Newcastle, NSW, Australia
I’m a former industrial chemist, and after deciding on a career change while at home with my two young children, I’m now a qualified pastry chef and cake decorating enthusiast. In 2009 I started taking some classes in cake decorating and other pastry-related cookery, and taught myself many more decorating techniques from books and internet resources. In 2010 I started a pastry apprenticeship, studying Retail Baking (Cake & Pastry) Certificate III at TAFE, which I completed with Distinction in 2012. I completed my apprenticeship in December 2013, and as of 2018 I am now working as a Cake Decorator at Designer Delights in Charlestown, NSW.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Signing Off! For now, at least...

It was three years ago today that I started this blog! I've learned so much and come so far... I'm almost half-way through my pastry cook apprenticeship, and I've made some pretty amazing cakes along the way. But things change, and unless circumstances change again in the future, this will be my last entry. I've made several attempts to get back into doing cake orders, but I'm done with the on-again off-again thing.

After much soul-searching in the last few weeks I have decided that it just can't be done in my current circumstances. My full-time bakery job is physically demanding and extremely tiring, and the last thing I feel like doing when I get home is more baking and decorating. The last few cakes I've done, I've wound up so stressed and exhausted that it's hardly seemed worth the effort.

However, this doesn't mean I'm giving up on decorating altogether. I still hope to compete (at least in the Newcastle Show, if nothing else) and I have every intention of continuing to learn and practise my craft as time and energy permit. To those who have followed my journey, thankyou and farewell... for now!