one twin

One of our twins is missing. Tom and Alice are fifteen today, but only Tom is here to celebrate. Alice has gone to Spain on an exchange visit (and, unfortunately, to discover that the rain in Spain does not fall mainly on the plain) and has left her twin brother to have a sybaritic day of computer games, chocolate, more chocolate and chocolate birthday cake.

It had to happen one day, and although it feels a little strange not to have the birthday girl here, we know this is only the beginning of a new era of independence. I'm actually really pleased that she is happy fly to Spain on her birthday and not miss us all too much.

So she had a birthday cake, candles and plenty of wobbly, out-of-tune singing last night. Phoebe then put on her apron again today and made this chocolate extravaganza for Tom. Tom, being his mother's son, did not want any wax dripping from the candles onto his cake and devised this clever method of protecting the icing and decorations while the candles burned and we sang out of tune once more. He then lifted off the polythene bag and candles in one go, cut a huge slice for himself, and disappeared upstairs. Something tells me he is not suffering separation anxiety. 

Comments

[Ellen]

Is that a single serving?

[Rosa]

That is such a clever way of ensuring no candle wax on frosting. Love it! Happy B-Day to the Twins--15 is an exciting age!

[Kristin]

Happy Birthday to Tom and Alice! Chloe just turned 15 too and it's pretty exciting. She's actually old enough to get her driver's permit here in Oregon, but we'll wait a while. She's not so anxious to do it right now. I hope Alice has a wonderful time in Spain!

[evaberry]

Ha! Brilliant. Teenagers, eh?

[Elizabeth D]

Jane, your Phoebe is a dangerous person to have around the house! Good thing there are resident teenagers. She makes the most remarkable cakes. (And what are the star-shaped chocolates?)

[Elizabeth Mackey]

Wow, that is one beautiful cake! Cheers to the birthday boy and the cake maker.

[Holly]

I so enjoyed reading this, Jane - and man, do I want a piece of that cake! Yummy. Happy Valentine's!

[Ali]

Happy birthday Tom and Alice. And I owe a thank you to Phoebe too. I have to make some space cupcakes as a special request for Johnny's birthday on Monday and I'd forgotten all about Milky Way stars until I saw Tom's cake.

See, inspiration - that's why visiting is always a pleasure. Hope your nest isn't feeling too off balance.

[pam]

My longtime theory is that Happy Birthday is the piece of music most often sung off key in the entire world!
A birthday + chocolate is a winning combination. Many happy returns to both.

[carole davis]

jane , a happy birthday to you as they celebrate the mother in russia as well..you are the one who gave birth to them.. it is weird not have the other twin there... i have twin step sons age 22 still we still haven't had that experience..so happy birthday to Tom... lucky boy...he got all the attention today

[vanessa]

Aaaahhhhhh, the process of independence....... it's probably more difficult for you than for them......
But look at it this way....... you've obviously done a marvellous parenting job, by creating two independent people, which is probably a harder thing to do than it looks! Especially with twins, I imagine.

[Sam]

I am a twin and we only had separate cakes once when we were little. Mine was a princess-y castle and his a rocket ship. My brother and I haven't spent a birthday apart yet, though I guess going to the same college helps.

[rac]

oh please don't do that! You can put on a very nasty fire with the wax, the poliethelene bag and the paper (or wood) from the candles.
This happened once in my husband's office and the fire alarm went off!

[rac]

I forgot: Happy Birthday!!!
(the scientist in me forgot that little detail, sorry)

[Cindy]

How wonderful to have children on such a day of love! My only daughter of 17 is another independent one. Takes after Momma Happy Birthday Teens

[dottycookie]

Happy birthday to both twins! My little one looked at the picture and said "That's a yummy cake!" I think she is right.

[derya]

love the new amaryllis-inspired blog colours! :)

[lucykate crafts]

happy birthday to both of them. i saw the picture of the cake on bloglines and my first thought was 'ROLO'S!", i had forgotten all about them, haven't had rolo's in years!

[lyn]

Happy Birthday Tom and Alice !
While I'm speaking to you directly, could you please ask your Mother not to post photos of yummy birthday cakes, particularly in the evening, because some of us are on a strict weightwatchers diet.
I've asked her not to do this before ,but she pays no attention to me. She is a bad woman.
Now I'm going to have to go and raid the biscuit tin.

[Lesley]

We were just coming out of BHS today at Fosse Park and Emily (age 14) reminded me it was Tom and Alice's birthday. I almost felt like I should have sent a card, since it feels like we know you all. Happy Birthday to them both.

[susan]

yummy yummy

[Emma]

Many Happy Returns Tom & Alice!

I had to look up sybaritic, but I've now decided it's a lovely word and I shall try and wangle it into my conversations.

Oh, I also had a question about the flapjacks, because I don't think I did it right. My mixture looked much darker than yours before it went in. By soft brown sugar do you mean the stuff that's sticky and kind of 'alive'? During cooking it just looked quite runny, and I kept it in longer than I should. "Oat brittle" is how my husband referred to it. Should it be kind of runny/oozy still when you take it out?

I apologise if this is an inappropriate place for recipe questions.

[Poppy Black]

I want to steal that cake and hide in the garden and eat it all myself! It looks utterly delicious. I guess you can't go wrong with chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. Happy birthday twins!

[MaryjO]

Happy Birthday to all and I think we are all "floating" in chocolate due to yesterday's other celebrations. But chocolate cakes are always popular, and this one looks lovely.
Congrats to all -- cook and eaters!

[Poppy Black]

By the way, do you think Phoebe could make me a birthday cake and send it over here to New Zealand?