A

I know am relived as didn't want her being ill while I was trying to recover from my op. Gonna bake my Xmas cake tonight as haven't had a chance today (typical eh lol)

Chezza, yes it's really good that you don't have to cancel your op- over and done with I say!

I'm working on my terms and conditions at the moment- just wondered if anyone here accepts order cancellations and what are your terms? I was thinking of allowing for cancellations up to 15days before delivery, and I'd refund any payments except the deposit, which is £25 for party cakes, and 50% deposit for weddings. After 15 days though, no cancellations accepted and if they've paid the balance, i'm not refunding it.

Any thoughts suggestions? Does this seem ok? 

AJean, I split mine depending on cost of order:

'For orders in excess of £100 that are cancelled by the customer more than four weeks before the delivery date, a balance of monies will be refunded to the customer, excluding the non-refundable deposit and the cost of any items that have been specifically purchased for your order by this time.

If the customer cancels within four weeks of the delivery date, 100% of the full quote price will be payable by the customer immediately.

For orders totalling less than £100, the same cancellation policy applies but the customer may cancel within two weeks of the delivery date. After this, the full price remains payable immediately.'

Mel, that's really good. I hadn't thought of splitting it. Do you mind if I use this?

ANo problem at all :) Doing it by order cost just made more sense to me, as it's not just wedding orders that might be expensive, so you need to cover yourself :)

Thanks Mel. You're a star!

A

I totally understand that Kathy, just trying to wrap my head around everything that needs to be thought about makes my mind boggle. The thing is, I really want to do everything myself! I might right down to table decorations, favours, flowers etc. I know that makes me sound totally mental but I just love doing that kind of thing, as does my partner, and we both want to be in control of as much as we possibly can. We always organise parties and celebrations for people as we are good at that and enjoy doing it so paying someone else to do things for us when we would only end up wishing we were doing it ourselves feels silly. I'm sure I'll be so stressed with everything it'll be untrue but I feel it will be worth it in the end. You probably all think I'm mad now but hey Ho hehe

Sugarluva, not at all. Although I would highly advise appointing someone- family member, bridesmaid, someone you can trust, to help make sure things are in order on the day itself. When I got married in Mottram Hall, where we had the ceremony and reception in the same place, they had one person who oversaw everything, and I gave her the number of the cake decorator and florist in case for any reason they didn't turn up  and she could call them for me. Maybe your venue might have a similar scheme. Mind you, this was just on the day though. Things went to plan though, apart from the bride topper on my cake having the wrong hair colour, which I'd specified should be dark brown or black like mine.

If you and your fiance enjoy planning big events like this, I imagine you don't really need anyone's help! 

I'm cr*p at parties. Never really know what's good to serve, apart from cake!

AOh yes my partners sister is already chomping at the bit to help us Hehe. She's good at this stuff too and can't wait to get started so I'm sure she'll be lots of help on the big day too! I'm sure this wedding is going to be at least 18months away yet but it's all everyone keeps asking me about already haha. Can't wait to get planning after Xmas.

AWell soaked the Christmas cake fruit overnight [IMG]http://www.cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3309974/width/200/height/400[/IMG]

Taking my youngest dancing then I'm going to bake the cake later. Well I'm going to eat my dominos pizza (I know treating ourselves again) and then bake the cake.

AHave any of you clever ladies / men made wafer paper flowers?

I bought some rice paper which I beleive is slightly thicker than wafer paper, although I may be wrong. I tried one last weekend to practice and followed a tutorial that said to brush the backs of the petals with piping gel. Well I did this and at first thought it wasn't too bad but it has not dried back its still very sticky. The flower itself looks naff but it was my first attempt. Anyway I am going to give it another go this weekend and try water , albeit a tiny amount, to make the petals mailable enough to curl the tips over. I was wondering if anyone had any tips to help me? I'm trying to make a peony type flower. Thanks in advance

AI haven't had any experience with making wafer flowers

ALelly, do you brush with lots of gel or just a little? Less is best!

Sugarluva, sounds like you're all set!

Happy baking Loubee :)

APetiecat have you made some yourself? I may have put too much gel on. If you were doing it would you have another go with gel or try water? Sorry for so many questions, eager to learn!

AHa ha ha, Jean ,that was very funny.

Yes Mel, lemon zest, egg yolk, cornflour and caster sugar, and plain flour, gorgeous.

ALelly, yes I've made flowers although just once. I put only enough water to get them all to stick together.

AI think the best thing to do is try one petal with water & one with gel and use both sparingly and see which is best.

AEvening, hope everyone's ok, haven't got time to read everything but I've got a question, sorry! I've rebaked the kids cakes and I've got loads of mix left, can I keep it til tomorrow evening and if so, out on the side or in the fridge. I feel completely stupid asking this but I've always done it all in the same day. I've had enough now tho, I just want to go to bed!

AMaisie I've put it in the fridge in the past and it's been ok the next day. Kathy

AThankyou Kathy. :-)

I'll catch up with the thread tomorrow when I have more time. Night everyone. :-)

AJust bring it to room temperature before you bake. Kathy

AMaisie ages ago you posted a link to the coloured ribbon you buy off ebay, I thought I'd put it in my watch list but I obviously hadn't as I can't find it now. Could you please post the link again.

ACheryl just wanted to say good luck for today, I hope it goes well.

AChezza akl the best with your op today xxxxx

AGood luck today chezza.xxx

ALoads of luck today Chezzabelle, hope everything goes ok x

My turn for a bad start to the day today, pulled my back, feel like I've got a temp, and the cat just threw up on the carpet :( Think I'm heading back to bed in a bit :/

AHi all,

Too much to catch up on, got 10 Pages and no time to read it all. Sure very ones cakes are amazing as always.

Maisie, did see your elephant and it is cute. Tip for the face, instead of doing the trunk separate roll the ball for the head and the make it slightly tear drop and then work the drop bit down so it's longer, so like a ball with a Dangly bit ( steady you lot lol) and then you make that the trunk. Use a ball tool to make. Line across the end of the dangly bit, so it's pressed in a bit, then make two little round dents in that for the nostrils. Make the ears a little thinner round the edges and you're there. It's easy, you can totally do it. :)

I'm off to costco shortly, hoping it's not too manic as I have trade membership so hoping it's quiter before the rif raf are allowed in pmsl. Just booked myself into an airbrush course in feb with the cake illusionist. Remember the tiger drinking out the river cake at CI last year? That was her.

Will try to catch up properly later.

Oh chezzabell good luck, can't remember what you're having done Burgos lick < what sort of auto correct is that for 'but good luck'?? lol

AJust popped on to say good luck chezzabelle, hope it goes well today and you're home and recovered soon. x

Thanks Kathy.

Get well soon mel and Mel's cat.

Siany my next elephant will definitely have a ball with a dangly bit! I did make a new one with his face and head all in ine piece, haven't got the photo on this phone tho.

AAwww thanks guys

Hi Chezza - good luck.

Sian - I have trade membership at Costco too but in my one I think I am the riff raff! Lol.  Going to keep your instruction on the elephant somewhere safe - just in case I need to make something with dangly bits!    (It sounds easy when you say it but doing it is a totally different thing - hence mermaid looking like Maggie Thatcher!).  Now completely envious of your airbrushing course!  How wonderful.

Mel - wishing you better - have a duvet day.

My sister broke her wrist last night - multiple fractures.  Poor girl broke her other wrist in April and they set it wrong.  She's in a poor way and they diagnosed osteoporosis a couple of weeks ago too.  I feel totally useless as I don't live near her.  She refused to go to the hospital where they set her wrist all wrong (they were very bad to her there) and was told that her postcode did not coincide with the one she went to so they were not interested in helping her.  So much for choosing where you want to go.

Kathy