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People Move

The Mirror’s Instagram project, #PeopleMove, highlights the stories of those seeking sanctuary in the UK. This week we heard from Bharti Dhir about why her adoption file is special to her. Bharti was just a few days old when she was found abandoned in a box on the roadside in Kabale, Uganda in 1960 and adopted by a Punjabi-Sikh family.

Although her childhood was happy, the family were forced to move to England in 1972 during the time of Idi Amin.

She says: “A driver took us to Kampala but we got stopped at the first checkpoint. They pointed the gun at my mum and told her to leave me behind. Mum refused and I heard him pull the trigger but then he let us go, it was harrowing.

“This is my adoption folder. The papers have faded but it is very precious, it is literally my life story.”

'People thought I was straight because I was married to a man - erasure is a real thing'

A widow has spoken out about how she has learnt to embrace her bisexuality in midlife.

Nicky Wake from Manchester was married to her partner Andy for 18 years until his death five years ago.

The 53-year-old says there were times when she felt her bisexuality was being erased because she was in a relationship with a man.

“I first realised I was into women in my early teens when I vividly remember looking at an advert of a really attractive woman in Just Seventeen magazine”, says Nicky. “But, I went through the usual teenage stuff of dating boys and just put it to the back of my mind.”

'I live in fear my PIP benefits will be stripped by DWP'

A woman with a rare form of neurofibromatosis says she "lives in fear" her disability benefits will be stripped from her.

Pearl Kelly suffers from a range of debilitating health issues including scoliosis, kyphosis, osteoporosis, supraventricular tachycardia, dural ectasia, and external dyspnea.

The 29-year-old, who uses a wheelchair, receives the lower rate Personal Independence Payment (PIP) reviewed every three years and is terrified it could be cut.

“I’m not going to get better in three years”, says Pearl. “But I’m constantly worried. I hear about people being reviewed and having their payments reduced. It’s a huge stress.”

(Image: Refugee Community Kitchen)

Each week we share dishes from our rich and diverse food scene. This week we share this hearty coconut mango daal from the Refugee Community Kitchen.

Ingredients 

• 1/2 butternut squash, peeled and deseeded
• 400g yellow split peas or red lentils
• 1 onion, peeled and finely sliced
• 4 cloves of garlic, peeled and grated
• thumb size piece of ginger grated
• 3tsp coriander seeds
• 3tsp cumin seeds
• 2tsp turmeric powder
• 100g dried mango
• 250ml coconut cream
• small bunch of fresh coriander
• 150ml olive oil
• 1.5ltr vegetable stock
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method 

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C. Dice the squash into 1cm cubes, place on a baking tray with a generous drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast for 25 mins or until soft and brown.
2. Meanwhile add 50ml of olive oil to a large saucepan on a medium/high heat. Fry the coriander and cumin seeds until they begin to pop and become fragrant.
3. Add the turmeric, garlic and ginger and continue to cook for another minute.
4. Add the onion for about five minutes/until it begins to brown.
5. Add the peas/ lentils, vegetable stock and coconut cream, stir together and reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for about an hour, stirring regularly so it doesn't stick.
6. If the daal becomes too thick, loosen with a little stock or water.
7. While the daal is cooking, cover the dried mango with boiling water and leave for 5 mins.
8. Use a stick blender to blitz the mango and water into a smooth paste, add it to the daal and mix well.
9. Combine the fresh coriander and remaining oil in a bowl and blitz until smooth.
10. When the pulses are soft and completely cooked through, season to taste with salt and pepper and finish it by stirring in the coriander oil and roasted squash.

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