By Lyn Funnell 
We paid our annual visit to Sheepgate Farm in Newick to buy some pumpkins.
Richard Wood was there. I missed him last year.
He apologised as the pumpkins are much smaller this year due to the hot Summer and lack of rain.
The water had to be used to irrigate the strawberries on the farm and the pumpkins didn’t start to grow properly until it rained.
He had them all priced at £1.50 each.
We spoke about his money box where people pay when he’s not there. Or they can pay online.
Last year I caught a woman with a Range Rover pretending to put money in the box when she caught me watching her. It was obvious that she was pretending to pay the right amount, but dropping in a few small coins. There was guilt all over her face.
Richard said that he caught one of his neighbours (big house, posh car) doing the same thing when he saw Richard watching him.
When he’d gone, Richard checked in the box and he’d paid TWO TWO PENCE COINS!
That’s plain stealing. Maybe that’s how he made his money.
Richard still sees him around and they both know what he did.
When we got home I roasted half a pumpkin in the oven and it was so tender and juicy that we could eat the skin as well.
But we’re looking forward to next year when the giant pumpkins will be back – rain permitting!
