RadFordee

My very first attempt at making a victoria sponge was at HMP Manning. I don't know what I did wrong as I followed the recipe in the book to a tee, however the sponges resembled two slices of toast. The teacher who went round at the end of the lesson marking everyone's efforts took one look at mine and just rolled her eyes.

Thanks chaps.

The cake diet sounds perfect to me MRS B and coffee and walnut is also my favourite cake too, although I do also like a nice victoria sponge as long as there is plenty of jam and buttercream in it.

I am pretty sure i heard/read somewhere that the serial killer Harrold Shipman was a pupil at High Pavement. If anyone can confirm this?

I aint got a ruddy clue what that says BK

@Beekayi never knew that Radford Boulevard was one of them posh schools that taught Spanish BK.

@BeekayNo its all Chinese to me, I asked him indoorsI can manage hola, adios and dos San Miguel por favor, thats my full Spanish vocabulary.

Muchas gracias Senor King.

BK if you think we are barbaric you should have met Pickleface! She would have made mincemeat of you and any other male on here, probably two at a time

Hope your best friend was ok and forgave you Mrs B.

@Jill Sparrowspot on Jill, I knew you would know who it was Such a shame you missed with that javelin but well done with the hockey stick! I think she hated any girl who didn't share her passion for all things sport.

@benjamin1945I'm glad to hear you got your revenge on the teacher who destroyed your rattle, I totally agree with Margie H what a horrible thing to do to a child. I have never had any interest in, and have always hated any kind of sport and was always useless at it. At the Manning we had one particular games Mistress(Jill will know to whom I am referring)who seemed to take a great deal of delight in belittling girls like me with her vitriolic comments and put downs in front of the whole class.

And rightly so Mrs B that Mr B wears his medals with pride. Dedicating 22 years to serving your Country is phenomenal in my book. He has my utmost respect and admiration, as do you, as being a forces wife is often not the easiest life either.

A very proud day for us, we went to see our 7 year old Granddaughter take part in her first rememberance service with the Brownies this morning. She stood there looking proud as punch. It was very well attended and was lovely to see so many youngsters taking part, the Brownies, Guides, Scouts and the local army cadets and pupils from both of the local primary schools laid wreaths, as these children are the generation who will hopefully ensure that this momentus tradition continues to be upheld long after we are all gone. 'Am also not ashamed to admit that it always brings tears to my eyes

@Cliff Tonyes I suppose it was a fair way out of the city centre for folk to walk with their shopping. I think its location was probably why Grandma liked it though, a short walk down Bath st and then would it have been up King Edward st? Grandma like most folk back then shopped at least every other if not everyday for fresh goods.

Thanks Cliff Ton I will have a look at that later. My Grandma lived on Manchester st back then, so Central and Sneinton markets were where she did most of her shopping.

@Jill SparrowGrandma was always right (in her opinion anyway) I can remember her taking me to Central market a few times on a saturday morning, the place was always packed and as a small child I would be knocked around by ladies with big shopping bags. I also hated the overwhelming smell of fish in there. But the dish of mushy peas and the bag of broken biscuits she would always buy me more than made up for it.

I remember when the Victoria centre first opened and my Grandma used to constantly complain that the Vic market was in her words "not a patch on Central market".

@Messthanks for the info, they were obviously retired before I was old enough to remember them. Quite a short lifespan too compared to some of Cadbury's products.

We had a few holidays in the 80's and 90's with Hey Arnold's Aunt in California and were always asked by her family to bring Crunchie and Cadbury's dairy milk bars for them.

@nonnaByou are very welcome. Its the same in our house, no one likes the Bounty ones and they sit in the bottom of the box or tub until the end of January when I end up throwing them away. Enjoy your Quality Street and Heroes.

I cant remember Lucky Numbers Mess. Maybe they had gone by the time i was born in 1963?

As an aside what is everyones favourite/least favourite Quality Street? My favourite is the green triangle one and least is the toffee penny.

I have always really hated coconut from my very first taste of it as a small child. I remember my Dad always used to bring one home from Goose fair, make a hole in it and drink the milk and then smash it with a hammer and would gnaw on it for a few days after. Yes Jill they still do make both Milky Bar and Caramac.

@nonnaByou will be saved from having to eat the dreaded (in my opinion) Bounty ones as they are made by Mars. Quality street are Nestle and Heroes are Cadburys so you wont get Bounty in either