A Day In The Life - Lulu Williams

This month we asked Lulu Williams creator of Princess Diana as Mushrooms. Who shares what a typical day looks like when mushroom foraging in Poland.

Morning

Early rise around 8am in the rural mountain region of Harkabuz, Poland. Breakfast is two eggs we picked up from a local farm the day before in a nearby village. I make coffee for my dad and pull a tarot card to see how the day will go; Page of Cups, ~curious & fruitful~
Vo5 goes in the hair, as I’ll be vlogged for Facebook reels all day. Wiesław is waiting for us outside our log cabin in his Toyota Yaris with the engine running at 9am. (We met on Facebook, he runs a mushroom foraging blog and he agreed to show me around to hunt for spring fungi). We pass the Babia Góra mountains bathed in morning sunlight on our way to Slovakia.

First stop is the Oravica river in the valley of the Skorušina mountain, just over the border. Wiesław marches out the car and leads us to a patch abundant with red cup mushrooms. He picks a few and asks us to try. I’m still feeling uptight and English and decline. My dad tries a nibble and says it’s delicate, soft and earthy.

I’m already imagining Lady Di in swooping red fascinators to match with my photos.

Wiesław gets out his Android to film and screams ‘Ahhh Lulu!’ whenever he spots a mushroom. His passion is boundless and completely consuming, a reel of our day is posted hourly.

Papped on Wiesław’s nagrzyby.pl Facebook page. One of the largest dedicated mushroom foraging blogs in Poland. His website archives images of over 3000 different species. I’m hoping to use the photos I’m taking for a new edition of Princess Diana as Mushrooms. A zine series that compares Lady Di outfits to fungi. Not sure why I decided to wear camo, maybe so the mushrooms don’t spot me first.

Quick vibe check back in the Toyota. Polish pop music on the radio, rosary to keep us safe, tea in the flask, trail mix on tap. Deep into my annual leave floating through the polish countryside...bliss

London is an abstract concept in the rear view mirror.

Afternoon

We link up with Berta, (Wiesław’s friend) in a national park. She also runs a fungi insta/fb and gifted us four large jars of delicious pickled mushrooms.

The balance of the fag here is absolute poetry. She’s a Rockstar.

Truth be told, it isn’t really the season for mushrooms, it’s far too early in the year, the earth is too dry and we only spot red cups and stink horns. True friendship, generosity and connection is starting to blossom instead, despite not speaking each others languages.

In the afternoon we stop off at a weird little petting zoo and meet the deer, locking eyes into gentle emotionless mysticism.ᨐmeowᨐmeow 

Evening

Back in our Harkabuz cabin I hit the sauna with a Kozel tin and Edward White’s Dianaworld. Summoning the spirit of Di to be close with me on Polski land. I wonder what she made of Poland.

Wiesław comes over and we cook up some delicious Lidl pierogi. My avoidance of gluten and dairy feels like a ridiculous London affectation. I plan to do my weekly shop in the Polish deli in Lewisham when I get home.

At 9pm we go live on Wiesław’s Facebook page to an audience of 32 people. Truthfully, I have no idea what’s going on but am happy to be involved while I eat my tea. I think Wiesław discusses the spring mushrooms and plants we found today, he has a particular fondness for crocuses. He also feeds me a homemade mushroom tincture said to boost immunity and vitality. We drink shots of quince flavoured vodka together. The viewers stay for the entirety of the live which baffles me, I got quite a buzz out of it all honestly, especially interacting with Wiesław’s dedicated fans. Serotonin levels are peaking.

At this point, I say it’s time for bed to get our beauty sleep before starting the hunt again tomorrow. I feel truly Slavic.