That looks a perfectly acceptable cake. If I could still eat such things, that one would be living very dangerously!

As far as creaming butter/sugar goes, you can use an electric mixer...sort of, but by hand does a far better job.

Halving does work well - reduce cooking time by about 1/3rd, and use a smaller tin, or, if you have one, a metal ice tray with a removable insert to make a small loaf-cake.