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Wednesday, March 25, 2020

The Birthday Cake Wording Went Wrong



Here was my home made cheesecake for my birthday. Because of the coronavirus,
I could not go to The Tanglin Club in Singapore for my birthday.

In previous years I had enjoyed the Churchill Room. Here's a picture of what they did for me on a previous birthday.


Because of the Coronavirus, I understand, they were short staffed. I could have gone to the Tanglin club's Chinese restaurant. But that was not what I had in mind for my birthday meal.

The curved lines like fingerprints come from photographing a picture from the computer screen. Would you believe I cannot find my photos from long ago on my own comptuer, but a search on the internet brings up my own previous blog post.

So here is another of my previous birthday cake pictures from a restaurant. This was the El Vaquero restaurant in Mill Hill, London, England.




But I was now stuck at home.

I consoled myself by thinking of birthdays which had gone wrong in restaurants.

Humorous Birthday Story Memories
Now that big birthday parties are banned, in restaurants, and homes, worldwide, because of Coronavirus, we can console ourselves with memories of great birthday cake memories, or disasters.

At least with online pictures of online cakes you have some control.

I remember a restaurant birthday cake disaster. One year we went out for a birthday dinner at the now closed Alpine restaurant in Stanmore, north west London.

The Alpine
The starter and main course were lovely, but what I was waiting for eagerly was what I expected would end the meal. We waited eagerly for a cake with candle to appear at the end of the meal. Another table received a birthday cake.

We waited. I presumed the chef was busy, but we were next. We waited longer.

 I grew increasingly impatient. I decided to look at the other table's cake and ask if they liked it.

I went over. They had not touched, not eaten more than a morsel. I asked if I could photograph it. I photographed it.

I asked, 'How was the cake?'

The lady answered glumly, 'The cake was fine - except for the happy birthday message. It's our wedding anniversary!'

Then I knew what was wrong. The diners had received our birthday cake.

My son and I sat speculating. The kitchen now had an anniversary cake. Should they give the aggrieved couple a second cake? No. We did not think they would do that.

The pastry chef could change the wording on the anniversary cake to birthday, for us. Or give the anniversary cake to the others and defrost another cake and re-ice it for us.

No wonder the delay. Re-icing. Plus arguing about what to do. Having an inquest on who had made the mistake!

Eventually we got a birthday cake. Just as we were about to leave. Too late to eat it. Then we had to see if they could pack it up.  If not, photograph it. Try to pack it up ourselves. Argue about whether we should do so.

Pastry Chef Left?
Was that the occasion when the restaurant manager apologized because the chef had left? I speculated, "Why has the pastry chef walked out? In a huff? Resigned. Because his work was wasted by the careless wait staff or phone operator?"

My son replied, "I don't think so. He has just gone home early. Gone home because he was employed until 9 pm and his work was done"

"Ah. He had left the cakes behind for the waiters to serve?"

Oh, dear, oh me. It was stressful at the time, for us, the other diners, and the staff. But humorous in the re-telling. We enjoy re-telling this story.

You can see a higher quality picture here of my Tanglin Club birthday, with the picture of cake, with happy birthday wording:
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4474319509042475984#editor/target=post;postID=4458240656501699522;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=44;src=link

If you need to send an online card overseas because you cannot travel to be together on a birthday,
you can use 123.com website's cards.

Here's what I sent to a relative.








Useful Websites
https://www.123cards.com/birthday-ecards/
https://www.jibjab.com/
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/03/tanglin-club-birthday-lunch-in.html

About the Author
Angela Lansbury is the author of twenty books. See Amazon and Lulu.
Please share links to your favourite posts.

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