My father is a farmer, and I live with my family on the plain between the Downs and the sea. Our neighbour is rich and lives in a villa, but we are happy in our roundhouse, which my mother says is much warmer in winter than the villa. I bet our neighbour does not have hundreds of mice running around his roof and walls like we do!

I help my father and brothers, as there is always lots of work to do. We grow wheat, hay and beans, and since the Romans arrived, we now grow new crops, such as carrots, celery and onions. We have an orchard too, with apples, plums and pears. We eat some of the food, but take the rest to market in my father's cart, to sell.

My mother grows herbs in a little garden near the house. She uses them to flavour food, and make medicines.

We have some farm animals - sheep for meat, milk and wool, cows, a few pigs, and chickens which wander in and out of the house. My favourite animals are our hunting dogs. There are plenty of deer and hares living in the countryside around us. Sometimes I go fishing in the river.

My father uses a new tool called a scythe for cutting wheat and grass. We store the grass to feed the animals in winter, so nowadays we don't have to kill most of them before the cold weather comes. In winter, I wear a warm woollen tunic, trousers and leather boots, with a long hooded jacket. My mother makes all my clothes.

We spend a lot of time inside in winter. It is too dark to see much, so we play games and tell stories around the fire. My mother preserves food for winter, and smoked hams and sausages hang from the rafters above the fire. Each winter we have a special feast when our family and friends gather together. We make offerings to the gods, asking for the return of spring and warmer, brighter days. Then we eat and drink, make music and tell wonderful stories in the warmth inside.