15) The Old Post Office - Newburgh. A Scone Alone

Mrs R and Miss Victoria have gone away for a pamper day.  So I have been left, " A Scone Alone."  Mrs R has left me a list of tasks to do while she gets royally treated.  So in true man fashion I find that if I cut corners there's still time enough for me to pop out and get a little cake.  By the time they return I'll be home and they will be none the wiser.   Of course it helps if I take Trento with me. 

I've had my sights set on the Old Post Office in Newburgh for some time as it also doubles as a cafe.   I took a brief walk around the village and it's pleasant conservation area.  The church has a lovely garden next to the Old Post Office.   The tea room was OK.  The best thing about it was that the woman in the Post Office cubicle also served in the cafe and had to come from her box to attend to me.  Quirky, in a niceway.  I ordered an okay Passion Cake (there was no passion there - £1.95) that was not home baked and a small pot of tea (£1.30).  Earl Grey was 10p extra.  Not worth 1p extra in my opinion. There were no papers to read but there were some useful booklets on places to visit in Lancashire.

Now, down to more delicate matters.  I have been contacted by a Mrs L who has come to me with a serious problem.  She tells me that she has been baking a Coffee and Walnut cake for her husband once a week for their entire married life.  However, she is a bit concerned that he does not appear to be interested in this any more.  He seems to have lost his appetite for her Coffee and Walnut cake, and she is worried that he might be seeking his baked goods from elsewhere.   She has asked my advice.

I have suggested think she needs to spice things up a bit, to try a few different recipes and to be a bit more spontaneous. I recommended surprising him one night when he comes home from work with a chocolate sponge or even a a fruit loaf.  Once things are a little more interesting perhaps she might tempt him with the offer of a little "Upside Down Cake," although this is not to everyone's taste.    Suggest to him it might be fun if they baked together and that he might like to try his hand a baking for himself.  My advice to her is that if his cake does not rise sufficiently, or if he has problems with his Swiss Roll, try not to draw attention to it too much and reassure him that it can happen to anyone.  Perhaps with a little experimentation together they could try to make a Victoria sandwich, however, under no circumstances should they attempt a "Rum Baba" as I think this takes years of careful practice.  I think this should improve things.  Either way it will be a Rocky Road.

Of course, if he still shows no interest there's no reason why she could n't pursue her own interest in a little Jamaican Ginger Cake for herself.
The centre of the village is a conservation area. It has  more than 40 listed buildings and many historic houses.   Newburgh has a long history  and the most significant date is 1304 when the village was granted a Market Charter. Every June there is a big bash – it’s called Newburgh Fair and has its roots in the fourteenth century. Processions, bands, fete and lots of family fun. And in November the Lions have a magnificent bonfire and fireworks

It also has  14 footpaths and a heritage trail to see some outstanding houses. There are more than 500 trees in the village

Newburgh is a nice place.  The bus 3 calls here on its way between Ormskirk and Skelmersdale.  But even better a bus I had never heard of, the 337 between Ormskirk and Chorley, also comes through here.  Parbold station on the Southport to Wigan line is not far away.