Feminist Pub XVIII, in which the Bluestocking greets the first signs of spring with a glass of something soothing

[PuffinsAreFictitious]

Just starting this one as the last is nearly full

I hope we get labour, but its pretty close with the Tories. Ukip are likely to get a good turnout around here , some of the seemingly lovely people I work with are planning to vote ukip It always surprises me when people I think I know come out with the ukip stuff.

I'm in a rural seat which was over 50% conservative at the last election, a bit over 20% lib and a bit under that lab, >5% ukip and a tiny green vote. Although it's probably safe conservative, it'll be interesting to see how the votes move. It's an area threatened by fracking, in addition to the Green there's an Independent who from a quick look at his site is a single-issue anti-fracking expert. I expect the libs will lose some share to those two. No idea if the kipper has any support (different candidate to last time).

A couple of months ago in Citizenship, they were split into groups and had to research a bit about a party each. For some reason DD's got overlooked and all the parties had been taken including the scots and welsh - only choices left were BNP (blocked by school's website) and Monster Raving Loony party. So she's been through their Manicfesto. Some of it relatively sane.... it's probably just as well that none of them knew about the paranoid males party.

I've had 3 Labour leaflets and a UKIP leaflet. The sitting Conservative candidate can't be arsed to campaign, as it's a pretty safe blue seat, I think. Currently, Labour deserve to beat the others just on the amount of effort they're making, but I realise in some places that would be a dodgy strategy to take. Although I wouldn't be voting UKIP even if I received enough leaflets to turn my entire house purple and yellow.

We haven't had any leaflet through. Or maybe we had some and they fell straight into the recycling bin.

Sometimes I wonder if those manifestos are worth anything seeing how easy it is for everyone to go back on their word. It should be a contract and we sue the hell out of them if they break their promises without a bloody good reason.

Has anyone been following Dinosaurs for All?

Anyway I'm happy to report that I've ordered three "girls" dinosaur tshirts. One for DD (probably for next summer as she's quite petite and it will probably be too big this year), one for DS this year (he'll be ecstatic and refuse to wear anything else, and roar a lot, hmm, I haven't thought this through have I?) and one for DS next year so they can match.

I'm in a true blue area - incumbent Tory has been here for over 30 years.

LordC having had a coalition govt and seeing how the manifesto policies were apportioned out in the coalition agreement I've noticed a lot of people asking what are the parties' "negotiable" policies and what would they stand firm on.

Just realised I was looking at the constituency we used to be in, there was a boundary change last time. But almost identical voting pattern anyway.

That's a very good question, Chopper - must be something the smaller parties in particular are very aware of in the light of the LibDems tuition fees disaster.

I have just emailed a website asking them to please remove the errant apostrophes that were attacking their days of the week (Saturday's). FFS, can't professional people even manage basic grammar any more?

FFS, can't professional people even manage basic grammar any more?

Sadly not, Sera.

I just try to suck it up as it does my blood pressure no good, when I come across basic 'misteaks' in grammar & spelling every day.

You'll love the reply. They really don't seem to have understood what I was saying at all. What's wrong with SATURDAYS? Why do their customers need the apostrophe in order to understand that the course is every week?!?! (sorry, this has nothing to do with feminism but I my grammar pedant needs to rant)

You're right, Magi, I should think of my blood pressure.....

Dear Ofelia,

Thank for for your feedback.

We had to use an apostrophe as most people wrongly assumed that it was just the one Saturday that their course was appearing, rather than every Saturday of the year. Not everyone is familiar with the use of an apostrophe, we have to go with the majority of our users, therefore the apostrophe will stay.

As for our professionalism - we are a Social Enterprise offering a site where xxxxxxxxxxx(redacted). We have not used government funding, we have built the site up as a self funded site. Our site is a perfect example of a professionally run website.

I hope you have found it useful in your search for courses.

Kind Regards etc etc

Buffy - I love your reply.

but make sure that they understand that the examples are all MISTAKES!

around 45 seconds, "an apostrophe would be unacceptable for any respectable publication".

Stray apostrophes. >

I remember a Stewart Lee rant: "Show me the 10p that the carrot has accrued!"

I once was so embarrassed by the terrible, terrible English used on the international version of a Spanish website that I emailed them. Their reply was: could I please correct all the mistakes and send them the revised version and they would upload.

Eh no, I'm not going to do your job for you for free.

I had an editorial job once and I simply loved it. Being paid to tell people how to write properly without having to have any ideas of my own is my idea of job heaven.

I bought a printable sewing pattern with several ambiguities, and emailed the designer to suggest their English needed checking. I said I'd do it if they gave me free patterns but they haven't got back to me.

I was told today that, at the end of the month, I have to go for a team building thing.

I don't want to team build with my work colleagues. I can't stand most of them. I could use it as my opportunity to tell them that I'll be moving on in September I suppose, and take pictures of the stunned faces....

I want to say something but dont want to start a thread. I saw my ex boss today for the first time in ages. Ive lost over 3 and a half stone since i last saw her. And she just said to me "well done but you really need to lose two more if you can" Im a size 14 so not huge. And im happy I was 21 stone just over a decade ago I lost ten stone originally then put some back on which im in the process of losing now. Ive been feeling really pressured because the weight has been coming off so slowly this time and feeling so pressured has been affecting my mental health. I would NEVER go up to a very slim woman and tell her she needs to put two stone on Why is the other way around socially acceptable?

It's not socially acceptable, Helena. It's really not. What a fucking horrible thing for her to say, I'm so sorry she's upset you

Thanks I just needed a tiny vent and somewhere to write it down. Im fairly happy with the way i look. I have some loose skin but i see it as a reminder of what ive achieived. I dont think its a coincidence that the pressure on women to look a certain way gets ramped up the more equality we achieve. Ive been posting on her for 4 years (this is my third username ) and its REALLY opened my eyes to this and other ways pressure is heaped upon women.

You see you should be successful but not too successful. So no-one can actually say that you look just right. They have to find something wrong with you to keep you in your place. Even if there were a perfect weight height appearance checklist that you met in every way then there would be another way to fail you. If you're good at your job you've neglected your kids, if you're a SAHM then you smother them and should get a job etc etc.

Smile smugly to yourself knowing that you know better and her and she's just a blind victim if the patriarchy who unwittingly perpetuates it.

kickass you have articulated that so well Its all about finding fault isnt it? If you "pass muster" in one way they will look for a way in which you dont.