Icing On The Cake

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

I have had so many requests for my Lemon Drizzle Cake story, then here it is. If you know me, I generally have told this story, to help people realise they need to change their systems, processes or ways. So here goes.

A young man, recently married, was amazingly impressed with his new wife. She was beautiful, witty, intelligent, understanding, down to earth and a fantastic cook. Her speciality was Lemon Drizzle Cake. It was light, sweet, more-ish and a perfect mix of tart and coconut flavours. One thing was getting to him though. Every time she made it, on retrieving it from the Aga, she cut an inch from the longer sides and threw them away.

One agreeable evening after a few beers and glasses of oaked NZ white wines, he asked her why she did that. After a bit of thought, she said "That cake is a special family recipe. My mother taught me to make it as a schoolgirl and that was a special part of getting the cake to taste the way it does". He responded by saying he could not quite get his head around that. Being the perfect wife, she understood and suggested he ask her mum, when they were there next on Sunday.

After the roast beef, Yorkies and al-dente veggies, his mother-in-law had baked the family Lemon Drizzle Cake. It was perfect, just like his wife's and had its sides missing. He took his opportunity and after the meal, asked her why the sides were cut off. She said she always binned those and it was his wife's granny, who had taught her to do that. The following week it was Mothers Day and as they all were going up to the old folks home, to see Granny, decided to ask her about it then.

The care home was quite luxurious and Granny had a very comfortable room, with a lot of her personal ornaments, pictures and other familiar stuff around her. After the presents were exchanged, he took his chance to bring up the Lemon Drizzle Cake, how well it was made by his young wife and mother-in-law.

"Ah yes!" She said. "That is a most delicious cake and a family recipe I have passed down. It must be made in a set way, otherwise is not as good, as it can be". I understand that, he said, but why on earth do you cut an inch off each end, as soon as it comes out of the Oven?

"Well", she said, turning around to the side table, and picked up an old, round Quality Street tin, "If I don't do that, it doesn't quite fit in here....".

I think you can realise from this, why we must constantly review in our processes, what and why we do things, to always check if they are still needed, appropriate and correct.

Get 'em to print this off and put this helpful picture in their pocket 8 - )

Related Post: Fooled Again - Make a better job of procuring software in future
 

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You can link with me on LinkedIn here - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy It would be great to connect !

Martin TinTin Duffy – Icing On The Cake.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, please get in touch and let me know!

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