I love to bake. I am happiest when I am surrounded by all kinds of baking bowls and implements, trying to learn different decorating techniques. I am not a professionally trained artisan. And I do not possess those incredibly chic skills as seen in French patisserie, but through the medium of online courses, attending a few live courses, and watching the vast content offered online, I have come to realise that a whole new world of cake and cake decorating becomes available to anyone who is interested.

In most families, there is the aunt or relative who is the Master Baker of the family. Their creations have centre stage at family gatherings and often many of their recipes and techniques are secretive to the point of being very 007-ish. In my family, it was my aunt and sister. In the face of their great skill, my quick assessment of myself resulted in the simple deduction that this was not something I could do.

Years later, I ended up buying my first baking book – a one-bowl method book. And to this day, this book is my “baking bible”. Nothing gives one more confidence than when one’s first attempt at making a cake is a success. And so, I haven’t stopped baking since (even though not every cake is a success). Baking has taught me life skills. Try again, and don’t give up – ever!

I also started to dislike the taste of store bought cake. There are some good cakes out there, looking fancy, but at first taste, they were quite horrible. When speaking to people, I realised that so many others had similar cake disappointments.

I also realised that so many people had wonderful cake memories and while there is no time machine to take them back to childhood, a memorable cake can transport the past to present day through the experience of taste. And it is this memory that I take most joy from.

I have a medical background and have been working in a corporate environment for many years. I have been making cakes for a few clients for a long time, and have been most grateful for their support, as it is through them that I managed to accumulate a few skills that have helped turn out some amazing cakes.

My recipes are simple and I do favour a more simple decoration technique. I have also come to appreciate the fun that can be had by dabbling in different cake trends – exactly like fashion, cake trends are forever changing and evolving.

I see that many people are now looking at ways to counteract the stresses of life by learning creative skills – an activity that makes you forget about all the irritations of life. And perhaps in some ways, help build confidence in oneself. It helps that the end result is confectionary!

Please allow me to share my cake journey with you. I do not believe in keeping secrets and all that I make and have come to learn, I will put out there. I hope that my cake adventures help you start your own. And if you would like to travel alongside this fellow cake adventurer, I would be very happy to clang a mixing bowl with you!