love those cupcakes

A celebration and a milestone

It seems to have taken no time at all for a shy little boy, lacking in self confidence,

to turn into a right clever clogs!

After being presented with the piece of paper that confirms he

we celebrated with pizzas all round.

***********

Two years ago on this day I had radical surgery following a diagnosis of a gynaecological malignant melanoma.

Two years.

Whilst that may be a milestone of sorts, there's no room for complacency as this is a cancer that has a nasty habit of coming back, anywhere, and, for that reason, I still have at least 3 monthly checks at the hospital.

In some ways, this "after" part is even harder, with every twinge and ache, every lump and bump, anything which might constitute "a change" becoming significant.

It's been described by others as being akin to driving whilst continuously looking in the rear view mirror.

I know what they mean.

But I'm trying really hard to live with the fear, to eat well, to walk more, to enjoy each day as it comes.

A not very exciting weekend

• There was a bit of baking:

wholemeal bread and a second, smaller, Christmas cake. (To give away.  We're not that greedy.)

Most of my cake tins were my dad's.  I think this one was bought to make one of my birthday cakes, in the days when all celebration cakes were of the rich fruit with hard as rock Royal icing variety.

• There was a bit of Christmas magazine reading, in the hope of finding inspiration (I didn't) for presents. 
  

• There was a bit of trying on of new winter coats and Christmas outfits. 

Someone was more co-operative.....

.....than someone else,

 

 

who appears to have perfected the art of sulking.

Ticks on the to-do list

• Christmas cards ordered from Cancer Research

• Advent calendars (including one for me) purchased

• Panto tickets booked

• Christmas pudding made (yes, ahead of Stir-up Sunday)

• Christmas cake* baked (well, almost. It's still in the oven.)  

Think I'll just have a little lie down.

 

* Recipe from this book

Remembering

• My mother's (much older) cousin, Thomas, a Captain with the East Yorkshire Regiment, who was killed in action in Mametz in the Somme, France on 10th July 1916, aged 23 years.  He is buried in the Flatiron Copse Cemetery.  An only child, he was the son of my grandmother's sister.  His father was a labourer in the iron works here in Middlesbrough, yet Thomas somehow went to Cambridge University to study Physics, graduating with First Class honours.

• My dad's uncle, Harry, who enlisted in Middlesbrough and served as a Private with the 7th battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders.  He, too, was killed in action in the Battle of the Somme on 14th July 1916, also aged 23 years, during an attack on the village of Longueval.  With no known grave, his name appears on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme battles.

 

Baking sessions

Cooler, darker afternoons, before Boo has his last walk of the day.

Perfect for pottering in the kitchen.

Sunday's tray of simple fairy cakes, quickly mixed and baked whilst the bread dough (Mary Berry's cottage loaf) was proving.

Yesterday's lemon buns, just out of the oven

and with a coating of lemon icing whilst still warm.

Reminding me of the ones I used to buy when I was at university many years ago, when dinner was often just a bun and a cup of coffee.

These were so much better - soft, sticky and very lemony. 

I used this recipe, halving the quantities and opting for a basic glacé icing using lemon juice.  

You should try them.

Enjoying autumn

I was meant to be writing practice guidance.

The mister had planned to finish painting the garage doors.

But the sun was shining so we bunked off for the afternoon.

The weather was perfect for a walk along the beach.

Boo was delighted.

He likes nothing better than playing ball on the sand.

And chasing seagulls into the sea.

Portions of freshly cooked chips, liberally seasoned with salt and vinegar, certainly hit the spot.

Shame we forgot to pack a towel.

Boo is still drying out.