It's good to know that our esteemed editor has finally escaped the malign influence of her grandmother's cooking - maybe someday she'll tell us about her good points. However, if she ever does have a relapse, she could do worse than visit the Long Room one Friday morning where she'll find some good traditional British food made by ladies who share her aversion to chemicals and E numbers.

The producers for Liskeard's WI Country Market are all very busy at present creating extra goodies for Christmas, in addition to our usual selection of cards, cuddly toys, knitwear for all ages (bedsocks and woolly hats a speciality), cakes, quiches and our legendary preserves. Most goods can be ordered and our producers will do their best to meet individual requirements.

We have been pleased to see a lot of new faces recently, attracted no doubt by the organic vegetables we have been selling since September. We cannot, of course, compete with supermarkets for choice, but on freshness we've got them licked! You do, however, need to come early (we're open from 8.30 to 11.15am), so pop in to see what we've got before you go elsewhere.

Our last market before Christmas is on 17 December so here's a suggestion - come and get your festive foliage, stocking fillers, mince pies etc. and some pasties. Then you won't need to cook so will have time to enjoy the town's festivities in the evening.

We wish all our customers, producers and other citizens of SE Cornwall a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Millennium (all our biological computers are fully Y2K compliant!).

Janet Stanton

Hon Sec

Liskeard WI Country Market

7 Lodge Hill

Liskeard