Well, thank goodness January is over.

All that wintry weather in, er, winter, was really annoying. I bet whoever thought up the wheeze of naming our storms in alphabetical order is regretting it. We'll be at Storm Zebedee before Pancake Tuesday at this rate.

Talking of Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday to give it its Sunday name, I'm always slightly confused by when it falls. It tends to creep up on me, leading to a mad last-minute dash for maple syrup and strawberry ice cream, which happen to be my boys' favourite toppings of choice. (Not together, obviously. That would be insane).

Apparently, Pancake Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, which in turn falls on the Sunday following the first full moon that occurs after the first day of spring. So that's not confusing at all. By the time I've worked it out, it will be Feeling-Slightly-Sick-From-All-The-Pancakes Wednesday.

Actually, the whole world of pancakes is confusing. When is a pancake a crepe? What's the difference between a Scotch pancake and a dropped scone? Where exactly does the crumpet fit in?

Shrove Tuesday began, fact fans, because in the 'old days' it was the last day people could use up eggs, butter and other luxuries before the fasting season of Lent began.

Legend has it that the Queen herself whipped up some Scotch pancakes for President Dwight Eisenhower when he visited Balmoral Castle in 1959. According to the National Archives, the Queen used a family recipe, which she later sent to the President with a suggestion to use treacle in place of caster sugar.

I love pancakes. My family has always celebrated Shrove Tuesday. In our house, when I was wee, my mum did actually toss a pancake which stuck to the ceiling. Best Shrove Tuesday ever.

My first weekend job was waitressing in The Pancake Place in East Kilbride (now no longer there, sadly), and I have many fond memories of scrubbing the sweet smell of batter and syrup out of my hair before dashing out on a Saturday night.

I once served John Hannah in that Pancake Place, just before he got really famous in Four Weddings and a Funeral. He left me a fiver tip. This was unheard of. I still love him for that. I met my husband there too and once, the Queen stopped by when she came to open the shopping centre. (I was dressed as an orange at the time, but that's another story.) I wish I'd thought to ask her for her recipe...

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