By David Yates
On Saturday we ventured north through mist and mizzle and up the initially gentle slant of Whitehawk Road. There were plenty of hidden, leafy closes to explore today. With residents swaddled in their fluffy dressing gowns and cotton pink pyjamas, oblivious to the grizzled guerrilleros of Your Party advancing on their doors…
Today we learned the Turkish idiom for the current wet weather which was settling upon us. Ahmak Islatan or “the fool wetter”. So called because when the rain is so light and fine, the fool thinks they will not get wet. Because they don’t think its real rain, they don’t bother to open their umbrella or seek shelter. And by the time they realise what’s happening the fool is drenched to the bone.
Already soaked, I made a humbled mental note to act with more urgency next time.
We met Curtis, one of the founders of Class Divide, who shared our passion for equality, grassroots activism and challenging the status quo. He was definitely YP curious and delighted to see an alternative to Reform’s narrative getting out onto the streets of Whitehawk, Manor Farm and the Bristol Estate.
Then followed a freewheeling conversation with Ruya, the henna haired tarot reader and fortune teller. Slightly discombobulated when Ruya’s son answered the door with a warm welcome saying that his “mum had been expecting us” we soon got chatting about everything from potholes and parking to the globalised quinoa market and its effects on the indigenous population. She predicted great things for Your Party and was so glad to see the Left rebuilding and calling out the system’s profound need to be replaced which is clear as day to everyone.
As the clouds darkened ever more ominously, we regrouped and returned to barracks aka the Belltower pub where we oiled our tired jaws with a few welcome pints; warmed our bones by the fire; devoured endless scampi fries and drew up plans for next week’s activities. Sehrazat showed us her magnificent sketch of a white hawk hovering besides Whitehawk Hill Transmitter with Your Party banner flying from it.
It’s amazing how exceptionally talented and generous with their time our committed members are. Thank you all!
