Time for another heart-warming post. If you’re a regular here, I hope you’ve been enjoying this series where various friends are dropping in to share just what it is that warms their hearts. Today, I’m delighted to welcome Julie Nickerson, who has a mouth watering post – makes me want to head Julie’s way to find that restaurant – and that tart.
Welcome Julie!
What Warms Julie Nickerson’s Heart?
When Sally invited me to write a blog post about what warms my heart, my thoughts immediately turned to food. Let’s face it, ask me anything and my initial reaction will be a food-related response: What warms your heart? Hot apple crumble and a skinny latte. What time is it? Time for (insert any food item here). Does my bum look big in this? What … is that … is that pizza I can smell?
However, I decided to rise above my food fascination on this occasion and write about something deep and meaningful that warms my heart. A piece of writing featuring a comment by my son, a missing book, and Edward Lear soon ensued but it was as boring as, well, a brussel sprout. So I tossed that idea and sat back to wait for the next idea to come, which it didn’t.
A few nights later, I was out with my school-mum friends at my favourite restaurant eating hot apple crumble and a skinny latte when I was reminded of the blog post I was yet to write. When I asked my friends what they thought might warm my heart, they pointed to the food in front of me (they know me well), putting me right back where I started. But the conversation continued and soon turned to friendships and how I frequented this particular restaurant with both my school-mum friends and my writing friends, and that there was one thing on the menu that I had each and every time, regardless of who I was with. Then it hit me. I knew what warmed my heart, every time, without fail – cheese tart!
Now, this is not just any old cheese tart. This is the crème de la crème of cheese tarts. Adelaide Hills goat cheese, parmesan, melt-in-your-mouth pastry, caramelised onion and balsamic vinegar; to-die-for good. And it must be shared. With best friends. Always.
On this particular night I was sharing it with the school-mums, but I also often share it with my writing buddy; my critique partner. My dear, sweet friend who listens to my story ideas, no matter how waffly they may be; reads my manuscripts and very politely points out the awful bits and puts smiley faces on the good bits; and who is there to share the roller coaster writing journey with me, no matter whether we’ve got our hands in the air through the loop-de-loop or have been left dangling upside down from the carriage during a technical fault. Most importantly, she is the co-discoverer of the power of the cheese tart. We only have to mention ‘cheese tart’ and we know that’s the code word for one (or both) of us needing to meet up. One of the following five types of cheese tart consumption soon results:
Celebratory cheese tart: Used for celebrating all publishing-related successes – big, small and in-between. (“I just signed a book deal! And now I’m eating cheese tart! Huzzah!”)
Commiserative cheese tart: The quickest way to move on after those pesky rejections. (“Hey, this rejection letter isn’t so bad after all. It got me some cheese tart.”)
Brainstorming cheese tart: More fun than sitting at home talking to yourself as you throw ideas around. (“A giant chicken? Baa, haa, haa! Stop, I’m choking on my cheese tart!”)
Editorial cheese tart: This is a very serious cheese tart, consumed after feedback from an agent/publisher/editor. (“I’ve been working on this sentence for four days. Maybe if we eat cheese tart together, we can fix it.”)
Just-because cheese tart: It’s not always about the writing. Sometimes it’s about the friendship. (“Haven’t seen you for ages. Cheese tart?”)
As you have probably gathered, many cheese tarts were harmed in my journey to publication. And they remain in constant threat of destruction as long as I continue to write, and as long as my friends (school-mum, writing, or otherwise) are there to share it with me.
Yumm. Thanks Julie! Julie’s latest book is Pippa the Perfect Flower Girl:
Thanks, Angela. We may have to do a group cheese tart session soon. I'll tell Sheryl to add it to the agenda!
Oh, Julie! You did make me giggle. this is such a great post.
Yum!
Thanks for having me over for a visit, Sally!
Sheryl, I'm always up for a bit of cheese tart! 🙂
Lovely post, Jules! Thank you, Sally for providing the opportunity too. I'd love to share some cheese tart with you soon, J! 🙂 xx
mmmm… cheese tart…