To me, the appropriate response to the saying, ‘you cannot have your cake and eat it’ has always been ‘why?’ (or as John Heywood first put it, “wolde you bothe eate your cake, and have your cake?” to which the answer is, of course, ‘yes!’)
Sadly, all has finally become clear. Matt’s father came to stay in the run-up to his (Matt’s) birthday, and it seemed only polite to make carrot cake when there were more people to share its twelve substantial portions (recommended by Linda McCartney as suitable for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and as dessert although, in retrospect, perhaps not necessarily all on the same day). However, now there will be a birthday and no cake. Quandary: where to put the candles?
Perhaps I would have better understood the Italian version, “you want your bottle of wine full and your wife/husband/significant other drunk.”