slow morning

It's one of the last of the slow mornings. The boys are tucked away in their pyjamas, watching a dvd or playing with Lego or reading. The sun is shining. Take advantage of a quiet kitchen and make coffee the slow way, grind the beans, fill the little red pot with water, put it on the stove, hear the hiss of the gas and wait for the magic to happen. As soon as you hear the putt of coffee in the spout, whisk it off the heat. Toast pops, buttery fingers, cream in a favourite cup. And then out into the sun to sit and drink and eat and, if you're a dog, sunbathe.

Christmas traditions

breakfast time by Becca Stadtlander

This is going to sound daft but I do love a good breakfast! Hot coffee is a must, cream is an optional extra, porridge with brown sugar, toast with marmalade or honey. Weekend breakfasts might include buttermilk scones, pancakes with maple syrup, homemade granola or sometimes eggs and bacon. We've a lovely pre-Christmas tradition of inviting friends for brunch on a morning as close to Christmas day as possible. We'll have something sparkling and bubbly to drink, cinnamon poached plums with greek yogurt, smoked salmon with eggs and, in a starring role, plum duff fried in butter and served with smoked bacon, this is possibly the best breakfast of all with the clatter of excited children and the laughter of friends around us making us feel very lucky indeed.