Cold Tea and Tears
Bedfordshire’s Talent in Print
Last Saturday while browsing in a rather well known local bookshop, I happened across Langford lady, Mary Farmer. Sitting at a rather modest table piled high with her brand new book, Mary was happily signing copies for the discerning public who were lining up to read Cold Tea and Tears – It DID Happen to a Dietitian. Described as a ‘candid account of life at the ‘coalface’ of British healthcare’ Cold Tea and Tears has received rave reviews: ‘Enjoyable, informative and very accessible’ says one reader and ‘Gentle, funny and beautifully written’ exclaims Max Pemberton of the Daily Telegraph, ‘an informative, compelling and at times devastating analysis of our relationship with food’. But what inspired Mary to write her book and how would she advise budding authors? As busy as she is, Mary agreed to meet me today to tell me all about her adventures in the world of dietary advice as well as writing and publishing, and just exactly why every Villager reader ought to own a copy of her book! As Mary arrives at our arranged venue I am struck once more by her elegant poise and kindly manner. The most comfortable seat was occupied by a VIP, but this did not ruffle Mary’s feathers for a second. Smiling, she sat beside me and we fell into conversation exactly as if she were a thoughtful and kind-hearted friend whom I hadn’t seen for many years:
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V: Your book, Cold Tea and Tears is about your experiences as a dietitian – tell me, what made you decide on that career? M: I had wanted to be a nurse since the age of four. There is an old photograph of me, standing oh-so-proudly next to my baby sister and I have a triangular napkin tied about my head and one can see the determination in my heart! I went on to study sciences at school, even though at the small boarding school I attended I was the only student who wanted to, and began my nurses training when I left school at 18. When my lovely Mother heard about my career choice her only words of wisdom were ‘you’ll be very tired, dear’, and sadly, her prediction proved true. The shifts were ever so hard to work with – ten nights on and five off, and the night-nurse’s home was quite a distance from the hospital and I did find it so hard to sleep during the day. I was tired in the extreme. After only a year I decided on a change of career. I had always enjoyed cooking and had an interest in food and so I thought about training to be a dietitian. The three-year degree course necessitated my taking A-levels in the three major science disciplines and so by the time I started college I was considered a mature student at 21. Finishing at 24, I then had to take a year’s diploma course before I began working. I did enjoy my job. It was varied and fun – I enjoy interacting with people and helping those who need it. I would recommend being a dietitian to anyone who likes sciences, cooking and people. A degree of empathy helps a great deal too! V: You have said that you felt compelled to write Cold Tea and Tears, can you explain why that was? M: Yes, I did feel compelled for several reasons. Firstly, the writing was almost cathartic for me. I had retired from my work but I was finding it all very difficult to forget. I wanted to let go of that part of my life and to draw a line under it in the best possible way. Retirement is not an easy time and it brings its own complications. Writing in this biographical way was my solution to some of them! I have always enjoyed reading and had noticed the varied and growing number of books of the genre I was considering – a ‘profession confession’ as they call it. There were doctors, vets, surgeons, police officers, midwives and nurses but not one
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