As she turned the corner into Foubert’s Place and laid eyes on the shop, she stopped. “Oh, that’s the one,” she breathed. “That was my cake.”
Only it wasn’t. The white chocolate wedding cake in the Choccywoccydoodah window had been the ultimate in cake fantasy as she had planned her wedding 13 years earlier. But despite the hours spent designing the colour and style of the chocolate flower decorations, that cake had never been hers. There was a budget; a budget that allowed for the wine (obviously), the cloak (not the dress, it was never about the dress), and the beautiful honeymoon. But the cake was a stretch too far, and a compromise was made. She had always regretted it.
She had never actually visited the shop, knowing that once through the doors she would cease to resist, and the cake of her dreams would become the reason why the party lacked a DJ, or an argument about wine allowance per head. But her visit today was for a different purpose. Together with the Secret Blogging Society, she was on a jaunt to discover The Secret Room, a chocolate experience which promised to deliver an experience that even Roald Dahl’s sugar addict might be proud of.
En-route to the winding staircase which led to their party venue, she stopped to sample a coconut and white chocolate cake, and groaned inwardly at the fabulousness she had foregone all those years ago. “It’s gone, stop grumbling,” she chastised herself, as she took another piece for the climb.
Three floors up, and via a quirky trip to the toilet, grass-covered doors opened into the secret room. Quashing a momentary disappointment that the grass blades were not, in fact, edible, she paused to take in the eclectic array of bric-a-brac. A serious character put this place together. Finding the hanging seat already occupied, she absent-mindedly petted a chocolate terrier before feasting her eyes on the table. Chocolate-dipped strawberries, fondue, brownies, platters of pick-n-mix, and Turkish Delight. Oh well, another skipped weigh-in next week, she decided.
The perfect venue for a girl’s party – chocolate heaven, her daughter would be in her element surrounded by school-friends and marshmallows. Then someone popped a champagne cork, and she was back in wedding mode. “Of course! The ideal start to a hen-party…”
As the party broke up, and made their way back down through the shop and out onto the street, headed their separate ways – underground stations, buses, the pub – she glanced back at that wedding cake. “Oh well,” she shrugged. The moment for indulgent elegance had passed, and in its place were more childish pleasures, of the kind an 8-year-old girl might crave…
#truestory #notsponsored #greatdayout #chocolatecake and #poppingwine
* The secret room at Choccywoccydoodah is available for hire for all kinds of party.
Nominations are now open for the 2013 MAD Blog Awards. I was delighted to win the Best Schooldays category last year, all down to my lovely readers. I’d love to be in with a chance again this year, so if you’d like to give me a nomination click here to enter my blog address http://www.actuallymummy.co.uk You can nominate in any category but I think my best chance is in Best Family Fun, Best Schooldays, or Most Entertaining.
About Helen WillsHarrassed mother to GG and the Bug.Writer of other people's blogs. Drinker of frozen wine.
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What fantastic photographs, I feel like I was there with you now!
Amanda @gidders1 recently posted..Danielle Proud : A Craft Meet Up In Camden
It really was one of those places you have to see to believe
I love all the colours and the cakes are amazing. Fab photos.
Joanne Blunt recently posted..Project 365: Days 27 – 33
Gorgeous photos. I’d love a Choccywoccydoodah cake should OH ever get around to popping the question. I don’t think it would do my budget (or waistline) much good though.
Red Rose Mummy recently posted..Chinese New Year Snake Puppets
Heaven! I’d love to visit/live there one day!
Thanks for linking up.
TheBoyandMe recently posted..Small World: Beach Play
Oh yes, living there would definitely be a consideration…
Your words make that chocolate sound even more tantalising than it looks…..
Nell @ the Pigeon Pair and Me recently posted..Spain: it’s the new Scotland
Chocolate… luscious sweet chocolate… Is it working?
ooooh I am definitely coming next time. So gutted I spent the afternoon at a kids soft play party instead. xx
Emma @sciencesparks recently posted..Fun Sparks – February
We missed you too
What a great shop, yummy!
It really is awesome!
So many cakes, so little time!
I am now urgently in need of chocolate which, of course, I am is notable by it’s absence. Darn it.
fivegoblogging recently posted..Silent Sunday
Nutella on ice-cream?
Chocolate, whether white or dark, is always delicious.
AlwaysARedhead recently posted..My husband’s surgery
So sorry I missed out on this one, would have loved to be there
Grenglish recently posted..Making a Difference: 25 Years of Red Nose Day
I LOVE your post and reliving the day again. what a fab time and what a perfect start to a hen do, absolutely right
Mari recently posted..#TeamHonk #Goodwork celebrates 25 years of Comic Relief
I never knew they had a base in London until I saw the posts!! How amazing does that look?! Wow….I’m not sure I’d ever leave!
Notmyyearoff recently posted..Project 52 – Week 5 / Silent Sunday
Wow! That’s truly amazing, what a magical treat! I’d love a Choccywoccydoodah cake, and when we get married we will have a guest from Brighton coming and have discussed her bringing a cake up to Manchester for us – like you though, there’d be no disco and little bar tab if we did it!
We’re renewing our vows this year and having a big party – I’m sorely tempted to go for it this time!
Ooh the secret room sounds amazing! And that cake really is gorgeous, I admire your resolve in not buying it there and then
Jess @ Catch A Single Thought recently posted..Review: Baker Days Valentine Cake
Might have struggled to get it home on the tube tbh
WHAT a fabulous day we had. That Secret Room is really out of this world.
I love the way you do your collages.
This is a great post – love the way you have written it and I hope you get your cake this time.
Love the photos, and I’ll have to get a copy of that one with me toasting
Anyway night night
Liska xx
Liska (@NewMumOnline) recently posted..Look Who’s Looking
It was awesome! The collages are done in Photoscape – really simple to creat
Ooh that cake is lovely!
Maybe for renewing your vows?
xxx
Claire recently posted..Call the Midwife
EXACTLY!