It’s a bit late, but if we go back a while I can pull in a very nice afternoon snack and re-use some Puffin pictures.

Puffin at Bempton – Sad-Faced Clown Contemplating a Life Devoid of Eccles Cakes
At the end of our second trip of the year to Bempton Cliffs we decided to see if there was room at the cafe. It had been quite crowded on the first visit but was slightly better this time, despite the presence of two coaches in the Car Park.
I just suggested a cup of tea, and asked a lady if we could share her table. As a result, my conscience is clear. It was Julia’s idea to buy the Eccles Cakes, and all the damage done to my weight control plan is a direct result of her dietary delinquency.
I like Eccles Cakes. They are available in supermarkets all over the country and they are crammed with dried fruit, sugar and fat. As they have dried fruit they must be full of fibre and vitamins too. What’s not to like?

Puffins at Bempton – eyeing Up my Eccles Cakes
My all time favourite is the Sad Cake. My grandmothers made Sad Cakes. They are like Chorley cakes but more pastry and less fruit. The Chorley cake link includes information on Sad Cakes. I used to make them when we visited. I also used to make Rock Buns. I was quite handy in those days. I really must start baking again.
Eccles cakes are probably more palatable but sometimes it’s the association rather than the actual food that makes things a favourite.
There are many variations on the fruit, flour and fat theme. These include Welsh Cakes, Shrewsbury Cakes and Blackburn Cakes. To be honest, despite having lived in Blackburn I’d not heard of that one until this evening. It was a footnote on one of the links and is, it seems, stewed apple in a pastry case. Sounds like a pasty to me.
Anyway, the tea was good, the Eccles cakes were good, the company was good, the clifftop sea breeze was good and the Tree Sparrows and Jackdaws were fun to watch. A Jackdaw can fit a lot of bread in its beak. Five big pieces torn of the edges of sandwiches by the kids on the neighbouring table.

Jackdaw at Bempton Cliffs
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After a few busy days and not checking WP, I thought I was seeing your last puffin post – but good to see the cute face peeping round the cliff edge again. I like Eccles cakes but thinking about my hips helps me stay away from them.
I’m way past worrying about my hips. π
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Hard to beat such a day!
Lobster Rolls might have improved it. π
Indeed they might have!
π
Great jackdaw pic. https://youtu.be/-tjHlFPTwVk
Thank you Derrick, a blast from the past. π
My mum used to make very fine Eccles Cakes. Thanks for the memory nuge!
Glad to be of service! π
That looks like such a fun time! Love Puffins too!
It’s about as good as it gets. π
Puffins and Eccles Cakes, it’s as if you had died and gone to heaven.
I had a look in the supermarket tonight and found some Chorley cakes. I’ve absent-mindedly eaten two while watching Heartbeat and reading WP. π
Thanks for the education. I have never heard of sad cakes. They sound like they should bring happiness. π
They have happy memories for me, that is true.
I suffer from the same sort of absence of mind from time to time.
Yes, it’s tricky. People call me fat, but really I’m just forgetful.