Shelley, this morning I have used your recipe for Victoria Plum Paste, thanks - now just have to wait to see what it's like tomorrow! It didn't stay a pretty colour though - it was a bit 'browny' from the start!

With the liquid drained from the fruit, I have made Victoria Plum Jelly here (they are so pretty, I needed a photo!!)

Thanks, TA !! 

Daughter and I are making those friendship bracelets, almost daily - quite a demand for them!

The loaf reminds me of when I worked in London, I used to go to the corner bakers shop (in Exmouth Market) and buy a 'Hovis Roundy' - delicious flavour - I haven't seen them for ages, so when Lakeland had a sale recently, I thought I'd treat myself to the Mermaid tin.

Shelley, how are you getting on with the bracelets now - or your daughter!!  ?

I think the plum jelly has set rather well - and you would expect the apple jelly to set well, too, wouldn't you? 

I bet the apple jelly is pretty too, isn't it?

I had never thought of making plum jelly, because plum jam is so scrumptious, but I still have some left from last year -  - we do love our jams, but we just don't eat enough of it!

I obviously need to make more Victoria sponges, and use my jam that way!  

Yep, I can understand that - it's amazing what we take for granted in UK cookery, that some of it just isn't known in France. (I think you mentioned before about lemon curd isn't well-known either)

I used to make a Victoria spongecake for our mason and his wife because although she had won prizes for her cookery, she was a nurse and working long hours. Well, they were bowled over by a simple sponge cake, so much so that they asked for the recipe and then their daughter also wanted the recipe. The message from their daughter (on e-mail) was "Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou so much!".

Us rosbiefs are not too bad at cooking, are we? 

It isn't so stunning after all - the younger set in France eat out more than their elders, I think.

(Probably the same is true in the UK, too)

Our neighbours children often have frozen haricot vert beans - why? When they are available in the shops. Ah, because it is easier. It's no wonder the children are not keen on their veggies!

However, it would be a very dull place if we all were the same, ay?