If you believe the national chatter in the media and social networks, we're all living in fear of what we now term "young people"; the ones being blamed for the lawless rioting witnessed across the country and dubbed a lost generation of "no-hopers".

It's not true of the children, teenagers and young adults that I know from my community in Hackney or from the friends and class mates of my children…

Riots, financial crisis and global droughts. The world can be a hostile place.

Cycling back home to Hackney from work was an unsettling experience. I didn't know what I'd find or encounter after passing the lines of parked-up buses  in Balls Pond Road, which marked the exclusion zone. Neighbours businesses were lost and my community was left fragile and uncertain. Thankfully nothing like the losses felt elsewhere…

I've almost filled the freezer with this year's blackberries. Big juicy ones plucked from brambly hedges in Ye Olde Hackney town.

Now I know what you're thinking. How dare I deprive the poor birds of all that deep velvety berry goodness. Well, I'll make sure I make up for it by inviting said birds and other wildlife to come dine with me. The menu includes seed cake and suet pastry rubbings followed…