Dear Reader

Judge not last ye be judged

One of the problems with sharing writing on this platform is we’re all lumped in together - writers don’t know each other unless they are followed or subscribed and the early twitter days are reminiscent here. I didn’t join this to debate or critique- its for the words, the writer regardless of their age, sex, nationality. A post or a note goes up, it gets read and that’s it. When I read an article in the newspaper I don’t want or need to write a comment. I chose to read it and my thoughts about it stay in my head unless there’s someone in the real world who would want to hear about it or discuss or be interested in what those words were.

This, what you’re reading now, is one of those. You open the page or the email or click the link on Instragram and you’re here maybe bored or wondering where its going to go and its here. The writer, yes me, a white straight man, that may or may not have anything to do with this but it does or doesn't depending on what you’re reading this for. Before making up your mind about the guy begging for money outside the supermarket everyday to buy beer or the single mother who stays at the window smoking all day maybe you have to ask yourself is it your place to judge. Isn’t it there’s? isn’t it for their family, loved ones or people who they lost contact with? you’re looking at something but you are too far away and too wrapped up in your own need to be accepted or praised (not judged) because of the things I mentioned already. I would prefer to talk about these things instead of write as this isn’t my area of expertise- I don’t have one. I’m living and trying to cook and write about what I know and don’t know and I want to share what excites me, interests me not what contributes to the downfall of gastronomy or civilisation. Write what you know they say. Live within your means whether financially or morally. I don’t have an editor or worry about what the audience may think - I care about what I write, what I do with my time and how I live and with that is this.

The hangover of the incessant holiday pictures and look at how great things are of social media have no place within my words. I am fortunate to cook where I cook, know the people I know and share the table with humans who share the same values - through the hard times food and wine have helped me keep going and I turned to writing and sharing to pay respect to the people and the moments that made them - there have been so many and there will be many more and I thank and love everyone that has been there and will be there.