I first discovered the Guardian Weekly 25 years ago when I spent a year in Germany as an English language assistant as part of my degree. I taught whole classes most of the time (on reflection, I think I was rather exploited!), up to A-level, and needed an English newspaper to use in lessons.
I missed reading the Guardian (our family catchphrase was “I read it in the Guardian so it must be right …”) and my German was great for the pub and not so good for understanding a broadsheet; my subscription to the Weekly was born.
I loved the crinkly paper and the way it kept me in touch with the UK, but also with stories from around the world that the mainstream press never reported.
Back in the UK we parted ways for a few years, but were reunited. The order I read the paper in varies, and every bit is fascinating. If I had to pick, I’d say that I greatly appreciate the “good news” stories – reports from around the world that show that among all the horror, there are people working together in extraordinary ways to improve and protect our planet and all that lives upon it.
I live in London and I’m feeling particularly passionate about my city at the moment, after all the bleak incidents we’ve had lately. It is a vibrant, wonderful place to live where the vast majority of people live together in harmony.
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