The Friday cook at the Islington Chinese Association is a lady called Hou jiě (Sister Hou).
During the wild garlic season, I was picking wild garlic regularly and giving bunches away to people, mostly the ones at the centre, including Hou jiě.
One Friday, I went in with another lot of wild garlic, and offered a bunch to Hou jiě. She said, referring to her assistant Bobby (whom I’d not spoken to before — I’d only seen working him around the kitchen), “You’ve already given me some. He hasn’t had any yet. Give them to him.” So altruistic.
I then went out to the reception and offered some to the reception volunteer. As I was filling a bag, Bobby came out and said, “She’s my wife, you’ve already given me some, so let someone else have this lot.” So kind and generous.
It’s such a caring place.
(London, 2022)
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