I am so excited I am about to set off to collect a large pig's head, which I am going to cook and gild. It's going to be a display piece for Northern Restaurant and Bar show in Manchester on Monday and for Boot Camp. It's not intended to be eaten, just to show folk and hopefully get some orders. My ...

Feck off !! do you know how much effort has gone into this ? its not a fecking car boot sale, now p*ss OFF !" I agree with Martin, how tempting it is sometimes to say this... I get brassed off with folk who ask me who makes the stuff for me and they are so surprised when I tell them i do it all...

Does anyone know how much a pound of icing sugar would have cost in the 1700's? I have tried loads of places but no one seems to know
I am trying to work out how much Whores Farts would have cost when they were first 'invented'

I am taking santa gingerbread, Parainen (orange) gingerbread tree decorations, liquer n black bun gift sets for the Scots, Christmas cake, puddings and more black bun for new year and loads of other goodies including 'pepper sweatmeats' - made with sloe gin, icing sugar and pepper, carol singing pep...

Tell ya what Luce, tis grim up north! was hoping for Caldicot, but it was understandably cancelled (bloddy weather), people cancelling wedding cakes as they can no longer afford them, bank charges spiralling etc etc, am hoping for a turn in fortune soon, am peed orf and exhausted 'robbing peter to p...

Hey there Mart, am in a similar boat myself - my van and its contents got nicked, events cancelled and this weekend took £43 - just enough to cover petrol home. Bank bounced mortgage last month so now have to find this months and pay last months by friday - have pleaded poverty and got a refund on s...

To add insult to injury my van (with camping stove, portaloo, sat nav, cd player and cd's) was stolen on Tuesday. Has been reported to the police, but not holding out much hope as several vans in the area have been taken over the past week or so. As for insurance, there's a £500 excess to pay and si...

Tried to get into kelmarsh, but they are full

Thanks Panda
Can't help thinking i have made a bad mistake not going to Kelmarsh as everyone else (the usual suspects) are going there - am tempted to see if i can get in.......is it too late???

oh no, not at all - you can have some too
Glad you liked the smartie ones - they were a 'what can we make with these ingredients' recipe!
anyone else got any requests (of a foodie nature) for Bodelwydden?

hell yeah - it will be my 1st anniversary of doing history fairs - can we have a party in the beer tent??? Things definitely looking brighter - am making hearts for a national magazine for a photoshoot tomorrow - apparently a very famous shop wouldnt do it so they googled me :D and i get credits for...

I went to Tewks and just as foretold I sold out!!!! Have spent a couple of days with a stupid grin on my face as it now means i can go to Berkely and Tintagel - way cool 8) Big thanks to everyone to came to support me and those who had read my posting and came to give me moral support - thanks again...

Can't you also claim for loss of earnings on the basis that had you not been there you would have been in your kitchen? I know it's a difficult one to prove but perhaps an average of what you have taken over the past few months shows could give an idea of what you could have earned had the folk been...

Just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone for all their kind words, advice, support & offers of help. Chatteris was a good do, even though it poured down on Sunday, have enough to buy packaging for Tewks stock and will have a gingerbread model of the abbey (simplified!) filled with swee...

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: I will never forget your attempt to explain the WHORES FARTS to that particular group of ladies at Bunratty......i have never seen you blush before Martin - was priceless :lol: :lol: :lol: By the way, the kids have suggested chocolate coated ones - and the name - skiddi...

I do have a new and very much improved website just needing me to sort out products to put on it, pack sizes and pricing - its http://www.angelasgingerbread.com (i know its not angelas pantry or the gingerbread lady, which i would have preferred but cant remember why it wasnt possible at the time) a...

If i can keep the wolves from the door that long, then hopefully, yes

Thank you

I must say I am so proud of my kids, they not giving up without a damned good fight - they are beavering away, rolling mixture & packing as much stock as we can do tonight to get me laden to the roof of the van for Chatteris - am so proud of them and everso slightly humbled

Am sat here (box of tissues at my side) feeling thoroughly miserable... had a great time and good trade in Ireland (though not very profitable), returned to find that the men in suits who promised me funding to expand the business and take on a local bakery have changed their mind :cry: I have spent...

there's Emily who does the historical jams, chutneys n mustards - she was at Tatton - had lovely quince jam

Some of the best recipes ever have been invented this way - i had a disaster once with a gingerbread recipe and it turned out to be a best seller!

Too right Luce, not giving up without a big battle, ain't over till the fat lady sings and as i dont know any am in with a good chance eh? Am sailing oh so close to the wind right now, but am taking comfort in the fact i am not the only one - surely to God there's a solution out there - anyone got a...

I'm glad you posted this one Martin, was gonna do something similar myself. Am baking using up any ingredients i have left to avoid buying more (not got the cash). Had a few bad runs of shows this year and the pinch is getting deeper :( Am now working away for a couple of weeks at a time to save fue...

Don't the Market Traders Federation do some sort of offer on this type of thing? Some of the traders at my farmers market use their services, but am not sure what type it is.

When i worked in the local Post Office the detector pens were useless, the only way we could tell a 'real' £20 was to tear the note a little at the top - if the metal strip doesnt tear its genuine. some of the less good fakes have a hologram of the queen looking like a muppet. Also be aware of fake ...

When i worked in the local Post Office the detector pens were useless, the only way we could tell a 'real' £20 was to tear the note a little at the top - if the metal strip doesnt tear its genuine. some of the less good fakes have a hologram of the queen looking like a muppet. Also be aware of fake ...

Splendid photo, taken just after battle at Bodelwyddan

But surely I am not the only one who will admit to going into the Adults only section of a trader's tent at this year's Rood Fayre! The gentleman had several beautiful wooden carved items and the textual evidence to justify their production. He also had a great knowledge of very rude road and villag...

Ahh the mud, what fun it was :lol: . I was caked from knee to foot and pebbledashed all over, damned stuff got everywhere :shock: I hadn't realised just how muddy i was until i started to dry out on the way home (and started to smell too). The first service station i called in at was like the partin...

Am seeing my accoutant tonight - will find out about pricing database thing for you