El Husbandio couldn't disagree more. He thinks receiving a book is an insult, almost! He'd much rather be gifted 'something useful' like socks or a gift voucher. And not a Waterstones one!

Personally, I can't wait to get stuck into these two novels: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale (which I really liked, read earlier this year - not yet seen the TV series), and The Shadow King, by Maaza Mengiste, a new author for me, an Ethiopian-American writer. Thanks mum and Lou G!

Keep reading, 

Lou x

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Born to be a Tourist

When the world is eating, singing, celebrating
Tuning into the news can be grating.
Refugees and war are not on theme
But such stories continue to be seen.
 
Christmas is a time of giving
These conflicting images conflicting,
Dominating the current issues
Causing some to reach for tissues.
 
Christmas comes and soon it goes
Resolutions and sometimes snows
Normal life resumes at speed
Drifting away from those in need.
 
Little keeps stark images in your mind
Lasting past the fleeting appeals of kind.
Yet Christmas is a time for thinking of others
From neighbours to global sisters and brothers
 
Remembering the much less fortunates
While we gorge on roasted chestnuts.
Carry these thoughts of injustice and pain
Through January and into the main
 
And spare more than a thought in Christmas cheer
For those children, people, who wish to be here.
Pick out the easy wins, that’s a good start
A tin in the charity box from your shopping cart.
 
Contact your MP for changes in acts
Facebook and Twitter are tools of attacks
Check local press for news of the worthy
Helping those lives topsy-turvy.
 
Monthly donations to your chosen cause
And doing it all for no applause.
So when you pause to think of the many
Who have no food, no home or penny
 
Take it forward from Christmastime
And prove there’s a reason for my rhyme.

Lou x

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This weekend sees the opening of a dream of mine... my own (mini) bakery!!!

Every 3rd Sunday of the month I will be selling home baked cakes from my kitchen. The baking starts this weekend and I can't wait!

I've got a full Christmas themed menu (check out #bakemenu on Twitter) from iced Christmas cake to Brownie Santa Hats, so if you're in the Bristol area this weekend, be sure to stop by! The first 25 customers will receive a gift, and of course, there will be tasters!

280 Bakes
280 Broadlands Drive
Bristol
BS11 0PW

Join me 4-5pm every third Sunday (opens 20th December) and find what you want for tea!

280 Bakes is on Facebook and Twitter, so get in touch!

Lou x

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We've worked hard to make our house Christmas-y, El Husbandio and I. He is missing home (Costa Rica) and I'm missing home too (Swindon). Equally fun Christmases! Here's what we've created, hung and decorated this year.

I'm especially proud of the wreath (a gift for a friend) and the Rudolph cake. My very own show stopper for my fancy baker sister

Enjoy!

​Lou x

My Christmas bake for this year was inspired by Pinterest. I am totally addicted to cake-browsing on that amazing website, and this one was a real challenge for me. This was definitely the cake I've baked which required the most skills. 

Pretty damn chuffed with that, I have to say! I baked it for my showstopper cake baking sister, who's missing Christmas with the family this year. She was impressed, so I think that qualifies: I'm officially a showstopping baker!

The secrets to my Rudolph bake

The cake itself is a simple vanilla sponge - one big cake, although it probably should have been deeper.

To get the curly fur effect in the chocolate frosting I piped into dots (blobs with a push-and-pull-to-a-peak). It took about an hour to do and I needed another batch of frosting!

The red nose is simply a roll of icing, dyed red, and the eyes are made the same way. They're held in place with cocktail sticks. 

Finally, the best bit: the antlers. I drew a template of antlers on paper and put a sheet of grease proof paper over the top. This made it easy to remove the antlers from the paper when they had set. Melting candy melts (cooking chocolate might work?), I filled in the template with thick layer, sinking a lolly stick into the 'trunk' of the antlers. Be sure to leave about half the stick poking out the bottom so you have a good hold on the cake when you stick them in. Chilled in the fridge, they don't take long to solidify, but make sure the area around them is clear. A dropped carrot can cause havoc to poor Rudolph's antler shape. 

What can I try next? Feeling confident now!

Lou x

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