Feminist Pub XX - may the summer rains wash the patriarchy down the plughole

[NoTechnologicalBreakdown]

Ooh ooh! Do I get to start it?

Wine and cake all round. And a celebratory burst on the patriarchy-blasting cannon!

Old pub here

I cycled today! I haven't cycled for more than 10 years on a real bike.

[bicycle]

Oh

Evening, nice in here isn't it? Pass the whisky please Just.

Wow, I like the bike symbol!

I have been to a lovely new cafe today, run by women and aiming to help other women. I wish it were closer, as it was a really nice place, and I would like to support the venture and meet friends there.

we went out on bikes today. For the first time ever DD did the 3 mile round circuit near us, although she did push up some of the slopes. She also started learning how to use gears. She's almost 12 and it has taken years for us to get her able to cycle. We're finally getting there.

And can someone teach me how to do the bike thingy?

It was good though I was very tired by the end as had been to the gym in the morning! It was a nice shady route too.

I have been lying in the garden in the sun, in between hanging out loads of washing. Then I dropped a carving knife on my bare foot (do not do this. It creates a lot of blood.) And then I finally read and completed the forms I need to send back by the end of next week to do with a bank account closing or being moved (I am opting for it to move.) I have not caught up with all the emails I need to reply to, though. I am feeling just a little more in control of life, though, and I think I will feel more in control if I tell work I just don't have enough slack to organise an event in October, so someone else will need to do it, but I can offer support by telling them all the things I did last time for it. I should go to bed, though. Permanently feeling exhausted also doesn't help me feel in control of things, and I get to the evening, and have no energy to think about anything.

Poor you Ebear! Definitely sounds good to pass on that event.

Ouch Ebear!

Last time I tried to close an online account it took a few phone calls and people sending pieces of paper to and fro. Opening it was a piece of cake though.

INicked that's great news!

EBear I know how you feel. I feel the same at the moment. Between DD's ongoing inability to sleep, people being on summer holidays and various vacancies in my team I'm stretched so thin at the moment I feel like I'm about to snap. I have no helpful advice but can I join you in the poor me corner of the pub?

*Gets comfortable on huge pub sofa and buys every one a drink in a show of Feminist Solidarity.
Sweet and Ebear can have doubles

Oh hello everyone!

We are in the middle of a complex move relating to a rental flat, and various preschooler/crawling baby "interactions" (I use the term loosely). I am working from home today and I am finding it very relaxing. I may have tea and a biscuit while I wrestle with the figures in my report. I may not have to share it with anyone under 5, and I may also not have to fend off colleagues saying "Oooh, can I just ask you..."

I just found this and shared on my FB page that I was surprised to read Blueberries for Sal again with my 3 year old because I would never dream of walking up a mountain in a skirt (but obviously since reading it with my own mother I had forgotten/not noticed that she is doing that - the mother in the story, not the little girl, who wears dungarees). A surprising number of friends (surprising to me that is, i.e. greater than zero) said that they have in the past climbed mountains in skirts.

I don't think I've climbed any mountain in a skirt, but I have about 3 generations of forebears (foreBearhugs) who did. Mary Kingsley's in the family tree somewhere (a cousin by marriage, I think, something like that), and she did a fair bit of exploring in skirts.

Thick woollen socks, a good petticoat and wool skirt - you'd probably appreciate a bit of air circulating round.

I have definitely not climbed any mountains in a skirt, or indeed in trousers, what with not having ever climbed any mountains. I have walked on some of the local ones, though. In shorts, the last time.

It's just me then, who can't imagine climbing a mountain in a skirt.

Clocking in - make mine a pint of ale.

I haven't climbed a mountain in a skirt but have (& regularly do) sea level to Beachy Head (162M) in my trusty ancient denim skirt. It's cool (literally) & easy to wear & does not chafe like shorts can.

Horrible story in my local newspaper today, that's made me angry.

A few streets away from where I live a man (who lived on my street) attempted to drag a 14 year old year old girl off the street, a man watching TV heard her screams and scared the attacker off before he raped her. He's been caught and sentenced to 10 years in jail today. He'd stalked her for over a mile, wearing face mask and rubber gloves, she knew someone was following her but was too scared to look round, she zig zagged and tried to stay on lit up paths.

I've avoided any mention of the story online, because the little I have seen is people questioning the girls actions ffs. Like why didn't she knock on someone's door, why didn't she run. I don't think the people saying this sht realise that it's expecting the girl to take responsibility for her attackers actions. I keep thinking of the terror she must have felt in that mile and the impact it will have on her life. How I wish I was going to the shop or something, because if I'd seen a man following her in a mask and pink rubber gloves I'd have done something.

His lawyer and said he felt rejected by women, had a dislike for women because of his rejections, and on that day had had an argument with a female, then spent the afternoon drinking, and wanted revenge. That was his defence. So it's like women being blamed again, for turning him down.

The poor girl.:(