Little Cottage Cakes Blog: Five go to Wales!

Once upon a time five cake-making friends, Kimmy, Jojo, Suzanne, Jo and Sonja, went to Wales on a big adventure. They took a picnic and lashings of ginger beer……

Well actually they didn’t, but they may have drunk lashings of wine!

On Friday, myself and four friends went to Cardiff to attend and compete in the Welsh National Cake Show and Competition. We spent a lot of time on Friday evening, in the pouring rain and gale force winds playing car Tetris. It wasn’t an easy job to fit five competition two tier cakes and our bags safely into one car, but we stowed bags everywhere and had a very uncomfortable journey! The rain lashed down all the way, and the very strong winds made it quite tiring to hold the car in a straight line. At one point, as we crossed the Severn Bridge, it looked like we might actually be blown into Wales with one particular gust!

We arrived in Cardiff at about 8.30 p.m., quite a bit later than we hoped. When we found the hotel, we started to unload all the cakes and baggage and attempt to get to the hotel without being blown over (it was a walk away). Sadly, as Kim took her beautiful wafer paper decorated creation from the car a strong gust took the box and the cake ended up in two pieces with quite a bit of damage. But she was stoic, and hid her upset very well.

We decided that we needed to attend to our hungry bellies before doing anything else! So a very nice dinner was enjoyed by all, with Kim and myself proving to the folks of Wales that us English girls can also drink like fish!

When we returned to the hotel Kim set about repairing her entry. After another drink in the bar Jojo and Suzanne decided it might be an idea if they finished their entries! Jo and I were quite fortunate, and were able to retire to bed earlier than everybody else!

I’d like to say we were up with the larks on Saturday, all bright eyed and bushy tailed, but I can’t! It was more a case of us emerging one by one in various states of blearyeyedness. Nevertheless we enjoyed a lovely breakfast before battling the incredible galeforce winds again and indulging in another game of car Tetris before setting off for County Hall.

Cardiff County Hall played host to the inaugural Welsh Cake Show and Competition, the love child of Martyn and Carmel. It was evident just how much love and attention they had given to the organisation, from the little personal message written on the back of my ticket, to the fact that every certificate was presented personally and not just handed out. The competition was by the far best organised competition in my experience, nothing was left to doubt. Other larger competitions could learn a lot from them.

We set up our competition entries on the tables with a mixture of nerves and excitement. Even Kim had managed to rescue her beautiful entry and repair it. Once you get the competition bug I don’t think it ever leaves you. Although competitions are stressful and nerve-wrecking, they are somehow still fun and exciting. Kim and Jo were our competition virgins on this trip. But they’ve got the bug so bad they are already fixing up the next one.

Judges Paul & Agnes studying my cake!

We had a few hours to peruse the show whilst the judging was being done, and before the results were announced. There were lots of vendors there demonstrating and selling a wide array of cake tools and ingredients. But we had to curtail our spending, mindful of the third game of car Tetris yet to be played.

And I’m very pleased to say the cake ladies of Hampshire did very well, bagging two silvers and two bronzes. Everybody in Wales was very welcoming, and nobody moaned that we had crept into Wales, nabbed their awards, and crept out again. Furthermore, we’re going to do it all again next year…..if they will have us! And we hope to stay longer so we can see a bit more of the beautiful city of Cardiff.

Next stop Birmingham....Cake International in November is calling!