One of my favourite aspects of Christmas prep is making the cake. For more years than I care to remember I have baked a Christmas cake. During the last week of November, I’d set aside a day to spend in the kitchen, I’d turn up the wireless, pour myself a sherry and I’d bake all day. There was mincemeat to be prepped, chutney to be boiled, a pudding to stir and a cake to mix.

I spent hours soaking fruit and chopping fruit and vegetables. The kitchen smelled amazing and evoked memories Christmases past. By the end of the day, I had a row of jars of my Christmas Chutney, a pudding steamed to perfection, a tub of mincemeat ready for the pies and a cinnamon scented cake wrapped in foil and greaseproof paper, soaked in brandy.

Not everyone enjoys cooking, but for those of us who do Christmas wouldn’t be the same without it. I cannot over emphasize how special it is for us to be able to bake our own Christmas cakes here at Layston. The memories of helping mother bake her cake and then later of making my own cake ably assisted by my grandchildren and great grandchildren, priceless.

We made our cakes this week, a group of us got together, put on the radio, poured a cup of tea, and got on with the job. It was just lovely, we reminisced, we sang and just had a wonderful time. The cakes came out perfectly and we are now feeding them ready for decorating before the big day. I am very much looking forward to sharing a slice of cake and a sherry with my family when they visit.