WE LIVE in depressing times. Peeling a potato with its dull grey skin and pin-prick eyes yesterday my thoughts inevitably turned to Wayne Rooney and his lack lustre colleagues. Poor old Fabio.

Small wonder he is grumpy. He has tried to instil discipline and forward planning into these spoilt and pampered lads and all he has done is strip them of their natural talent and risk-taking.

That other Maris Piper look-alike, David Cameron, tells us that worse is to come - although he is unspecific about football we know he means to include that, too – and we will all suffer.

Fabio and Cameron look down on us with furrowed brows as we trudge about the muddy field called life not knowing for one minute what they expect us to do. Like Wayne, we don't know how the country got into such a mess, how much it is our fault as individuals and, most importantly of all, what we can do about it.

Meanwhile the Brains have been enjoying the best weather in the most beautiful country and doing a bit of exploring. It is a fact that we can often know most about distant places and overlook what is on our doorstep.

So, turning a corner, we came across the organic farm shop at Abbey Home Farm just two miles from Cirencester. I have for a while now been keen to explore more local produce and really work out for myself the benefits of organic goods.

Like a newcomer to football and international economics I have more questions than answers. I start with, 'Can I do an entire weekly shop at the organic farm shop?' The answer is yes, and more. 'Can I feel confident in the source and quality?'

Yes, because I can ask and I can see and then take away and taste. If, like me, you have missed this treat look at their website at www.theorganicfarmshop.co.uk or, better still, go and see. Have coffee or lunch and explore all they have to offer.

For me it is the future of shopping. Though personally I do draw the line at their Yurt hut eco-camp, of course. Now all we have to do is get the owners, Will and Hilary Chester-Master, to instil some of their spirit and soul into football and The Treasury and we would have reason to be optimistic.

Visit Lesley's website at www.lesleybrain.com