Tea and Cakes

I sort of follow rugby. Not as much as I used to, but I’ll still happily spend an afternoon up at the club when I’m back home, stood in the cold with a pint of warm beer, or sit down and watch an international of an afternoon on occasion.
Today was just such an occasion. England versus Ireland in Croke Park. Croke Park is the main Gaelic games stadium here in Dublin, and is being used for rugby and soccer (or ‘brit ball’, as I’ve heard them called) temporarily while Landsdowne Road is being refurbished. Understandably this has all been a bit controversial, with most of the current objections being about God Save the Queen being played (seriously, we need a new national anthem). God Save the Queen was already played at Croke Park during the special olympics, but it’s a much better story if that’s not mentioned.

Anyway, England-Ireland. It could have been a close one. England have been playing atrociously, but we have Jonny. Ireland have been doing better, but really shouldn’t have lost to France the other week.

The mood at the beginning was sombre and respectful, and, rugby fans being on the whole a civilised bunch, everything went off fine during the national anthems. We started well, Jonny scoring early. And then? Well, we don’t need to talk about that.

So, what’s an English girl living in Ireland to do on an occasion such as this?
Why, bake scones of course.
(All basic recipe from Delia Smith’s Book of Cakes)

First up, some cheese scones, with sun-dried tomato and mixed seeds:

Followed, naturally, by sweet fruit ones

To be served with jam and cream and large mugs of earl grey tea

There, that makes it all better.