AThat should be okay for me nanny :)

AJust caught up its last nights chatter and been peeing mysel, you lot are so funny.!

AHappy Birthday Lelly, I hope you have a lovely day. I'll be honest and say I've never heard of Elizabeth Marek but the book looks very interesting.

AMorning all. :-)

I can't do Wednesday nanny, my mams got a doctors appointment and if I don't take her she won't go. And Leah's woken up full of a cold this morning, just like that, out of nowhere. Depending how bad it is I won't be going anywhere next week so you have a lovely day with Ioan, don't make plans around me, he's much more important. Thankyou for the offer of the daff cutters, very kind of you. You reminded me to tell you all that my silicone number tins came, if anyone would like to borrow them just let me know, I've got all the numbers, they're only light so they'll be pennies to post and I won't need any til I have a go at a 21 in July.

I watched bake off last night, "they'll now judge from the best to, well, Jonathan's", hilarious! He must've been playing up to the cameras, nobody could be that bad surely!

Glad your dinner was successful Kathy? Isn't it lovely when they surprise us? Makes it all worth it. :-)

Apart from boobs I can't remember anything else! Oh I can, lovely photo Kuuushi, you so don't look like sisters.

AOops, didn't see that! Happy birthday Lelly. X :-)

AHappy birthday lelly, have a lovely day.

Yep, gotta as not her flipping cold, since i've been on the change i'm all to pot.

Aw maisie, will miss you. But would prefer we'd only I moan I don't spend time with him, would look bad if I bugger off out.

AThanks loubee she's from the Artisan cake company, look on you tube she's done loads of tutorials.

AThanks Maisie and nanny

Happy birthday Lelly!  Have a wonderful day! x

AMorning ladies :-)

Oh I did laugh last night! I couldn't get back on as it was my mum's birthday and she and dad came over with my sister, but I showed her my autocorrect fail and I haven't seen her laugh that much in ages. It was lovely, cos my poor dad forgot it was her birthday. They've been together 50 years, and the fu**king parkinson's is taking everything away from them. To see her collapse in giggles was wonderful :-)

Then I come on this morning and there's a full page of talking about boobs. You lot are hilarious :-D Oh, and Kelsey - fried eggs? Are you forgetting that we've seen the photo where you had to cover your 'lala's' with your logo cos they were too in your face? Fried eggs my a**e! :lol:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LELLY! Have a great day :-) I have that book on my wish list (she's so sweet as well as talented isn't she?!) so it's good to hear it's useful. Are you doing anything today to celebrate, or just taking it easy?

Your dinner sounds so nice Kathy. What brought that on in your son? Just wanting to do something nice?

Gorgeous photo Kelsey!

ADon't give it a second thought nanny, there'll be other times. I might've had to bale if it was still Monday because of Leah anyway, I can't believe how quickly this cold has come on and out of nowhere too. Sometimes she just has a normal cold like the rest of us but very often it knocks her off her feet, goes onto her chest and she needs two lots of antibiotics to get rid of it.

Belated happy birthday to your mam Lizzy. Must be hard for all of you coping with your dad's Parkinson's, I'm glad she had a giggle.

Lizzy - I think he just wanted to do something nice - I've been waiting to see if this was a precursor to some bad news but I don't think so!  Yes - Maisie - it is nice.  I think it would have been nice whatever he cooked because he cooked it.  I "like" the Artisan Cakes on FB - she has an amazing gravity aeroplane on there - go check it out it's so good.

Oh dear - there's been a "bang" and the sound of gas escaping in the ceiling above my head.  Must dash....

AGood grief I'm away one day and it's all boobs and giggles again LOL :grin: That did make me laugh though Lizzy, I'm glad it made your Mum too bless her, I hope she had a lovely day x

Happy Birthday Lelly! What a fab pressie, I'm adding that book to my wish list ASAP, i love Liz Marek!

Oh dear Maisie, I hope Leah feels better soon. DH has had a cold for the last few days, been dosing him up on Lemsip and Olbas and it seems to be working!

Suzanne, what a fab idea for a cookie, love it! Perfect for a kids birthday gift bag, a game plus they get to eat it afterwards!

I'm having a confidence crisis with an enquiry at the moment, customer is adamant they want a huuuuge bloomin cake, despite me saying repeatedly that they don't need one that big for their servings. But aside from that (and the fact it will go over their budget) they want the bottom 12" to be fruitcake. I've never made one that big!! No one had ever wanted that much fruitcake, and I'm slightly freaking myself out about baking such a huge cake :/ My recipe isn't a traditional one either, it's a 'boiled' one which makes it extra moist and I've no idea how it will bake that size :/ argh!! I need to redo their quote now they've asked for this monster size, but am going to delay it a bit while I try and get my head round this. And get on with this weekends order.....

Yikes Kathy, hope everything is ok?! How lovely of your son to make dinner, sounds very tasty!

Oh Kathy I really hope you're ok??!!

Morning all... I will attempt to refrain from commenting on your recent subject matter... I will simply say that it was not conducive to this young man's blood pressure!!!

I keep reading back to see what I can jump into... but the double 'o' word is all that sticks... not that I wouldn't like to jump into those..... oh goodness I might have to go stand outside for a moment.....

Phew!  The air conditioning unit just expired.....that's a huge relief.  You should have heard the noise - turns out it was right up above the MD's desk!  Anyway - it wasn't anything explosive (I would have been first out of the door!).

Mel - I would say don't do a boiled fruit cake for that - I do like boiled cakes but I use them for us indoors!  I have made big wedding cakes before and they really need a lot of feeding - but you need some structure on the bottom.  I don't have a favourite non boiled recipe (mine was from an old M&S cookery book dating back 30+ years!).  Try to get some recommendations and go with one of those.

Kathy

PS - keep it together Gray!

AMel....I have a recipe for a 12" Round fruit...and my Mother has a different recipe for a 12" square to bake next week for my sister's wedding cake...if that's any use...not sure when your order is for but I like at least 6-7 weeks prior to the event for baking (so it can be fed)....I prefer a good 12 weeks or more though. There are others on here that do fruits so they will hopefully be along shortly.

It's only this last year or 2 I started to do sponges....I'm MUCH more comfortable working with a rich fruit.....such a solid base and I can work a good few days or weeks in advance as it won't 'go stale'.

Good luck x

AMel, I have a fab Alan Dunn, fruit cake for a 12 inch, I use it whenever I need a rich fruit cake, happy to give it to you.

Kathy, don't sound good.

A

Aww bless your mum Kathy, I'm glad she got to have a giggle. It must be tough on all of you with the Parkinson's.

I must say Kathy the same crossed my mind with Kelsey and her fried egg comments, there must be something there as that modesty logo was quite big. Lol.

Gray i just hope Mrs Gray doesn't see this thread and ban you, she may say "cake forum you say? It looks to me it's all boobs and bum talk on there". Lol.

Glad you're ok Kathy, you worried us all a little then.

Right I should be studying but instead I've just been on Amazon ordering a sugar thermometer (as going to attempt the sugar shard things) and some tylose powder (for an Olaf model). I better get back to it now I can't help but keep checking this thread for updates though. Lol.

APhew Kathy! Glad it was nothing more serious, that must have been scary though!

Thanks for the advice, that's pretty much confirmed that a traditional fruit may be the way to go then. I will have to explain to the customer though if I'm going to change the recipe, as they tried a sample of my usual boiled version, so they think that's what they are ordering (at the time I wasn't aware of the huge cake requirement!). The delivery is in April so I only just have enough time to prep one properly I guess - and god knows where I'm going to store the thing in the meantime!! And practice different recipes - which will cost me a bloomin fortune!! That's one of the reasons I generally do a boiled recipe, I don't have to worry about storing it, and most people seem to really prefer the taste - I'm not a fan of traditional fruit cake, so don't really ever make it.... :/

Grr it's just so frustrating! They wanted cake for 40 dessert portions (wedding meal dessert) and then an additional 60 evening portions. There is no way they need a cake this big, but seem adamant no matter how nicely I try to explain it, there's going to be so much left!!

AI hope Leah feels better soon Maisie, is horrible when illness just happens overnight.

I've got a rich fruit recipe if you'd like it Mel? I can't bear the stuff myself but it's apparently lovely.

One of the weddings I did last August had a 12" fruit. The bottom tier (of a four tier cake) served more people than were at the wedding. They were adamant though, even though I suggested a smaller fruit cutting cake!

You alright there Gray? Have you recovered yet from all the booby talk? :-D

Wow Kathy, that's extra nice isn't it when there doesn't seem to be an ulterior motive!

Mel do you do contracts or payment receipts at all? I would cover yourself but stating the number of portions being ordered very clearly so they don't come back to you with leftover cake, just in case... they probably won't but better safe I'd say? :)

I went thru this with my annoying bride, she had to have 7 tiers, absolutely had to, and wanted to pay £300, and had 120 guests....  it wasn't easy so I feel for you!

I daren't share CC with Mrs Gray Lou ha ha ha she'd have me flogged and would wash my mouth out with soap!!!!

ALol loubee 'that modesty logo was quite big' :lol:

It would have covered my whole face!!! -the logo -not what it was covering- although.... oh goodness, back outside I go...

AHey HEEEYYY haha! The photo was small and my logo was big...

They were wonderbra pushed up and I'm positive some of my belly got dragged up in those cups! Hahah!

A

Bahahaha :lol:

[quote name="kuuushi" url="/t/622656/a-thread-for-all-uk-bakers/25380#post_7576670"]Hey HEEEYYY haha! The photo was small and my logo was big...

They were wonderbra pushed up and I'm positive some of my belly got dragged up in those cups! Hahah!

ALmao! Wait until you see me you'll see they're small! Haha the beauty of padding these days! Hahah!

AI just got a call from the job interview I went to today to join their nursing Bank, to say I was successful. :D Extra nursing shifts in the local hospice...which means I can maybe drop my hours to part time working as a midwife at the hospital 20 miles in the opposite direction. (I'm also a Regd nurse) It will hopefully give me some flexibility....or extra days off when I'm absolutely Cream Crackered.

Yesterday was difficult as my Auntie died up in Derbyshire...so I was a bit anxious I didn't break down mid interview talking about dying with dignity. I managed to hold it together....just working tomorrow Late...before my 10 days off on Annual Leave.

All I can add to the Boob discussion...is that being so blessed might be 1 reason for all my backache!...I'm not sure how easy it would be to get a breast reduction on the NHS :(

Oh we're still on the Twin Peaks topic then?!!  Well done Spireite - must have been hard for you with your auntie and all.  Going anywhere nice on your hols? 

Kathy

A

Thanks Kathy....I didn't want to jinx the interview by telling people beforehand. It took me a moment you asking about hols...basically if I don't take my quotient of Annual Leave before the end of March I lose it! So I will be off work but Hubby isn't. I'm hoping to go North for a day or 2 to see my family...my dad will be feeling his mortality with his sister dying...he's now 82 and the last one of his generation left :( ...and maybe straighten the back garden up a bit; weather permitting.

On a plus note I shall be able to pin my sister down about her wedding cake design if I see her at a family funeral!

APahahaha Twin Peaks! Poor Gray, you never know what you're walking into on here do you? :grin:

And yup, the serving info etc will be in BiG BOLD letters on the quote and invoice, and delivery paperwork LOL! No way am I getting the 'it's too much, we want a refund'! Any great fruit recipes gratefully received though guys, just have to work out how to explain they can't have the one they tried though :/ FYI this is the one I'll be ganaching the whole cake, including over the marzipanned cake! Oh and they want fresh flowers, so I'll need to vet whatever it is they pick. Probably ivy or something at this rate........sigh.......!

On the plus side, this weeks cake is marzipanned, and I've made my first letter blocks, and a veeeery cute (and slightly over-weight but I like it) teddy bear!

Congrats on the job Spireite! Sorry to hear about yourAuntie though, *hugs*