So whilst only halfway through her 11am mug of tea and second fig roll, I whisked Wifey down to the station and bundled her on the next train to London, with instructions to get to the bottom of it all. You can read Wifey's special report here.

Desktop sized custard picture for download.

In the olden days custard was made using eggs, sugar and milk and flavoured with vanilla, all very lovely of course, and indeed some people still do this to this day. When in 1837 Mr Bird's wife who was allergic to eggs complained about the lack of custard in her life, her devoted husband Alfred formulated Bird's Custard powder based on cornflour. Thus proper custard was born.

In 2006 proper Custard is under threat not only from other puddings but also by its own ready made versions in cans, cartons and tubs, which is marginalising Custard powder. As Nanny Nicey found out at Christmas you can't make a structurally sound trifle using the ready made stuff.

Of course Custard is fantastic stuff which I could go on and on about, and who knows if we get some emails I may even make a web page and a little custard icon.

Your Custard Views

Take a close up look at the selection

Over the years Peek Frean's Family Circle selection has always gone head to head with Crawfords Rover when in comes to securing that all important place accompanying those numerous Yuletide cuppas. Now the brand has passed via Jacobs to Crawfords and in a remarkable move Family Circle has donned the red and white livery of Rover.

The new selection includes Jacob's Happy Faces as well as chocolate covered fingers. The role of yuckky left till last biscuit is competently dealt with by the coconut cookie.