June Diamond writes:
This joint event between two creative-writing groups, both tutored by poet Becky
Cherriman, marks the third year of collaboration between the Osmondthorpe
Resource Centre and the WEA.
And it was quite an event. Around me the audience agreed
that this was a deeply moving celebration of creativity and cooperation. As
Carl put it, getting off to a rousing start, it was, “a chance to try”. We
shared Carl’s dream, to live by the sea and eat fish and chips, with freedom
and with choice. What more could anyone want?
Siobhan entertained us with an account of the food she was
given as a child when she was poorly - butterscotch Angel Delight - and Suzanne
evoked real suffering, and the nectar of the first food taken after a blinding
migraine. Their group piece on starvation was a searing critique of the modern world.
In the second group David Newton entertained us with a clever piece on the ironies of food
and the rules set down by
religious groups. Fabian moved us
with the story of how he had got to be here, and the deliciousness of green
bananas, and Michael gave us a great account of a meal in Dubai that was intensely memorable in many ways,
including economically. Jane described
graphically to us a
stomach-curdling meal in Hell.
Howard took a different line with a poem entitled Soul Food.
If music is the food of the soul, then happiness for Cliff Richard is
performing to a room full of look-alikes.
Again, the group talked about starvation with compassion and empathy.
In the next group Adrian read Jenny Jones’ very funny piece
on the aspiration towards vegetarianism.....if it weren’t for the temptation of
bacon butties, sausage sarnies and corn beef hash. Robert gave us a lovely
description of eating fish and chips with his brother, and Richard and Elaine eulogised chips
together. Julie F led us to imagine the bliss of ice-cream at any time of the
day.
A couple of clever poems in this group reminded us that food
has feelings too. Linda represented the cappuccino as a gorgeous Italian lady
(arch-enemy, tea). In Metamorphosis Adrian cleverly drew us into the
experience of the pear becoming pudding, and the pleasure and pain of
transformation. This session ended with an ode to greed by Richard and Linda.
Chris reminded us of the transformation wrought on ordinary
food stuff as it becomes stew. Howard gave a clever wordplay on seasonal food.
Vivian reminded us, unforgettably, that food does not come from supermarkets,
and that every bit of it is valued in the rural economy, using time-honoured
skills. Chris and Howard produced a graphic metaphor in Full Sky.
The final group began with a deeply-felt reflection on
starvation. Julie B reminded us vividly of the deliciousness of pie. David
Maccoby related a memory of a meal
– all wanted, all delicious, and reminded us of where it goes. Angela gave the
amateur cook’s point of view with an ode
to Delia, and a cry of anguish when somehow it never comes out like it
does in book or on telly.
The presentation ended with a final piece by Jane and with
fervent thanks, and of course applause.
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