OUR first Aga encounter was some 30 years ago. A friend said: “You've never tasted sausage until you’ve savoured it from an Aga.”

My good lady was an excellent cook but cumberland sausage after two days in the oven certainly wasn't like any other taste I had encountered.

Roll on 26 years and many thousands of pounds later, my wife had to have another one this, time to match the kitchen, and I must say it looks a treat. However, it’s too hot in the summer so it’s turned off for around five months of the year.

When it’s on it costs around £50 per week to run but the cat and I both love it in the winter when she’s laid in front of it purring away and my clothes are lovely and warm ready to go out into the bracing North-East weather.

However, my wife hates it and Mary Berry with a passion.

In hindsight we would have been better off with a Baby Belling table top cooker and the occasional dining out.

John Cumberland, Rushyford.