the
CAVENDISH
CHRONICLE Lent 2016
News
Nicky Morgan: A Threat to OurValues
page 1
Closing the Gender Gap
page 3
Humour
Fear No More the MMC
page 4
Opinion
Admissions of Difference page 5
Travelogue Summer in Aswan
page 6
Feminism
Don’t Leave it to the men!
page 8
Review
Dancing to the Royal Opera’s Tune page 9
Lifestyle
Little Secrets in Food Recipe:Thai Curry page 10
Fiction
TheWindow Frame Cuts out a Stunning Picture
page 11
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Nicky Morgan: A Threat to OurValues
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Tanya Brown
s I write this article, Nicky Morgan MP, Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities, holds an invitation for lunch at Lucy Cavendish College on the 4th February 2016. It is my hope that after reading this article, you will share the same opinion that her politics are not welcome here.
was separated and given to Sajid Javid the culture secretary - instead. Even after Morgan was promoted to holding the full portfolio, the task of implementing legislation surrounding same-sex marriage was left to Nick Boles, a minister for education who is in a gay civil partnership.
The scandal over same-sex marriage led to accusations against Morgan that she was Nicky Morgan, privately educated and nothing more than “minister for straight a law graduate from the “Other Place”, has women”. However, it appears she isn’t even been MP for Loughborough since 2010 doing a very good job of that. Morgan and has previously served on the Business, made the decision to remove the subject Innovation and Skills Committee, assis- of feminism from the A-level Politics syllatant whip, and Economic Secretary to the bus, yet only one of the sixteen prominent Treasury. Amidst this pofigures on the new syllabus How, then, can the is female. While the Tory litical flurry, Morgan also managed to squeeze in a college welcome party currently boasts relucrative career in Mergers cord highs for numbers someone who so and Acquisitions for a vast of female MPs, this eradcorporate legal machine. clearly threatens ication of women from Now, this all sounds very everything we stand education and history will impressive. However, her only see the upward trend for? exemplary record lacks one recede. Morgan’s blatant important thing: any sign of understand- disregard for the visibility of women led a ing and compassion for women, equality, friend of mine to comment that she is “a or education. In essence, it seems to me robot sent by the patriarchy to destroy us that we have a business person looking af- from the inside”. ter the needs of subjugated and vulnerable Morgan has also agreed to the cuts to individuals. If you need proof, look no furhigher and further education announced ther than her policies. by George Osborne, which will lead to In 2013, Morgan voted against same-sex student grants being scrapped. Despite marriage, on the grounds that marriage claiming that “every child, no matter their should be between a man and a woman; family circumstances… can succeed if in response to criticism, Morgan claimed we give them the tools that allow them to she voted against gay marriage because she achieve that success” – which sounds like believed her constituents were opposed to just the sort of thing we’d like to hear an the bill– truly, there’s nothing quite like equalities minister saying – Morgan has a bit of victim-blaming. Consequently, agreed to cuts which may prevent students when Morgan succeeded Maria Miller as from disadvantaged backgrounds from Minister for Women, the equalities brief attending betcontinued on next page
News
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ter universities with higher living costs. Understandably, there are strong student feelings about this: “As someone who is classed as low income and holds the role of student Welfare Officer, I know that money can put a huge strain on students’ social, emotional and mental health. Knowing that they now owe even more in student debt will inevitably cause an exponential increase in anxiety and depression over money, as the idea of leaving university and starting work, coming from a low-income background anyway, can only be described as bleak, and definitely employs an attitude that the vicious cycle of ‘low income-ness’ is inescapable and irreversible.” Morgan’s policies on education have become less inclusive over time. As recently as December 2015, she chose to ignore a High Court ruling that atheism should be
included in religious education, claiming that UK traditions are “mostly Christian”, despite the Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life report which showed that this is no longer the case. Lucy Cavendish College prides itself on education for women, irrespective of their sexuality, class or economic background. Our president Jackie Ashley proudly presents a picture of students who have battled through hardship in order to attain academic excellence at the best university in the country. How, then, can the college welcome someone who so clearly threatens everything we stand for? A Minister for Women and Equalities who has helped to perpetuate the glass ceiling and prevent people getting equal rights simply because of their sexuality or class? My answer is: we shouldn’t welcome her politics; doing so would be a mistake. ◆
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Nicky Morgan did indeed attend the college on the 4th of February, and the students were able to ask questions relating to the teaching crisis, ethnic minority representation at Oxbridge, scrapping of maintenance grants, same-sex marriage as well as Morgan’s eligibility to hold the positions she does. The quote of the day had to be her response when asked: ‘what qualifies you to be Minister for Women and Equality’, to which she replied, ‘...Well, I am a woman’... Quick! Everyone on a train to Westminster! We can all have her job, and undoubtedly do it better!
News
Closing the sport gender gap
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Sophie Lyddon
port participation in the UK is decreasing, sparking government consultations on the issue. The disparity between male and female participation is considerable. At Lucy Cavendish, we have some of the university’s best sportswomen. Reporter Sophie Lyddon interviewed them and reveals her own tumultuous relationship with the discipline. As an awkward pre-teen with champion acne and a rubescent complexion, I found no interest in sports. Gruelling episodes of compulsory cross-country where my peers glided by effortlessly as I flailed in the mud, won me the nickname ‘tomato head’. Playing basketball at 13, while trying to remain unseen and blushing from the marginal workout, a ball hit me smack in the face. I still remember the overwhelming mortification. I was done. Never again would I practice sports. Little did I know that I wasn’t alone in my resolution. Sport England, the entity behind the “This Girl Can” campaign, conducted a study that found ‘fewer women than men play sport regularly […] a fear of judgment […] on appearance, ability or how they chose to spend time on themselves […] puts women of all ages off exercising’. Yet, at Lucy we have some of the university’s best sportswomen. In Michaelmas’s first Varsity Women’s Rugby match at Twickenham, Cambridge beat Oxford 52-0, with Alice Middleton named player of the match, and Lara Gibson scoring a try. In the Women’s Boat Race Trial Eights, Myriam Goudet was “stroke” for the win-
ning boat. Besides exercising, all three of these Lucy ladies have demanding academic lives – Alice is studying graduate medicine, Lara graduate veterinary medicine, and Myriam MPhil plant sciences. Alice explained that maintaining sport and other commitments is not as superhuman as it may seem: ‘Sometimes it feels like it is a tricky balance, but with a bit of organisation, it is more than possible’. On relieving stress, Myriam explained how rowing gives her perspective: ‘it’s an amazing opportunity to meet people and forget about academic pressure, to just breathe’. All three cited female role models as a motivation. For Lara, it came from a friend playing alongside her in Nottingham: ‘She’s a brilliant player and made me realise women could be just as skilful in rugby as men’. For Myriam, it was synchronised swimmer Virginie Dedieu: ‘she is a three times World Champion in solo, has a family and is also an interior designer; Virginie has been a huge inspiration for me because she maintained a job while still enjoying her passion’. In the last year I’ve realised, as these fantastic women demonstrated, that no one pays attention to silly blemishes like my constant blushing. I now enjoy running and try to go to the gym when I can. Instead, I admire my toned stomach, how quickly I now run, and how much more cake I can eat. It’s easy to put off exercise, particularly at such a demanding institution, but it’s vital to remember the benefits. These women are living proof of them and can inspire us to get back into our lycra. ◆
Sport
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Fear No More the MMC
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Stephanie Reikine
hot topic of disquiet among us ladies who don’t lunch is the mandatory Minimum Meal Charge that we are faced with every academic year. Some of us have no problem slowly eating away at the £399 meal deposit for regular, delicious meals at lovely Warburton Hall. Others amongst us struggle to take the smallest bite out of this sum. Here, I present some solutions to the ‘MMC problem,’ which will satisfy even the toughest vegan-working-at-Addenbrooke’s-living-in-Trumpington lass.
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One pack of Masala Munch (or Japanese crackers, nuts, chocolate-covered raisins) costs £1.34 - only 297 snacks. Over the eight months that the canteen is open, simply visit monthly to fill your backpack with the allotted ration of 37 snacks. The most expensive packaged item: wine, at £4.24 per little bottle. You could blow your whole MMC on 94 bottles and make a night of it. Luckily for the NHS, you wouldn’t actually be able to get your whole 11.75L of Sauvignon blanc in one trip - the canteen fridge doesn’t stock so many at a time. Let’s say you’re reasonable and won’t clear out the wine cellars and the pantry in one fell swoop. Instead, you wish to slowly plod through your MMC but, admitting you won’t make it on your own, you’ll need a few guests... Let’s say you and your guest each eat an uninhibited meal of soup, roll and butter,
a large salad, the main course, and vegetables. And, of course, some coffee and dessert to round it out. Well, your meal would come to a respectable £11.38, and your guest would put you out £13.43. At that rate, a mere sixteen awkward Tinder dates later, your MMC would be one less thing to worry about. We’ve all figured out by now that the best way to max out the MMC is to go to Formal Halls. On a Formal Hall regime, that’s 26 of the 27 scheduled Formals, so it’s advisable to take a friend. Alternatively, why not invite some of Cambridge’s homeless people for a nice warm meal by candlelight. Supposing you wish to take care of your MMC in one trip. If you ate the aforementioned dinner, brought a guest, and then decided to clear out the fridge and cupboard, you might just make it. 30 juices, 5 bottles of mini wine, 40 yoghurts, 20 cokes, 10 bottles of water, 10 take away sandwiches, 10 muffins, 10 fruits, and 100 packs of nuts/Masala Munch are a rough estimate of a full canteen stock. A strategic arrival just at the start of lunch or dinner would make for an optimal raid. Unfortunately, all of that would still only cost you £311.31 as well as the contempt of all those following you, and probably the kitchen staff. This strategy being unfavourable, your best option is: come frequently to Lucy, bring your friends as often as you can, and try to reasonably raid the snacks and yoghurts. ◆
Humour
Admissions of Difference Adela Ryle When I tell people I study at an all-female college their reaction is rarely positive. For some it is as if I’ve announced affiliation to a particularly bookish nunnery. For others the idea is regressive: Without male colleges to counterpoint, defining admissions by gender seems (as a male friend recently put it) “hardly in the spirit of equality.” These associations – with frumpy recluses and man-hating feminism – perhaps partly explain declining applications to women’s colleges. With Government tuition policies also taking their toll on mature university applications, rumour has it Lucy’s admissions policy must change. We may no longer be a mature college; we may however (whisper it) soon educatedwe are, even be welcoming men...
we remain – for the moment – women in a man’s world
Nothing is decided and when I ask Jackie Ashley about it she is circumspect. There are many groups to be consulted and she can’t preempt anything. But she is keen to talk more generally about education and women’s lives. Reflecting on her own career, Jackie remarks “there’s still quite a lot of old fashioned misogyny out there, and I’ve actually been struck by how much there is in Cambridge as well. […] A lot of the older colleges are very male dominated and I think it breeds a sense of entitlement.” Apparently someone recently told her that women’s brains are poorly equipped for science. I am unsurprised by this: An acquaintance once noted that Cambridge is good for finding rich husbands, in case my own career fails; a date in first year asked in all sincerity if I was prepared to sleep my way up the ladder. Comments like these reaffirm that how-
ever educated we are, we remain – for the moment – women in a man’s world. Lucy represents a refuge from this. Having a solely female educational space means subjects from which we are often excluded can be deliberately opened to us. Jackie is currently planning a ‘women’s tech centre’ with Sue Black (OBE). More high profile speakers are being invited, raising the profile of Lucy and providing motivation for the students. In her fundraising efforts Jackie has met with positive reactions: “An awful lot of big organisations are worried about the lack of diversity in their top leadership roles. I think that’s something we can work with them on improving.” While female colleges are unfashionable their distinctive role is recognised by many, providing a figure head for women’s education. As Jackie notes “we’re unusual in that we have a particular mission, which is different to most other colleges in Cambridge.” But welcoming male students to Lucy might present its own opportunities. When I initially asked what would best promote fair professional representation, Jackie did not talk about women’s education at all. Instead she said we must educate men. While this doesn’t necessarily have to happen within our beloved, feminist college, it would certainly be an interesting experiment. By reversing the traditional dynamic we could welcome men into the preserve of women. We could show them how the playing fields are pitched in their favour and attempt to “raise their consciousness” by doing so. And if it all goes tits up, at least we can find rich husbands that little bit closer to hand. What more could a girl ask for? ◆
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Summer in Aswan
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Sally Wallace-Jones
swan in southern Egypt is relatively small and quiet. It’s very pretty and very hot, and here is a town which could become familiar. Victorian travellers thought so since they built one of the most luxurious hotels of the time at its center the Old Cataract. The magnificent terrace that leans precariously out over the Nile is the place to see and be seen. It’s also the place to sip tea or a cocktail whilst watching a spectacular rosy sunset gild the western horizon. The service is, admittedly, a little slow, but we watch open mouthed in admiration as a waiter bears a tea tray aloft. The tray is heavily laden with a silver tea pot, hot water, milk and sugar, cups, saucers, cakes and sandwiches. It must weigh a ton but he carries it insouciantly balanced on one hand, swivelling confidently through the crowd until the tray reaches its destination safely. It’s a miracle that no-one had tea deposited in their lap, but the waiter has moved airily on to the next tray, a consummate artist.
All the harsh edges of the day are softened and gildedwith a luxurious patina of light.
The Cataract is elegantly shabby, but still aware of its place in the centre of things. The green paint on the shutters is blistered and peeled by the sun and the crimson walls now rather faded, but the hotel still dominates the view from the river. The pace of life is gentle, two gardeners sing softly in Arabic as they work. In the hair salon, the accessories are kitsch and the styles bouffant in a way that belongs to Egypt circa 1950.
The hotel is all red velvet drapes, Moorish arches and elaborate brass lanterns; very Agatha Christie. It is thrilling to stand in the same grand lobby as Hercule Poirot, looking at the crowds and wondering who is going to get knocked off next! One of the fruit concoctions on the drinks menu is worryingly called “doom juice”, so perhaps Hercule’s little grey cells might be needed if it lives up to its name.
travelogue
Aswan is very African. Here the river, which has sat so plump and green between its banks en route from Cairo, is forged into the turbulent waters of the first cataract. Boulders loom in the water; great dark grey masses of granite. They are so bulky that they have been likened to elephants bathing deep in the pools, an identification suggested also in the name of the nearby island, Elephantine. In one of the tombs set high in the cliffs is a rare hieroglyph of an elephant. Africa seems close. Here the sand has a red-gold tint. Vegetation is sparse but brilliantly emerald, winds howl tortuously through the pinkish-grey rocks; the water appearing blue black. The wind is a hot breath straight from the desert, harsh and unyielding. Everything appears sharper, harder, more intensely edged. The delicate tresses of Bougainville appear like tissue paper – it is impossible to believe that such a colour could be natural; surely some child has tied the flowers on. But no, like everything else here the intensity of the colour is savage. The real excitement of Aswan is the chance to visit a working souk. Of course the souk is awash with trinkets and T-shirts, but it also functions as the local market. Amidst the fake antiquities and alabaster ash-trays are cerise, emerald, scar-
let, lemon and orange fruits, spices, meat, vegetables and enormous underwear for persons of both genders which are necessary for the smooth functioning of the town. We wait for nightfall when the town begins to come too again after its siesta. Darkness lends enchantment, concealing the muddy rutted floor of the alleys and the accumulated detritus of the day. The shops are tiny with narrow openings onto the street extending back into mysterious, compelling darkness. Lighting is soft, from bare, low wattage bulbs which from a distance resemble fairy lights and closer spread a gentle golden light in between pools of velvety darkness. All the harsh edges of the day are softened and gilded with a luxurious patina of light. Outside the butchers hang chickens. A chancy, cheeky cat goes for a quick mouthful before retreating to wash nonchalantly with every indication of satisfaction. A boy passes through this melee, miraculously riding a bike and steering with one hand whilst with the other he balances a huge tray of bread on his head. The bread smells delicious; the flat loaves stacked five deep. We leave the souk laden with goodies and clanking like a caravan of camels. We are well pleased with our evening foray. â—†
Travelogue
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Don’t Leave It To The Men!
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Sarah Morgan
am often asked why more women don’t study physics beyond GCSE. As a female physicist I feel unqualified to answer- physics has fascinated me since I was about 15; who wouldn’t want to understand how our universe works? Nonetheless, it seems that 98% of girls don’t feel the same way. Disappointingly, the percentage of female physics A-level students has been stuck at less than 20% for over 20 years, even worse in computing and engineering. Why? Many reasons have been proposed from explicit discrimination in the workplace and limited childcare options to the unconscious biases which pervade our society. Further work is required to untangle the relative importance of these different factors and the complex interplay between them. But one thing is clear: we desperately need some fresh ideas and a more vibrant, interdisciplinary approach to these problems. By working closely with social scientists we can build a better picture of what is going wrong and measure the impact of our interventions. Similarly, the arts have a vital role to play when it comes to changing public perceptions of science. How can we get more female scientists on TV- would some sort of televised FameLab work? Might an annual prize encourage more children’s authors to include female scientists in their books? Could we put on an art exhibition profiling the work of female scientists at all career stages? Without a doubt, these kinds of interventions must cut across multiple age ranges. We need to change the toys our children play with and their perception of science at both primary and secondary
school but also the views of teachers and parents. To do that, the branding is crucial. Is it any surprise that most girls assume engineering and mechanics are all about engines and cars? Of course we should think big, but perhaps we should also consider the small things which put people off. The ‘Nudge Unit’ was initially set up by the UK Government to change people’s decisions using behavioural science, with some huge successes. Maybe we could use the same technique? Above all, though, we should stay positive. It can be frustrating when change is slow but ultimately we need to enthuse more women about science and show them just how exciting it can be. There are plenty of signs of hope and ways to get involved. For example, both Cavendish Inspiring Women (CiW) in the physics department and Lucy Brain-STEMMs have recently been set up by PhD students and have a key role to play in promoting the visibility of women in science. As early career researchers we are perhaps particularly well placed to reach out to girls in an accessible way and to inspire them with what it is that we find so interesting about science. I hope that CiW’s new outreach booklet is a step in this direction (if you haven’t seen it yet, do have a look on our website: http://cavinspiringwomen.squarespace.com
I know that both groups have plenty more planned for 2016. Ultimately, science is much too much fun to leave it to the men! ◆ Sarah Morgan, final year physics PhD student, co-founder of Cavendish Inspiring Women and member of Lucy Brain-STEMMs
feminism
Dancing to the Royal Opera’s tune: A Magical Pas-de-deux Marie Ducrépin After years away from the ballet universe, I was eager to see what new techniques were being developed. At the same time, part of me felt unbelievably sad. More than a decade ago, I gave up on ballet to focus on my studies. Looking back on a time when I was a good 40 lbs lighter, I can’t help but think that I should have found a way to continue. Going to this performance was my first attempt at reconciling with a part of me too long forgotten.
It was the start of the more anticipated of the two performances: The Two Pigeons. This ballet is an adaptation of a fable by Jean de la Fontaine and is set in Bohemian Paris. It opens with a young painter trying to capture the image of his lover, an impetuous and lively young girl who refuses to sit still and teases him throughout. Their frustrating session is interrupted by the arrival of a group of gypsies, who are exotic, passionate and utterly mesmerizing to the artist. Seduced by a young gypsy girl, The beautiful Royal Opera House has the painter leaves his lover behind, only to existed for more than 150 years. It was built find that life in the camp is not so glamin 1858 after fires reduced two orous. After being treated previous theatres to ashes. Its Young love’s roughly by the gypsy woman’s magnificent and luxurious arlover, he returns to his fiancée, chitecture can accommodate innocence could asking for her forgiveness. thousands of viewers distrib- be found in the Yuhui Choe and Alexander uted between the upper and light teasing the Campbell, both first soloists lower levels. Affordable seats birdlike motions at the Royal Ballet, recreated for students can be found on the freshness and playfulness of the girl the website - as low as £5 if expected from this fictional you’re early enough! couple. Young love’s innoThe show I attended was part of the cence could be found in the light teasing winter 2015/2016 season and had two the birdlike motions of the girl, her partdistinct ballets, both from Frederick Asht- ner’s tantrum at his failed painting, and on’s repertoire. At 12:30 sharp, the Royal their sweet execution of the “pas-de-deux”. Orchestra started playing the beginning I applauded her attempt at protecting her of Rhapsody. I was deeply entranced by relationship by defying the gypsy woman this fast-paced, one-piece choreography. and her sadness when she got abandoned. Francesca Hayward and James Hay, the The Two Pigeons as was a story of love, main dancers captivated the public with errors and forgiveness. When the show their complementary styles. The rest of ended with the two live pigeons flying the ballet corps, formed of twelve dancover the stage, I felt I was coming out of ers, executed magnificent figures on Sergei a trance. ◆ Rachmaninov’s wonderful Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. A slight pause was announced and soon enough, the lights dimmed.
review
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Little Secrets In food
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Wai Wan (Vivian) Sze-To
s electronic devices are becoming our best work buddies, the harm they bring to our eyes is becoming inevitable. Redness, dryness, and pain are common symptoms of overworked eyes. According to Chinese Medicine, the liver is highly responsible for eye function as well as blood production. Liver functions are inhibited by eye fatigue, in turn disturbing the homeostasis of blood and “qi” circulations, resulting in inflammation and fluid retention around the eyes.
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‘Thai Curry’ Hamizah H Haidi This is my version of a Thai Curry recipe, inspired from cooking shows on the telly back home in Brunei. What you need: •
Any meat or meat-alternative protein (I usually use 6-8 chicken wings or 1/4 bag of quorn mince)
Added to a varied and healthy diet, the following list of foods are essential in maintaining healthy eyesight:
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1 garlic clove (or more to taste)
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¼ onion or shallot (or more to taste)
Carrots are rich in Vitamin A, best absorbed by the body when consumed together with lipid-containing foods: try pan-frying it with oil or adding it to a stew.
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10 green chillis (or less to taste)
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1 stalk of lemongrass
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400g tin coconut milk
Blueberry plays a protective role for cells, especially by triggering the regeneration of rhodopsin (light-sensitive receptor) in the rods of retinal cells.
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Sugar, salt and fish sauce to taste
Goji berries have recently been proven to aid retinal health. According to Li’s Compendium of Materia Medica, Goji is described as the ‘elixir of life’ which ‘conserves good eyesight.’ Chrysanthemum relieves inflammation. It helps to alleviate stress in the liver, thus aiding in the restoration of eye functions. Chrysanthemum-Goji tea (5 Chrysanthemum bulbs and 7-12 Goji infused in 250 ml hot water) is a commonly-used herbal infusion for eye care.
What you do: 1.
Finely chop the garlic, onion, chillies and lemongrass then grind to a paste using a blender or pestle and mortar.
2.
Pour the coconut milk into a pot on medium heat. Stir the coconut milk until it simmers and starts to separate.
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Add the paste and stir it for 1-2min.
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Add your chosen protein, again, stirring it until it is fully cooked.
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Add sugar, salt, and fish sauce to taste.
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Enjoy your dish with well cooked rice.
Happy eating! Happy seeing! ◆
lifestyle
The Window Frame Cuts Out a Stunning Picture Lucy Bonfoy “We ordered three glasses of wine, and drank to the idea.” – Anna Bidder. The window frame cuts out a stunning picture. The sun fell out of the bright blue sky. Stuck in motion, somewhere out of the picture, massive trees cast the overbearing shadows of their lanky bodies upon the red-brick house. If the picture had not stopped them, they would have taken the house down. Look at them, slowly crawling on the green grass towards the doorstep, like languid tongues hissing and slithering. Only one of them made it into the picture, close enough to the house. It does not look threatening, perhaps a little dishevelled. If you look closely enough, you can tell there’s nothing to fear. See? Other houses in the background, standing tall, immovable. They rose from the very bosom of nature, from the same roots as the guarding trees, shielding them from the tumult of the outside world. The breeze will not let the trees rest in peace. The few remaining leaves shiver, hair rising on a soon-to-be bald corpse. They know their fate: they can only be patient. In a few days, in a few hours – this very instant, they are to fall to the ground, turn to brownish mud and disappear. No more haven for that sneaky squirrel, crossing the picture this very moment. Already gone. It is time for her to make an entrance, walk her way through the picture to the m(a)us(ol)eum of knowledge, somewhere out of the frame. Carefully, she steps onto the lawn, eyes down, treading on imag-
inary eggshells. If she is not careful, the women sitting in front of the house will fire shots at her. They will. She looked up once, and she could swear she saw the cannons in their eyes. In all fairness, who could blame them? Look at her. The grease stain on the oil painting. She won’t look you in the eye, will she? Still hoping she will actually disappear if she stares intently enough at the crevasses in the walls, she disappears each time they look right through, each time they remind her of the odds. And every time she looks into their eyes, the odds multiply, pulling her further out, one thread away from falling out of the painting. But there is beauty in trying; having made her way through to the library, she held on for life to each word in the book. As she looked up from the page, the restless picture had changed. A brand new image was unfolding before her eyes in the train back home. Neither here nor there, both places virtual, she was finally allowed to be herself. No odds to fight, nothing to prove, and so many chances ahead, stretching as far as the green fields virtually repeating themselves over and over. I opened my eyes and there I was. Old Christmas light bulbs and a light blue sky; the countdown to something new. When the entire world slowly delved into a new era, I once again found myself in between, neither new nor old, on the verge of rebirth.
fiction
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I realised self-forgiveness - forgiving and forgetting - is hard because we’re standing still on the verge of rebirth everyday, every minute, having to channel billions of ourselves rising from one another, swiftly firing up from the dust of our old selves and yet never shedding our own skin. As I shamefully hide behind She – who could be anyone – I cannot beat the embarrassment which makes my hand tremble; I can hardly undo the tight rusty knots tying my lips together; I cannot control my fear of what is being written and forever inscribed, beyond my control.
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Bubbles of champagne, the blink of an eye, and back again. Stone cold trees. Everything is standing very still, but the bustle will begin in a few days, students rushing from all around the world, pumping some blood back into the breathless scenery. As I walk my way back to my mausoleum, it strikes me again. The window frame does cut out a stunning picture. For a second, my billions selves align, past and present in sheer symbiosis. I see her; she is looking at me. We were there the whole time. Together we look up, and the women are here. No danger ahead. I see them smile, and raise their glass. She may not be a genius, and she is definitely not a giant, but she belongs in the picture. Cheers to that. ◆
Photography Milena Tyler von Wrangel These photos were taken in and around Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California. The Colorado Desert, devoid of Joshua Trees, appears more barren, but on closer inspection, is home to a huge diversity of desert wildlife. These photos intend to convey some of the extreme beauty of the desert and surrounding life. Cover | Saguaro and Gun Store Back Cover | Desert plant Inside Back Cover | barrel cactus and jumping cholla cactus (so named because its spines tend to ‘jump’ and stick on to bystanders)
Editorial Team Editor-In-Chief Mara González Souto Sub Editors Tanya Brown Marie Ducrepin Charlotte Fiehn Trisha Hyder Rainy Long Sophie Lyddon Gemma Maitland Stephanie Reikine Adela Ryle Layout Designer Charlotte Airey Artwork Adela Ryle | Comic Charlotte Airey | page 4
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