Another recipe from Paula

I can't tell you how complicated my life is at the moment. Laura's doing her best to get it all down on paper as quickly as she can so I don't want to give anything away here.

However, my mind has recently been taken off my own problems by Mel's revelations. We're all rallying round her because she needs all the help and support we can give her at this very difficult time. But even close friends can only do so much - sometimes, things just have to run their course whilst we stand by with a safety net.

Therefore, as I always turn to cooking when I'm stressed, I thought I'd share one of my quick and easy recipes that's great for a family dinner and can be left to do its own thing - Ham and Leek Cheesy Bake

• allow one to two leeks per person. Clean and cut into 2 inch lengths. Put in an ovenproof dish.
• chop a packet of honey roast ham and add to the leeks.
• Make a cheese sauce - you can't go wrong with Delia - and pour over the leeks. Stir to mix well
• put on a lid and bake at 180/Gas mark 6 for around an hour.
• Great with baked potatoes so put these in at the same time and, when the potatoes are done, the leek bake will be ready too.
• You can prepare the day before or even cook and reheat.

Check back soon for further updates.

Love, Paula

Hi. I'm Mel

Anyone who knows me will say that I'll tell my life story to someone at a bus stop. But when someone asks you to introduce yourself....

So here goes.

I'm ten years younger than the rest of the Gang and met them at the ante natal group. I was only fifteen when I fell pregnant and the rest of the girls were so kind to me - they sort of adopted me and have been mother hens ever since. I love all three of them like sisters.

So, whilst everyone was taking their GCSEs I was a new mum and getting ready to marry Lester Harper, my baby's father. Lester was only 21 himself at the time with little or no prospects. Sad to say, he fulfilled this early lack of promise! He's now a jobbing builder and our eldest, Tony, works with him (or, in Lester's case, avoids work wherever possible).

My daughter is 16 and a very clever girl - I can't believe I was pregnant at her age - she seems so young. I also have another son, John, who's 20 and has a lovely kind heart. There was no money for college so he's taking an environmental sciences degree with the Open University. All this studying has set me thinking that I ought to return to school to get some sort of education - I don't want to spend the rest of my life slicing bacon!!

My share of the story in The Accidental Guru is a particularly difficult one and I couldn't have got through it without my sister friends, Judi, Paula and Aurora. Why not download the first chapter for free and see how it all started.

I hear Aurora's introducing herself next. Hold on to your hats!

Love Mel xxx