Tuesday 31 August 2010

The proof is in the pudding...



... or rather, the cake. The flapjacks were a bit heavy, I'm afraid -- not quite enough golden syrup. But the lemon drizzle seemed to go down well, and the rain stayed away.
Back in London now, fretting about imminent 'Coco' publication (a bit like waiting for exam results). Could this have any bearing on my recent spate of nightmares, in which I am running away from a huge and angry beast? (Suddenly reminded of the stage direction in 'The Winter's Tale': 'Exit, pursued by a bear...')
Have just eaten curry with my sons, followed by Dairy Milk chocolate. Very nutritious.

12 comments:

Karen, Surrey said...

Must be the time for nightmares, I dreamt I was flying to New York with no passport and I hadn't checked in! Post exam result stress/new college stress for my son I don't know. The cakes look fantastic. Worthy of the Great British Bake off which I am loving. Sue and Mel are such unexpected yet great hosts. You have inspired me to bake later. On literary matters I am ploughing my way through Margaret Fosters books, some excellent some not. I assume you have read her biog. of Daphne which I am hoping is going to be better than the last two of hers which I have discarded.

Justine Picardie said...

Her biography of Daphne is definitely worth reading. Very different in tone to my novel, as you would expect, but intriguing.
As for nightmares: last night I dreamt I was living with my ex-husband and my father, in a house beside a cathedral, all of it enclosed by a high glass roof. (Cathedral and house and misery...). It seemed completely inescapable, and I woke up at dawn in a tangle of sheets and anxiety.

enid said...

All the things one has forgotten scream for help in dreams said Canetti or there is a quote that dreams help us go quietly mad !!!!!!
I often dream that I need to write an exam and my desk is locked and I have no pen !!!! Your cakes look great - dream about them

Hannah Stoneham said...

I am always having nightmares about being naked in various public and rather shaming places like exam halls and super markets etc - I say always but mean sometimes really.

the cakes look great and I am looking forward to Coco

Justine Picardie said...

Sometimes I think that publishing a book is like being naked in public...

kairu said...

Those cakes all look delightful!

I have always loved "Exit, pursued by a bear." Have there ever been such delightful stage directions?

In anticipation of your book I am rereading the chapter "Chanel No. 1" in The Fashionable Savages. I am imagining her at the lunch table, sharply biting into a piece of Melba toast, leaning with one elbow on the table.

Justine Picardie said...

It's such a great description of Chanel.

kairu said...

They were lions, those designers of the 1960's.

P.S. can you tell me what those delightful cakes are in your pictures? Nothing looks familiar, except perhaps those meringues. Are they meringues?

Justine Picardie said...

Meringues, chocolate cake, lemon drizzle cake, flapjacks. Could really do with a slice of chocolate cake right now, but none in the house, nor indeed any chocolate at all. A serious error on my part!

Lou said...

That Lemon Drizzle Cake looks delectable!

Lilacs said...

I shouldn't have checked out your blog at this time - that sound you hear is me falling off of my wagon....

Justine Picardie said...

A no-cake wagon? That sounds like no fun at all. Must just recommend the warm chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream in a bento box from Dim T. V. delicious...