cake decorating | silkannthreades

I have been very weary and a little down-hearted these past few weeks; mainly on account of my lingering cold/cough, the cold grip of winter weather and a general lack of sunshine. And let’s not forget the ever lasting wait for builders to appear. But just when I feel that the daily shadows are becoming far too long for comfort, life suddenly throws out a wondrous ray of sunshine that makes me beam with joy. Such was life today.

: Out of the shadows

: come sun beams

: and smiles

I was looking for some photos to illustrate a post I had in mind when I came upon this gentle gem from my distant, distant past.This is my brother caring for me when I was about four and a half weeks old. He has been doing it ever since; and he hasn’t dropped me yet :).

And the caring love begins

I also happened upon these sweet photos. I have certainly seen them before but, until today, I hadn’t truly noticed them, or absorbed the information they contain. They are photos taken on my christening day, which, I learn from the writing on the reverse of the pictures, was on 11 July. Which means that last Thursday was the anniversary of my christening. They also show me that my maternal grandparents were present at my christening. I am surprised to learn this. It is not unusual for grandparents to be at a christening but these grandparents had to travel by ship from Christchurch, New Zealand to Lautoka, Fiji for my christening. Quite a journey, in those days. I also see that Janie, my dear Janie, was with me from the very start of my life. Even though I remember her well, I didn’t realise that she was with me from the beginning. No wonder, I was deeply sad when she left us to marry. I couldn’t understand why being married should require her to leave me. I don’t think she did either but it seems her husband insisted. How I missed her warmth and her cuddles and her gentleness. They are with me still.

: Christening Day and Janie

: Grandma, Mum, Grandad, Brother and Me

: Christening Day 11 July

: Christening cake and picnic rug

The one photo that holds few surprises is that of the christening cake. It is set on a table in our garden because my christening took place in our home garden; there being no Presbyterian church in our town; and only the occasional visit from an itinerant Presbyterian minister. I think the cake was iced by my father, who had considerable skill in the art of cake decorating. ( He always made us the most wonderful birthday cakes.) I expect the cake itself was made by my parents. The only real surprise is the travel rug under the cake? Was that a christening gift? It doesn’t seem a very elegant table covering for a christening. And the cake looks as though it is close to falling off the edge of the table! Was the cake tipsy? Surely not at a Presbyterian christening.

Those were my smiles for today; my little taste of sunshine. Dear parents, I enjoyed being at my christening; thank you!