Monday 29 March 2010

Red Velvet and a few Wallies


Still no proper internet at the new flat but I miss writing here so much that I put some pictures onto a memory stick and brought it in to work so I could write a little in my lunch break.

A Where's Wally?* themed birthday party on Saturday night at M's brother's house. I made Red Velvet cupcakes (from my trusty Hummingbird Bakery cookbook) to take, as I thought the red and white colouring would be appropriate. They turned out rather well actually, much better than the first time I tried and made the mistake of using natural food colouring instead of artificial, resulting in a pale imitation rather than the deep, deep red the sponge is supposed to be.

Two buses to Dalston, with four of us dressed in red and white stripes. Glasses made of pipe cleaners and the awkward feeling of walking into a room and finding that someone is wearing the same outfit, but magnified because everyone was. Flowing mojitos. Dancing and dancing in the ground floor living room. Fingers stained until the following evening by melting Space-Invader shaped ice cubes that had been dyed with food colouring (oh the randomness of the memories that come back to you the following day). Trying to be cool, because we were the younger sibling's friends at the older one's party, failing so so miserably. One pair of red Hobbs heels splatted with cocktail, one pair of treasured vintage earrings lost in the midst of discarded plastic cups and empty bottles. Waking up and berating myself for being so careless. Two taxis home as we had to leave the first down the side of St Pancras Station whilst two of the passengers got out for air. Finally crawling into bed at 6am (cursing the British Summer Time clocks going forward), and not emerging until 1pm Sunday afternoon, which I hate, because then half the day is gone.

But all absolutely worth it, because it was a fantastic party.




* I believe our Wally may be a Waldo to all you American readers

9 comments:

  1. So glad you had fun - I hate it when an evening out falls short of expectations...

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  2. What a fantastic idea for a party theme! Red Velvet Cupcakes are my absolute favourite ones to make from the book - just delicious!

    Loved your party story too.
    xx

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  3. Oh red velvet! Love love love them so...
    Ha, I had an equally latenight on Saturday and latemorning on Sunday, too! I despise it when I do that, because I'm stuck with that schedule for days afterward. Last night I couldn't fall asleep until 4:30!

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  4. What a brilliant theme for a party! And I'm with you on the annoyingness of BST starting halfway through a night out - I happened to be glancing at my phone at 2am and I saw an hour disappear before my very eyes - quite alarming!! Those cakes look delicious, I think I need to buy the Hummingbird book so i can create red velvet deliciousness at home myself...

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  5. The cupcakes look fabulous. I tried baking a red velvet cake but it was not a success. Must try again. Nothing better than an excellent party with a good theme.

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  6. mm they look amazing, the frosting is done so well :)

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  7. Oooh may have to buy that book... my engagement involved a red velvet cupcake so have been thinking I need to learn how to start baking them!

    A where's wally party sounds fab :)

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  8. Wow sounds like a brilliant party! hope the internet gets sorted soon too.

    x

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  9. I just read your post and those cupcakes look so delicious I'm off to Book Depository to order the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook, thanks for leading me to it :-)

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