To want the PTA to realise that I'm busy?

[mitochondria]

Got a letter in the book bag today. Tuesday.

"Please could you provide cakes, on Friday. Your child will be bringing home a plate on Thursday. Sorry for short notice."

If I genuinely didn't give a shit I'd just bin the letter, but I do try to support things where I can.

But I just do not have time to bake this week. Could they not have let me know on Friday, then at least I could have bought something at the weekend?

I'm sure someone somewhere has a list of "those who do not supply cakes". Well, I'll be on it.

i don't think they really notice who does and who doesn't. but yes they should ahve given you more notice.

Buy some homemade-looking cakes (not Mr Kipling). Put them on the plate. Job done.

Can't you pop to the shop?

Do you want a super quick chocolate muffin recipie - would take you 5 mins.

You could just put a few shop bought fairy cakes on it? I would imagine a large percentage of parents won't bake - it doesn't really matter. Any corner shop will have something.

get thee to tesco

buy cheap cupcakes

bake in hot oven for 4 minutes, to brown them unevenly

Arrange artfully

Dust with icing sugar

coldtits have you done this before?

Agree with cold tits Or buy a box of cake mixture with decorations to make it quick.

I got ours from Greggs last time

I hovered around the cake stall at the Winter Fayre. They sold for more than I paid for them

Don't fret about sending shop bought cakes.

OP, is that the gist of the note, or the actual wording?!

agree send shop bought.

Tesco cupcakes with home made icing always sell well...

And yes, the PTA should have given you more notice. It's no real excuse, but they're probably busy too

I was totally honest last time and turned up with a box of mini muffins from sainsburys and said sorry didn't have time but wanted to show willing.

It is a pain though, my daughter nominated me to make fruit kebabs with dipping chocolate and marshmallows. ended up costing me about £15. I told her to nominate me for crisp or juice next time!

cheap cupcakes from any supermarket £0.40 and a few pots of icing and some sweeties. let kids loose and you will come out as the best parent there..

(yes Ive done that before lollipop cakes especially go down well)

Oh, & cake provision = absolutely not obligatory, you know that, right?

Last time DD's class had a cake stall I stupidly volunteered to man it. Several parents had donated shop bought cakes, still in their packaging. They all sold, and AFAIK nobody was burned at the stake. It is better to donate shop bought than not at all, if they sell they still raise money for the PTA.

well i try and be supportive of these things when and where i can, but ther'es no way i could bake or get to a shop before Friday now (the joys of living in the middle of nowhere). well, maybe i could bake something as long as it didn't need eggs. or sugar, now i come to think of it.

anyway, DH would have to sort it out. and if anyone grumbled because DCs turned up without anything, it would be cringe-worthy but not the end of the world.

if they need stuff like that, they should tell people much more in advance - they probably expect a few not to turn up with anything, so I wouldn't stress too much :)

I find it quicker to make muffins than go to tesco (unless you are going anyway!)

Double Chocolate Muffins

275g self raising flour

25g chocolate powder
150g soft brown sugar

150g chocolate chips
1 egg 175 ml milk or juice
125 ml oil

method:

1. Set oven to 190 C Gas 5
2. Mix all the ingredient together with a fork,
3. Spoon into muffin cases and bale 25 minutes.

The cakes must be for something.
Did you not notice there was a fair/jumble sale or something on and they were no doubt going to be sending the plates home for cakes?

I'm sure you could get away with just not sending any.

Shop bought is fine, in fact if you get Fabulous Baking Boys, they are sealed and nut-free so you are catering for allergies.

I have a shop near me that sells cakes made
by the local WI. I send them in, not actually lying that I made them, just not saying I didn't. I am on the PTA and I am busy too.

In fairness you did say they apologised for the short notice. They probably got caught out themselves trying to organise the flyer on time. PA members are also busy too and not perfect. I'm sure any offering would be most welcome and if you can't donate this time I doubt you will be singled out as unsupportive.

The cakes are not for anything, apart from a cake stall. And I do write any snippets of information that fall my way in my diary in advance.

I could go to the shops, yes, but I don't really have time to do that either - I'd be going out of my way. Husband is going to work on his bike this week as his car's in the garage.

They did ask for help manning, too - I certainly can't do that as will be at work. I could volunteer husband, but he's surly and uncommunicative (and comes with two unruly children) so he probably wouldn't be much help to them.

Anyway, problem solved - my lovely lovely mum is going to bake some cakes for me.

It's not as bad as the time I had to provide two St George costumes with 3 days notice (although that was the school, not the PTA). Or a spotty t-shirt with, you guessed it, 3 days notice. That was the PTA.

All I'm asking for is a weekend's notice, as that's when I can get to the shops.

If I wasn't staying late at work again tomorrow I could have baked, but I haven't got home before 7pm this week, with extra work in the evenings.

Umm - the letter was given to you on Tuesday.

Which gives you until Friday morning to get a couple of cupcakes sorted.

Actually, that's loads of notice.

IMHO

I don't think it is difficult to knock up some flapjack or similar at short notice, everyone is busy.

We're all busy!

Buy some bloody cakes and stop moaning.