One of the great joys of life is eating vegetables.

Enhanced by Mrs Light's cooking our dining table offers a veritable feast of garden delights.

Runner beans are my favourite.

Good friend Tony keeps us supplied from his allotment with the best we have eaten since we arrived in Cirencester some dozen years ago.

Peas and parsnips feature high on the list as does cauliflower and purple sprouting broccoli.

Shopping for these at Stroud farmers’ market is a joy.

Savoy cabbage, spring greens and especially the often maligned sprouts and fully enjoyed.

Turnips especially baby ones add to autumn delights of which swede is the principal joy, that is when it is mashed.

Sometimes I am allowed to start the mashing process but the watchful Mrs Light soon takes over, anxious that the final product is totally lump free.

There is however one vegetable I cannot come to terms with, courgettes are to me devoid of flavour and insipid in texture.

I cannot imagine anyone liking this totally anonymous apology for a winter foodstuff.

I must admit my delights of winter vegetable of spring, summer and winter started in war-time Sheepscombe and included kale and turnip tops from a friendly farmer’s field.

Courgettes were not on the menu then, and when coming to them late in life I was totally underwhelmed.

Mrs Light does not agree and holds the offending vegetable in high esteem, but happily a compromise has been reached.

Courgettes may appear on her plate, but not on mine.

We are therefore able to move forward without me leaving anything when I have finished my meal.

I do not expect readers to take sides over this matter but I would welcome views on the plethora of vegetable available or perhaps any aversions or conversions readers may have made.

For example spinach was never a personal favourite but following our visit’s to Italy it is now a welcome addition to the Light menu.

Popeye type muscles have yet to appear however - but there is still time.