Fuck it. Who wants to recreate the Isle of the Amazons with me?

We can break societal conventions and expectations but we canna’ break the laws of physics!

Quite.
And on the same lines, human beings cannot change sex.

[waves nervously]. Can I be cheeky and ask if it's possible to have a part time slot on the Isle of Amazons? I have a lovely DH and DS, and would miss them if I moved in permanently, but it would be nice for DD and I to be able to come for a retreat/holiday whenever we need a break from the other arsehole men on the planet. If/when I find myself without DH I would definitely move in permanently.

DD is very good at lifting and we would be happy to help look after all the dogs and cats when we are there. If it's allowed, I would like to bring my own dog. He is castrated and as a result of abuse (before we adopted him) is very anxious around strange men so the Isle would be somewhere he could roam free without worry. Plus he would make a very good early warning system if any man did infiltrate the Isle.

The fort would give @MarieDeGournay somewhere to put a full-size trebuchet.

I had a look on GoogleMaps.
It does have a Sunoco oil terminal at the western end, but it's very low profile and I'm sure you could plant a nice wood around it to hide it from view (and persuade them to give you cut-price diesel...)

Seems a snip for 4m Euros.

Yeah but things won't be stored as high because they will be designed for women

If we can't decide, this village has a fort and an island. And a pub. https://villageio.com/unique-property-portfolio-for-sale-whiddy-island-ireland/

Do we want a village, a ghost town, an island, a nuclear bunker, or a sea fort?

https://villageio.com/

https://findislands.com/buy-islands/

https://www.loveproperty.com/galleries/319902/incredible-bunkers-for-sale-across-europe?page=1

https://castleist.com/recent-forts-and-towers/

A model trebuchet could be used to launch Dreamies across the room, that would keep both me and the cats entertained.

Full disclosure: I don't have a cat, and only know what a 'Dreamie' is from seeing them referred to on MN.🐱

And sorry BiologicalRobot, you can't wriggle out of your responsibility, you mentioned 'trebuchet', and I had to make a working model of a trebuchet.
If you hadn't mentioned 'trebuchet' my kitchen table would not be covered in little pieces of wood, glue and screws saved 'in case they ever come in handy'.
All your fault.

😁only kidding, it was great fun doing it so thanks for the prompt!😁

It's absolutely stunning MarieDeGournay, but please don't blame me because you are bored. Otherwise I might suggest cat herding 😛

That is a beautiful trebuchet.

Thank you Magpie! It was fun to do, especially as I'm a bit housebound at the mo and a bit bored...

I have a box of bits and pieces from other modelling projects, but the basic 'ingredient' is lollipop sticks - the ones that you buy by the dozen from craft shops, that is, I don't have that much of a sweet tooth.😁
I think I'm going to dismantle it now that you've seen it and I've had a lovely bask in your admiration - I have nowhere to put it, I have a small house and not enough space to display models.

The model Bluestocking I made, for instance, is just tucked away on a shelf😒

Thank you for reminding us what we cannae do wi' the laws o' physics, Errol, and I like Magpie's suggested way around them - do you have pointy ears by any chance?😄

I wonder if deploying a spiked anchor before discharging the trebuchet might help?

Bloody fantastic trebuchet @MarieDeGournay, do you take commissions? That's an executive desk toy if ever I saw one!

messing about in small boats can make one very aware of Newton’s Third Law of motion … I think the effect of discharging a trebuchet from a pedalo could be to propel it from the front of the fleet towards the rear. That’s probably a best case scenario.😬

We can break societal conventions and expectations but we canna’ break the laws of physics!

Love the trebuchet, @MarieDeGournay!

Wiki says:
The term originated in the days of naval sailing squadrons and can trace its origins to the British Royal Navy. Each naval squadron was assigned an admiral as its head, who commanded from the centre vessel and directed the squadron's activities. The admiral would in turn be assisted by a vice admiral, who commanded the lead ships that bore the brunt of a battle. In the rear of the squadron, a third admiral commanded the remaining ships and, as this section was considered to be in the least danger, the admiral in command of it was typically the most junior.

Oops I didn't mean to make you the most junior admiral in the Amazonian Fleet You are hereby promoted to Front Admiral

While on the derail topic of naval trivia [naval fluff?] I know that the tradition of all the sailors lining up along the edge of the deck was to show that the ship's guns were not manned, so its intentions were peaceful.

Thank you,

Good thinking. You are now Rear-Admiral of the Amazonian Fleet.. I must google why Admirals are Rear. Or why Rears have Admirals😄
I'd still wear a helmet in case of friendly fire, Arabella..

Bloody brilliant. One can be mounted on the swan pedalo, I take it?

Look what you made me do, BiologicalRobot!

It works. It can fire a hazelnut intercontinentally several miles a few feet a couple of inches😏

The only thing in range and in danger would be the moat, so watch out in your scythe-adapted swan-shaped pedalo, Arabella, there just might be a hazelnut with your name on it😁

I would like there to be women there from every culture in the world. I would love to be able to talk honestly with other women about all our beliefs, cultures and life experiences, free from the eyes and ears of men

if we are the fairer sex are they the darker sex??

Or.simply the unfair sex?

Our local gifts and stuff shop sells tiny build-your-own trebuchet kits. Far too small for defence, but probably about right for firing Dreamies for cats.

BiologicalRobot
Sorry MarieDeGournay, I hope your working model is coming along nicely.

It is thank you, I've been online to see how trebuchets work, drawn a rough plan, scavenged in my 'workshop' [spare bedroom, identifying as a workshop😄] for appropriate little bits of wood and little nuts and bolts, and so far I've assembled the A-frame side supports.

Which is a long-winded way of saying 'Isn't retirement great, you can do what you want whenever you want to do it!'😁

I'm sorry this happened to you and if it caused you distress and worse.

But the way you wrote it just made me grin.

Hope you new life free of your almost-boy is good.

I see that I have let my annoyance at a certain sex get the better of me and I doubt my view was the OPs view. Considering the sheer amount of women who would want this sanctuary I'm sure everyone could have their favoured area. One that is enclosed by a shark piranha/crocodile infested moat surrounded by meadows with various little villages and shops for those less annoyed with the... idk - if we are the fairer sex are they the darker sex??

There is room for everyone's tastes, and those less bothered but just want a clean and tidy home can live at the borders to give a buffer zone to those who want man eating tigers as their feline pet.

Sorry MarieDeGournay, I hope your working model is coming along nicely.

My aunt and uncle had a cat move in with them. Their house was always spotless and I don’t think they would have chosen to have any pets, however Tig decided to move in anyway. The terms and conditions were made very clear. Tig was fed in the kitchen. He was allowed in the sitting room, but strictly only if he walked to the beanbag they’d bought him, lay on the beanbag for as long as he wanted, then went outside again. Both parties seemed quite happy with this deal, which always seemed remarkable to me. So there are indeed some well behaved cats.