One of the advantages of living in Birmingham is the opportunity to buy rotting fruit at really cheap prices. This suits my budget so I do it pretty much every week. A dozen avocadoes for £1, 80% of which turn out to be brownish-green mush inside a black husk. 3 pounds of tomatoes for 50p, most of which are just fine. 10 peaches for £1, some of which are good and juicy, others of which are rock-hard and will rot before they ripen, and some that are either dry or mealy. A carton of jalapenos for £1, all of which get microwaved and frozen. 10 fresh figs for £1, one of which was under-ripe, mealy and flavourless, two more look and smell funny, and three of which - so far - have been delicious.