Juicy story

I wish to point out that our recent purchase of an apple crusher and press for making our own juice and – if we can be bothered with the extra faffing about – cider, was a decision 12 years in the making that had nothing whatsoever to do with a certain Mr Don demonstrating suspiciously similar-looking devices on Gardeners' World two weeks ago. So there. No impulse buys or fashionable bandwagons for us thank you very much!

Having unpacked the reassuringly heavy, not to say hernia-inducing, press and carefully followed the helpful little instruction booklet to assemble the crusher, I walked round the garden late yesterday afternoon, filling a trug with windfalls. These I washed (pressed slug might not have killed us, but I didn't fancy it anyway) and cut into halves, before feeding them into the fearsome-looking teeth of the crusher. Then, rather excitingly, it was time to turn the screw of the chunky steel and wood press and to enjoy the sight, sound and smell of our first ever bottle of home-made apple juice gradually filling to the top. But what would it taste like? Fearful of a mouth-furring, tooth-jarring blast of under-ripe acidity, we were both pleasantly surprised to find that our produce was not only drinkable but truly delicious. What better way of drinking to the autumn equinox? Cheers!