SYNAESTHESIA in its simplest form can be explained as a fancy term for when you experience one of your senses through another. So, for this writer, the word “trifle” offers a two-pronged sensorial blast from the past. One, thanks to devouring Enid Blyton books as a kid, where one was bound to encounter seemingly glorious sounding, mouth-watering English puddings (as they call desserts there!) like summery strawberry trifles “topped off with tufts of piped, whipped cream”.

The other, a more recent pop culture reference that sees the character of Rachel Green in the American TV sitcom, Friends  misinterprets a recipe for a trifle that has her ending up using pieces of beef in one of its many layers. Much to her posse’s and our collective disgust!