Today has been one of those brilliant, crisp and sunny pre Christmas days you seem to get every year. But only one of us saw it.

This morning was shopping and baking as I made Nigella Lawson’s London Chesecake and tomato sauce for the pizzas for this evening’s dinner party. This afternoon was setting the table and getting the house ready while I waited for the call from L who’d been out on her work Christmas Party last night. Or rather this morning as she confessed when she called me. Already “in recovery” on the sofa with the blanket and Inspector Morse she hadn’t moved at all by the time I arrived to pick her up.

Back here in a remarkable prawn and snowball fuelled turn around she was ready for the onslaught as Fhai, Martin, Richard and Joanne appeared for an evening meal. I’d told her what the kids would be like and she seemed prepared, despite the headache, but thanks to Martins team talk they were both quiet and well behaved. It was most unsettling. Things changed however when they helped me make their own pizzas and after the initial shyness over meeting L had worn off.

Most parties here seem to be in the kitchen but for once we were posh and used the dining room to all sit down and eat together. The kids with homemade cheese and tomato pizza and the adults with Beef Wellington, roast potatoes and roast vegetables.

It’s been a long time since this house had this warm, happy feeling.