Let’s do this together

If you wait long enough, like buses, two homebaked artisan loaves come along at once.

“This really is a treat,” I said to The Dark Lord, groaning inwardly as another giant, doughy bread came home for tea this week.

The Dark Lord has now joined the cook club at school after her fougasse earned her baker of the week in food tech.

This was in the same week she almost set fire to the house when she left a potato waffle in the toaster.

Going back to her PC gaming and forgetting about the waffle, it was only when the fire alarm went off that she attempted to retract the smoking item from the electric appliance with a wooden chopstick (at least she remembered not to blow herself up by prodding at it with a knife).

But she only succeeded in breaking it in half, and pushing the other half further into the heating elements, which means now it sets the alarm off every day at breakfast, further enhancing my morning mood.

“It’s focaccia,” she said, beaming with pride. “No black hairs, and I remembered to wash my hands this time.”

It weighed a ton, which is hardly surprising as it needed half a kilo of strong white bread flour.

“We didn’t have enough bread flour in the cupboard, so I just used plain flour,” she said, delighted with her efforts.

I have to admit, the result wasn’t too bad considering, and I’m really pleased she’s taken an interest in baking again – and she’s learned to read a recipe. This hopefully means she won’t blow up our oven again like the time she merrily added half a packet of bicarbonate soda to chocolate muffins and wondered why they exploded and nearly took out half our street.

Email me at siobhan.mcnally@mirror.co.uk or write to Community Corner, PO Box 791, Winchester SO23 3RP.

MY AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHS

The Queen’s swans are busy with their baby cygnets, but this one looks like it’s taken a liking to snapper Richard Parrish.

The 57-year-old wildlife photographer lives in Essex, but travels to many different nature reserves and parks all over the UK. He says: “I love capturing the wonderful wildlife we have in this country and I thought I would share some pictures of the new life around this time of year.

“There are lots of little goslings, ducklings and these swan cygnets.

“The cygnets will travel on the swan’s back until they grow and can take care of themselves.”

Readers can see more of Richard’s stunning snaps on his Instagram page richard.parrish72.

Calling all artists, photographers and crafters – send snaps of your work to siobhan.mcnally@mirror.co.uk and don’t forget to include a selfie, age and location, and tell us what inspires you.