A couple of pictures from a trip to The Zoo yesterday for (the now) Seven Year Old’s Birthday! I didn’t take many photos of the animals, as Zoos don’t really inspire me much, but I did like the domesticated animal above waiting patiently with a new friend for his owners!…
Thankfully the weather gods were smiling on us, and R and her two little friends (big party last year = small party this year) had a great afternoon, kicking through the melting snow, inspecting creatures all great and small, and enjoying the (very rare) sunshine…
My usual chocolate sponge birthday cake with a few things stuck to the top just wasn’t going to cut it this year. After recently becoming The World’s biggest “My Neighbour Totoro” fan, she decided that she absolutely needed to have a Catbus cake. There’s nothing like being asked to specifically make something to remind you how far from home you are when certain things (and people – Mum!) aren’t close to hand! Cake decorating in Germany does happen, but not to the same extent, and certain rather vital things are hard to find (like food colouring for example!)… Forget popping into Sainsburys to pick up some ready made fondant icing as well, packs of icing don’t exist here either, so drastic measures were needed. I felt compelled to buy an icing nozzle after cutting my finger open on one in a very posh cookwear shop, so that helped me decide to pipe buttercream icing for the main part of his body, and use marshmallow icing (which is revolting to make, but effective when you have no other choice) for Catbus’s features. He’s obviously not quite right thanks to the food colouring issue, but at least The Seven Year Old could actually tell who he was, and seemed loathed to cut him up and eat him (for all of five seconds)! Ever keen to jump on his big sister’s bandwagon, the Four Year old wants Totoro for his birthday in March. Luckily Totoro is only grey, white and black, so colours shouldn’t be a problem, but I am ordering some stuff from Amazon just in case he changes his mind! Oh, and if you’re wondering why Catbus has a squashed face, perhaps you would like to ask the Four Year old? Pressing a “Beyblade” into his forehead will do that…!
Half-term next week, and Carnival season is well and truly upon us, so I am looking forward to heading into town to check out the fancy dress and indulge in a few doughnuts… Will report back shortly!
farfromhomemama says
Catbus looks absolutely yummy. I share your pain re not being able to find baking stuff in the supermarket. I make a list and stock up when I’m back in the UK.
bavaria says
Thank you! It’s a complete pain in the bum isn’t it? I wouldn’t mind making my own fondant icing if I could find glycerin!! :)
Trish - Mums Gone to says
Ooh you’re good at that – am most impressed.
Laughing at your son squashing its face with a beyblade – I remember that fad, we have a bucket load of them somewhere.
And love the first photo. Is the monkey holding a real banana?
bavaria says
Thanks Trish! Yes, S is somewhat obsessed with the blinking things at the moment, and seemed to think he needed something a little extra!! I didn’t have a closer look at the chimp, but I think it was just a lighter coloured metal! :)
Erica Price says
Catbus is a new one on me. Cake looks great though.
bavaria says
Thanks Erica. Trust me, Henry would love the film! :)
Alexander Residence says
That’s a gorgeous cake ! Germans are so sensible about additives, I think it’s a brilliant country for so many things.
bavaria says
Do you know, I hadn’t even thought of it like that, but I think it’s honestly because they make a different style of cake completely. Plenty of coloured chocolate coverings and sprinkles to choose from! :)
Jazzygal says
The zoo in the snow and a fab birthday cake….wonderful! I’ve no idea what catbus is but that caj=ke does look amazing :-)
xx Jazzy
bavaria says
I hope I am introducing lots of new people to My Neighbour Totoro, you won’t be disappointed ;) Thank you! :) xx
Pia says
wow, that’s one gorgeous cake! well done, you! especially without food colouring. you’re a brave, brave mummy.
a very happy birthday to the little seven year old!
bavaria says
Thanks Pia! We have just finished writing thank you cards, which is definitely a painful process with a 7 year old! :)
Frankie Parker says
Well done that is a great cake. Happy birthday also to your little miss, i am late as usual on these things x
bavaria says
Thanks Frankie :) Hope you’ve recovered after your sting-ray episode!!
Helen from The good life mum says
What a lovely day with the sun shining and with all that cold snow still about. What a fab cake too you clever thing seems almost a shame to cut into that big grin and i can only imagine what your buttercream tastes like.
bavaria says
Thanks for the lovely comment Helen! Sadly poor Catbus’s face was the first bit to be demolished! :)
helloitsgemma says
am still at a loss to who/what cat bus is – however the cake looks great. Well done you.
Is that a real banana in the statues hand?
Love your silent sunday post too but being too lazy to open another comment box.
Enjoy the doughnuts – one of my most fav things.
bavaria says
Thank you! You have to watch My Neighbour Totoro. Noo would love it! I am not sure whether it’s a real banana, I think it might have just been a slightly different colour metal! I will have a doughnut for you (I had an advocat one the other day… mmmmm) :)
Emma says
Wow, that cake looks brilliant. I’m the worst cake baker in the world and would have been very hard pressed to make a Catbus!
bavaria says
Thanks Emma, this was made completely by winging it and shoving loads more chocolate icing in places where bits might have fallen off! The next one will be much more complicated. Trying to convince my Mum to come over for that one! :)
Janmary, N Ireland says
Great cake :)
Ours usually come from Tescos!
I am never very inspired by zoos either :(
bavaria says
Thanks Janmary! :)
Kelloggsville says
Never heard of marsh mallow cng before, now have the urge to try it. That was a lot of links for back reading there and I needed them all, all new things to me. The cake is very good, it sure looks like cat bus. Glad the sun appeared fleetingly. 7 is time for brownies. Did they get going again in Germany? They were all closed down when the hitler youth was formed.
bavaria says
Lots of backtracks there, sorry about that! They do have Brownies at school, but I think there’s currently a waiting list!
h0pefulmummy says
wheyhey! emma, catbus is brilliant! i love his cheesy grin… we haven’t watched the film yet – niamh’s birthday is in a few weeks – but i’m looking forward to it…
well done you for being a yummy mummy and baking up a brilliant cake
oh, and happy birthday to the bavarian little girl
xxx
bavaria says
Thanks Sheonad! Let me know what you think of the film when you watch it! Emma :) xxx
Notmyyearoff says
That cake looks very nice!
bavaria says
Thank you! Glad you like it! :) x
Grace says
Wow, you have done yourself proud my darling. I can retire from making birthday cakes for the grandchildren and sit back and admire your creations. Happy carnival. Mx
bavaria says
No you can’t! :) xxx