THE whole wide world, it seems, loves sausages.

Duchy Originals Cookbook by Johnny Acton and Nick Sandler, Kyle Cathie; €37

Preserved by Nick Sandler and Johnny Acton, has just been published by Kyle Cathie Ltd, London. www.kylecathie.ie.

A FEW weeks ago I ran a course here at Ballymaloe called ‘How to keep a few chickens in the garden’. It was totally over-subscribed - I was thrilled because keeping hens has been one of my great passions ever since I was a child.