vegetarian – food that builds community

Essence of Mother

Have you ever tried to capture the essence of someone you know well, in a single story?

I wish we still had the stocks

You could tell she was miserable. Her sullen angry face stared straight ahead from the audience’s front row, her lips clenched tightly together. You’d think we were torturing her – we probably were. This concert took place in a bygone era when folk were allowed to come together. It was a simple audience participation… Continue reading I wish we still had the stocks

Busted Cover

Shame, they say, hates being shared. Once shared it can’t survive. Shame loves secrecy. A few years ago I, a closet non-gardener, stupidly infiltrated a herb garden workshop hoping for cooking ideas. The situation turned itchily uncomfortable early on. The place was huge, and when I heard participants comparing this to “Charles and Camilla’s… Continue reading Busted Cover

An Age-free Community

A strange meeting Although there was no one in sight in this vast empty 360- degree landscape, the footsteps were spookily audible. The air was clear, scented with wild herbs, a breath-taking change from Tehran’s pollution below. And silent! Blissfully so. Up to now. I continued my puff up this exquisite 4000 metre mountain. At… Continue reading An Age-free Community

All of our operators are busy

All of our operators are busy right now…. (A telephone conversation I wish I could have.) Hello automated voice? I….yes I KNOW I’m 20th in line, you told me that 12 seconds ago. And I’ve heard about your website address. You told me that too, but you see, I am on the phone right now.… Continue reading All of our operators are busy

Fish!

Welcome to our new house. When we bought our house I had no idea that its existing inhabitants would be so much trouble and cost so much. “And here is the pond,” said Steve, the then owner. “We thought at first that we would get rid of the fish and fill it in. But then,… Continue reading Fish!

Doors — more humiliation

Doors – and More Humiliation! One thing about building a community is its individual welcome, and DOORS are part of that welcome. I love the wreaths that my Indiana sister puts on her front door, that change according to the season, how attractive and friendly they are. When I arrived in England as a… Continue reading Doors — more humiliation

A Community of Displaced People

Alexandria, Egypt. Summer, 1966, during the Six Day War. 4.am. We arose silently, dressed, gathered our meagre belongings and went outside. The police, also silent, led us into their waiting cars, the engines idling softly, ready to move.. Then quietly, quietly, they drove off. They suggested that we duck down if we saw anyone on… Continue reading A Community of Displaced People

Protected: A Community of Walkers

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

March

March Storm. On a recent morning walk, a passenger jet prepared to land on my head. It didn’t. And it wasn’t. It was only the wild wild wind thrashing the trees– spraying the raindrops into showers of rainbows in the surprising, intermittent sunshine. The fierce roar was intense. Sometimes I was hustled along,… Continue reading March