A delicious day...

What weather! suddenly it is almost too hot... But oh, how English to moan about the weather! Really it was glorious. And the Buns and Bunting girls kept stiff upper lips in the sweltering heat and soldiered on in the heatwave, providing lavish refreshments for all those who came to the First Garden City Museum yesterday. Inga's Coffee and Walnut was once again the favourite, although it turns put Letchworthians like Elderflower cake too, not to mention Marian's Victoria Sponge. Here are some pictures on the day. If you came - thank you. If you didn't... maybe next time?

Garden City Celebrates...

BUNS AND BUNTING - EVENT TODAY !!!! Saturday, May 26th, we will be at the gorgeous First Garden City Museum in Letchworth for a very special celebration - the re-opening of Howard Park and recreation of the Statue of Sappho. In the early days of Letchworth a statue of Sappho stood in Meadow Way, but eventually came to Howard Gardens (named after Ebenezer Howard, the Garden City poineer). This was then stolen, and only now has the statue been replaced. Teas will be in the rear garden of the museum, and are accessible from the museum and from the ajoining Howard Gardens. Served from 11 - 4pm, come along and enjoy vintage teas in the sunshine!

Buns & Bassingbourn

By some remarkable fluke, the weather was fine and the Bassingbourn bash was a great success. Inga's Coffee and Walnut took the prize for most popular. She had the straightest seams too!

Sadly my Elderflower sponge could not compete.


Despite a major road closure debacle on Sunday morning, the weekend was a huge success. It was so interesting walking around and chatting to the wonderful, devoted and informed re-enactors, so full of facts and warm comradeship. We filled their tin mugs with tea (once the generator warmed up the water!) in exchange for their welcome. And it was exciting to feel part of another era, and to soak up the atmosphere of the airfield which was so significant in the war.

Some of us even got a ride in a vintage ambulance (featured in the movie Atonement). There were so many temts or "camps" full of fascinating things. And clothes stalls! There just wasn't time to enjoy it all - the cakes were so popular we were were run off our feet!


With George Formby impersonations floating on the breeze from the stage (and there was *quite* a breeze; we were a little worried for our china!), and extraordinary model aircraft flying overhead (so big they looked like the real thing!), time shifted and there we were, for a few hours, on the Home Front with our home-make cakes and chintzy frocks.

Here are some pictures. More will follow soon. And thanks to everyone who came!

Buns, Bunting and (Memphis) Belle...

Although exhausted from baking cakes (such a hard life), I did want to find the time to post about next weekend and the Bassingbourn Bash as I like to call it. Bassingbourn airfield was the home of the famous Memphis Belle - the nickname of a Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress

During World War 2 the aircraft completed 25 missions safely, and inspired two movies (the first a documentary, the second a Hollywood Blockbuster). Looking at the lady mascot Memphis Belle herself I am wondering if that look might solve my vintage frock problem? But with the weather as it is, I suspect not.

Here are some super old pictures of the "Belle" in her heyday. She is now in Ohio, being fully restored, but Bassingbourn, quite rightly, still celebrate their part in her story at the Tower Museum, which needs a major refurbishment to preserve this important history, hence the "Somewhere in England" 40s festival!

We made a little FILM of Buns and Bunting and did the vocals ourselves (I am expecting that call from Covent Garden any day now!). My wordsmith husband rewrote the words to In The Mood. Click here to view it!  I can't promise a live performance next weekend, but with a big enough cake-induced sugar high, who knows?

Damn that rationing! Finding an authentic frock for the big 'Forties weekend coming up is harder than you think. What is a girl to do? Being surrounded by luscious lemon cakes doesn't help. If only the whole weekend could be sepia toned, it would make all the difference.

Actually I do have a dress winging it's way from France as we speak (ok, type) and fingers crossed it will be *the one*.

The Big Bassingbourn Bash is going to be terrific and we at Buns and Bunting are pulling out all the stops to make it an unforgettable couple of days. Obviously it will have stopped raining by then (please?!). I'm even investigating wartime cake recipes (fear not, our usual post-rationing cakes will be available in a"bun"dance too!). But I thought it might be an interesting historical extra. Carrot scones anyone...?