Conversations through the middle

Book corner – Step-by-Step Cake Decorating

October 2, 2013

I’m the first to admit I’m no great cook, but I do like cookery programmes and I’ve really gotten into the latest series of Bake Off. I know baking isn’t the same as cooking, not everyday cooking anyway (definitely not of the sort you get in our house), but baking has me hooked.

Step-by-Step Cake Decorating, by Karen Sullivan, published by DK, £16.99, dk.com

I have great plans for Victoria Sponge, homemade bread, my marvellous chocolate muffins and more, once Dot and I are in our new home. And with Bake Off it’s getting worse – my plans are becoming more ambitious and I see a great new creative path opening up.

So I was more than made up to receive this latest release from Dorling Kindersely – a guide to cake decorating. Now I can make glace icing with the best of them, and I shake dry icing sugar over my sponge cakes with glorious abandon, but that’s always been as far as it goes.

However, with the help of this book I can look forward to creating butterlyies and blossoms cup cakes, a Halloween pumpkin and a pirate ship.

The blurb says this book is for everyone from enthusiastic beginners (me) to the more experienced. “Pick and mix from hundreds of creative decorating tips with a dedicated techniques chapter, featuring expert tips and visual step-by-steps guiding you through each stage. Get to grips with the art of piping, stencilling, cutting and painting, as well as how to create elegant flowers, hand-model characters and much more.”

As always with DK, the photography is stunning, taking you gradually through each project, making it all look so easy.

I think I’ll have a go at the handbag cake for Dot’s birthday next year…

Pic-k of the day – The Library of Birmingham

October 1, 2013

I love these images of the new Library of Birmingham – it is as far removed from the breeze block library I used to use as a child in the north east as it is possible to be. Mind you, breeze block stands the test of time as that library in Felling is still open today as far as I’m aware.

Back on the ball – picking it up again

July 25, 2013

Time to get back on board with the beauty reviews and news.

I have a list of products as long as my arm to talk about and there’s some great stuff out there at the moment, being human though they have had to take a back seat for a while as I tried to juggle life and work. (I hate the term juggle, coined I remember by a magazine that is now defunct – couldn’t manage the juggling I guess). Well I’ve been dropping balls, lots of them, but now I’m beginning to pick them all up, and though it will take a while until I’ve got them all in order again, I’m working on it and feeling more positive than I have in a time.

Life can be a bitch, but it’s also exciting and beautiful, and that’s where I’m at currently, that’s where I’ve decided mine is going to be from now on. Mine and Dot’s.

It’s a new chapter for us and I’ve got a bunch of plans. Bring it on.

Summer photos from North Essex

June 5, 2013

What a difference a few months makes. Walking the dog today I was stunned by the changes in the wood since my last visit, obviously the snow has gone but the plants and trees – everything has just shot up, the oilseed rape was almost as tall as I was in the fields and poor little Spice was hidden by the grass. If you need a reminder of what this view looked like not that long ago then take a look here

Down in our neck of the woods in North Essex it really was a gorgeous day and these photos sum up the beauty and heat (yes, heat not just warmth) we were lucky enough to experience. We were two thirsty walkers when we got home. I love summer.