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This article was published on May 12th, 2020
As part of Motivational May, many of our team here at Thorneycroft Solicitors have been taking on challenges to support Derbyshire Blood Bikes. Alongside Motivational May, our team are also taking part in ‘Don’t give up your day job’.
It’s our way of sharing some of the mishaps we’ve had whilst challenging ourselves throughout the month.
The types of challenges are extremely diverse, from running 50 miles in the month May, learning to crochet, developing DJ skills to learning a new language, our team are putting their minds and bodies to the test.
A popular challenge among the team has been to improve their culinary skills, and our Managing Director Rachel Stow has been leading from the front by trying her hand at baking, which she herself admits is something she wouldn’t normally undertake in normal life.
Below she shares her attempts at baking so far!
Like many people on being told to #stayhome, encouraged, maybe even inspired by social media I decided to try my hand at baking, something in ordinary life I don’t do.
In fact to give you some background, when Mark and I got married 25 years ago in my Dad’s wedding speech he said “for their honeymoon Mark is going to take Rachel somewhere hot and somewhere she’s never been before, he’s taking her to the kitchen!!”
There are some of you who marvelled before Christmas that I have managed to get to age 50 without owning a cake tin when someone made me a cake and I had to empty the celebrations tub to store it!!
So, week one, something easy I thought, something my 21 year old and 17 year old boys would like – chocolate shortbread squares, known at school as “chocolate concrete” – family feedback “they look nice but you could finish the patio with these.
Family comment “waste of good chocolate, the cake bit is awful”
I have kept telling myself not to give up! My family comments included “we could use this to refill the ceiling that’s fallen down in the toilet, it’s that solid and rubbery.
What aspirations I had of baking a beautiful pavlova made of meringue – soon became Eton mess!
For week 5 I turned to my mum, begging her to please give me something really simple.
“Scones”, she says and then she sent me the recipe.
Now, they look amazing!
“This is it” I think as they emerge from the oven.
I’ve mastered it!
My family aren’t quite convinced. Their feedback was “they taste like salty soap”
This may or may not have been because of the baking powder I used, dated Sept 2014.
I told you I never bake!
Now for those of you who know me or follow me on Facebook, you’ll have seen my post, “Homegrown rhubarb courtesy of Lesley Gaskell, thank you, Lesley, for the doorstep drop”.
I have to say it was a crumble to be proud of.
I think I’ve finally become a baker – even my family said: “Mum this is lovely, it tastes amazing, this is fantastic, well done”
But I have a confession to make…my husband Mark made it!!
So, out of lockdown, I will not be emerging as the new Great British Bake Off winner, I remain your loyal Managing Director, and I will be firmly sticking to the day job, much to my family’s relief!
Do you fancy learning to bake or challenging yourself in another way?
Why not do it for an amazing cause and support Derbyshire Blood Bikes by using your challenge to fundraise.
You can learn more about Motivational May by clicking here.
