This wee poem is the third of three I started writing as part of a masterclass with Sean Wai Keung and the National Libraries of Scotland earlier in the year. The first one is an ode to rhubarb, the second about the labour of a potluck lunch, both of which themes tie in with having recently read “Wakefield: City of Banners, City of Dinners” by Gareth Forest on Vittles, which has acted as an impetus/nudge to tear myself away from other projects and share my childhood food memories of growing up in Wakefield, a place I feel quite disconnected from, yet still lingers in my accent.
It’s also now just two weeks until my series of events with poet, performer and fellow food nerd Sean Wai Keung which will creatively explore the place, taste and memories of veg. One for those based in Gorgie/Dalry in which we will create a collaborative zine, and another online creative writing workshop which will use poetry as a base to explore our own food and veg memories. See below for more info…
Access to food...memories I struggle to remember…what did we eat when I was child? Or….what was ‘of the place?’ Batter for the fairies? I remember: Shelling peas at one formica table Digging potatoes at the garden of the other grandparent He was weird apparently... We didn't know why The meat pies, upside down pie, stewed fruit and custard Welsh rarebit Cinnamon toast The aga cauliflower that was cooked, served, cooked, served, cooked, served until it was consumed Sunday High Teas at shared tables in the Dales A fear of fried eggs; of grease; ham, grease, fear of runny egg yolks and sunny side ups Seabrook crisps Scampi fries I don't remember eating bread at home I do remember white ‘plastic’ buttered bread, I couldn't eat it It seemed gross, other, classless My parents whispered F&C as if we wouldn't understand the acronym A treat we shouldn't get our hopes up for “Please can I get down? Ok, ok…please can I leave the table?” Dinner parties Beetroot in jelly A hangover from the 70’s in the 80’s Not your trad Yorkshire fare - Mango and chicken salad Shoo fly pie Banoffee pie Key lime pie Our guests ate all the pies Macaroni cheese Mince in everything else Cheese-smuggling led me to always read the label Red Leicester became the de facto mild substitution Distrust Watered-down wine School meals I loved - pineapple ring cake, slightly too warm milk in glass bottles Roasts on a Sunday I don't like lamb with mint jelly Beef Batter for the fairies, Yorkshire puddings for us Swede with carrot to sweeten the blend Both roast and mashed potatoes at Christmas - Abundance Abundance of beige