Pineapple and strawberry cake and Quasimodo returns from London

Earlier this month, I drove from my home in southwestern France to St Malo, took the ferry to Portsmouth, and then headed to London. This was part experiment, part necessity: would I rack up as many fines in a French-plated car as I usually do in a hire car? Watch this space, they’ve yet to arrive!

Driving in the UK is like playing a complicated video game on nightmare mode. While trying to dodge potholes the size of small craters, you’re squinting nervously at speed limits that flicker up and down like bonus levels. One minute it’s 70mph, the next it’s 40, then 20, then 70 again, for absolutely no obvious reason. Perhaps just someone having a bad day? And the radars! I stopped counting at 42 between Portsmouth and London.

Roadworks pop up like surprise boss fights, and redundant cones stretch to infinity. Then the ultimate challenge: the giant roundabout, where hesitation is weakness and eye contact is a full-blown declaration of war. Throw in numerous one-way systems, a bit of rain, fog, and enough traffic to make you question your life choices, and you begin to wonder why you left home.

And don’t get me started on smart motorways. Are they sentient? Do they want to chat about philosophy or mathematical theorem? I’m not convinced by their intellectual credentials, but they certainly intimidate me no end.

After a hot, heavy, and emotional week of clearing out my mother’s house, it wasn’t just driving that was in nightmare mode; my poor body was too, and I seriously wondered whether I’d manage the return drive.

Wholewoman holistic pain relief

Enter Sarah, my guardian angel! Sarah is a lovely lady who came to collect a piece of furniture. She noticed me hobbling, groaning and wincing when I helped her move a piece of furniture, and said she thought she could help. She generously made time for me a couple of days later, and worked with me for nearly three hours. I was amazed by the transformation: from a limping, lopsided wreck to upright, mobile, and pain-free for the first time in months.

What I really appreciated about Sarah’s therapy is how holistic and empowering it is. As a former chronic pain sufferer, she really understands. She’s empathetic, skilled, and committed to helping people help themselves. Her approach is multi-disciplinary and in my case, she used massage, lymphatic drainage, red light therapy, breathing and movement exercises, and gave me practical tips to stay on track. I will be following up with her online very soon. You can find her here: www.wholewoman.club.

This is a perfect summer dessert. It’s light and fresh and the rum makes it deliciously decadent!

Recipe for pineapple and strawberry cake (serves 6-8)

For the sponge base:

• 3 eggs
• Vanilla essence
• 150g granulated sugar
• 150g flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 80ml rum

For the topping:

• 500ml milk
• 1 soup spoon cornflour
• 2 egg yolks, beaten
• 70g sugar
• Vanilla essence
• Fresh pineapple, cut into cubes
• Strawberries (or other red fruit) to decorate

Prepare a 28cm cake tin and preheat the oven to 180°C. Combine the eggs, vanilla essence and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda. Pour the mixture into the cake tin and bake for 20 minutes. Pour the rum over the cake and set aside.

Begin the custard topping by incorporating the cornflour into a small amount of milk and then adding the egg yolks. Pour the remaining milk into a large saucepan, add the sugar and vanilla essence, beat and bring to a simmer. Combine with the cornflour mixture and beat until the mixture thickens.

Pour the custard topping over the rum-soaked cake, and garnish with the pineapple and strawberries. Chill for at least 12 hours before serving.