Live Webchat with Jack Monroe: Wednesday 5 March, 12.30 - 1.30PM

[KateHMumsnet]

We're very pleased to announce that pioneering food blogger Jack Monroe will be coming into MNHQ for a webchat on Wednesday 5 March from 12.30-1.30PM.

Facing head-on the realities of modern Britain as a single mum and responding with a 'make do and mend' way of thinking, Jack has earned a reputation as a fierce anti-austerity activist. She is best known for her blog A Girl Called Jack and is a freelance writer for The Guardian, The Independent and The Daily Mirror encouraging people to explore, enjoy and experiment with food, all on a (tiny) budget. Her first book, A Girl Called Jack, has just been published by Michael Joseph.

You can post a question for Jack in advance below, or join us in welcoming her on Wednesday between 12.30 and 1.30PM.

[JackMonroe]

@DarlingGrace

Hi Jack - I've intermittently read your blog and know how you ended up from a high flier to low income...do you think embracing education and being widely read allowed you to resource cheaper food stuffs and combine that with nutrition?

I only ask because low income is usually synonymous with lower educational standards and it needn't be so

I only got four and a half gcses, ironically a D grade in food technology, so don't think I'm that well educated! But i've always been interested in food, and explored and experimented with it for years before I had to survive on such a low budget, so I think having some experience of cooking under my belt definitely helped.

[JackMonroe]

@Kormachameleon

HI jack
im sorry i dont have a question, i did just want to grab this opportunity to say that i think you are amazing and your son is so incredibly lucky to have you.

The fact that you have made people see that poverty is not the domain of the feckless working class who spend all of their money on fags and booze is so good for society to see.

and i have a little crush on you so was so excited to see you were coming on

That's really nice, but I can recommend a good optician. Unless scruffy little girl things with James Dean complexes are your thing, in which case, crack on. x

[JackMonroe]

@Upandatem

Thanks for being out, it makes a difference.

Yeah it took a while, but I got to a point where everyone seemed to know everything else about me apart from one of the most important things, i love women. (One, specifically...). I started writing that post about gay pride and it was only before I hit publish that I realised it would be my coming out post. And no regrets. I'm proud of who I am!

[EmpressOfTheWellOfLostPlots]

Phwoarrrrr indeed....

[JackMonroe]

@lavesh

Hi Jack, just a thank you for being brave enough to tough out the inevitable right wing backlash from the privileged media/political elites who would love for people like you and Owen Jones to stop being so inconvenient! I know I wouldn't be brave enough to do so.

My question is did you join WHOGA when you left WHSG? I would've rather stabbed my own eyes out

No, I tried to but never heard back. They haven't been in touch either - although SHSG got in touch a while ago to check I wasn't one of theirs, which was nice. :)

[EmpressOfTheWellOfLostPlots]

And yes, thank you for coming out.

[JackMonroe]

@MarmaladeShatkins

You say that nothing has interested you as yet, telly-wise. What would have to be on the table to get you to say yes?

Simple basic budget cooking show. Basically a televised version of my blog.

[JackMonroe]

@TheJoyfulPuddlejumper

I quite like the idea of being a sexy, heroic, devil incarnate. Phwoarrrrr.

You could have a cape and everything!

Don't give me ideas. I'm erratic enough. Currently sitting here in leather trousers and the biggest hair in the world, a cape would earn me an entry in the DM sidebar of shame....

[JackMonroe]

@Valpollicella

at 'massive fucking telly'

Gwan, share what you said to her....please? You know we talk about all sorts on here

She hissed at me about my sainsburys deal, I called her a word that rhymes with runt, she followed me out hissing a bit, I runted back, Owen took me to the pub. ;)

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Have you always called yourself Jack ?
Nice name BTW, I think it suits you

[LuisSuarezTeeth]

Marvellous
I'd have paid to see that

[JackMonroe]

@JugglingFromHereToThere

Have you always called yourself Jack ?
Nice name BTW, I think it suits you

It's always been a nickname, but I changed it officially a few years ago. Before all this kicked off! But I like it. And I get lots of girls called Jack getting in touch, so I'm not as unique as I thought I was...

[Valpollicella]

Nice one

[guinnessgirl]

Jack, I want to thank you for speaking out about your experiences of poverty. It really can happen to anyone, and when I'm debating with idiots ego spend their lives in denial of this, I can point to you as proof positive that the system is broken. Plus, I have a huge girl crush on you!

[JackMonroe]

@EmpressOfTheWellOfLostPlots

And yes, thank you for coming out.

You're welcome. I think it's important that people should be allowed to be exactly who they are in the public eye. I'm no less myself just because people are watching. Loud and proud lady lover, mm hmm. :)

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

Jack you should have used the MN phrase "Did you mean to be so rude?"

actually, you could use my phrase, are you always such a cunt?

It works much better

[JackMonroe]

@guinnessgirl

Jack, I want to thank you for speaking out about your experiences of poverty. It really can happen to anyone, and when I'm debating with idiots ego spend their lives in denial of this, I can point to you as proof positive that the system is broken. Plus, I have a huge girl crush on you!

Thankyou. And I just got to a point where I realised nobody was really talking about it. Then I realised I was somebody. I started talking. I'm not going to stop. x

[JackMonroe]

@TantrumsAndBalloons

Jack you should have used the MN phrase "Did you mean to be so rude?"

actually, you could use my phrase, are you always such a cunt?

It works much better

Rhetorical question though, surely.

[DoctorTwo]

You called her a cunt? Well done, I bet there are loads of us who'd have paid good money to see that! :o

[MissAnnersleyismyhero]

So where can you buy cumin for 2p

How do you cope with the incessant Guardian comments...? They give me the rage, I've had to stop reading them!

[JackMonroe]

@fs2013

Hi Jack
I confess I didn't know who you were until the live debate (blush)!
However, just wanted to say I thought you were brill on that! x

Thankyou. I got 30k new Twitter followers after that debate, so I'm guessing you weren't the only one who first came across me effing and blinding on Channel 5!!

[EmpressOfTheWellOfLostPlots]

Feel free to ignore this question but you said in your blog that the bolognon was created for Someone Very Special. Did she enjoy it?

[Faverolles]

God yes, how do you get past twatty comments? Do you constantly have the rage?