Roll up, Ladies and Gentlecreatures, the Bluestocking has been redecorated

[DeanElderberry]

Here for your delight and delectation is the hostelry by, for, and about wise, intelligent, creative and kind women, their assorted avatars including (but not limited to) a remarkable beetle, an astute android, a wise cake, and an assembly of companion creatures and animal assistants.

Food and drink available in abundance, all with remarkable non-damaging qualities.

Males may congregate in the nearby Staunch Ally and sometimes visit the stableyard to view outdoor performances by the gerbil waitstaff (who need to be distracted after the moment after that terrible 'misunderstanding' about the meaning of safe sex).

last thread here if you need to know why the Quokkas need some extra cuddles, and why the Cabybaras are being particularly efficient just now

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5273255-the-bluestocking-all-gerbils-welcome-must-have-own-frou-frou-skirt?

I have jet washed the paving ( lots) and garden furniture today.
If anyone wants me, I shall be having a lie down.

I will get someone else to jetwash the patio when it's warm enough to actually go out and sit on said patio.

In the meantime, I'm trying to persuade AI to create an image in the style of a 50s book cover, with a title. The pictures are quite good, the wording... not so much.

If anyone wants you, it'll probably be to jetwash their paving and garden furniture too

Have you noticed that if you are doing some task like that in public, e.g. trimming the front garden hedge, vacuuming the car in the drive, etc, it seems to be hard-wired into neighbours to say 'You can do mine next!' in a jaunty tone.
Or if you're painting something under the gaze of the public, somebody is bound to say in the same jaunty tone 'You missed a bit there!'😐

I'd react with a laugh emoji, except it's so true it's not funny.

Had my talonsnails done today. One of my clawsnails had come off so the technician recommended builder gel instead of gel powder. I can keep infilling rather than have them all taken off. Suddenly my nails don't feel so thick and heavy.

I have also decided to be positive about the job hunt so I've brought forward my hair appointment to next week because I'm expecting an interview soon.

I am not doing anyone else's jetwashing
Not now, not ever, never.

Just thought I'd make that clear.

I am quite envious of anyone (Myrtle ) who has beautiful nails. Mine are all broken to nothing. Serves me right for doing all the diy.

Glad to have my theory about hardwired jaunty neighbourly greetings confirmed thank you Myrtle.

I was misled by the 'builder gel' reference as I was still mentally outdoors doing DIY things and wondered what I was supposed to do with builder gel but I see it's such an obvious reference to those in the know that there's even an
associated emoji💅

Getting prepped early for the hoped-for interview sounds like a good idea in a lioness-roaring 'bring it on I'm sooo ready!' kind of way
(Reusing this lioness GIF, I love it and I'm not even a lioness!)

I must admit when I saw the phrase 'builder gel' my first mental image was a sturdy lass in overalls.

My nail technician is Vietnamese with a heavy accent so I had to ask twice. @FuzzyPuffling if I didn't pay £33 every three and a half weeks I would have terrible nails. I bit them for years. During the pandemic was hard because the salons were closed. My nails were a disgrace. I LOVE the emoji 💅

I also love that lioness gif. I've been speaking to my therapist about how terrible my life is and she pointed out my achievements this week (mindful modelling, recruiter interview, shortlisted job, UN Women UK participant, successful networking that has led me to two new networks, a request to speak on a panel for International Women's Day, proactive about my health).

Obviously I tried to minimise it all, but then I thought she had a point and decided to feel it.

Also healthwise I don't have the extremely rare genetic condition I was being investigated for, but I do have another extremely rare genetic condition that explains some of my symptoms. The genetic mutation I have is so rare they don't have a record of it in the DNA database of over a million profiles. Fortunately they know what happens to the gene when it has a mutation and I'll find out more at the genetic clinic soon.

I feel vindicated that I'm not a hypochondriac and hopefully I can finally get some support. So yeah! I am roaring 'bring it on I'm sooo ready!

I’m glad you have got an answer, @MyrtleLion - and hopefully you’ll get more information soon.

Dh has said that, if my knee is no better by Monday, he’ll cancel going to London on Tuesday - hopefully it won’t come to that, but it is reassuring to know I won’t have to manage on my own if my knee is still bad.

Thank you!

And isn't your DH lovely!

MN can be very hard on men (sometimes rightfully so) but some men are just brilliant. My DH has just dropped me at the station because of my painful ankle. We live within walking distance.

Read that list of achievements as though it belonged to someone else Myrtle - you'll be truly impressed!

I'm not a great fan of chaps myself but I like to hear about nice men, like your DH, or my own example: my father who was badly abused in his very deprived childhood and turned it around to be a gentle and loving father - no 'cycle of abuse' for him!

I think it's so important to offer little boys examples of how to be male which does not involve being Andrew Tate, Conor McGregor, violent, misogynistic, arrogant etc etc., but instead that it's entirely possible to be an adult human male and a decent human being. The nice DHs are the real rebels these days!

I think there are plenty of decent men around, but they're not the ones who make the news. I should imagine most who last as long term partners of Bluestocking type women are good 'uns because we expect proper partnership.

Either that or we have embarked on some training and awareness raising to ensure that they understand as best as a man can 😃

I occasionally have cause to deliver up date workshops, which mostly go well.

Oh I'm steaming mad now. MN post about "Was I rude to an old lady?". The ageism and nastiness towards older people is horrible. Fortunately it seems to be a minority, but wow, just wow.

I saw that and noticed that she got the thumbs down for being rude by nowt people.

thing is my mum used to be like this but now she is older so what comes around….

Just doing a quick welfare check before I sign off for the night -
Woley - physio any good today? Hope so!
Boiled - hello? it's been a bit quiet on the coleopteran front
Good night and a furry support rodent cuddle to any Stockinger who needs one tonight💤

Good morning everyone! It's beautiful weather here today and I'm planning to do very little other than be lazy!

It's beautiful here too. I'm intending to paint some fences/shed/railings/decking.

I've already prepared dinner- homemade fishcakes, broccoli and roasted red veg.

And scrubbed the worst of the algae off the white garden walls.

And hung out a load of washing.

Do I get a medal?

Happy Saturday everyone.

Not just one medal, Fuzzy, but several!

The physio was very encouraging, @MarieDeGournay - thank you for asking. She had a good look at my knee and said she reckons I've torn some fibres of my hamstring, but haven't ruptured the whole thing, because if I had, there would be swelling and bruising. She says it will take a while to heal completely, but she expects it to have improved by the next time she sees me.

@FuzzyPuffling - I am in awe at how much you have accomplished today - I have done nothing, apart from managing to have a shower - most of the week I have been relying on a sit down wash, because I couldn't stand long enough for a whole shower, but it felt better today.

My plan for the day is knitting in front of the TV. I am on the final part of the body of the sweater for dh's brother, and then his wife has asked me to knit her a cardigan, ds2 wants me to crochet hydrangeas for his girlfriend, and I still have a sweater to finish for dh - and eventually, I have the yarn to knit myself a cardigan - maybe next year!!

Had a great time in London with my friend. Stayed up.late in a cocktail bar. Discovered she lives two train changes away and the second train arrived late so I missed my connection. On a train home but it's been just over two hours.

Lovely sunny day and DH is picking me up at the station.

AIBU to think that ny BFF should move to a more convenient location for me? Like next door? 😂

It's very inconsiderate of her not to, @MyrtleLion .

YANBU, @MyrtleLion. You should ditch her immediately if she won't move.