MY SON gave me a withering look across the table in Penarth’s ‘Waterloo Tea’ and told me: “You’re doing it wrong.”

He’s nine.

Whilst not quite adept as his older sister yet at ‘the eye roll’, he is becoming quite the master of being patronising.

My mistake, in his opinion and I stress it is his opinion, is at the heart of that question as old as time or at least as old as the time that we have mixed flour and butter together, boiled up batches of jam and clotted cream – which goes on first to a scone, jam or cream?

I have heard tales in my family that we have Cornish heritage. There have certainly been a lot of coal miners, so I would not be surprised if they were foreshadowed by a Cornish tin miner or two, back in the day.

They were unlikely regularly downing tools, sipping tea in pretty tea rooms along the Lizard and munching scones. But, on the rare occasion that they had one, it is likely that they split the bun in two, spread their strawberry jam first and popped on their clotted cream, after. Correct, in my opinion.

I’d gone to my friend Laura’s and taken a pack with me, plus a pot of jam and a tub of cream. She supplied the drinks, myriad snacks for the kids and trampoline. I supplied our sugar hit. Three days prior to that, I had the most wonderful afternoon with my friend Alex at Llanerch Vineyard enjoying their Cariad Afternoon Tea. On each occasion, the discussion had been had, which goes on first?

You may have not thought about it, or you may ponder now and conclude it does not matter, but it must because even the National Trust have recently had to issue an apology for offence over the matter. They published a photograph featuring a scone with cream on the bottom in an advert for Lanhydrock House in none other than Cornwall and caused offence. Crikey, crumbs and what is the world coming to?

You could argue it is about sensitivity and respect for heritage or on the flip side, something utterly ludicrous worrying about, given that the world certainly has bigger fish to fry.

I believe you would be correct on all counts. But, I think maybe we cling to these matters because they feel like something we can affect and alter in our little corner of the world.

At a time when there are so many frightening, confusing, worrying issues, nationally and internationally, maybe discussions with friends and family about food are a relief, a safe haven, something we can control.

A cup of tea and a scone, however it is served, sounds welcome, but let’s not get in to how you ask for one, scone (as in gone) or scone (as in bone).