And now for something completely different - as part of the blog tour for Katherine Blessan's new book Home Truths with Lady Grey I decided to interview one of the book's main characters and I created my own cafe which serves Lady Grey tea for us to meet in!
I choose a table in the cafĂ© in the corner and sit so I can see the door. I’m a little early.
Mona
is easy to spot when she arrives, with the olive complexion from her Iranian
heritage and long dark hair. A toddler walks besides her with the kind of
confidence that only a three-year-old can possess. I smile both to make her
feel welcome and because I have the feeling, she is the sort of person I could
so easily be friends with.
After
all her daughter almost shares my name, although she goes by the name Za Za
which seems to suit her bubbly personality.
Mona
and I both order Lady Grey tea, another good sign in my book.
She
settles herself down, the drinks are placed in front of us and she removes the
paper from Za Za’s fairy cake. Sprinkles fall on the plate like fairy dust and
the child is captivated.
“So,
Mona, tell me a little about your family?”
“My
parents are Farah and Iskander Shirazi. They were born in Iran and moved here
from Iran in the mid ‘80s. My sister, Pari, is a couple of years older than me.
She is married with two kids and is very career minded. I’m married to James
and we have bonkers little Za Za, as you can see here.”
“What
was it like growing up as an Iranian girl in Sheffield?”
“In
many ways I had a normal childhood, and because it was normal for me, I can’t
really compare it to growing up non-Iranian. But Sheffield was less
multicultural than it is now, and there were a few times when I was so
embarrassed by my Maman’s dress or by my parents’ faith traditions that I just
wanted to do my own thing and be like everyone else. I think that was mainly
fear of other children’s reactions though, rather than anything about being
Iranian in itself.”
“You
have a faith, different to mine. You are a Muslim and I am a Christian, but I
feel we have much in common. How does your faith impact your life?”
“I
know there’s a God who cares about me and guides my life. That gives me peace.
I’m not very devout, as my Maman frequently likes to remind me, but I feel the
certainty of Allah’s presence like a rock.”
“Ask
me a question now!” squeals Za Za not wanting to be left out.
“Hmmm.”
I pretend to think deeply. “Tell me about your favourite toy?”
“Meme
my favouwit toy. Sometimes naughty but always love.” Za Za holds Meme’s hard
little body up in the air then snuggles her against her chest and closes her
eyes. Then she opens them again and gives a cheeky grin.
Mona
drinks her tea, enjoying the way her daughter is engaging with me. Once Za Za
has finished her answer Mona hands over her phone to keep her daughter amused and
tells me about her friend Jennifer.
“She’s very kind, actually, and
thoughtful. On first impressions, she
doesn’t come across that way as she can be a bit defensive, but I like her
directness, the way she doesn’t pretend to be something that she’s not. It’s
refreshing.
“The
way Jennifer’s life experience shapes her is also fascinating. She’s been
through a lot in her time, but doesn’t come across as bitter. She was bullied
at school, experienced sexual harassment and now she’s got Motor Neurone
disease.”
Our meeting is brief, we say our
goodbyes, Za Za waving a twirling as she leaves which makes me smile.
Once
you break through Mona’s shy and quiet demeanour, she is so easy to talk to. Her
friendship with Jennifer is an intriguing one, an accidental first encounter followed
by a more formal arrangement. How much we all have to learn from one another if
we only take the time to listen and put aside our prejudices.
You can find out how Mona and Jennifer become friends and about the challenges each of them face by reading Katherine’s latest book Home Truths with Lady Grey.
or click below for the e-book
Thanks to Katherine for answering my questions as if she was
Mona (and Za Za)
