I've been desperate to write this blog post from the moment the idea came to mind but didn't want to fully commit to something that was still very much up in the air (no pun intended...). Now that it's all finally set in stone, i can let you guys in on my very exciting/tad nerve racking news! EEEEEP.

When I do something, I do it well. I'm no half a job Rob if ya hearing what i'm saying (no disrespect to all you Robs out there). For as long as I can remember, I have always put an enormous amount of pressure on myself to succeed. When my year 7 geography teacher asked the class to make a volcano from scratch as a homework task, I spent my whole weekend indoors creating an absolute masterpiece. I then cried on the Monday morning because I didn't think it was good enough and was embarrassed to bring it into school. I am also super self critical. After putting my heart and soul into something, I have the ability of pulling it apart so I can stand back and scrutinise every aspect. Talk abut being my own worst enemy, I know. After worrying all day, fifth period came along and it was time for the big reveal...I was rewarded with a chupa chups lollipop and five stamps in my planner for the 'best volcano he had ever seen' (his words not mine ;)). Confidence and self belief in my own efforts would have saved me a bucket full of tears and three whole days of telling myself I just couldn't do it.

The real question is: are you really in Yorkshire if you’re not offered a sweet treat alongside a cracking cup of tea (freshly poured from a teapot, of course) when you first arrive at someone's house? My mum thrives off being a hostess with the mostess when people visit, feeding them up with homemade treats and then sending them on their way five stone heavier. When we were younger and ipads didn't exist (how on earth did the poor parents cope), my mum would often dig out her Be-Ro recipe books and send us on a baking mission to keep us four kids entertained. Back then, I was never really enthused by it (the only thing I cared about was the bowl that needed licking clean at the end) but now I love nothing more than baking up a storm in the kitchen - times have well and truly changed! I also find baking a great distraction in those moments when my brain goes into overdrive and I need to chill the f out!

I'm forever searching the web for new baking challenges and this week, came across this recipe from the Tesco real food website - BEE CUPCAKES! They straight away made me think of Manchester (the city of busy bees and hard workers) and the amount of innocent lives lost in the attack that took place there last month. I knew then I had to give them a go! I won't lie, they did take a whole lot of patience but a perfect recipe if you're stuck indoors due to the crappy, English summer and have some time on your hands! And I mean, how flippin CUTE! They were super fun to make and everyone loved eating them too...I couldn't recommended enough!