34 Comments
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Priya Rajput's avatar

This was so tender and beautiful ๐Ÿ’™. The way you wove food into a moment of such deep transition moved me, tomato soup as both comfort and memory feels just right. Thank you for sharing both your words and this recipe, it carries such warmth. ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ…

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Thank you so much Priya, that's very lovely of you

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Helen Wyatt's avatar

This sounds amazing, I listened to Sarah Ravens podcast with you as a guest and had to come and search this recipe and you out! Looking forward to reading โ€˜Abundanceโ€™

You sound like my kind of person to be inspired by! Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Thank you so much Helen

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Helen Wyatt's avatar

It turned out delicious!

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Harrison's avatar

thanks for the reading, Diana!!

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Amy's avatar

I found this very touching Mark! Letting them go in constant, tiny, invisible increments โ€ฆ ooof. And beautifully read by Diana Henry. Iโ€™m to cuddle my (much younger) children. That soup sounds divine, thank you!

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Thank you Amy - enjoy those young years!

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Jade's avatar
Sep 24Edited

After only just discovering you and your work (thanks Sarah Raven), I have been carrying out various tasks, clearing up, now that my daughter has gone back to uni for her last year whilst listening to the audio version of your writings. This excerpt has brought me to tears, such beautiful writing - and just to say, it doesnโ€™t get any easier.

I think I might be hooked now, having listened to your more recent audio recordings. We must be of the same time. The Human League, the Bowie reference, and the Blue Nile! They seem to be on repeat on my Spotify playlist.

Iโ€™m off to make something of our glut of golden delicious apples, having been inspired.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Thank you so much for your words Jade - such a peculiar thing when they head off isnโ€™t itโ€ฆperfectly as it should be but heartbreaking. Very pleased to have the company of another Blue Nile fan!

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Denise Tollyfield's avatar

Utter gorgeousness in a bowl ๐Ÿฅฃ ๐Ÿฅฃ๐Ÿฅฃ๐Ÿ…๐Ÿ…๐Ÿ…

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Thank you lovely Denise x

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JP Clark's avatar

Finally got round to listening. So worth the wait Mark. Happy weekend.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Thank you. And to you JP

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Sheryl O'Connell's avatar

What a lovely read. This post oozes charm. Brilliant.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Thank you so much Sheryl

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Lisa McLean's avatar

Your soup sounds delicious, I know it would be.

The tearing away is real on both sides, it just feels worse to be the one left behind. The absence is felt more keenly, but we are always settling into the new arenโ€™t we?

Your soup would have helped, soup always does, and making it always helps too.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

We are always settling into the new, what an excellent way of putting it Lisa, thank you

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Jack McNulty's avatar

Bravo and brilliant!

The soup recipe also sounds fantastic - right up my alley...

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Thank you Jack - just the right amount of summer and autumn to it

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Kate Roxburgh's avatar

I love this and it brought back bittersweet memories. I always found the poem, Walking Away by C Day Lewis helpful.

โ€˜How selfhood begins with a walking away,โ€จAnd love is proved in the letting go.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zxysnbk/revision/8

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Thank you Kate, that wonderful poem is new to me and Iโ€™m very grateful

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Mark Thomas's avatar

Beautiful.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Thank you Mark

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Kelly ฤŒaฤ‘an's avatar

Absolutely beautiful and emotional.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Thank you Kelly

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Shell Plant's avatar

Aw this made me teary (in a good way). Thank you for sharing this moment. We really are letting them go in invisible increments.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

We really are Shell - and thank you

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Amela Marin's avatar

Wonderful, stirring some memories. That soup seems to have the right amount of comfort and deliciousness.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

That soup really has, and I'm glad you think so too Amela

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Valentina's avatar

Wow! What a wonderful start to my day. The sea lapping gently in the background, this beautiful piece of writing read by the wonderful Diana Henry, and an incredible tomato soup. Thank you, Mark, for such a gem.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

Thank you Valentina, so glad you enjoyed it

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Valentina's avatar

I donโ€™t have children, but it made me think of my mim who in a way never got over me moving out for Uni , and then the UK. Saying goodbye when I return from holidays is utterly heartbreaking.

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