Skip to main content

An Ode to the Humble Chippy Tea


Picture this. It's a cold and dark evening in the middle February. The temperature peaked at 4 degrees at midday and has been declining ever since. It's been drizzly all day, and the sun went down at 5pm. Winter blues have fully set in, and the warmth of Summer seems but a mirage. Add to this a banging headache & sense of woosiness from one too many G&Ts the night before. Now imagine walking into your local chippy and being hit with that overwhelming smell of salt and vinegar. The lady behind the counter asks you in a thick regional accent 'Wha' you havin' duck?'. You ask for your favourite, and wait with childlike giddiness for your order to be called.

Salt and vinegar lovingly sprinkled on top, you are handed your bundle of joy. A quick scurry to the car to prevent any exposure to the bitter cold, more for the sake of the food than yourself, you jump into the drivers seat. You place your pride and joy on the passengers seat, and let the most glorious smell fill your nostrils.

You speed home, eager to dive into the most desireable thing on the planet right now.

Once home, you open the freshly wrapped paper and once again inhale that oh so wonderful smell. Eaten straight from the paper, and using your fingers (IMHO it's sacrilege to eat chip shop chips with a fork) you pick at the mountain of chips in front of you. They stick together, so when you pick up one, a whole family follow. Sensing something wonderful is being consumed, your family come in one by one, seduced by the nostalgic smell. They pick at the meal too, pinching a chip here, a bit of batter there. Normally you'd be annoyed by this, but there is something communal about a chip shop tea, even if you did buy them for yourself. Everyone testifies at the deliciousness of them, and asks for 'just one more'.

You finish up with the crispy bits, often the most glorious of them all. Sitting back in your chair, you sigh and enjoy the feeling of fullness and satisfaction.

For many this is an ordinary weekend experience. But for you this is much more. This is a celebration of food, of life and of being free. Being free to eat what you want, when you want and to be banished from food rules.

This is saying 'No' to diet culture and the incessant need to make 'guilt-free' takeaways at home. This is a triumph, a sense of achievement and a testament to the joy which food can bring. It's feeding your soul AND your body. And my God, does it taste good.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Life isn't all sunshine and roses

In the grand scheme of things, I am a very lucky person. This isn't me being boastful, I'm stating an obvious fact which many of us cease to notice the majority of the time. I won the biological lottery. Well I came in joint first with my twin sister. Sharing is caring. Not only did we win the great sperm race, we also hit it pretty lucky with the life we were born into. I was brought up by a loving family, in a small market town, with lots of friends and relatives around me. I hit the jackpot in having a twin sister, which meant I always had my best friend by my side, and someone who would fiercely defend me to the bitter end. I went to a good school & have a university education. I have a well paid job and live in a lovely flat in a quaint town with a stranger who has become one of my best friends.  When you have a life like this, it's easy to think you should be happy with what you have. But I'm not happy. I'm not sad, but I'm ...

Walk towards the good in life and one day you will arrive

TRP Challenge 4: Walk to work My fondest childhood memories come from summers spent holidaying in Cornwall. A particularly pertinent one is of me racing my sister and Grandad up the hill next to Daymer Bay. When we weren't running up the hill, we would stroll along the side of the golf course, explore the sand dunes and trek up to the top. The view from the top was always worth the climb, and Daymer Bay still remains my 'happy place', even though I haven't been for several years now. When I find myself suffering from severe anxiety, emotional distress or unable to sleep, I close my eyes and picture myself walking along the beach. I breathe in every sensation, the feeling of sand between my toes, the cool Cornish breeze, the smell of salt air & the feeling of the sun on my face. It brings me comfort and allows me a means to escape the distressing place my mind is in. I often imagine myself walking up the hill, looking out over the estuary. I first use...

A problem shared is a problem halved

TRP Challenge 3: Go back to therapy Growing up, our Mum always taught us that sharing is caring. I think it comes with the territory of being a twin. You share your birthday, your toys, your family and even your room (Me and Molly shared till we were 14!) Sharing is part of the package when you have a large family, you have to learn to do this or risk spending your time on the naughty step. However, material objects, birthdays and even space are a lot easier to share than feelings and emotions, especially when your head is a constant tornado of worries, doubts and paranoia. I remember my first experience of therapy like it was yesterday. I was at University in Liverpool, miles away from my family & then boyfriend, terrified and feeling almost constantly lonely, even when surrounded by friends. I was lost in my own mind. The room was dark & covered in posters about self-help and charities supporting bereavement, mental health problems and stress. I felt sick t...