Don't trifle with me !

As I had made a large lemon cake for eldest son's birthday, and there was only three of us to eat it, there was a lot left so ( never one to waste food)I used the sponge to create a trifle. This came to me as Fat Freddie was coming to lunch and after Lemon Meringue Pie, Sherry trifle is his favourite. Now he hates those dry, gelatinous individual trifles, he only likes it from the side of a great big bowl of trifle, particularly on it's second day when all the flavours have married. So off I went, spreading cherry jam on the sponge and placing it in the base of a fabulous Crystal bowl. I drained two cans of fruit cocktail ( shock horror....not fresh fruit). I mixed the syrup with a good measure of rum ( sherry ran out) and poured this sweet heady syrup onto the sponges. On top I spread the fruit, a layer of jelly and then a layer of custard. I repeated these steps until the bowl was a myriad of colours and spread a layer of lightly whipped cream over the top. I put this in the fridge until dessert time, when Fat Freddie greeted it with a big smile. He explained that it took him back 60 years. His father used to lend out his pony and trap to the wealthiest family in Dundalk in the summer so they could travel out to the beach a Giles' Quay for picnics. In return, every Christmas, they would send over a trifle to Fat Freddies home for the family of eleven to devour. Fat Freddie tucked into my trifle with the delight of a young boy and I helped myself to a large bowl. It was unctuous, moreish and fabulous. I had forgotten just how wonderful trifle is. It's just a load of gorgeous things in the same bowl but it is real comfort food. Fat Freddie went home with a bowl for the following day, GASP's uncle got bowl that evening ( is it wrong to serve rum trifle to a lifetime Pioneer ????) and I have had a bowl every evening this week. So much joy from one bowl. MIL makes "Trifle" by putting tinned fruit on top of the sponge and pouring liquid jelly over the whole lot before chilling it until solid. This to me is not trifle but in case I was mistaken I consulted my bible " Delis Smith's Complete Cookery Course". Her recipe for Traditional Trifle does not include jelly!!!!
However based on the fact that hers contains sponge, fruit, booze, custard and cream, I reckon I have the upper hand.
Apparently, according to the slang dictionary,"trifling" means ugly, skank or disgusting ie. "she was trifling". I disagree entirely with this use of the word and may have to start a Facebook campaign to stop this dreadful insult to what is one of the truly great desserts.