Everyone in the village had to be informed and reminded of road and harbour closures and alternative arrangements, most of which Troy dealt with in his own unique way. His sore shoulder hadn’t stopped him from issuing orders.

Each year there were new health and safety regulations to be followed and risk assessments to be done, which thankfully was Drew’s area of expertise, as was dealing with the marquee people. The marquee itself was due to be pitched two days before the event and then the fixtures and fittings put in place the following morning: a stage, power and lighting and a bar.

After the reports, she handed out copies of the final list of exhibitors and performers. Seeing the scale of the festival printed across several sheets of paper led to gasps from Zennor and even a ‘bugger me’ from Troy. This year, the food market would spread into the streets and onto the football pitch behind the harbour, with producers from all over Cornwall and further afield. You name it, if it was grub or grub related, it was there, from jams and oils, to cookery books, pots and pans and novelty aprons. Ethnic and local producers using local food in creative ways or fusions of Cornish and ‘foreign’ recipes, as Troy called them.

The festival marquee was pitched on a farmer’s field above one side of the harbour, which also provided one of the car parks. It provided an all-weather venue for artists ranging from bands and comedy acts to spoken word performers that kept punters around until late in the evening.

The final item on the agenda related to the real heart of the festival, the Chef’s Theatre, where Gabe and local restaurateurs would work their magic with Cornish produce in front of a live audience.

Chloe had already held a meeting with the three chefs who had been invited to cook at the festival and reported back on their requirements. Gabe had to be in London for a couple of days and couldn’t make the main meeting so Chloe emailed him and arranged to meet him at the pub the following evening. However, Chloe had a small bombshell of her own to drop.

‘I’m really sorry but I’m not going to be able to make the meeting with Gabe tomorrow night. I double booked and promised to go to a Zumba friend’s birthday party,’ she said. ‘I know you’re busy but do you mind doing it?’

Sam hesitated a moment too long.

‘Of course, if it’s difficult, I could rearrange a date with him although I’m not sure what his schedule’s like.’

‘No, it’s fine,’ Sam said with a smile that went no further than her mouth. ‘It shouldn’t take too long.’

‘Best to get it over with,’ Chloe said. ‘I mean, best to have the meeting while you both have time,’ she added hastily.