I was once asked why I exercised & I flippantly replied ‘so I can eat all the cake I want without worrying too much’! Given I also like to travel so the possibility to combine the two things is definitely a win for me.
It’s hard thinking back to March 2020 yet there I had been in a Fort Lauderdale hotel eating a cup cake. Trying to take in the fact that the trip to join daughter for shore leave at Disney World was now in total abort mode.
Generating a sense of calm by eating cake was certainly one way of trying cope. Especially as my flights had been cancelled & I faced being marooned in the USA.
Macaroons Or Marooned?
In a case of ‘every woman for herself’ events started unfolding at an alarming rate. As the minutes sped by it became clear that meeting up was not an option. I found myself confined to the vicinity of the hotel trying to bag a seat on any flight home.
I have to confess to succumbing to thoughts of several potential ‘escape’ options. That included me applying for a Canadian visa & googling how far it was to drive to the border!
With hindsight the idea of driving from Florida to the Canadian border seems a tad crazy now. However in the peak of the chaos anything seemed reasonable. I had never before experienced the rising sense of panic & fear at being marooned so far from home before.
Killing time chatting to a nice lady from American airlines while tucking into a piece of key lime pie. The panic subsided when she secured for me seat one of the last flights out of Miami.
Making My Escape
As we landed it occurred to me that essentially I had travelled ‘there & back again to see how far it was’. All I had to show for it was a guitar book that whilst useful I probably could have ordered it from Amazon at a fraction of the cost.
We were now confined to barracks & onerous travel rules were introduced. It’s been over two years since I have taken an international flight. The lockdowns certainly redefined many things for me. One of which was the realisation how important the small things that give you pleasure can be.
No Travel or Cake
With domestic travel restricted & cake shops closed plus being forced to stay indoors. The only option was to bake at home. So below are a few examples of cakes made by daughter & me.
However being cooped up can drain even the most creative amongst us. So tiring of home made cakes daughter & I realised that we could visit local garden centres. Suddenly the ones with cafes become destination venues.
By June following weeks of lockdown collecting a drain cover from Swindon now constituted a road trip. With the prospect of stopping at a Starbucks drive through never more welcoming even if cake options were limited.
It was August before the restrictions were fully lifted. When this happened it meant a jaunt on the motorbike to Monmouth in Wales was possible. This was no mean feat as Wales now operating as a separate entity to England meant the rules were slightly different.
Trying to Get Out & About
However the weather was good & we managed to get a seat on the pavement outside in the sunshine which felt like we were on holiday for a brief moment or two.
The local ‘cakery’ of choice has to be the Vintage Birdcage which offer an alarming array of delicious cakes. However if venturing to London then a visit is not complete without a visit to a branch of Peggy Porschen.
As the restrictions waxed and waned the desire to get out increased and so it was hubby & I ventured out on the motorbike again.
When it comes to scones my Cornish genes prevail & I am definitely a jam before clotted cream person regardless of location and choice. If visiting UK definitely add this tea time treat to your ‘to do’ list.
Past Memories
As a child I remember being sent to collect clotted cream from the local shop. It was fascinating watching the shop keeper as she broke the crust of a large tray. Then ladling cream with a big spoon to add to the container I brought. Now days it comes in repacked pots from the supermarket.
If taking scones anywhere don’t settle for whipped, pouring or synthetic ‘squirty’ cream as you will not be getting the authentic experience in my view. Ideally with tea served in a teapot & china crockery too.
Although a fully paid up ‘cakeaholic’. It has been said I’m not especially drawn to lemon based cooked items unless they are exceptional. The lemon Earl Grey combo in Rhayader was certainly an example of one.
More biking this time to the North found us in Coldstream taking afternoon tea with friends in the Alice in Wonderland themed tea shop. The Biscoff based cupcake evoked memories of being in San Francisco on the pier & visiting the Biscoff shop.
Pub & Grub
The return to galavanting for gateaux in the company of friends or family has been at times a complex. At times a drawn out procedure but most definitely worth the effort.
The link below is to a short video of some lights that moved up & down while we ate at this restaurant.
As the weeks & months have gone by arrangements can now go ahead. Helping to us to get back to a place which previously we all took for granted.
One of the great things has been getting back to eating out at pubs & restaurants is sampling the glorious puddings on offer. Below are a selection of the best I have had recently all for different reasons in terms of texture & flavour.
None of the sweet treats were likely to be good for the waist line. Yet definitely for the soul as they were part of the process of creating new memories with family & friends.
While the ‘mask on / mask off’ debate still lingers. At least the future is starting to look a little brighter & the prospect of international travel beckons. It will be good to be able to go without having to comply to many onerous rules.
Until next time & all masks are off & I’m off to the pub – now menu please!