I remember the aroma of chestnuts in Paris in the 70s I remember the aroma of chestnuts in Istanbul in the 90s I remember the chestnut vendor in Pera I remember my excellent photographs of places and faces
I remember the sumptuous high tea at the Pera Palace I remember the loving American elderly couple I met there I remember their delightful love story I remember they lived in Mexico by The Ajijic lake
I remember being by that lake in 1976 I remember being ill the day after In Guadalajara I remember having a naked medical body rub with alcohol I remember being thrown out of the house I remember learning at a Mexican village fountain my cellar in London had been flooded I remember my insurance claim 6 months later
I remember Sesame my beautiful tabby cat I remember a letter from Mrs Ho telling me she had given Sesame away
I remember journeys to work on the 159 bus I remember my job at St Giles as an English language teacher
I remember I followed my dream to travel America and Mexico led me to Paris in 1977 I remember the smell of roast chestnuts I remember the association with Paris forever
Long live the crackling smell of roast chestnuts!
Written in Erinna Mettler’s Hachery workshop, Hove in March 2019.