Betty Middleton had only moved in two weeks earlier, but already she was starting to annoy me with her frequent knocks at my back door. “Would you like a slice of my lemon drizzle? It’s home-made!” No

WHO SAID DINNER WAS THE MAIN EVENT? CLODAGH MCKENNA’S TWIXMAS BRUNCH IDEAS MIGHT PERSUADE YOU OTHERWISE…

They say a pic is worth a thousand words. What does yours say about your special moment? Here one reader shares the story behind her favourite photo

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Lesley Fernández-Armesto on a superior cake for Christmas

They might be plain in looks, but Jacob’s Cream Crackers have had a colourful life. Tom Howells presents a bite-sized history of the Christmas cheeseboard staple