Ed’s Letter & Your Say

Idon’t know if I would have made it through pandemic isolation without the reliable company of my partner’s two chocolate labradors. Princely Samson, with his stately air and wonderful propensity for adjusting his under-chin pillows just so, would wear blazers with elbow patches on them if he were human. While Ripley – a ratbag with a heart of gold and likely more of a novelty-apron-at-the-barbie-kind-of-gal – is almost entirely snack driven: watching her sneak unripe apples straight from the tree became a kind of pandemic spectator sport. Always up for a hug, endlessly forgiving of a human tanty, they make life – though occasionally ruff – endurable.

Someone else who can vouch for the love and companionship of a faithful pet is Caitlin Coxhell, whose dog adoption story you will find in this edition. The Lady and the Tramp-esque tail between her Cavalier King Charles spaniel Bailey and new rescue, American bulldog cross Ham Sandwich, will warm your heart. While Claire J Harris’ ode to her faithful greyhound Boots will leave you teary. Caitlin and Claire are just a couple of the thousands of Australians who adopted a doggo during the pandemic. In this edition, we take a look at the challenges facing animal shelters in the aftermath of the lockdown adoption boom – including an influx in surrendered animals – and the resourceful methods one shelter in particular is using to get pets into their forever homes.

As for our cover star Louis Theroux, well, he strikes me as more of a cat person – though a quick google yields links to at least three Louis dog-pelgangers, each named Louis Furroux. How fetching. For his Letter to My Younger Self, we talk to the documentary maker and excavator of kooky cultural phenomena about growing up nerdy, blooming late and finding out just what it means to be Louis Theroux: “…there was a fear of doing a karaoke act through life,” he says. “Singing a tune with words by someone else.”

The Big Issue is an independent, not-for-profit magazine sold on the streets around Australia. It was created as a social enterprise 25 years ago to provide both a voice and a work opportunity for people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage. Your purchase of this magazine has directly benefited the person who sold it to you. Big Issue vendors buy each copy for $4.50 and sell it to you for $9, keeping the profits. But The Big Issue is more than a magazine.

• Our Women’s Subscription Enterprise provides employment and training for women through the sale of magazine subscriptions as well as social procurement work. • The Community Street Soccer Program promotes social inclusion and good health at weekly soccer games at 23 locations around the country. • The Vendor Support Fund will offset the cost price of products for vendors, allowing them to earn a larger margin on their own street sales. • The Big Issue Education workshops provide school, tertiary and corporate groups with insights into homelessness and disadvantage, and provide work opportunities for people experiencing marginalisation.

Due to undertaking a new venture I am now able to regularly say hello to Brian, The Big Issue vendor in Glenelg. I am not good with routine but do appreciate getting my Big Issue fix. In Ed#656 there was Sally Wise’s nectarine crumble recipe, in which she reminisced about her grandma’s kitchen. Unfortunately, I have no wonderful reminiscences about my grandmother’s kitchen, as it was unknown to me. What a blessing to have a treasure trove of food memories and recipes. My mouth was watering. Fortunately, I am married to a good cook. (Will keep you posted on the result.)

JENNY ESOTS WILLUNGA I SA

Fortunately for my family, Will and his family shared their apple pie recipe with The Big Issue readers (Ed#657). I made the pie today and it is delicious, absolutely divine. Thanks, Will. It was so moreish, but I’ve set aside a slice for my daughter Amy (The Big Issue editor).

JACKI WILLOX GEELONG I VIC

Jenny wins a copy of Paul West’s cookbook Homegrown. You can check out his recipe for Chicken and Sweet Corn Soup on page 42. We’d also love to hear your thoughts, feedback and suggestions: