Summer is racing through...I know I won't catch up with it now. Long days of snoozing and reading were de rigueur in India and now I am working hard and planning for my impending trip to China. I think it's going to be rainy season when I am there.
I really have no idea what to expect.
I think I may love it.
But first I am submerged in a great project in a wonderful school, spending my days with gorgeous bright sparky kids. Double gated securely in the middle of an Essex estate. I am having the time of my life. This is real. Real life. Real lives. Children with no precociousness and grubby shirts. I only see smiles and love, all day long. Kids and teachers. I could skip around the playground. And probably will at the end of term. I feel like the Pied Piper some days with straggles of little jumping Jacks and Jills following me to our studio.
I had such a strange moment this weekend, I came face to face with someone I really admire and completely lost all my speech faculties and felt such an idiot on reflection. The person in question was Jamie Oliver, a famous UK chef who has done so much work to change the way we eat here and made some very admirable efforts towards social change too. I got introduced to him at Feastival which was a great little festival set up by JO, lots of food and music on Clapham Common on a sunny day. If it is on next year, then please go if you are in the UK. Highly recommended. Friendly and interesting and 100% of the profits go to charity. I was there as a guest and very nice it was too.
As the evening came to an end I found myself being introduced to J.O himself and having swigged a couple of cocktails I had been swaggering and bragging about what I would say to him if I got to meet him.
After an introduction I warmly shook his hand and said Jamie, I'd like to thank you for three things, Red Thai Curry with Jasmine Rice in the 30 Minute Cookbook, School Dinners and your Ultimate Christmas Gravy. I also told him about the amazing project I am working on in schools and how I loved the School Dinners campaign and how it joins up to similar practises I share with my own students. Oh we had a proper tete a tete.
In My Dreams.
REWIND<<
After being introduced I stood there racking my brains as to how to start a convo without sounding like an idiot, a simpering old woman or a crazy fan. My mouth opened and closed and Jamie, the gentleman that he is, smiled encouragingly and dear reader. I failed. So, on he moved without a backwards glance at what could have been the beginning of a lifelong collaboration in improving the lives of children and my culinary skills.
Can you hear that thwacking sound? That's me, kicking myself.
Jamie, I came across as an idiot with a grin. I am sorry. Can we try again?
8 comments:
Oh dear... I've had moments where I lost the words too. It's such a pity and sooooooo annoying! I hope that you will get your chance to "try again" some time soon.
Judging by the current weather forecast, you may well get some practise in for the rainy season in China - we're forecast downpours this week!
Love that photo of the oh-so-colourful blouse & skirt fluttering on the line!
Hope your preparations continue to go well and that you enjoy the rest of your term at school.
Thanks as always dear Lizzie...{*}
I bet you get another chance to say exactly what you want to say to J.O. Beautiful post, as always, Louse.
Yes, never mind Jamie! It sounds as if you're having a great time with the children and... the thing I wanted to say is that I love your waving clothes line!
Lou, I feel so bad for you but I have to say you had me laughing out loud with the way you described it, and really, it wouldn't be such a good story if you'd said all those perfect things....so don't worry, practise that speech for next years's Feastival and go and find him!! (btw, never heard of feastival, sounds fab, thanks for the heads up :))
oh bless you louise! so funny. such a good speech too. x
Thanks lovely ladies, i have resigned myself to what will be will be. There must have been a reason I couldn't speak and will rely on that for probably not making an even bigger twit of myself.
{*}
You had me there for a few minutes til the rewind, so funny!
I'm gobsmacked...Can't believe you where lost for words ;D China! More lovely paper!
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