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

That was in Arsenal of Freedom (which also featured Ryker's nostalgic memories of his life on the good ship Lollipop). Beverly learned her herb lore from her grandmother Felisa. In a later episode we learned of Felisa's relationship with Ronin the Anaphasic Scots man-ghost and his enthralling sex candle. Bev carries on with the candle herself for a while before deciding to go back to the ship.

the things I remember . . .

I think I might try to seek out that episode and watch it

👀

The episode is Sub Rosa, season 7 of TNG, you think I'm making that stuff up, but believe me, it's weird.

Bar gerbil, I'd like a couple of pints of your finest chocolate milkshake, a footbath, and a quokka to massage my lower back please. And if Giant Wombat happens to be at a loose end, can I borrow her to loom intimidatingly at feckless students for the next day or two? They need to get their fingers out and their coursework in!

Giant wombat is glaring at the massage gerbil so she gets it right for you.

And by the look of your closed eyes, you might be in your way to being blissed out.

That's absolutely perfect!

And this caught my eye in the Times today.

Katie Ventress, a blacksmith, adds the finishing touches to Iridescent Omen, a sculpture of a magpie created in collaboration with Janet Fraser, an artist who works with stained glass. The piece will feature in the Newby Hall Sculpture Trail in North Yorkshire, which runs from June 20 to September 28

Newby Hall Gardens are well worth a visit, we used to have a season ticket when we lived in Thirsk.

How gorgeous! Do we have any 'Stockingers in Yorkshire, who could visit and take pictures?

Well, there's a coincidence!

Wow! Impressive work, Android!

There's a massive gold statue of Boily somewhere about the place, too. Or was that in Trafalgar Square?

I'm glad you like it. People seemed to want the Yorkshire one, & I've just finished a course in welding, so...

Fourth plinth

See that lovely church behind you, Boily? That's where DD1 got married.

Don't we have the sculptress' preliminary work in the Bluestocking grounds somewhere? I'm sure I've seen a big gold beetle around!

We do...

Ah yes, I knew I'd seen one! Subtle, ain't it? I assume we must have a dedicated team of gerbils to keep it clean and shiny.

We do...

I like the health and safety aspect of that AI no dodgy wobbly ladders

I can just imagine the squeals of Wheeeeee! from the one suspended from an antenna.

No wheeeeeeeing unfortunately, they're too well trained in stealth abseiling

Such bravery

Surely the sculpture has been rendered in 24 carrot carat gold so won't oxidise and the Bluestocking is somewhere where there aren't any atmospheric pollutants so it would just need the occasional hose down to remove the pigeon shit. The plinth would probably benefit from a weekly scrub with a mild soap solution to remove any build-up of mildew or lichen.

TBC, I have no knowledge of, or interest in, keeping statues clean.

We have pigeons?