The Bluestocking is reopening

[ErrolTheDragon]

It's time we reopened the Bluestocking, I think.

This is the FWR pub, situated in the charming village of Badley Fuckitt near the Shady Pines rest home. It has a cannon (for reasons lost in the mists of time), goats in the paddock next to the beer garden and a menu including many soups and cakes. It's open all hours, serving breakfast and tea to all weary women, in addition to being the ideal location to metaphorically drown your sorrows.

Naice coffee ...

Sadly, it is one of those projects where you just have to keep on counting rows and trying not to cock up your increases - I've got past the really tricky bit of that, but now it wants me to do short rows and the last time I tried to do those my head exploded.

I need something numpty to do, but that project is supposed to be a surprise for my youngest, who is currently at home. I could make a hat but I already have one in stock.

I knew there was a slight difference. They're actually closer in weight than I thought. I just escaped having to do imperial at school but I still feel pretentious using metres, kilos, etc. in everyday speech.

I think I've taken a wrong turn @Boiledbeetle I'm outside the orangery. No sign of any model railway though I did pass a rather fine scalectrix.

You did start with your back to the two headed llama and not the two headed alpaca that is on the wall opposite didn't you?

Another person who used to have exercise books with imperial and metric information laid out on the back cover.
Ten chains = One furlong.
Although I didn't have much call to use it in later life. Perhaps if I took up horse racing?

I've been awol. Lovely to see the Bluestocking back in use.

There's an orangery? I love a good orangery. Cake, can you shout or let off a flare if you have one about you? I'll try to find you.

Edith - having no-one who actually wants my crochet (including my own cat) I've had to locate charities who want blankets & can now justify yarn purchases with, "It's for chariteeee!". This also means things leave the house when they're fnished, so win-win.

On much of the railways the locations of structures like bridges, culverts, drains, etc are noted in miles and chains.

And horse racing! Furlongs, hands, guineas...

That is very sad (though worthwhile if it goes to a good cause - I have a very ancient cousin who knits hats for sailors).

I manage to offload my handiwork onto all sorts of people. Knitted socks, esp for those with huge feet who find that chainstore ones don't fit, are esp. popular. Self-striping sock yarn is a lot of fun.

That aside, does anyone know of a nice paddle-able stream close by? I feel the need to wander through water under shady trees.

I must say those striped sock yarns are incredibly tempting. But 4 ply? Could I? One day I might take the plunge.

Oh, that stream sounds so lovely. I hope you find it.

<sploshes back from stream>
You certainly could. I too once thought socks were beyond me...

I make mine top-down. The ribbing is a bit of a pain, then you do the tubular bit down to the ankle, and that is mindless, telly-watching knitting. Making the heel flap is also easy. Turning the heel and doing the gusset is a tad tricky and needs a bit of concentration, but not too much (I just count regularly and am prepared to unpick if watching telly - you're probably better off with the radio or a podcast for this bit unless a real pro-knitter). Then more tube, before a few rows of decreases for the toe. Finally, full-on concentration for five mins to do Kitchener stitch to close the toe.

There are loads of useful how-to videos and photo-blogs and so on available.

If memory serves, but I've had a lot to drink on this thread, cake is the one you need for stream locations. She likes to sit and read under the willow trees whilst dangling her feet in the stream

Sorry, I changed out of my flares when the 70s ended the weather picked up. I'm wearing a rather nice white broderie anglaise dress. Which, now I come to think about it, is weird. When I took a nap under the weeping willow with a foot trailing in the stream I was wearing shorts and a Grimbut t-shirt.

I've moved on. I'm by the orrery. Which has no Pluto! So it's either really old or really new.

I knew I should have brushed up on my south American camellids.

What's that PKD book in which things go back to previous times unless you use an aerosol spray on them? Ubik? I haven't read it for a long time.Maybe you're inside that story.

Never previously worn such a frock. I think the place just thought it was appropriate. Wish we could suggest it as a nice place for a nap to one of the male posters 😁

Although, on second thoughts that could open up a whole can of worms.

If anybody wants me, I'll be climbing Yarn Mountain.

Thanks, Edith! What sort of needles do you use?

22 yards* in a chain! What a useless piece of information to remember. Definitely clogging up part of my brain.

*which is also the length of a cricket pitch. You're welcome.

May I recommend this really interesting thread?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5132180-jobs-you-thought-would-be-fabulous-but-actually-werent?page=1

Wooden dpns. I can't be doing with tiny circular needles, and dpns also save messing about with stitch markers.

Chain, 22 yds.
Furlong, 8 in a mile.

And the exercise books were red and shiny.

I am old.

We had red exercise books, Silvine brand.

You can still get them with the same cover, but they have tables - I presume times tables.
https://www.primestationery.co.uk/130F?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5Ky1BhAgEiwA5jGujt8Mf4Kmjsvuy2W0XqPq74tJMp3-Wn0-agC93P5XNY-Xq6uK8PMVUBoCf1AQAvD_BwE

The exercise books must have worked...we all remember what was on them.

Now, might I suggest a modern day one
XX=woman, XY= man.

For some bizarre reason 'similar threads' is pulling me up a question about Franky and Benny's.
(Which is a restaurant almost entirely, but not completely, unlike an American diner.)

My similar threads are asking about places similar to Bluestone.
Edited to apologise for my awful sentence construction above.
Too hot to think of an alternative - sorry!

I don't get them anymore I must have found the button to switch them off!