Half Term - Part 3

The cake

Wednesday it was dreary but not raining - so can't complain too much.  The morning saw us in Giggleswick delivering the 2 tier anniversary cake.  One of the most detailed cakes I've done in a while: it was a Rocky Horror themed rollercoaster animal print cake.  Believe it or not I had the most trouble with the zebra print on the cake than anything else - you would think it would be easy to do zebra print - but not so - I was painting it on, and it just looked wrong all the time.  I decided in the end that the black zebra stripes are thick and the white thin.  I got there in the end, but it took much longer than it should have done.

Anyway, we delivered it and the recipients were happy with it which is always a relief.  We then went to the tip, I popped into the soft play area with some marketing material - they had contacted me as they often have requests for fancy cakes and there isn't anyone in the area who does them (well that's what they thought until they found me).  We then headed into the town for a quick look around the shops before stopping for lunch at a different tea room, Poppies which was very nice - same prices as The Naked Man, but better quality food.

In the afternoon Matt worked and I took Tom to the library for a special children's session: making witch hats, pumpkin plates, rockets etc etc.  Normally these things are particularly well attended.  Not the case here - it was heaving!  We bumped into Caroline, Fred & Frank, Lynne, Matthew & Tom and others there.   Tom had a good time and to my surprise showed more of his new found confidence and actually went up to a librarian and asked her a question about some red gunk they had made.  We all went outside to see a 'rocket' launch (bicarbonate of soda and vinegar in a bottle) - the librarians made a huge fuss about it saying it was going to explode and to stand back.  After 15 minutes we were sure it wasn't going to do anything!

Tom in his cinema seat

Wednesday evening I spent making wedding cupcakes which were being picked up on Thursday morning.  They were a disaster!  Same batter went into yellow and orange cupcake cases.  The orange ones were fine, the yellow ones decided to peel off?   I have no idea why.  I then had two batches of buttercream: cinnamon and custard flavour.  Both made from the same batch of buttercream.  The custard buttercream piped fine, the cinnamon buttercream didn't.  Why oh why?!  It wasn't a pleasant experience, the cakes were being collected first thing on Thursday so I couldn't make any more.  It was a horrible experience.  As part of the order I had to make some vegan cupcakes.  These turned out absolutely fine - typical.  So I added more of those into the order than were needed to make up for the duff other ones.  I hate making substandard cakes, and am frustrated because I really don't know why things went wrong.

Thursday the bride and groom turned up to pick up their cakes.  I was completely honest with them and explained what had gone wrong.  They seemed fine and pretty relaxed about it.  Let's hope they tasted ok.  In the afternoon Matt and Tom went with Big Tom and Sam and Co from next door to see Turbo at the cinema in Lancaster.  It was Tom's first time (he's always been nervous about cinema environments in the past) - he did really well.  He's not heavy enough to keep a seat down, but apart from that he had a good time.  Apparently he concentrated and didn't fidget too much which for him is pretty good.  I got back into baking and made up the batter for 5 more gingerbread houses and then did some computer work before they returned home.

Wizard Devil

Isabella and Tom

Thursday was Halloween.  We had been invited by a friend to join them in Austwick for a village wander organised by the local pub.  We bought Tom a better costume in Settle when we visited and dressed him up: Wizard's Hat, Devil's Mask, Witch's Cape and pumpkin holder.  We got to the pub - it was full to bursting with every kind of Halloween character you can think of.  This is a pub with a 'French Kitchen' and the bar was groaning with huge plates of proper French Charcuterie and cheese - all free.  Yummy! We ate as much as we could without looking greedy.  We then headed out for our wander.  At the first house Tom wasn't really sure what to do.  He accepted a sweet and then handed one back to the rather surprised house holder.  Very sweet!  At the next house he happily joined the crowd and collected a sweet and then he was off down the street racing to the next house to get his treats.  He certainly enjoyed himself.  That is, until the heavens opened and the rain poured down on us.  We all got drenched.  Tom wasn't impressed and cried.  Oh dear.  Luckily I had some dry clothes in the car for him, so once he was in those he was happier.  The kids then got free hot dogs and we had a pie, peas and chip supper.  We didn't leave the pub until 8.30ish, we were having a good time and Tom and Isabella were happily playing with each other and a couple of other children they knew in the pub.  It was past 9pm when Tom got to bed!

Tom and a Donkey

Friday we had made arrangements to meet with Adam and Eli at Docker Farm Park.  The boys got on fine again, although it was freezing they had a good time - mainly playing on the pedal tractors and go karts.  We did go for a walk and see the animals, but mainly it was the pedal tractors which were the main attraction.  Before we knew it, it was 3pm.  Eli and I were completely frozen (we should have played on the pedal tractors too) so we went to the cafe to warm up.  We found the cafe was actually quite good serving decent food - unusual in these sorts of places - normally it is greasy cheap food.  The cafe is open to those who don't want to visit the farm too - so will keep that in mind for a lunch one day - especially as it has a nice roaring fire and comfy sofas.  Tom was asleep within 30 seconds of me telling him to do so - phew - he was in dire need of a sleep.

Friday evening for me was spent out with some girls at the local foodie pub.  It would have been a good night, except everyone seemed to be coming down with a cold - so it finished quite early - oh hum, it was nice to get out though.

Octonauts and a Tom in bandage

Saturday was going to be a long busy day.  We had a birthday party and we had planned to meet up with Karen, Leia and Rosa in Blackpool for the illuminations.  However, the weather forecast for Blackpool was horrible, so we knocked that on the head and just went to the birthday party instead.  The morning was spent in Kirkby Lonsdale buying a present for the birthday boy.  We then had lunch in Avanti (bit posh for lunch, but it was a miserable day and we needed cheering up).  The birthday party was an Octonauts one - something Tom is not in to at all.  Oh hum - he decided to dress up as a spaceman instead, and didn't really stand out as not in theme (spaceman / deep sea diver = sort of the same?)  The party (Charlie's party - a boy from his class at school) was fabulous.  I have never been to such an organised, well planned party.  Turns out Alice (his Mum) and Pete (his Dad) are both teachers and it showed.  The children listened to everything they were told and followed instructions impeccably.  The games were very inventive and well planned.  (Pressure, pressure - there is no way I could even begin to do something as good as that!)  As a result the children were very well behaved and completely engaged.  Even the party tea was underwater themed with blue juice, blue jelly with fish in it, fish shaped sandwiches etc etc.  I couldn't believe it and was very very impressed.  Tom came away very very happy and we were all glad Blackpool had got cancelled as we would have had to miss half the party otherwise.

Steam Train

Sunday we thought we would have an easy day.  The weather wasn't supposed to be up to much so we headed off to the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway for a play on a steam train.  The line isn't that long (15 mins) and there was only one engine working, but we had a good time.  We did 3 return trips, sat in different seats each time and happily watched the countryside speed past.  Tom fell asleep on the way home which was good.  Then curry and rice for dinner and early to bed for Tom - school tomorrow.