Only yesterday I was chattering away about all the food festivals that are coming up in Cheshire this year, and why any one of them would make a really good excuse for you to indulge yourself and book a long weekend in one of the beautiful self-catering cottages at Combermere Abbey. So, by way of a public service announcement I thought it would be a good idea to list them.

The first event of the year is the Chester Food and Drink festival which takes place at Chester Racecourse at Easter (April 7 to 9). Around 30,000 people attend every year, and as with all the events at the race course it's a good excuse to get dressed up, as well as try some glorious food. That's followed on June 17 by the Congleton Food Festival in this lovely but little-known market town in the south-east of the county. There will be lots of traders offering local food, events for youngsters, and a friendly, family feel. This Festival isn't the largest in the county but has been growing every year as more people discover it.

Also in June (the 4 and 5) there's the Great British Food Festival at Walton Hall near Warrington on the northern edge of Cheshire. This is followed by the Nantwich Food and Drink Festival on September 4 to 16; Nantwich being one of the county's gems, and lying just a short distance from Combermere. The Cheshire Food Festival is on the weekend of September 29 and 30, and the North West Food Lovers festival at Tatton Park near Knutsford runs from Friday October 19 to Sunday the 21.

Our nearby neighbours stage the Wirral Food Festival in August, in case you are looking for something during the summer holidays, so there we have a crowded calendar of food events right across the spring, summer and autumn.

It's also worth looking out for the Taste Cheshire pavilion and the many local food producers who attend the major events in Cheshire, such as the Bolesworth Classic equestrian event in June, the Cheshire Show (also in June), and the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power - that's in June this year too - gosh, what a month that is going to be!

So, take your pick, and use Combermere Abbey as your base for a glorious foodie weekend. Check here for the availability of the cottages. Me, I'm going to all of them.