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Having said that, byplucking up the courage tolay myself bare, for all tosee, all to snigger at, all to critiqueand for all to take photos (we'retalking lasting evidence whichwill be plastered over social mediaand used as evidence against me inyears to come) was absolutely thebest thing I could ever have done tofurther my little old career in cakedecorating and above all, buildingmy confi dence as a designer.With Cake Internationals' 25thAnniversary spectacular show onthe horizon (3rd -5th November 2018)``````I spent many years making cakes for customers, putting my heart andsoul into my fl avours, designs and those little details always being told“ooh you're better then cake boss” (sorry Buddy) or “wow, have youever won any competitions?” which for me was always a very awkwardconversation to have, as I have never been comfortable accepting acompliment. Don’t get me wrong I always feel fl attered but the sad truth isthat I was petrifi ed (the thought literally sent shivers down my spine),of putting my work out there for people to judge, criticise and nit-pick their waythrough creations I had spent sometimes weeks and months on... By Laura DodimeadEAT.... SLEEP....CREATEAND COMPETEthere is no better time to put yourbig girl/boy pants on and challengeyourself to make the best, mostcreative cake or sculpture you haveever made. The beauty being; it canbe whatever you want it to be. Yesit will cost you money, yes you willgive up your time for nothing, yesit’s going to stress you out beyondbelief but I promise you, the prideyou will feel when you enter thepushing and shoving crowds at 7amat the NEC to excitedly collect yourspecial entry number and exhibitorspass and place your piece in its newhome for the next three days will belike no other.I’m going to back track a littlehere; when I said you can make``````whatever you want, I meant it, BUTwith any competitions there arealways rules and regulations thatMUST be followed.There are no second chances, nomisunderstandings andno exceptions. Sounds scary andmaybe a little harsh but time aftertime I have seen the most spectacularpieces with a white card in front of itafter judging has taken place with aNTS written on it (translation: Not ToSchedule) and it is genuinely heartbreaking... the time and effort thathas been put in to those beautifulpieces and it could be a couple ofmillimetres bigger than the givenmeasurement on the schedule andjudging stops and you get nothing.compliment. Don’t get me wrong I always feel fl attered but the sad truth is32 | September 2018 http://www.cakedecorationmagazine.co.ukp32-33_Sweet Talking.indd 32 09/08/2018 17:49