Having attended the green party count without cake, Andrew’s grandchild was incredulous – a party without cake?
This one was with cake, indeed there was a generous contribution of offerings to nurture between our joyous conversations.
The teams of volunteers who had worked their socks off, leafleting, putting up poster boards (I spied some in the back of a car) came from north south east west: Norwich, Diss, South Norfolk , Mellis, Melton, Yoxford, Middleton, Bungay , Beccles, Southwold, and of course Halesworth. All found their way Kaliwood.
We met people we only knew of on email. We exchanged stories of door knocking . We talked of our hopes. The great campaign leader Elfrede came, along with our foundation stones (our pioneer Silver Birches) of Graham and Nicky – who 24 years ago started the green movement locally in Beccles. We missed the back office reps Ellsif and Robert, but Henry who worked in Diss HQ for the duration, had given up all his paid leave – and wouldn’t have done other. I learned about the properties of lichen, and talked to one who specialises in geology, as well as walked the land with a farmer talking agroforestry. What skill, knowledge, diversity in our new tribe.
The rain came, Catherine’s multiple umbrellas were utilised, the crisps got soggy, no one left. Geoff inspected Clive the beautiful compost toilet his funding helped to pay for. Hot chai at the end.
Thank you for your generous gift of food some of which is still being enjoyed . A scarf was left behind .
Welcome any time to Kaliwoods, home of Kinda Forest School , children and Elders.
The connections were like the mycelium network under our feet. The cabin around which we gathered, was conceived at Graham and Nicky’s party (a conversation between Graham Norgate and Paul Jackson). I joined the Green Party because I was inspired by Graham and Nicky, and then witnessed the flourishing from Beccles to Bungay and Halesworth. To this. The evening felt charged with hope and emotion; the wood, the rain, the hornbeams bore witness.
Kaliwood 