I go to the supermarket as seldom as possible at the best of times… and the run-up to Christmas does not constitute the best of times by any stretch of the imagination. Head down, I charged to the pharmacy aisle with as little looking around as possible.

And then I saw them. Mince pies.

Oh dear.

I don’t tend to eat a lot of sweet stuff, but mince pies are a weakness.

And a dilemma.

Obviously, pastry is bad enough. Add that particular confection of fruits in the centre and they should probably not be allowed within my vision. Definitely not within my reach.

Somehow a pack of four managed to follow me to the checkout.

I love mince pies. I bake the bestgood mince pies… or I used to when I had a house full of boys. I could bake two dozen every day and have nothing but…