Fake It ‘Til You Make It!

I’m in the car, chomping on a cherry bakewell on the way to Harry’s funeral (remember I’m allowed the calories, because Harry died. At some point I will have to move on a little and stop eating like a pregnant horse). Partner had asked for snack requests for the 4 hour journey and this was my choice. A good one, I thought, until I saw that rather than buying Mr Kiplings, he had saved 10p and bought Tesco’s own. I had a moan. Harry’s died and you’re bothered about saving 10p on a packet of fake cherry bakewells, I sobbed…I didn’t sob, I moaned. He ignored me. I couldn’t let it go: just think of baked beans and tomato ketchup, I said, in a mournful voice, to try and elicit some sympathy. Peanut butter – I exclaimed, triumphantly! You would NEVER get own brand peanut butter. You – King of the fuss where peanut butter is concerned. You’ll happily pay an extra quid for Nature’s Earth, so why should I have to suffer own brand cherry bakewells…he’s pretending to just drive….especially when these are technically for Harry, I finish my rant. I bite into it, oozing with scepticism for the tart imposter. As my teeth sink through the bright, white icing, I realise that this is actually very good. Tesco have been more generous than Mr K and there is more than the usual amount of icing. The pastry is particularly short and crumbly, making it effortlessly melt into the mouth. Even the glacé cherry – that thing that nobody actually likes, because it tastes so sickly, sweet – even that seems bearable. I take another, just to check that the first wasn’t just an anomaly. It didn’t disappoint. Partner is glancing at me sideways, still saying nothing.

It’s a rare thing to find, a copy that’s actually better than the original, but, as we’re going to a funeral, did you know that Wet, Wet, Wet didn’t write: ‘Love is all Around’ that featured on the song track of Four Weddings and a Funeral? That was their 1994 cover of The Troggs’ 1960s hit and it spent 15 weeks at the top of the charts.

One of my oft used sayings is: fake it ’til you make it. Frequently we find ourselves in situations that are outside our comfort zone and where we feel more than slightly unsure. Shoulders back, deep breaths, everyone will think you’re the real deal! That fake cherry bakewell nailed it! It embodies one of life’s sweet lessons.