Monday 29 August 2016

Goodbye…for now definitely, possibly forever (ooh, that came out more dramatic than intended!)


I thought I should post to say goodbye to you all.  I haven’t posted anything now since June and suppose I’ve just fallen out of love with blogging.  The coming weekend would be my blog’s 9th birthday and it’s made me realise that I’ve been doing this for so long now that it’s started to feel like another job. 

I still love baking, and still bake most weekends, but it feels liberating not to have to scrabble around each week and find something different to bake, write it up, take photos, post it online etc.  It was starting to take up a big chunk of my limited free time, which is fine when you enjoy it, but not so much when you don’t.  And sometimes I just want to make the same cake three weekends in a row without worrying about not having anything to post!

It’s been a blast and I’ve loved all your comments and emails – thank you to everyone who’s stopped by whether leaving a comment or not.  The blog will stay up and available (I use it as my personal recipe book and would be lost without it!), and I’ll do my best to continue responding to any questions left in the comments section.

I don’t want to say that I’ll never be back – in a few months’ time I might desperately miss the blogosphere and return to it, but it doesn’t feel likely at the moment.


To paraphrase Douglas Adams’s dolphins when they leave Earth: so long, and thanks for all the cake!

55 comments:

Angie's Recipes said...

I miss your baked goods :-(( I used to post 3 recipes weekly, then 2, then 1...and sometimes I just don't have anything to share because I eat the same old thing over and over..but I stick around and post new recipe when I can..so do come back when you can...love your recipes!

Unknown said...

Gutted!! But i can understand that the commitment of regular blogging could lead to to less spontaneous and enjoyable baking. All the recipes i've tried from your blog (and there have been many) have been 100% reliable. I've passed the recipes onto friends who have in turn passed them on. I have loved your witty baking banter and must admit i felt concerned for your well-being when you hadn't blogged for so long. Glad that it is merely that you don't wish to commit to regular posting of recipes. Feel like i've lost an old friend but will look out in case you post further recipes and like you will use your past postings as an inspirational recipe book. Good luck!!

Unknown said...

So sad to hear this as I always check your blog to see what yummy cake you have made. Every time I use your recipe people love it and I have pass on your blog to several people. But I 1000% understand your reason for not continuing, and I support it. But I hope in the future when you may feel to do a post, please do. But for now, thank you so much for sharing your recipe and replying to my email years ago (about muffins recipe when my friend was in hospital) I was surprised you replied and was super kind. So once again, thank you! Along... enjoy your free time and continue to enjoy baking! :)

Unknown said...

So sad to hear this as I always check your blog to see what yummy cake you have made. Every time I use your recipe people love it and I have pass on your blog to several people. But I 1000% understand your reason for not continuing, and I support it. But I hope in the future when you may feel to do a post, please do. But for now, thank you so much for sharing your recipe and replying to my email years ago (about muffins recipe when my friend was in hospital) I was surprised you replied and was super kind. So once again, thank you! Along... enjoy your free time and continue to enjoy baking! :)

Maggie said...

I understand completely CC! Thanks for being so loyal and leaving me a comment week in week out over the last 9 years - so very much appreciated....
Wishing you the best of everything x

Ruth999 said...

Totally understand that. When a hobby turns into an obligation, that's the time to stop.
Thank you so much - both for the recipes, and for everything you wrote while you were giving us them.
Hope you do something really enjoyable in the time you've just freed up by giving up the blog!
Ruth

Anonymous said...

All good things must come to an end, I guess, but I'll miss your cake-based missives. Thanks for the fun, the inspiration, the calories.... You can be rightly proud of your 9 years' work, and have definitely earned the right to your own sign-off for your efforts: bask in the glory of the wonderful thing you have created.

Unknown said...

Hi, I've never posted here before, but I just wanted to thank you for sharing so many delicious recipes. I'm really sad you won't be posting more, but of course completely understand and wish you all the best :)

Jane W said...

Hi, Thank you for 9 years of wonderful baking inspiration. I often use your recipes and find myself trawling back through your posts for ideas of what to bake. 9 years is a very long time, I can fully understand your decision. I am very grateful to you for sharing your bakes, recipes and observations; you should be very proud of what you have achieved - thank you.

Katie said...

I've loved reading your blog and all your amazing bakes. It's sad to see you go but agree when something fun becomes a chore its not so enjoyable.
I know you'll continue to bake delicious things. Happy baking :)

Dipika said...

Thank you for all the wonderful recipes! I totally understand that 'this blog is taking over my life' feeling. I hope you spend your extra free time well (i.e. eating more cake).

Jules said...

I've loved reading your blog and have made many recipes over the years. Enjoy your 'retirement'!

Anonymous said...

Hello CC, first time poster and long time admirer! I'm sad to read this may be your last post but completely understand that you want to bake for the sake of baking, not just for blogging purposes.

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all of your posts, recipes and witty observations- you taught me how to make a "proper" Victoria sponge, the best ever chocolate ganache cake and countless other bakes. I've tried so many of your recipes and each one has been perfect. You've encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone. Wishing you all the best!

Gloria Baker said...

Love your posts and recipes !
Im so sad, really! You are in my favorites list ! Hope you be ok and I will be happy to heard about you soon.
Im posting only once a week. I dont have time like before . Usually I posted twice a week.
Hugssss ! And thanks !

Jackie Sayle said...

Thanks for all the recipes and I do understand what you mean. I've posted very little on my blog for the past year or so. Have fun, whatever you decide to do. x

Jean said...

Blogging can feel like a chore at times, so I know how you feel.
I hope that one day you'll bake something that you just have to post about and that we'll see you again. In any case, thanks for all the recipes, they've been great.
Au revoir!

Tanya Umpleby said...

Oh no!! I will miss you, I dont stalk you as much as i used to as hubby was getting jealous of my girl crush on you lol I recommend your strawberry cheesecake to all my cookshop customers and was just signing on to your page for my yearly batch if bramble curd for my coffeeshop. Thank you for all your fabulous recipes and funny blogs - still make the extra curd to spread on my toast as you told us to!! Love and miss you already, Tanya, cooking fantastic (the victoria surprise tin!!) X x x

Julie said...

I totally understand. I only discovered you last winter but I enjoyed your blog very much. I was a little concerned when radio silence descended this summer, so I'm glad you just need a break. Wishing you all the best.

Unknown said...

With your absence I was half expecting you to turn up on the great British bake off! Will be super sad to see you go. Sunday's are not the same without your posts. Many of your recipes are still my go to recipes. My first ever cc bake was your cherry bakewells. I glad you still enjoy baking. Good bye (hopefully not forever!) x

Lynn said...

Sometimes I post once a week, sometimes once a month. I even managed 4 days in a row once. But it shouldn't feel like a chore, so take a break and just come back if - more likely when - you feel like it.

United Cakedom said...

Your blog was one of the first I started reading when I entered the blogosphere and I am sad to see you go, but respect the need to bake and not blog about it!

I hope you are enjoying this weekend and baking up something you love and not something you feel you have too bake!

United Cakedom said...

Your blog was one of the first I started reading when I entered the blogosphere and I am sad to see you go, but I get it needing a break! I hope to see you back one day, but even if it never happens I will be back to check your blog out!!

Hope you are enjoying your weekend baking whatever it is you want without feeling pressure to blog about it!!

Snowy said...

Understand how you feel; thank you for all the great recipes, and hope you'll come back some time.

Unknown said...

I have missed your posts but would like to say thank you for all of the recipes you have shared. I will still use them regularly!
Take care :-)

Gill said...

I'm going to miss your weekly recipes but totally understand your reasons for stopping. Thanks for all the years of Sunday cake updates ! X

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for all the great recipes and chatty inspiration !

All the best and happy baking !

Gluten Free Alchemist said...

So sad to see you go CC! But fully get that it has become a chore. You've made some great bakes and I know that you will continue to do so....... I am sure you will enjoy them all the more without the hassle of photographing and typing! All the best xxx

The Kitchenmaid said...

This is very sad news, but I understand completely. Someone very wise once told me that you should always leave the party while you're still having a good time (which you can apply to all sorts of situations), so it's good to go before you find blogging a real chore. I've loved reading your posts over the years and anything I've made has been a resounding success, so thank YOU for much eating and reading pleasure. All the best and happy baking x

Anonymous said...

Oh my lordie lord don't take your blog down....I reference to it all the time for yummies to make. Enjoy your break, hope to see you back one day.

Anonymous said...

I love your blog, I love your cakes and I love the way you stop doing something when it doesn't feel right anymore.
Thank you so much for the time, effort and love you put into creating so many special recipes,
Barbara

molebags said...

so sorry to see you go.....

Jo said...

Absolutely gutted to hear this as you are without a doubt one of my favourite bloggers, but I completely understand your reasons for stopping. I've been blogging less this year as I find I'm baking the same 3 or 4 cakes which doesn't make for interesting reading. Baking something new nearly every week and documenting it for 9 years is no mean feat, so congratulations for keeping it up for so long!

Thank you for all the lovely treats you have shared online and the witty writing. Every recipe I have tried from your blog has been a resounding success. The trifle layer cake in particular has become a family birthday favourite!

Take care and happy baking :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for sharing all your fab recipes. I especially loved the ten commandments. A number of them brought a smile to my face. Thanks too for leaving your recipes on the blog.
I wish you all the best and will definitely be reading should you ever decide to return.
Take care.

Spud McLaren said...

First, thank you for what has (for the most part, I assume) been a labour of love. I've learned rather a lot from your blog, and it's encouraged me to experiment as well as following and comparing recipes. My gran died without passing on her considerable baking knowledge to me and I feel that your blog has been a pretty close second.
Second, although I completely understand and agree with your reasons for taking an indefinite sabbatical, I feel sad that there won't be NEW CAKE news to look forward too, delivered in your inimitable witty style.
Third, I think it's such a shame that the "Cake or bake for every county" project won't be finished. Or will it ...?

Esculent Etc said...

I'm sorry that we won't have more of your recipes to look forward to - they're always presented with a mixture of joy and common sense and I've used a number of them to great success (particularly several of the ginger cakes). Your lack of serving sizes also speaks to me! I recommend your recipes and blog to a lot of people and am glad to hear it will remain available otherwise I'd have a lot of printing to do...

Completely understand the feeling about your heart not being in it at the moment too and I hope you're enjoying the light-heartedness that probably comes from your decision. May your mixtures never curdle, may your ganaches always set and may you create many more wonderful things whose glory you can bask in.

PS looking at the comment above I am very tempted to suggest the cake/bake for every county could be turned in to a collaborative project...I'd be happy to test and submit a few even though my kitchen is on the verge of being demolished. Could test run some of those Devon WI cookbooks I have been collecting from second hand shops!

sensibilia said...

Bye bye, CC, and thank you for all your inspirational recipes. I'm grateful that you are leaving everything online.

I hope you never stop enjoying food. As Dr Johnson (nearly) said, "A woman who is tired of cake is tired of life."

Spud McLaren said...

Er, not just women!

Esculent - I like the idea of a collaborative project, but have no experience of such a thing. How could this take shape?

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your fab collection of recipes, I love to sit and read through them. Your bakewell tarts were the first things I made, a massive success and still requested
for party occasions!

Unknown said...

Hi, I just happened to come across your blog looking for cake to bake. Sad to see you're going though. It's not my place to say what should happen to the blog but isn't a blog a place to leave a digital imprint of your ideas, an open diary that'll last forever. Don't post this comment. I was just giving you some food for thought. Pun intended hehe

Anonymous said...

First Downton Abbey ends now this...;)
You'll be so missed but happy you are doing what is right for you. I'll still use your blog. Many thanks for this gem and your amazing input. God bless you. Roze Xx

Nickki said...

I've only just seen this - I'll miss you and your lovely recipes, but I totally understand where you're coming from. Blogging takes up a lot of time. You are right to stop it if it's not fun anymore. Thank you for all of your lovely comments on my blog over the years. Take care, hopefully we'll talk again xx

Anonymous said...

I hope you get bored very soon and come back ;)
On the meantime, we’ll miss you!

Paty P. said...

Hiii from Venezuela!! It's so sad to read this but I totally get it, and you just have to whatever makes you feel good and free. I came across with your Vanilla Cupcakes recipe in the "Meet me at the Cupcake Cafe" book and I've been baking those beautiful and lovely babys in cupcake/muffin/cake way since December '16! They always come out perfect wich I totally love!

I do wanna ask you: do you think I can spray some sugar+water (syrup) spray on them? In order to make them more moist? (like Bakerella's yellow cake?)
xoxo! :)

The Caked Crusader said...

Hi Patty P

Thanks for your comment
I think a bit - only a bit! - of syrup wouldn't hurt them at all

Happy baking!

gloriadelpilar_1994@yahoo.com said...

I miss you so much ! hugs!

Lisa Marie said...

Dear CC,

Thank you for the years of hard work and wonderful recipes. Nearly two years have gone since this last post and your blog is still one of my go-to places for cakes and treats. Not only are the recipes diverse and heavenly but your writing is equally delicious. I miss having new updates [yes, I know, I will have to get over it] but the body of work of your blog continues to delight me.

My best wishes to you and yours.
Lisa Marie McKay

Anonymous said...

It amazing it's like an on line cook book incredible
Thankyou !! Nikki

Unknown said...

Still miss you...

Clipping Path said...


I am absolutely loving your gorgeous blog!I love this blog.Thanks for sharing.

Nicnac said...

Just popping my head back in to see if you're inclined to feature some Covid baking... we miss you still.

Tanya - Cooking Fantastic said...

Me too Nicnac oh how I miss the CC! Still refer back to some recipes. Really hope she is well x

Anonymous said...

Hi, I still use your recipes all the time and love coming here. You (and smitten kitchen) are my go-to-recipes-sites in the whole wide internet!
Hope all is right with you and your are still making killer-cakes as allways.
Barbara

Anonymous said...

Hello CC,

As I come back here for your Bailey’s cheesecake and sticky toffee pudding recipes, I do them every year, they are a part of our family Christmas now, I just wanted to let you know that you are still missed.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, I so hope you are well and 2022 is kind to you.

Much love

Lisa Shannon (the one with the crazy husband that got you to send me a birthday card once 🙈😂) xxx

Anonymous said...

We just baked your Cherry Cake last night and it was a hit! Thank you for all your previous blogging efforts...I will definitely be using some of your other recipes this year.

carmen said...

Thank you for your effort and fantastic recipes.

Much love,

Carmen