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

THIS year, Vanessa was going to have a different kind of festive season. She usually hosted Christmas for her family at her house, even after her husband passed away a few years ago. Every second year

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

Whip up these classic holiday eats from Jane’s Patisserie

Get your winter bake on with these fabulous creations

Ingredients (Serves 8) 65 g ready-to-eat dried apricots, chopped 65 g ready-to-eat dried figs, chopped 75 g ready-to-eat dried prunes, chopped 65 g Maraschino or glacé cherries, halved Half an orange,