Earlier this week I lunched with my two daughters at one of our favourite places: Cafe Circa, inside the Scottish Antique and Arts Centre at Abernyte, near Dundee.

Inside, there were signs of Christmas; our table was positioned near a decorative archway festooned with baubles.

I chose a dish I often have when I come here: a starter portion of fishcake with tartare sauce and salad. I sometimes add a bowl of chips, but Flora’s meal was coming with chips and she said I could have some of hers.

One of their specials of the day was beer battered haddock and chips, and that was what Flora chose. There were indeed a lot of chips, and even between the two of us we didn’t manage to finish them all.

Lorna opted for a vegan dish of leek, cavolo nero and sweet potato tart, served with a hazelnut and orange salad.

All three of us very much enjoyed our meals, and didn’t have much room for anything else, but Lorna and I shared a slice of carrot cake to round things off.

It had been a slow and relaxing lunch, and as we drove home under leaden skies and falling rain, I drifted into peaceful slumber feeling replete and content.