Have just cut my finger badly enough to make the kitchen look like a slaughter house. I was only cutting up chocolate! Am still in one piece and have finished saying lots of BAD words but am reflecting on the fact that there won't be any hand kneading going on for a while.

Probably not a bad thing. Over the last 10 days have decorated homemade christmas cake with marzipan, made a fruit and nut ring, a chocolate log, swiss roll for trifle and, in batches, 8 dozen mince pies, 6 dozen sausage rolls with homemade flaky pastry and 6 white and wholemeal loaves of various shapes and sizes for family. Also catered a finger buffet for 20 at work.

Back home and relaxing on Sunday evening after visiting my family. Did a batch bake on Friday evening after work to take some goodies down for Mum and Dad.

Hi from helen in England a wheat and non-wheat home baker.