We've had a recce of the garden centres and found a particularly good one that we all like - it's what you might call a proper gardener's one, as opposed to some of the new crop of expensive shiny shops, which feature plants as an add-on.

And we have a plan of action for our own soon-to-be little piece of paradise.

I even bought a few bits and bobs for the back garden, too, while we were sussing out what to plant where. Tiny cuttings of mint, parsley, rosemary and chocolate mint are taking root as we speak in their own little herb garden and a selection of tomato plants are currently flourishing in pots and an old bath tub (the aforementioned bath was younger daughter's - she's 11 now - I know, very sad, but I couldn't bear to throw it out!).

The idea being we have a number of different sections - nothing too ambitious, some fruit and veg and a swathe of flowers, too, to control the weeds and allow us to get a handle on the site.

Included in our sections are soft fruits - strawberries and raspberries; salads - lettuces, radishes, beetroot, tomatoes, celery; veggies - carrots, peas, beans and mange tout; and a herb garden, plus floral display of delphiniums and dahlia and the like (although definitely not with any prize-winning in mind).

Plants, seedlings and seeds are being purchased at this very mo - watch this space!