The following is a true story about my Mother’s traditional English Christmas Cake…and how it saved my life and helped to sustain others….:and at the same time enhanced international relations………:)
In 1960 when I was 16 years old, my parents sent me to Holland for the summer. Travelling by ferry and train, I was to stay with friends who lived in the countryside outside of Eindhoven.
Before leaving my Mother made sure to pack some of her traditional Christmas Cake into my suitcase. No matter where I went this always happened. It was my Mother’s theory that if I got lost, or ran out of food, her cake would sustain me.
A traditional English Christmas Cake For those who are not familiar with traditional English Christmas Cake – a little more information.
My Mother made the cake months before Christmas every year. All manner of fruits and spices were mixed and liberally doused with brandy in order to preserve the cake.
During the several month standing process the cake would be fed with more alcohol during two week intervals…..then wrapped in a cheese cloth and put into a north facing pantry to settle. About two weeks before Christmas the cake would be covered in marzipan along with a thick white icing resembling snow….and then Christmas decorations added.
Given that the cake was very rich….there was always quite a lot left over….plus my Mother would make two cakes at a time….leaving one un-iced, filled with booze, waiting for any natural or man made disasters to occur!After a wonderful summer in Holland…swimming in canals with local children, riding bicycles around the countryside – stopping at farms where we were given the most delicious fresh cheese and milk straight from the cow, and of course sketching…..even back then I carried a sketch book with me. Alas, it was time to return home.
This was the sort of canal we swam in…I was put on a train heading towards the Ferry port at Calais France.
I am not sure when I realised that something was wrong…..I suppose when I arrived in Germany!!
In those days it was quite normal for trains to split – one end going to one country and the other to another, and this is what had happened. I got on the wrong end of the train.
This meant getting back on the right train, and then arriving at the Calais Ferry Terminal far too late to catch the ferry that my parents would be meeting me from at the Dover Ferry Terminal – which in turn meant a long wait.
And this is where Mother’s Traditional English Christmas Cake came into its own.
Calais France Ferry Terminal – just 29.4 miles from Dover UK. When I arrived at the Calais Terminal I joined many other young people from all around Europe sitting on the floor waiting for ferries.
Remember this was many years before fast food, mobile phones, and of course the Euro Star train – everything was simple and basic.
I was hungry as were many of my fellow travellers. I removed the tin containing Mother’s English Christmas Cake from my suit case and shared it with young people from around Europe. The Christmas cake brought us together.
Ferry docking at Dover Ferry Terminal After docking at the Dover Ferry Terminal, I found a policeman waiting for me. Clearly alerts had been sent out…..
The policeman took me and a young German boy I had befriended to the Dover Police Station. There we were given a slap up breakfast while we waited for my parents to arrive. I had assured the German boy that my parents would give him a lift to Canterbury and then he could hitch hike on to London. The German boy and I kept in touch for many years.
So what’s the moral of this story?
Be Prepared and always carry extra food – especially traditional English Christmas Cake.
(I was reminded of my story when recently a 100 year old fruit cake was found in Antarctica – perfectly preserved. I rest my case. )
watercolour/gouache
I wish everyone a beautiful holiday season filled with peace and love…..and of course magical hummingbirds. Janet
http://www.zazzle.com/janet+weight+reed+gifts http://www.janetweightreed.co.uk
Hi Janet,
you are multi talented ,keep writing .That cake looks so delicious
Thank you very much Ben for this really lovely comment. You have made my day 🙂
What a brilliantly cheering story, Janet.
So pleased you enjoyed, Tish 🙂
Such a beautiful story of innocent adventure, survival with a romantic twist too and of course
the infamous English Cake.
❤
Thank you Jose – you are right to say the ‘infamous’ English cake. Best wishes to you and your lovely family for a very happy Christmas and New Year. Janet xxx
Reblogged this on Hutts New World.
Thank you so much Peter for re blogging this one. Hope you get some Christmas Cake soon Janet 🙂 x
Read Janet’s cake story above.
Mothers always know…what a wonderful story to make me smile at the start of my day. Thanks Janet! (and thanks as always for the hummingbirds) (K)
Good morning – so pleased this made your smile…..and yes Mother always know best. Have a lovely day – Janet xx
Dear Janet, this post is such a delight. You had me smiling all the way through it. 😀 Have the loveliest of all holidays. Hummingbird hugs!
Thank you Teagan, and so pleased it made you smile 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful holiday season with of course magical hummers. Janet 🙂 xxx
I see someone commented “cheering” and that’s exactly the word, what a very cheering story. Nice photos, wonderful watercolors. Best wishes for a great holiday season!
Thank you Robert. Looking back it was a wonderful time. Hope you enjoy the holiday season. Janet 🙂
What a delightful, ‘cakey’ Christmas story. One to remember for years…even beyond! Enjoy your ‘tipsy Christmas Cake’ when the time comes this year. Love and Christmas Hugs! 🎆🎆🎉💕😘
Thank you dear Bushka….I am sure I will be eating lots of goodies…and I am sure you willl in Germany. My goodness do they do it well there. Have a wonderful holiday season. Janet 🙂 xxx
Thanks Janet! Yes, they do it well, there. Take care! Hugs! ❤
What a wonderful story Janet! I don’t like most fruitcakes, but this version sounds yummy. It’s nice to have family traditions that nurture our body and spirit. Have a wonderful holiday season filled with friends, family, food, and hummingbirds! 🙂
Thank you Brad. I sort of grew into my Mother’s Christmas fruit cakes. As a child I preferred the icing….as an adult – I love the whole thing 🙂 I have a lovely holiday season lined up with very dear friends…do hope you have a lovely time. Janet 🙂 x
Thank you Janet. May blessings flow and spread holiday cheer. ❤
Have a wonderful holiday!
Thank you very much – Janet 🙂
What an interesting story, Janet. Are you still baking this Christmas cake? Sounds delicious.
Have a wonderful holiday!
Thank you so much for reading. Sad to say that I am not making the cake anymore….however, I do love to eat some of this cake if somebody else is doing the honours:) Hope you enjoy a lovely holiday. Janet 🙂
This is a wonderful story, and I loved reading about how the cake is made. 1960 was a very good year for me as well, though the circumstances were altogether different. I’ve heard about Christmas cake, but didn’t realize that it can last a long time without being refrigerated… Wishing you and all my fellow readers here a very joyous Christmas.
So pleased you enjoyed this….It’s interesting because as a child I didn’t like the taste of Christmas Cake – except the wonderful white icing on top. As an adult I do enjoy a slice or two…..This Christmas I will be staying with my friends Gail and Mick who I have known since I was five years old. Gail makes a wonderful Christmas cake and so I will definitely save a piece for you. Janet x
What a great story Janet. I was almost caught out by the splitting train when some friends and I travelled around Europe. We were travelling to Denmark but were on the wrong end of the train (I don’t recall where it was going) – fortunately we found out in time and were duly warned to make sure we always got on the right end of the train thereafter!
Good morning Andrea, To this day I always check that I am on the right end of the train, including in the UK where some services do split! Hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday season and a very special, loving, peaceful and creative new year. Janet x
Mothers are always right. I can’t say I’m a big fan of the Christmas cake but there’s no doubt it is built (or cooked) to last and survive. Have a lovely break, Janet!
Your comment made me smile. As a child I couldn’t stand Christmas cake – and was always embarrassed when my Mother packed it in the suit case….however, as an adult I do enjoy a slice or two. Janet 🙂
Wonderful story Janet. My mother too and now I, following in her footsteps, make such a cake. The cake and pudding making has slipped the last 3 years due to unforseen circumstances…however in October the cake and 2 or 3 Christmas puds will be made. The recipe for the puds is her grandmother’s..changed a little or should I say adapted as ingredients availability demand. Have a lovely Christmas with your friends and we’ll get together again in the spring. Loads of love xxx
Hi Dear Heulwen….lovely to see you here. I think I have had the great joy of tasting your Mother’s Christmas Cake and puddings….she was a marvellous cook. You are better than me, because I haven’t made my own, but rather will enjoy that of other people’s. Lovely to see you and the Monster Child 🙂 recently and look forward to more in 2018. Have a wonderful holiday. Janet xxx
What a wonderful tale! You have lived, and continue to live such an interesting life, a girl after my own heart!!! Love your mums cake, fabulous! All the very best friend of mine.xxx
I hope we both get to eat lots of cake and goodies over the next week or so 🙂 It’s a story I remember so well. Janet xxx
What a story! Food definitely brings people together 🙂
Yes it does 🙂
Wonderfully put together. I also saw that story of the cake 😁
Good morning Heath. Thank you so much for your lovely comment. I really appreciate it. Wishing for you a very healthy, peaceful and creative new year. Janet 🙂
Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.
Thank you so much for the re blog….and a very Happy and Creative New year. Janet 🙂
You’ve just reminded me that while I didn’t buy cakes or mince pies this year because of hospital ‘an all, I’ve still got a couple of cakes from last year and I now have brandy butter bought since Christmas. And talking of festive provender, I brought out some sultanas that had not been air-tight in their jar and poured in some cognac I just happened to have! A teaspoon of this mixture every so often has livened me up this evening. Having said that, I’ve felt rather better anyway in the last few days. xxx 🙂
Good morning – first things first…wonderful that you are feeling rather better….long may it last. Sultanas and cognac sound like a wonderful cure all. Hang onto those cakes from last year – one never knows when there might be a natural disaster and the cakes save your life !:) Have a lovely weekend…relax and enjoy. Janet xxx
I’m continued to sneak spoonfuls of the sultanas and cognac into my mouth – such a wonderful kick. Please can I eat one of the cakes and leave one for natural disasters?!!
Good morning Sarah. yes do eat one of the cakes, but do keep one for natural and man made disasters. My Mother would send me off to school, holidays, and anywhere else with a tin of her cake, – all with the idea that it would save me in the event of ?? I would say typical post war behaviour 🙂 It used to embarrass me until the incident at Calais Ferry Terminal and then I recognised her wisdom , Enjoy and do keep warm to day…..the cognac will help with that. x
It makes one re-evaluate the clean knickers exhortation!
When we do get together again, we can have a jolly good laugh about it all….Happy Monday 🙂