It started the day before, when I was baking and icing the cake. And honestly — when is it EVER 27°C in England… for a whole week? Of course, that would be the moment I’d said yes to making a chocolate ganache wedding cake. I didn’t quite imagine I’d be trying to ice it in that heat.

Still, by 8am on the wedding morning, the cake was delivered in perfect condition, standing tall and glossy just as I hoped. Job done. Except, not quite…

Here’s the bit I’m hesitant to admit: I somehow misread the invitation and turned up to the wedding ceremony just as it finished. Yes — I missed the actual ceremony. Classic me. All my life, I’ve struggled with timings: arriving late, turning up a week early, missing appointments altogether. It’s one of those quirks I can’t seem to shake.

And yet — here’s the contrast. In the kitchen, I can manage ten things at once. Multiple cakes, each at different stages, timers going off, staff needing direction — and I can juggle it all. It’s where my brain works at its sharpest. Outside the kitchen? Not so much. That morning was no exception.

By the time I’d baked, finished, and delivered the cake, cleaned down my kitchen, taken my dog Tiffin for a walk, organised one of my boys to come home later to feed her, and collected a handbag I was borrowing from a friend… I was feeling pretty proud of myself. Ceremony at 11:45? I could make that. Except it wasn’t at 11:45. It was at 10:45. And by the time I arrived, I was greeted with the words: “Ellie and the bridal party have just left.”

Oh, the sinking feeling.

But let me tell you about Ellie. She’s not just any bride. Ellie and I go way back — she came to work with me in the very early days of The Whistle Stop Café. She was such a huge part of building that place. All the regulars loved her, especially the older generation of men who adored her wicked sense of humour. Ellie has never been afraid to say exactly what’s on her mind, and that spark made the café come alive in those early years.

So, to be asked to make her wedding cake felt special. And despite my timing blunder, I’m so glad I was there.

The day itself was perfect in its simplicity. Laid back, filled with country garden flowers, nothing fussy or formal. Just easy-going, joyful, and full of love. Ellie looked absolutely beautiful in her dress — glowing, relaxed, and exactly herself. And what shone through most was how clearly she and her husband are best friends as well as soulmates.

And as if missing the ceremony wasn't enough of a classic me moment, it also turned out I knew Ellies husband's wayward brother. turns out that he delivered logs for my wood burner about 9 years ago,small world, right? Let's just say, as the drinks flowed and the dancing started, he made a very enthusiastic beeline in my direction. Poor Ellie kept laughing, nudging me with a "oh, it's happening!" as he bounded across the dance floor, I of course made a swift exit.

And here's the thing: anyone who knows me knows I've been single for over a decade now. Ten years! Somehow I seem to have a knack for attracting the weird and wonderful (and sometimes just plain weird). So of course it would be me that the wayward brother set his sights on. Classic me

Looking back, I may have missed the ceremony, but I didn’t miss what really mattered — being there to see a friend I adore step into a new chapter, surrounded by laughter, flowers, and the people who love her most. Baking that cake reminded me that it’s never just about sugar, eggs, and chocolate — it’s about showing up, even in your slightly chaotic, perfectly imperfect way. These are the moments that weave together friendship, food, and life itself, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.