Local pâtisserie rescues Christmas spirit

Happy White Christmas to all. The view from Princes Street looks like this:

This morning started badly. The post office was late in opening again, and then the parcel I had arranged to be delivered there was not there, even though it was supposed to be there yesterday. I have a troubling feeling that the parcel may be languishing in a back room somewhere, lonely and lost without me.

So I was annoyed. Christmas is here and I shall not have my parcel. Yes, I have other parcels, but now I want THIS one. This is the one I NEED to have. Now I have to wait until Monday.

An hour later I was walking to the pound stretchers to buy a new frying pan when I was met by a miraculous sight. For months there has been a new sign advertising Pâtisserie Jacob, but it seemed it would never open. I had honestly forgotten about it.

And it was open. The window cabinet was full of incredible treats of all shapes and sizes. I launched myself inside, almost tearing up with joy. You see, while there are other pastry makers in the great city of Edinburgh, there has not, until now, been one in my own neighbourhood.

Behold the incredible loot I bought, including two slices of a magic mousse cake of some kind, an apricot tart, a piece banana and toffee cake, slice of mango cheesecake, a slice of black forest, and some little biscuits with a dollop of jam.

I was told by the lovely lady at the counter than in the New Year they will widen their range of breads and begin to make their own croissants. To top it off the prices are amazing. £1.80 for a slice of cake that looks like it has been churned with the honeys of heaven? Swoon!

So there you have it. My Christmas spirit, which Royal Mail had battered so heinously, has been salvaged by Jacob Phillip and his wonderful new pâtisserie. They are at 201 Gorgie Road in Edinburgh. You must go there and behold the glories for yourself.

True, the New Year means being more dedicated to my diet and exercise again, as I fell off the wagon over the past month due to work stress and a thee-week cold. But now my weekend treats will be sorted. I am happy.

I am taking the next several days off from the blogosphere, so I wish everyone a most splendid holiday season and wiggle-inducing New Year.