I spread on some chocolate orange buttercream, snapped some photos, and presented my husband with a slice of birthday cake, no candles or singing, in the middle of the afternoon. He did not complain.

This pretty birthday ... For the cake, line the base of a deep 20cm/8in cake tin with non-stick paper and preheat the oven to180C/350F/Gas 4. Melt the butter over a low heat in a small pan ...