Twas just myself and Sister X this week as Sister Y’s youngest had received a visit from ‘The Chunder Monster’ so she was housebound, clearing up vomit and watching daytime tv – ah, the joys of motherhood! Another chilly, damp day so we decided to go to Perrywoods Garden Centre, just outside Tiptree, for a squiz at their Christmas decorations (they have some beautiful things) and to try their cakes as I have recently been told that they are pretty delicious.
We were slightly perturbed by the enormous queue heading into the tea room but quickly realised that they were all after ‘proper’ food and that there is a separate counter for cakes, which was a bonus as there was nobody waiting at it. We were practically drooling at the sight of the delicious looking cakes that awaited us but looked at each other in horror when we saw the price – £5.29!! For a slice of cake. Seriously?! We decided there must have been gold leaf in it to warrant that price tag. Luckily, there were lots of other yummy offerings at far more sensible prices. I had a Christmas Tree Brownie and Sister X went for a Gingerbread Scone, which she said was incredibly nice. Mine was also scrumptious and very pretty to boot. £4.75 with a cup of tea …. think they might possibly be a threat to the Wilkin & Sons ‘best cake’ crown!
The tea room is huge, plenty of space for the buggy and loads of tables. It is set out in several sections though, so it still feels quite cosy. The staff were lovely – a very nice lady carried my tray for me and, when I went to sit at a table for two, she kindly suggested that I choose a bigger table so that we would have more room and then scooted off to get a high chair for us.
We were building up to our Christmas plays at school this week and so had been frantically making or throwing together shepherd/donkey/sheep/camel costumes for our little ones to look super cute in. It’s such a shame that so many parents just go online and order some generic costume these days. I know people are busy and pressed for time but the homemade outfits are so much more special and full of character. One of our school mums got a white chenille bath mat and cut a hole in the middle for her son’s head – voila! sheep outfit – how clever! And I do love to see a child wearing their dad’s old shirt with a tea towel on their head, it just kicks the festive season off for me! Merry Christmas, cake lovers xx
The Sisterhood of the Long Boobs 