We are having a Christmas morning tea with our two children, my mother, my sister and her husband and one of their children.

We are planning a classy tea, as follows:

Mother is providing a small glace-fruit covered Christmas cake; I am making rich shortcrust pastry cranberry, orange and frut mince mincepies soused in brandy, and cheese and sundried tomato hot pastry whirls; my sister is making a tier of beautifully decorated cupcakes as well as one other item. We are setting a lovely table with the Royal Doultan china and a small posy of clear yellow roses.

The gift exchange involves each person drawing one name only. This is kept secret, and we may only spend the equivalent of $10 or about £7.50. We are supposed to wrap the presents artistically and in a disguised fashion, and accompany this with a suitably cryptic and humorous rhyme.

Our Christmas dinner will be in the late afternoon whem it is a little cooler, and this only for the four of us and my mother, so unusually small.