Summer artichokes

I don't know about you but Globe Artichokes have always been a bit of a mystery to me. Not that they have come up in conversation much in the circles I mix in but if they have I have been slightly in awe of anyone who knows what they are and hugely in awe if they have cooked and eaten one. I have been even more impressed if they have known which parts you eat and how?

Last year we bought two plants and popped them in the garden. This year we have magnificent architectural artichokes. The buds are absolutely amazing and a beauty to behold. In the build up to one being ready I bought a jar of artichokes to sample. We liked.

We looked on the internet to discover when we should pick. And after some prevarication we did duly pick. By coincidence I watched a chef on TV cook an artichoke the other month so felt a little bit more confident as to how to go about cooking it and which bits to eat.

Today we cooked it and ate it. It was very enjoyable. Not much to eat from one small globe but heck we'd grown it so it was wonderful. We chewed on the cactus-like leaves and savoured the internal choke. I did manage to boil a little caterpillar in the process so apologies to all multi-legged, long bodied creatures but it was all a lovely summer in the garden experience.

Rapunzel Diaries 4: Victoria/Prospect Tower

Another great tower because you can climb it. It was built in 1844 to relieve unemployment amongst local miners and stonemasons. It's also a cool tower because it already sits on the side of a very steep hill so the vista is rather spectacular. It has spiral stairs within which are always desirable. They build up the anticipation of the view as you wind round and round.

It sits within The Heights of Abraham complex near Matlock in Derbyshire which must be one of the oldest little theme parks in Britain. It was first opened in the 18th century for woodland walks and visits down the lead and fluorspar mines. You can still go down the mines today. I really enjoyed it as it has a real sense of history and because of its unusual position, perched on the side of a wooded precipice. But the best feature is the cable car in which you travel to get up the steep hill to visit this bijou theme park. You really do need a head for heights.

By the way it's called the Heights of Abraham after a battle on the Plains of Abraham near Quebec in 1759.