Chapter 2: The inner view!

My name is Varaidzo E Assoua (nee Mumbire). and I go by the name Vee. I come from a family of six children and I am one of two girls. I live in Portsmouth UK; born in a small town called Masvingo in Zimbabwe, although a few will disagree on the “small” part. So, who am I? I love to bake, enjoy cycling, appreciate good food. I am inspired by classical music, gasp at the sound of ocean waves, and I am always looking for my next adventure.

Okay, let's break it down little more!

I have not always lived in Portsmouth, but it is definitely the best place I have made home because I discovered what makes it special for me. I have grown to know this place so well and its moving history, yet I have a feeling I will be leaving pretty soon. I picture myself as a modern-day nomad, having lived in many towns and cities; long enough to know my way home but too short a time to form lasting bonds. I have learnt to love moving with the prospect of discovering something new. My mum sometimes tells stories about the places we have lived before, some of them I do not remember.

The longest I lived in one place before I moved to Portsmouth was three years, and then came June 2012, I packed my bags, left Pontypridd, Wales and settled by the sea. I tell myself that moving houses enthused my craving for escapades, I love visiting different countries. My mum once said when I was little, she always knew where to find me; sitting on the veranda of a grocery store in Chatsworth, Zimbabwe watching buses pass by. Maybe I have always wanted to escape, and so I go abroad whenever I can.

My favourite places to visit are remote towns and villages, far away from the hassle and bustle of tourist zones yet so enchanting. The best part about the little towns is the unsophisticated yet scrumptious food the local restaurants make; my chance to use translator apps to order a dish I can hardly pronounce. My palate has also been enriched thanks to my mini adventures. I love to try and recreate the food I have had in restaurants (not always succesful). Italian breads are the divine, and here is my attempt at a bread dish I ate in rural Tuscany, braided bread with baked camembert.

On one of my many travels, I also came across a little shop by Venice train station which sold what I described as a melt in the mouth cake. I could not quite get what they added to the frosting but it was absolutely divine. The taste reminded me of how I had loved to bake ever since I made my first edible cake, but over time the zeal slipped away. And in Italy, my desire for baking was awakened. So here I am, living the life of a baker and relishing every moment like it was a piece of cake.

If you have not read the about how I started baking, go to my blog “All you have to do is whisk”.

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