Lots of thank yous are due! To my boys Ashley, Dylan and Finlay, and husband Damian, not so much for the taste testing – that’s no hardship – but for putting up with me when I’m tearing my hair out because the recipes just aren’t working, and for tolerating the telly ban while I’m writing. My huge thanks to Baking Mad, Silverspoon, Billington’s and Allinson for a generous supply of ingredients that has seen me through from start to finish. Copious amounts of flour, chocolate and sugarpaste have made their way through my kitchen. As always, I’d also like to send a big virtual hug to the gang known as The Pink Whiskers, fellow kitchen tinkerers, a thoroughly lovely bunch who have completely given this stay-at-home baking-mad mummy a whole new career. And last but not least the team at David & Charles and the FW Media team for their support and super hard work to get this book together – Ame, James, Victoria, Katy, Emma and Nicky. Also to Jack for your beautiful photos (and for letting me torture you all day long with goodies you’re not allowed to eat until we’ve finished. You must have willpower of steel).