It was tempting, dear reader, to post an apology today, advising that this blogger is indisposed due to a dose of the Dreaded Lurgy (D.L.). However, having consumed a rather interesting concoction called ‘Tomato Tea’ that I found on the net yesterday, I think I’ve turned the corner.

Of course my first few wobbly steps on the road to recovery could also be attributed to my having dosed up on an array of cold-fighting supplements, enough lemon juice to strip dental enamel, foul-tasting homeopathic medicine and a thick coating of Vicks VapoRub plastered over my person.

As a result of this puny but welcome burst of energy, I’m pleased to say that I can manage a little something for you today.

For my money, one of the best reasons to grow your own vegies is that you don’t have to shop so often, making all that digging, bending, planting and nurturing well worth the effort. (Easy to say because I’m not the one who actually does it.)

It’s not that I mind visiting our local greengrocer. In fact, I really enjoy chatting with the family who runs the shop. We even occasionally bump into friends there – it’s the closest some of us get to a social life.

That aside, having nothing fresh in the fridge is a real disappointment when your grumbling guts are looking forward to a tasty sandwich.

Even in a small space you can grow your own greens. When we lived in Sydney, I grew some rocket – as well as parsley and coriander – in pots, and I’d use it to garnish whatever I could scrape together for lunch. That meant that I didn’t have to make a special trip to the shops just to buy something to improve sardines on toast.

We tend to have a leafy vegetable growing at any one time of year. Lately, we’ve been steadily harvesting the Swiss Chard and what a godsend that’s been over the last few days, when we haven’t felt up to travelling into town.

Last night, we defrosted some ‘emergency’ Istra sausages – that had been lolling in the freezer for a while – and grilled them. They were delicious with polenta, steamed Swiss chard, green beans and peperonata made from our own tomatoes.

Unfortunately my partner felt too crook to eat but I scoffed everything on my plate like a woman possessed. Despite that, I still awoke hungry at 3am. It seems that my particular version of the D.L. needs regular feeding.

Home-grown lettuces are also a good standby. They particularly like the cooler weather and will withstand a light frost. Just to be on the safe side, if any type of frost is forecast, we throw a sheet of plastic over them.

Ours have grown in a bed on the western side of the house, beneath a chicken-wire cloche that protects them from whatever nocturnal life-form might take a fancy to them. They’re so much tastier than shop-bought lettuces. With only two left out of half a dozen planted, we’re thinking of planting more.

Now, dear reader, you’ll have to excuse me. I’m feeling a little overcome by this fug of menthol, camphor and eucalyptus oil. And I think the D.L. will need feeding again soon, too.

Please, if you know of any sure-fire remedies that might help us shake this thing, leave a comment below or drop me a line.