The Bluestocking Arms Women's Pub, where women make friends with Beetles, Androids, Cakes, Dragons, Hedgehogs and other women, where wit and wisdom flourish

[inkymoose]

Here at the Bluestocking there's a place for all women. A break from Reality, and many laughs and stories to share. Have your fill of Tunnocks bars and tea cakes, sing feminist anthems, drink as much beer or gin or hot chocolate as you desire. It won't make you fatter or drunken but oh, it's fun. Sit in the garden with our Lion resident or the Quokkas and Capybara. Express your opinions loudly in Pedantry Corner. Ask for whatever you fancy to be served by our obliging Gerbil staff. Come in, all women, welcome!

LOL Waiting for Godot made marginally more sense than Ibsen. Reckon if it had been performed by gerbils it would have been sublime.

I'm looking forward to their summer production of Noises Off.

It's going to be sublime.

WFG bored me to tears when I had to read it during A Level. I would have paid good money to see gerbils perform it, though!

Incidentally, in hyena society the wims are in charge. They even have a pseudo-penis through which they have to give birth, which apparently complicates things rather.

We really must campaign for a 😱reaction emoji!!

Sorry. Derail…

But… Ooh, Gosh. Feeling a bit tearful. DD (yep, the AuDHD desisting one) wandered in as I was watching Fantastic Beasts [expected an angry yet eloquent TedTalk that has typically demarcated such incidents for the last 7 years] and she said, ‘oh, I am playing the Harry Potter game - do you want to come and look at it?’. So I did (fricking amazing graphics and yes, her avatar is a wee bit masc for my personal comfort [zipped lips]) and then she mentioned that she’s only read the first 3 in JKRs series and would it be okay if she borrowed the others as she feels she really should read them to the end. Oh, and she’s not sure how she feels about the new JKR series as the movies are an iconic part of her childhood and she loved the ‘rides’ at Disney (never admitted that, even though her wand is on the shelf in the ‘library’).

I expected ambivalence-negativity towards JKR… but I think the fact that she is so excited about reading the rest of her books and playing the game means she is not under the TRA spell. Fuck I hope so. Maybe I need some more marmalade gin (yes it’s a thing and fucking delish) and tonic.

Yep. Need a tissue. No, it’s just something in my eye.

That's lovely, Cautious! I hope it's the start of something good for you and your DD, re-bonding over JKR
Following JKR's example, maybe you could have a cigar with your marmalade gin?😁

That does sound like good news! I'm so pleased for you!

Having a sad day. Forgot to order a detective board game I planned to play with DH today and though he doesn't have any work projects for the next month, he is busy with training so can't break off to play.

It's almost a year since my job began to fall to pieces and though I thought I was over it, the annoyance that having a penis made my brilliant presentation and immediate availability null and void (difficult choice, very very close) has upset me. I think it's the lack of purposeful work. And imminent penury.

I'm also due to have a major orthopaedic operation and haven't seen the consultant in two years so I'm going to have to write to him about the surgical plan. And it's a grey day so I'm feeling horrid. To be clear it's a combination of strikes, waiting lists and failure to follow up as well as seeing a registrar rather than the consultant because he was in a meeting and I was told I didn't need to see him. But reviewing my MRI I need more than just the orthopaedics sorting out.

That all sounds a bit shit, Myrtle, I'm sorry. It can be very hard to get joined up care from the NHS, and the job thing must still feel so enraging.

Am so sorry @MyrtleLion totally understand the inability to keep on top of NHS referrals/appointments - have found a grovelling phone call and lying abject at the feet of booking staff has always helped. A tiny bit. Really hope you can sort it out this week.

No words for the work thing. Just hugs.

Cautious, that is so heartening to hear!

Myrtle, sad days keep popping up don't they. Those times when it seems like we have no control over our plummeting trajectory into chaos. I hope that spending a bit of time here at the Bluestocking will help you feel a little bit more cheerful.

I'm having quite a lot of ups-and-downs myself at the moment, awaiting a major operation, delayed because of my other recently discovered physical whatnots. I seem to keep injuring myself as well. But I am buoyed up by feeling loved and wanted by my family and friends. I'm getting so much out of mumsnet today, too, because the fast moving threads contain so much strength and wit and energy. I have been laughing out loud quite a lot this afternoon.

Keep going, you marvellous women here. You are all brilliant.

It's not my fault. None of it.

• December 2022 – MRI confirms arthritis and ligament damage.
• April 2023 – X-ray and consultant appointment.
• October 2023 – First steroid injection.
• April 2024 – Six-month follow-up due but not booked by consultant staff as I was "lost to follow up" - someone forgot to put a reminder on my file.
• June 2024 – Appointment arranged after I chased, cancelled due to strike.
• October 2024 – Rescheduled appointment; consultant was in a meeting for three hours. I was called and spoken to by a registrar, and I was placed on the surgical waiting list (c 2 years) and a second injection arranged. Registrar asked if I wanted to wait for the consultant but said the consultant wouldn't do much more so I left.
• November 2024 – Second steroid injection.
• December 2024 – Offered surgery with a different surgeon, but not possible due to second injection.
• July 2025 pre clinic appointment made so they will probably operate late July but I haven't seen the consultant since April 2023 and won't see him at this appointment as it's just bloods etc.

Reviewing the MRI I realise I have two high grade ligament tears which can be repaired during the ankle fusion surgery but the consultant is probably not expecting to do that. Hence the reason I need to see him to discuss the surgery plan.

Sorry to hear all that, Myrtle, it's no wonder you're feeling down. I hope things start to improve soon, especially your surgery because as my granny used to say 'Health is wealth', you need to be at your best physically to deal with everything else life is throwing at you.
and 🍸- or one of those marmalade gins if you prefer, I'm sure Cautious will share the secret recipe with the bar gerbil

And I've now read Inky's post too, the same message of hope for healing and health goes to you. And a marmalade gin - the bar gerbil will be kept busy!

Christ Myrtel!! What a juorney. The steroid injections (as I understand from someone who did the ones in my second shoulder, after multiple injections and surgery on the other shoulder) are a bit random - they rely on the person injecting getting it in the right place, really understanding your particular issue and anatomy, and mostly they don’t. With my first shoulder, the spasm and pain had to get so bad I passed out at the wheel of my car with a bunch of beavers in the back for them to realise it was urgent (trapezius spasm leading from the frozen shoulder caused construction of some artery or other in my neck, so… blackout 🤦🏽‍♀️ all kiddies safe, as was pulling into a friend’s drive…but OMG!! Operated on a week later.) will keep fingers and toes crossed that you can sort it out asap 🤞

re drinks.. blood orange flavoured gin, or even a ‘marmelade’ gin (by Aber Fails) with a small tonic and lots of ice, a few slices of orange if making it a tall drink in the garden. Lush.

'cautious lurker driving a car full of beavers'

that's exactly the image that occurred to me when I read the sentence ... So funny, and it didn't end in tragedy, so we are okay to laugh!

Ladies in need of a little cheering up (& their friends) are invited to assemble in the Bluestocking tea room right now.

Anyone in need of some typical MN humour might enjoy this thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5319499-cardiff-march-for-trans-liberation-today

LOl I realised afterwards how that might have read!!

No idea how to create an image to match that… beavers in beaver scout uniform in a 7 seater toyola!

Love it - just what I was trying to create but Google didn’t help at all!

'cautious lurker driving beavers in beaver scout uniform in a 7 seater toyota'

😂

There was ( apparently) a pro trans march in my local city on Saturday. All references to it/ reporting on it in the news/ social media have been removed. It's like it never happened....

Sorry, killed the thread!
I'll get me coat! 😁

@FuzzyPuffling saw it, but been trying to sleuth out which towns/cities had significant events! Have family in the midlands but am in the Sarff, myself. Most people where I am would have headed to Londinium to posture loud n proud in the protests.. or otherwise have headed to a bistro pub to posture over overpriced wine and steak at the local Cote…

I think this one is even more representative of the wildest edges of MN humour😄
While the UKSC has confirmed that woman means woman, this doesn't mean that women can... | Mumsnet

The cautious lurker with the beavers image made me LOL - I note the driver's hands are in the 10 to 2 position - very cautious 😄

[why is the spellchecker underlining 'lurker'? is that wrong??]

The driving beavers look evil. I think they have malice aforethought.