In Tibet you will often find women doing the heavy lifting. In rural areas, where families tend to be at least semi-nomadic, most men spend months of the year away tending animals on high altitude pastures. The women are left to work the fields close to home, and scenes like the one in the video above – sent recently from home – are common (and have you ever seen potatoes this big, while we’re at it?). Often the women are planting or picking vegetables with a child strapped to their backs. They are incredibly strong and hard-working.

However many hours I put in at my computer, Yeshi never really perceives it as hard work. And compared to him, I definitely have things easier. Back in the day, when our stall was all that we had, he was always heaving our gas stove, giant cool boxes and other heavy pieces of equipment into and out of the van. Even now, there’s 20+kg bags of chickpeas, dal, rice etc. to get from A to B, and he’s still doing most of this himself.

But he’s had plenty of practice. Back in Tibet, stone lifting competitions are the thing: out on the grasslands during summer picnics and at other events, you’ll find men lifting old stones around a circular path. Sometimes these pieces weigh in at 150kgs. The man who walks the most circles is the winner – the prize will be tea/sweets/maybe some cash.

By the time this newsletter lands in your inbox (subscribe now, if you’re not already signed up!) we’ll be just back from a brief break in the Cotswolds, where we are planning full unwinding and definitely no heavy lifting. We recently celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary, an occasion that I’m sure many doubters never thought we’d see (more on that in another post!), and there is much to celebrate.

See you soon! We are open Wednesday to Saturday as usual this week, and our full menu is live on the website now. Our opening hours will be as follows:

Wednesday: 5-9.30pm (dinner only)

Thursday – Saturday: 12-3pm (lunch) / 5-9.30pm (dinner)

For evening takeaway you can still pre-order any time from 4pm on the day. Please call us on 01865499318, ideally before we open – thanks.

See you soon!

Julie and Yeshi

Opening hours this week:

Weds: 5-9.30pm

Thurs – Sat: 12-3pm 5-9.30pm

☏ 01865 499318