My first cake memories are from when I was about 12 years old, helping my Nanna with baking a birthday cake and decorating it with my Grandpa. My Nanna used to make the best buns ever. And my Grandpa…well as a kid I was told that he used to decorate Easter eggs and cakes when he was younger before he went to work in a paper mill. I never knew why he stopped working in the bakery, I just remember that he seemed so happy when he did those little bits of decorating with me. He taught me how to make a really basic rose, something that stuck with me right through to when I began my cake journey. 

Fast forward to 2018 when my Nanna passed away, I went home to be with my Grandpa for a couple of weeks. I took my sugar flower work with me so he could watch me and take his mind off everything else. He sat mesmerised, asking questions and smiling away. You could still see his passion for sugarcraft was still there and his pride in me was evident for all to see. He then told me about his Dad refusing to sign his bakery apprenticeship forms as he'd felt it wasn’t a proper job. It was this that had stopped him from getting his qualification or progress to be a Master Baker, all because the form wasn’t signed. That was the end of his dream, well until I took it on for him. 

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During that fortnight he gave me his old piping nozzles telling me “If they’re no good Emma then bin them, they’re probably no use to anyone”. Obviously I didn’t bin them, they are far too special! In fact, I found a box frame and mounted his piping nozzles in it which sits proudly on a shelf in my kitchen. If you hadn’t already worked it out, my Grandpa was my inspiration and hero…even when he knew he wouldn’t be able to get his apprenticeship, his love and passion for cakes took him on that journey anyway…one that both he and I were eternally grateful for…after all it must run in our blood. 

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I know, I missed out the bit where my cake journey began. But it just seemed right to tell that inspiring bit first so the rest all makes a bit more sense.