Taking my mother's advice

Yesterday, I got up still undecided about whether to go to the Guild of Food Writers' event or not. I wanted to go to be with friends especially those who had been nominated for awards. I wanted to be with my school friend from Tabriz, both our parents and most of our families are in Iran, mainly in Tabriz and Tehran. I wanted to go and be near the Cyrus Cylinder, to feel connected.

On the other hand, I didn’t want to bring down the mood for others attending the party. I spoke with Mum, and she encouraged me to go. So I did. I'm grateful to her, and glad I took her advice.

My darling Morvarid shared the lunch her mother-in-law had made for them: rice and khoresh gojeh. We chatted and shared hearts, as we say, همدلی (hamdeli). We remembered our childhoods in Iran during the war and wondered when we might next see or speak to our mothers. We reassured her daughter who called from Dubai where she is staying with her aunt (Morvarid’s sister) whilst on an internship.

Since I was little, I've found solace in being surrounded by books and ancient artefacts. I went to the British Museum, first to the reading room, then to be with the ancient Iranian artefacts. I spoke with them, asked for their ancestral wisdom and help.

Afterward, I walked to the Royal Institution for the awards ceremony. From the moment I entered, I was surrounded by love, kind words and support. So many people said they had been thinking of me. I'm very, very grateful. It was also lovely to be with my tribe, the girls from the Oxford Food Symposium. I felt truly blessed on the train journey back, to have such wonderful people in my life.

Many congratulations to the nominees, winners and the Guild of Food Writers for organising such a great event.

Yesterday, I also received the first edits for my book. I've just downloaded MS Word and will teach myself how to use track changes and try to focus. I know that if I had been able to speak with Mum, that’s exactly what she would have suggested I do. We haven’t been able to get in touch with anybody since yesterday.