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April 2024 April 2024

Yateley, whilst I commuted weekly up the half-constructed M3, M25 and M1 to RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Derby. Partway through the course, I started applying for jobs. What was I qualified Thanks to our WI members for sharing their favourites
for? About my only useable asset was that I could speak reasonable Arabic, and
a move back to the Middle East was an attractive prospect. I saw an ad that was
looking for a person with all sorts of qualifications that I didn’t have, but which said Creamy Mushrooms and Pasta
in very small type at the bottom, ‘Knowledge of Arabic an advantage’. I went for
it and a little later we found ourselves living in Cyprus, and I was working around Ingredients
the Middle East as the marketing manager for a company selling computerised
Arabic typesetting equipment. A happy few years followed with an idyllic life in  450g mixed mushrooms
Nicosia, and the wider Island. Andrew had been born just before we moved to  3 tbsp olive oil
Cyprus, and Helena, our ‘Cypriot baby’ was born in Nicosia. We had many family  1 onion finely chopped
visits, and, when I wasn’t travelling, we had a lovely life within the expat 3 cloves garlic, minced or use
community of the island. 
equivalent garlic paste.
Later, with an American partner we’d met through the local Anglican church, we  1tsp dried thyme
formed a company to provide English and Arabic typesetting to publishers in UK 1tbsp tomato paste
and the Middle East. This was in the pre-desk top publishing days. Sadly, after a lot 
of effort and quite a lot of capital, this business did not succeed as we had hoped.  1 glass dry white wine
 1 can chopped tomatoes

THE CHARITY WORLD  125g ricotta cheese
 chopped fresh parsley
Having decided that permanent expat life was not for us, we returned to UK in  Salt and pepper
1985. I had had some success as a volunteer fundraiser for the new Anglican
cathedral and diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. Building on this experience I  Tagliatelle, linguine, spaghetti or Pappardelle your choice
wanted to become a professional fundraiser in the charitable sector in the UK. I
was fortunate to be able to join firstly Help the Aged, and a little later the NSPCC Method
in fundraising roles. At the NSPCC I ran the regional network of organisers and
committees. Both these excellent charities were a great training ground as the 1. Put your pasta water on, then cook your pasta while preparing your
world of fundraising slowly became more professionalised. One of the NSPCC’s mushrooms
greatest, but very low-profile, supporters was Margaret Thatcher. I had the 2. Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the mushrooms and cook for about 4
privilege of meeting her a couple of times. One occasion was at an amazing mins until browned. then add the onion, thyme and most of the garlic
fundraising reception held at Number 10, with Princess Margaret, the charity’s reserving a little garlic to add later.
President, when business leaders pledged many millions of pounds to the cause.
3. Let that cook for a couple of mins then add the tomato paste a little salt and
Towards the end of 1989 I received a phone call asking if I might be interested in pepper.
applying for a job with a ‘Major National Charity based on the south coast’. As an 4. Stir in the wine and tin tomatoes ( I always add a pinch of sugar when cooking
offshore sailor my immediate thought was that this had to be the RNLI. Suppressing with tomatoes, your choice)
the excitement I felt, I answered only that I might perhaps be interested! It was
indeed the RNLI who were recruiting a new Director of Fundraising, and after an 5. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 5mins
interview process, I was appointed and moved to Poole midway through 1990. 6. Combine the ricotta with the remaining garlic, small handful of chopped
Domestically this fitted quite well for Di and our children as all three were at points parsley and a grind of pepper.
in their school lives which could cope with the move. We were introduced to 7. Drain your pasta and add to the mushrooms. Mix together and serve with a
Shitterton Farmhouse by my sister-in-law from Briantspuddle, and bought it from Mr scoop of creamy ricotta on top. Yummy.
and Mrs Gooch in June 1990. Di’s mother moved with us and lived there until her
death in 2010.

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