The Bluestocking - where the laugh emoji is sorely missed.

[MyrtleLion]

Welcome to the Bluestocking Arms!

The company is always sparkling, the drinks are always sublime, and the cakes are mysteriously free from gluten, sugar, calories, and troublesome booze… not that you’d ever notice. 😏

Our enthusiastic team of gerbil waitstaff is ably supported by capybaras, quokkas, and other charming creatures who excel at their jobs while looking outrageously adorable.

You will find many things to laugh at - usually out loud - so take care not to spit out your tea. We are considering a petition for the return of the laugh emoji - just as soon as the AI gerbils learn how to spell.

New Bluestockingers are always welcome. Men can pop along to The Staunch Ally nearby.

Currently also knitting a Woolly Hug blanket for Bluestockinger Swashbuckled. Details here if you can knit or crochet a square before the 18 July.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5350941-woolly-hugs-desperately-sad-news-we-are-afraid-making-a-blanket-for-lovely-swashbuckled-whose-son-has-tragically-died

@MyrtleLion Hope you're feeling a bit better today.

Love the Bonzos! I have the CDs somewhere - mind you, some tracks are real earworms & I don't want 'out in, out in, out in India, yah!' going through my head for the next week.

Have you heard the two Neil Innes episodes of Chain Reaction?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b03phrws

I heard them again the other day & they're worth hearing. From 2014.

Ohhh - I remember the Bonzos too, though I only know a couple of their songs.

Dh is off to the airport soon - no2 son is coming back from Australia for about three weeks - he’s going to a friend’s wedding, and spending some time with no1 son and the grandkids, then his girlfriend is coming for a few days too, so we can meet her.

I’d never heard of ‘the month’s mind’ but it sounds a wise and compassionate idea.

🧸💐

Thank you very much Android! Listening to it now. Brilliant

All women are ninjas!

The Bluestocking page has been acting up so I'd better make the most of this window of oppo!
Myrtle thank you for the advice about casting on/off, I obviously never learnt to do it properly. I hope you're feeling better.

Woley - have a lovely time with DS2 on his visit from Quokka-land

Android, your 'I can want to' struck me as being very deep and philosophical, and 'deep and philosophical' makes me think of Thomas Aquinas - I tried really hard to read him, because he is such an important figure in the development of western philosophy and learning, and I'm interested in that kinda stuff.

My brain hurt after a few lines. I even got a sort-of 'Ladybird Book of Thomas Aquinas', but that didn't help. He really is obtuse😒

'I can want to' - 'Maybe I cannot, but I can want to can', 'Non possum, sed possum, volo posse' [according to Google Translate - looks a bit unconvincing even to this non-Latin-writing-person] sounds like something he'd say.

I think if you have to go to such lengths to explain a post, it's a sign that you shouldn't have bothered😀
Still, Thomas Aquinas opened the door to the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and All Women are Ninjas, which is all very Bluestockingish, so maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all🤓

to Swashy.

To Swashy 💙

And 'Can androids vomit?' is another of those very Bluestocking sentences...

Well, I asked the AI for 'Thomas Aquinas on vacation' & this is what it gave me. The second one has a nice touch of the JKRs about it.

On a more theological note,

'I can want to' - 'Maybe I cannot, but I can want to can', 'Non possum, sed possum, volo posse'... sounds like something he'd say.

reminds me of Corrie ten Boom (I think it was) recommending as a prayer, "Lord, make me willing to be made willing," which is a position I've sometimes been in & I think it sums up the situation beautifully.

End of sermon.

If Thomas Aquinas was cast in Weekend at Bernie's.

There was a TV documentary on them, a long time ago, whch included the wonderful story of them being stopped by the police while driving in America. The cop asked them if they had any weapons & they said no & he asked incredulously, "Then how do you protect yourselves?" & Viv answered in a posh English voice, "Good manners!". 😂

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b072zn42

just found this, not heard it yet.

AI obviously never heard of the tonsure, and Aquinas was cleanshaven... odd isn't it that the fact that he's wearing sunglasses and sitting on a beach in a deckchair didn't bother me so much😁

Thank you for the introduction to Corrie ten Boom, who I look forward to discovering. Her prayer about being willing to be made willing is in contrast to Augustine's unwillingness to be made willing 'just yet', isn't it?

edited to say 'thank you Android, for the introduction...'

🥵🥵🥵🥵
That is all.

☀️☀️☀️here.
I love the heat. I once dug over a chunk of garden on a very hot day.A friend walked by and noticed early that evening and rang me up: 'Girl? Are you MAD?'

Marie we read some Corrie ten Boom in RE when I was about 12.

Edited to get some proper suns!

oh for pity's sake please return the laugh emoji!

pleeease @BeckyAMumsnet

Seconded.

Do the @s work in biglies?

Hmm 🤔

@inkymoose

Well? Do they?

@lcakethereforeIam

Ooh! That's definitely a new way to get someone's attention!

It's a bit scary. Like you've been naughty.

@lcakethereforeIam

I know! Now what did I say about not touching the cake until after you've had your tea?!?

Oh I hate it when they delay an image it ruins many a joke!

Ooh! And you remembered to put in Neville, at his oosiest.

I have started the stocking stitch square at least three times, which is frustrating, but I am learning and it is coming along.