Well what can say but yeah I am definitely feeling the pinch now and struggling to keep motivated but I am determined to work through and keep going however hard the struggle. Thankfully, I am a home baker and I don’t have the added worry of a premises and employees to pay for unlike many other small businesses out there right now. I have seen several cafes in my area and friends of mine in small businesses who have closed their doors for the foreseeable future. It is so hard for everyone now and I am not expecting any orders this week so I am going to keep myself busy doing other things. I am missing the baking though so I may have to bake some treats this week – maybe I will post a treat to my daughter who is away at university?

The cost of living crisis is so difficult and everyone is making cutbacks so I’m just going to carry on and keep calm. I have applied for a couple of home based jobs which I am still waiting to here from just to help with bills and contribute a bit more instead of all the pressure being on my husband but my main concern is to be here for the children as I am still the taxi driver for school runs (until my husband gets the all clear after his illness back in February) as well as a general jack of all trades. Life could be so much harder but we just have to take it as it comes as we are all in the same boat.

Christmas Cake
Christmas Cake

It is so cold this morning and there was a thick frost on the car which needed scraped off. Winter is definitely here! My children have written their Christmas lists just to make a bit easier for my husband and myself but as they all know who Santa is now we don’t have the added pressure to keep everything hush hush. Don’t get me wrong they still won’t know what they are getting from their lists – as they don’t get everything they ask for and we don’t tell them what they are getting – and I will be hiding everything and wrapping it all before Christmas Eve. So my husband and myself are still keeping secrets from them and the same rule applies – if they go looking and find anything then that present will not be given out to whoever was going to receive it. Believe me this rule works really well in my house and has been used in the past when the children were younger. It is going to be strange not buying toys though as my children are all getting older but we still stick to a budget and their piles are getting smaller as they ask for more expensive gifts??

As for baking, I am going to make the most of my time and get creative in the kitchen this week. I have the ingredients so I may as well use them. Watch this space as I may even make some Tik Tok and Youtube videos to share with you all 🙂 There is always a positive side when you go looking for it 🙂 I’m thinking Wagon Wheels, NYC Cookies and a few other Christmas Bakes too. Maybe I will have a go at something savoury for a change?