Cakes of Summer

It strikes me every year how unfortunate it is that exam season coincides with another, extremely different season- summer.
Just as the sun starts to appear for more than a fleeting moment, just as days become beautiful, and you want to drop everything and rush outside to enjoy the climate, you are forced to do the opposite. You must stay inside (believe me, revising outside can't be done effectively) and sit very still, and fill your brain with un-summery thoughts.
Couldn't have timed it better!

I'm glad for the change in weather though, at least there'll be some nice weather this year. I'm growing sceptical about how the summers keep turning out. The only summers' day I can remember being particularly hot last year was Matt's birthday, and we took advantage of the heatwave to grab a rowing boat on the Serpentine, and then have a picnic. Oh, and sunning ourselves by the ponds in Holland park, while the koi idly nibbled at our toes.
This was my creation on that particular day:

The cake was complex to assemble because I had wanted it to be a secret, and so i had to ice it while he was away. We went to see the Ukelele Orchestra the night before and Matt came back to the house with me and I had to force him to go home so I could ice the damn thing!

So worth it though.
The cake is my mum's special recipe- maybe I'll post it because it's the most DELICIOUS recipe ever, chocolatey heaven.

I'm hoping this summer holds many more cakes in store!