Mrs Down's Diary, September 22

"We've combined the beans," would be the answer.

Yabber, yabber, yabber I would go.

"We've drilled some grass seed today," rumbled back.

Yabber, yabber, yabber I would persist.

"I've made a start on drilling wheat."

We understand each other perfectly. A sort of parallel universe with occasional crossing points.

I was very disappointed to have missed the beans being combined. Two machines, both with 24ft beds, almost twice the width of our own combine came in. It was a very dry day and John said both combines were engulfed with dust.

"They were amazing," he said. "They combined 40 acres in four hours. I felt I was watching two huge prehistoric beasts on the rampage."

Mrs Down's Diary appears every week in the West Sussex Gazette. You can read the full version of this article in September 22 issue