I didn’t used to go in to baker’s shops all that often, apart from on the odd occasion when I fancied my absolute favourite - carrot cake. There’s a particular carrot cake, which is sold from a baker’s stall in Blackpool, and I swear it’s the best in the world!

I also used to go to bakeries when I couldn’t find a Subway. Greggs is good for a lunchtime sandwich - I’d always buy the Chicken New Orleans from there - and they are pretty cheap.

But my new boyfriend is a bakery addict and finds it almost impossible to walk past a shop without going in. He finds the smell of freshly baked cakes, bread, pastries, pies completely irresistible.

For this reason, I have found myself visiting the otherwise unfamiliar world of bakery shops a little more often than usual. And I must say that I need to be careful. My taste buds are fast getting used to the taste of soft, warm, sweetness and my waistline is quickly expanding in direct correlation!

I can’t blame it all on him, though. Being from Belgium, I also have a weakness for pain au chocolat dipped in hot chocolate in the mornings and boule de Berlin (a doughy ball dipped in sugar filled with custard). And I guess that when I’m being healthy I tend to go for brown multigrain bread best dipped in tomato soup. But I admit that I would much rather indulge in naughty snacks.

Yum Yums, custard doughnuts, sausage rolls are... mmmm... what dreams are made of!

Melanie de Meester, wheelchair tennis assistant, Blackpool

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