Cheating - for the first time ever

So was I, re the OP.
Shysal, you are so clever

6 yo gd always wants me to bake her birthday cake, and tells me in detail what she wants. So far I've made Peppa pig, ponyo (Japanese film character), ninjago, minecraft and mermaid under the sea theme. Every year is a bit more challenging!

Yes, I was also expecting something a bit racier.

But i dont see what cheating has got to do with not baking a cake.
Why put yourself through unnecessary fretting.
You are providing a cake. Surely that's enough.

No one could possibly object to your decorating a shop bought cake under these circumstances. I'll bet it'll look and taste lovely. Get well soon.

I thought this was going to be about a cheating man too!

Oh dear, should I feel guilty because I didn’t feel guilty when the cake I made for DH’s 70th was so awful (I used rice flour I didn’t know I had), we chucked it after one slice. We laughed, he didn’t think badly of me & no one died. We had a lovely meal though at a Breton restaurant in Richmond. .

I sympathise with the frozen shoulder. It is the most painful thing I have ever had (worse than childbirth I would say).

Ha ha ha.....yes agree with basketlady....was really wanting some juicy info! Oh how sad am I? No comment on cakes and things bahaha..... (but am sure they will be lovely) xx

I come from a family of excellent bakers but somehow that gene was not passed on. However, I am famous for my imaginative birthday cakes, which I construct rather than bake. Some of my favourites - a fort, complete with cannon and flags made of a whole tub of icecream, chocolate fingers, chocolate logs and minirolls; a massive mountain of eclairs, studded with strawberries with glittery 'snow' on top; a fruit and veg 'covered wagon' - melon top, toast woodwork, big tomato slice wheels, surrounded by celery and broccoli trees on cress and parsley grass any many more. Great fun to do and eminently edible.

I have recently discovered Betty Crocker country carrot cake mix. So easy to do and delicious. That is what I take to coffee mornings etc. and it is always complimented.

If this is all you have to worry about you’re very lucky.

OMGosh! This is not cheating, this is being clever - when I saw your headline about cheating - I thought the same as Basketlady!!

Oh bless you - get out there and use the shop bought sponge - at the end of the day it's the novelty of the decorating that everyone admires...xx

My sons demanded Black Forest gateaux for their birthdays when they were young teens. I bravely adapted a recipe to be something like BFG (not big friendly giant) and it always went down well. Tables were turned when I had 70th party - DS2 made me a cake in the shape of a VW Beetle and now makes themed cakes for his DSs. He's far more ingenious than I ever was. I was so flattered when my sisters bought me cakes (one sponge and one fruit) for my 77th just a few weeks ago. Bought or home made, a cake is a cake and there are candles to be blown out

Exactly, like meeting a lover at the British Museum......

Basketlady ditto

Thank goodness it is only a cake that was cheated with.

My family all prefer shop bought- how cheeky's that!

I always made my children elaborate cakes for their birthdays when they were little until my ds went to a birthday party where they had a bought caterpillar cake. He was given a piece to bring home and raved and raved about this cake after that I asked him if I should make him a cake or buy him a caterpillar cake. He is now 31 and still has his caterpillar cake every year. Don't feel guilty as your family will probably not notice if you ice it yourself. Of the shop bought cakes we prefer Sainsbury's ones the best they are not dry.

Yes Annodomini you are right, it is the blowing out of the candles and knowing others wish you well that is the best bit.