for 3-4 days in the fridge. Strain through a cheesecloth and decant into bottles.

A quick drive from Squires Fish and Chips to Putsborough Beach to make the most of a brief sunny interlude. Hard to believe there are gales forecast tomorrow.

It's a bit of a guilty pleasure in these parts because for a long time Ilfracombe has had a less than glowing reputation. But it does have a good deal of charm; we love the faded architecture, the harbour and its cliff backdrop, The Quay restaurant, St Nicolas' Chapel on the hill, Tunnels beaches, the Playhut, the Landmark Theatre and Bicclescombe Park. A great place to go when it's sunny but too cold for the beach, definitely not when it's raining.

There is still a nip in the air, and we are still wearing coats, but it's great to be eating outside again at Sandleigh.

What are you having on yours?