The lady is a champ

That's not a bad quote to start Mother's Day, although I think I'm more fond of Oscar Wilde's: "All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That is his."

Mothers are special. My own mum bought me my first car - a shiny pedal version at the age of 3 - taught me the virtues of using an electric frypan at 10 and how to impress a girl by showing off my culinary skills with Wiltshire stay-sharp knives when I was 15.

She was preparing me for the day I'd move out of home, leaving her and dad in peace. Shame I didn't leave until I was 22.

Where most of my mates would be borrowing tools from their old man's workshop, I was always sniffing around mum's kitchen, using her Kitchen Wizz or her favourite chopping board.

Although I did show my appreciation one Mother's Day when I was working as a kitchen hand by creating a menu of Austrian chervil soup (which I've never made again), rice in meatballs instead of meatballs on rice, and rum-soaked Gingernuts and cream made into a log.

It sums up what being a mum is all about - loving and supporting you, no matter how challenging you've been.

Nowadays it's a lot easier to take her out for brunch, which for restaurants has, aside from Christmas and Valentine's Day, become the busiest day of the year.

Over the years I have hunted out particular treats for mum, such as a relaxing Victorian afternoon tea, complete with French bubbly, sandwiches and home-baking at Stafford Villa in Birkenhead; or high tea at Auckland's Langham Hotel Grand Ballroom; retro treats such as asparagus rolls and cucumber sandwiches at Smiths Bar, Britomart; or a chocolate lover's delight of seasonal fruit and dipping chocolate at La Spa Naturelle.

And these days involving the grandchildren is a sure-fire way to keep my mum happy. Armed with a pasta-maker clipped to the bench, the kids are let loose making tri-coloured pasta for lunch. There's flour everywhere, but mum's happy overseeing the junior cooks as they make their shapes and noodles.

Cinnamon sticky buns
Tomato pasta dough