Where did it all start?

So you’re asking yourself, how come a civil servant wants to be a confectioner? Well, I haven’t always been a civil servant. It started a long, long time ago when I was about 9 or 10 at primary school when we first made chocolate chip cookies in class; the excitement and feeling of satisfaction that I had made these cookies, I think, planted the seed that I wanted to be a chef.

For many years I grew up telling everyone I was going to be a chef de cuisine and finally just before leaving school at the tender age of 16, I got a letter through the post saying I’d been given a place on the professional chefs course at Westminster College. I couldn’t believe it!

After three years of training (and a few months towards the end of almost quitting the course) I qualified with my City and Guilds 706 1 and 2 and the Westminster College diploma. I then spent a few months in the industry but then decided, at that time, it didn’t pay that well and the hours were really unsociable so I decided to change focus. I did something I said I would hate when I was a kid – to work in an office. But 23 years later….!

In between times, I’ve been on a few sugarcraft courses and made quite a few celebration cakes for family and friends. My latest main celebration cake was for Katie and Ash, for when they got married. I'll be uploading photos of other cakes I've made over the years and future ones that await being made!!