Thanks ladies - I did wonder if it would be tricky but Fiona had a lot of success with her recipe whereas a lot of people who tried it struggled to get a set. It really must come down to type of pear I think.

I'm happy to use them for chutney rather than get myself in a mess (literally) with another pan of gloopy bubbling, spitting, molten lava like jam but the flavour of pear & lemon really appealed to me. The pears are rock hard at the minute - I'll phone the farm shop tomorrow and ask what variety they are.

Jan - the chutney you mention sounds lovely if you have the recipe for it to hand I wouldn't mind it please as it would make good Christmas gifts.

I also found one for Apple, Fig & Pear chutney with cardamom from the lavender & lovage website (well worth ploughing through- her recipes are wonderful).

http://www.lavenderandlovage.com/

Not been feeling the best over the last few weeks and now the Doc has me on tablets which I hate. I suppose I shouldn't grumble as first time in my 60+ years I have had to take pills but they are making me really woozy. I'm hoping I might be able to do without them eventually. Good job hubby is on hand now to help me with veggie prep for chutney