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.
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Collecting Your Own Jokes On Holiday

I have been to several Toastmasters International meetings when we have all been asked to tell a joke. One's mind goes blank. Unless you are one of the few comedians who spend their life telling non-stop jokes.

The trick is to keep a log of all your family jokes. Often another person's story reminds you of one of your own. On Facebook I saw a story about a woman with failing sight who too a book back to the library and apologized for the fact that it was overdue. The librarian replied, "Don't worry. It isn't a library book."

Love it. I expect she always wondered why her friend wouldn't talk to her.

We once sent back a bill in an Indian restaurant which was added up wrongly. Several waiters pored over the bill, and kept giving us funny looks.

My husband started muttering: "I could see at a glance the total was wrong. Can't any of them add up. What's wrong? We are regular customers. I don't know why they don't admit that I was right."

Eventually, the manager returned to tell us that he had conceded, "Yes, you were right, sir. It was added up wrongly. But don't worry, it wasn't your table's bill."

If you write down on the back page of your diary all the funny misunderstandings on holiday, you will have a fund of funny stories to re-tell later.

We had a different kind of mishap on our birthday dinner at an Italian restaurant. We waited forever for our birthday cake. A cake had been taken to another table, who had started their meal after us. I stared diconsolately at their cake. Eventually, despite my son's protests, "no, Mum, you are not to go up and ask about their cake," I could not resist going up to them.

I said, "How's the cake. We ordered a birthday cake, too, but it hasn't arrived yet. You don't took too pleased. Doesn't it taste nice?"

The wife said, "The cake is fine. But it's a birthday cake. And we are celebrating our wedding anniversary."

I asked, "Did you tell them?"

"Yes, but they haven't produced our cake yet."

I reported straight back to my son who immediately identified the problem. They got your birthday cake. The kitchen now has to make a new wedding anniversary cake for them, followed by a new birthday cake for us. Meanwhile, the chef is blaming the waiter. The waiter is blaming the chef. The owner is threatening to fire both of them. They are threatening to walk out."

The two restaurants have both gone out of business.

About the author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Chocolates from Oban in Scotland, Christmas gifts and more

Chocolate has been called 'the food of the gods' and unaccountably the food of the devil; perhaps that should be the food of the dentist. If I ever have to confess my sins on the day of judgement, in the great dental chair in the sky, I shall have to confess to eating chocolate. I love chocolate.

Oban Chocolate Co. is on travel site GoEuro's top ten list of chocolate places. Oban, from Scottish Gaelic for The Little Bay, is a port on the west coast of Scotland and featured in a film Ring of Bright Water. The scenic horseshoe bay is also home to the ferry to Mull, and attracts lots of visitors in summer. You have to go to Oban in Scotland where you can see the chocolates being made and buy the latest novelty as they constantly make new chocolates. Their cafe has sofas, views across the bay, a toy box to amuse children. Food includes hot waffles and cold ice cream drinks and lots of chocolate confections. You can sit admiring the bay while eating the chocolate delights, and reading about Sir Walter Scott visiting Oban and writing his Lord of the Isles poem, which set Oban on the tourist trail, or about the nearby whisky distillery.

What if you are too far from Oban today but want to try the chocolates? I compared prices on their website to see how they compare with the pricey shops in London which charge £1 a chocolate. I still think that £5 for a box of Thorntons chocolate in Tesco Express is best value.
But, regarding the Oban chocolates, as their website points out, prices include postage in the UK by royal mail first class. For international orders contact them for postage prices.

I liked the box of four in a music box playing We wish you a merry Christmas. Good for Xmas day, though not much use the rest of the year. 
It's on this page:

http://www.obanchocolate.co.uk/acatalog/chocolate.html


Another novelty was the six point star. My orthodox Jewish friends are so kosher it's hard to find anything which meets their requirements unless bought from a kosher deli. However the star box would do nicely for many other friends and groups around the time of Hanukah.

Their celebration cakes include those with five point stars, and my favourite novelty is the crossword cake with the message to the birthday boy or girl like words on a crossword. I suppose you could do the same with Scrabble. Other opportunities and options include a football club cake, a christening cake, a silver wedding anniversary and a golden wedding anniversary. Prices from about £70.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-2852063/Scottish-chocolate-shop-Oban-Chocolate-voted-one-10-Europe.html#ixzz3KNnLIzec
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http://www.obanchocolate.co.uk/acatalog/Special_Boxed_Selections.html
http://www.obanchocolate.co.uk/acatalog/Truffle_Star.html

The shop runs a 45 minute chocolate making workshop for kids in the school holidays. Children get a certificate at the end.


If you can't get up to Scotland, there are premises in London, England, doing chocolate making courses for adults, and at least one in the city of York in Yorkshire for children. See my previous posts.

If you live in the area or are Scottish you might like to visit the website and look at the wedding cakes including one with thistles and tartan ribbon.

For more details on the area see Wiki Oban
The former Scottish tourist board is now catchily named
www.visitscotland

Oban Chocolate Company

34 Corran Esplanade, Oban PA34 5PS