The Bluestocking, where the short days shorten and the oaks are brown

[MarieDeGournay]

Welcome all, regulars and newcomers, to the Bluestocking Women's Pub, a place of refuge and inspiration and camaraderie and silliness, where all alcoholic drinks are non-intoxicating, cakes contain no gluten, sugar or calories, but still taste yummy, and the attentive staff are small but very professional rodents wearing snazzy little outfits.

Other roles - such as acting as foot stools, looking decorative in the garden, or just being impossibly cute when you need something impossibly cute to go awwww at - are filled by a team of miniature pigs, quokkas, wombats, etc etc.

If real life is difficult, you can bring your troubles to the Bluestocking and a comfy chair will be found for you at a roaring fire, a miniature pig will settle down happily to support your tired feet, and a gerbil will serve you promptly with a comforting drink - very large G&Ts or massive mugs of hot chocolate with extra cream and marshmallows are popular choices [don't forget: no calories in the Bluestocking].

Lovely boot cuffs, Myrtle. Imagine the day when you can look down at your leg and see it encased in boots with those cuffs on top, hiding a fully mended leg.

Fingers crossed for Tuesday, if not tomorrow.

Oh, look; the new locum has finally arrived!

That’s modesty.

I must look for the video. I’m never quite sure what to do about edges in crochet, which is why I stick to round-and-round blankets, and crocheting squares together.

Ooh, I see they sell your snacks in Sainsburys, Myrtle. I'll stick some on the next order & try them. Glad you've got the turkey sandwich at least.

The suffragette boot cuffs are 😍.

I think she's in Borg mode as my left paw seems to have been assimilated.

I've managed to pick up stitches around the edge to finish off blankets with a dc row, but I don't really know what I'm doing. And I once misread the pattern when making a scarf & added a tr loop at the beginning of each row, so instead of being straight-sided the scarf came out with two regularly scalloped sides. It looked really pretty, & as the yarn was a sturdy acrylic aran weight, it was actually softer on the skin than a straight side would've been!

She’s become a bit captured since her last lot of in-house training. Think she was trans-ing you into one of her own kind. Yikes!

It can’t be Boily; must be an interloper. Quick, throw some baking soda on her before she gets carried away again!

Does baking soda work on beetles or on the Borg?

I don’t know. It works on ants, and I just panicked in the moment!

😂

A propos of nothing: I've just seen a good example of nominative determinism.
Two admirable women have just rowed unsupported across the Pacific Ocean.
It took them six months.
One of them is called Rowe. The other is called Payne.

i want my emoticon back

😄

Me too!

Thinking of poor hungry Myrtle I felt guilty about my fillet pork cooked in white wine with leeks, broccoli, sage, parsley, poppy seeds and Bramley apple, served with julienne celery and potato.

Not quite guilty enough to not eat it.

Followed by freshly picked raspberries. She couldn't have had the double cream anyway, but maybe a chocolate sauce with or without coconut would be good.

I have achieved something today - nothing major, but it is one thing off my Fretting list. Dh is an absolute pain to buy for, and his birthday is at the beginning of December, so this time of year I always end up trying to think of suggestions for his presents.

He has decided he would like a Kindle for Christmas, but when I asked about his birthday, I got a blank look. But today I had a bright idea - a Cornish pasties and afternoon tea package - and I found an offer from a company I’ve used before, where spending over £30 on pasties got a free afternoon tea - order placed, job done.

I still need to get my finger out and sort out the rest of Christmas, but I’m glad I’ve made a start.

I am panicking early for Christmas this year. DS1 is coming over for the two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving this year, as he has to work over the Christmas period. We're going to be here in ME for a week and then all go down to NJ to see DS2 and his family. I'm not seeing DS2 at Christmas either as I think they are probably staying in NJ, and DD is in the UK so we will be on our own at Christmas. This all means I'm trying to get Christmas presents for everybody sorted out in time to take down to NJ at Christmas and give to DS1 to give to DD when he goes home after Thanksgiving. Luckily I have the habit of picking things up throughout the year as I see things I think people will like, so I can go and rootle through my present-storage drawers to see what I've already got.

Just a mini-panic, really.

Oh do not upset yourself! Please enjoy all the lovely food and tell me about it!

The walrus has promised dinner by the river once I am free home.

Plus I have had Jakeman's sweets, some haribo, a turkey, lettuce and tomato sandwich followed by mandarin orange slices in juice with strawberry jelly. They've just brought round tea and I've had fruit shortcake and three little gingerbread men biscuits. Tomorrow I shall eat! Beginning with an omelette that the walrus cooked for me this morning.

For I have been listed for 8.20am on Tuesday!

First, first, first!!!

Tomorrow I get to enjoy all that this resort has to offer, including:

6am wake-up call,
8am breakfast (the coffee is rather good),
8.30am bowl of warm water brought to my bed for a wash followed by housekeeping changing the bed.
9am check up from the surgical team
10am-12pm the wound specialist will bring me a personalised programme of antibiotics tailored to my specific infection.
Noon Lunch
12.30pm visit from walrus and his DD
2pm-5pm free time
5pm dinner
8pm tea and biscuits
11pm lights out

Interspersed with four hourly observations and regular medication and antibiotics.

Sadly the entertainment isn't what I might expect at this location and despite it being all-inclusive, there is no alcohol, not even local watered down plonk. This will be mentioned in my TripAdvisor review.

No alcohol is shockingly poor service, Myrtle! You should definitely deduct a star for that.

We had a rather nice pork and apple casserole tonight, with crusty bread to soak up the sauce. Next thing to do is round up a load of washing to put in on timer so they will be clean and ready to put out to dry tomorrow morning, and then probably have an early night. Half term this week so I might actually get some work done!

I'm not sure you're selling this resort to us, @MyrtleLion I think I might give it a miss. I hope you really do get done Tuesday FIRST.

@ifIwerenotanandroid I'm a yarny type person too. I've made a gazillion blankets and pairs of socks. I knitted already but learnt crochet through Bella Coco about 12 years ago.

We’re in London, had some tasty vegan food for dinner - it’s not something we’d usually have at home so it makes a nice change. Proper Asian pleasantly spicy tofu and mushroom type of things, not grim fake cheese or meat.

That sounds lush @ErrolTheDragon which part of London is the restaurant? I'd go!

Wishing all Stockingers a good night, especially Myrtle

I watched the riot girls tonight, made my heart sing well worth a watch wimms, it is sooo intelligent, and well casted and two episodes in is amazeballs…..

Thank you Banned, I haven't watched it yet but certainly will after your recommendation !

We had a haddock and corn chowder with seedy grainy toast for dinner and some fresh pineapple for dessert. Yum.