WOW, I think I'm excused the inappropriate capitals as we have already had an amazing May and June; and July is starting off beautiful too.

It's been strawberries galore at our house, and of course now that Wimbledon has started there's even more reason to enjoy some, with a nice jug of Pimms too!!  The Kitchen Shop always have a great range of garden safe jugs and glasses, and the advances in unbreakable technology means they are almost indiscernible from glass. We’ve already booked a booth at The Barn for the men’s final on 15th July, they have installed TV’s so that we can enjoy the game and some good food and drink without lifting a finger.

I don't know about you but I've been, pretty much permanently, cooking on the barbecue for several weeks now. Unfortunately I missed honing my skills at Tippers recent Webber demo days, but I'm hoping they host another one before the end of the summer. When the weather is hot I like to make up big batches of salads, with lots of filling grains and interesting veggies, my go to at the minute is Tabbouleh, I add lots of seasonal goodness spring onion, broad beans, radish, beetroot, the list is pretty much endless at this time of year. I will eat it on it’s own for lunch, but it’s even better with some fish, salmon is always a winner as it stands up nicely to being grilled on the barbecue.

This month the Lichfield Food Assembly have added two fab new suppliers to the list; Hodmedod who do a huge range of British grown grains, and Vegtropolis who supply organic fruit and veg including seasonal and local cherries and apricots which are just coming into season this month. I'm lucky enough to have some friends with allotments so this time of year I get lots of goodies from them. Potatoes seem to have been successful this year and one of my favourite lunches is new potato salad topped with mackerel, not everyone in the office will approve but it really is very good for you!

I also get a lot of courgettes, I know it was a big trend last year, and I am still a fan of spiralising them; when the weather is hot it beats boiling up a pile of pasta for dinner. I love the old fashioned barter system and if you are an allotment owner with a glut of fruit or veg the lovely people at Pom's Kitchen will swap them for a cup of coffee or two.

July is festival season in Lichfield and my personal favourite is Fuse. We've spent many a rainy Fuse weekend in the tent, I'm hopeful this year we will have some sunshine for a change.

I've noticed that the standard of street food at all the events is getting better and better, whether it's the influence of Grub Club, or there is just a better quality of vendors in general, but don't remember the last soggy burger I ate.

July is also birthday month for me, my two siblings and my mom all have birthdays this month. I love to look around Bespoke Lichfield for unusual and unique gift ideas, and this year I will be taking my mom for afternoon tea at McKenzie's along with some retail therapy I'm sure. And we will be keeping our fingers crossed for more sunny weather for us all.