The Bluestocking Women's Pub, in which Gosie returns to the trail

The weather here is far from chilly -high 80s/low 90s today - but we went to the movies to see Odyssey and the air-conditioning in the cinema was so cold that I froze in my sleeveless summer top. The half of me that was adjacent to DH was warmer though - the man is a human radiator.

I’ve been sleeping under a sheet for ages & I’m just starting to feel as if that might be a bit chilly.

I got the impression they were giving an extra cold blast when they were in the land of the dead (Iceland) in the cinema we went to.

Huh.

I’m going to a party tomorrow night & sitting out in the garden on a warm evening will be lovely. But in general it’s all getting a bit much.

I must taste bad to this year’s cohort, I haven’t been bitten yet.

Bore da, Bluestockingers! Guess what? It's sunny. And no rain. Hahahaha gotcha, didn't I? 🙄

Had one of my insomnia nights last night, so am surprised I'm actually up. Dragging still, but coffee will help. I think the sleep gerbils were out partying or sequestered with some of the others, pouring over plans and diagrams and all things stained glass.

But, hugely cheered when I saw THIS in the very old Clematis armandii vine alongside the driveway! (It's a Striped Hawkmoth, Hyles livornica)

Quite common but completely new to me! I saw it only because I was leaning in to the vine to let go a tiny garden spider who had inconveniently spun a perfect web across the inside of the front door overnight. I nearly didn't see it! (the web or the moth) It was a shame to have to ruin such a beautiful web.

I've been wondering if I should go see it. You'll have to give us your verdict when you've got a chance, Chickadee.

Thanks, Magpie! I've been looking for somewhere like Toast (most of their clothes are too big or "square" for me), that uses decent fabrics. I've looked at Plümo, but they are hideously expensive! I'll enjoy reading through the thread.

I enjoyed it but I would have liked it MUCH MORE if I'd known from the start they alter the ending and you don't have to sit there dreading the murder of Penelope's women for three hours.

I nearly didn't go because I hate that part and didn't want to subject myself to it.

The sound design was particularly good. See it in a cinema that can really let that reverberate in your bones if you can.

Calypso looked more like she was hosting a wellness retreat with shoreline yoga at dawn than a goddess keeping a sex slave, but otherwise it was a strong film.

I too keep being bitten. There was an annoying whining mossie in our bedroom the other night, and I thought I'd smacked it to kingdom come when it landed on my ear, but no. It managed later on to bite me on the arm, which has now come up in a spectacular lump. Before that I had a bite on my ankle, and before that one on each arm and before that...

I must taste nice this year. Usually it's DH they aim for.

On the plus, so far, fingers crossed, touch wood etc, no horseflies.

I’m sitting in one of those weird chairs about to give blood.

I prepped with a big breakfast & am going to reward myself with a browse round the local posh charity shops.

I’d rather do this than take Kitty to the vet any day.

They changed the ending?? Not a good start.. I might still go, just for the experience however.

I have loved the Odyssey since being "forced" to read it as a teenager in English class (but, first we had to read the Iliad of course, our English teacher was very insistent). I like the Iliad even more now. And I am, in bits and pieces, working my way through the Aeneid. I may finish by Christmas. Possibly.

I hope you are feeling somewhat better today, Pasta?

The gerbils were excellent at dealing with my bites earlier in the year..

Ouch, they look nasty.

ps. Oh, and the Striped Hawkmoth is absolutely HUGE! Looks just like a dead leaf (when still) 😀

I enjoyed The Oddessey. I was somewhat amused by Agamemnon apparently being Darth Vader’s less heavy-breathing twin.

It's beautiful, and thank you for the photo.

Thank you too to Edith and her ten-hare walks and crows having crowy reasons
Wonderful nature writing💚

Well done for giving blood, Kitty🎖

You're the only one on here giving blood voluntarily, poor Magpie et al. were not asked before a little critter helped itself🙁

Glad to see that Gabby has the magic bottle of calamine lotion out to dab the bites, which is why she's known as 'Dabby Gabby' or 'Gab the Dab'😀

I hope you are feeling somewhat better today, Pasta?

A bit - I overdid it the past two days socialising out and about (even in the wheelchair) and am definitely very tender again today, so I'm taking it slowly.

However, it was a great couple of days. I read two novels in Waterstones while avoiding the rain and bought a third; had a fancy Dishoom brunch; had a sushi making evening at Yo Sushi with an old friend in which we got the giggles; went to an RHS garden with another old friend.

Today let an extremely tedious neighbour take a test drive of my wheelchair and answer 10,000 (mostly duplicate) questions because his wife in nice and and my daughter felt sorry for her and agreed on my behalf.

She and MrPasta didn't know I go out of my way to avoid being buttonholed by him at the swimming class and at the park because he's bloody relentless, "so we said of course you can because we knew you'd be happy to help."

He was here for 90 minutes. When I answered any of his questions he inevitably replied "I don't bother with Apps/the internet/ ordering online/ going as far as Sheffield/ using a train/ visiting London because I went in the 70s and don't need to again."

I think I need a coffee and maybe a fondant fancy to cheer me up, please gerbils.

Well done for giving blood, Kitty*🎖
You're the only one on here giving blood voluntarily, poor Magpie et al. were not asked before a little critter helped itself🙁*

Yes. It’s hugely unfair that Magpie et al don’t get rewarded with chocolate.

I did that last month for the first time in forever. Those chairs are weird, aren't they!

Especially when you’re 4ft11! I almost had to climb into it.

And the nurse asked me about my weight in pounds, I looked at her a bit blankly & provided it in stones.