The Bluestocking: All You Need to Know About Risk Assessments, Jazz Hands, Battenberg and Sourdough (But Were Afraid to Ask) - and gerbils. Lots and lots of gerbils.

[MyrtleLion]

Welcome to The Bluestocking, the perfectly overblown, gloriously chaotic all-women’s pub where you can have a bit of a lie down if you need it.

Expect serious debates on musicals, cake and knitting, and whimsical musings on women’s rights and why the world’s on fire (again), all under the calm supervision of our support staff: gerbils, capybaras, and the occasional quokka on secondment.

The alcohol won’t get you drunk, the pastries won’t make you fat, but the conversation will digress, and that’s the point.

Remember to namechange before posting if you’re sometimes someone else.

I feel there’s a significant difference between That London and That There London, but I don’t know what it is.

(except that That London is what sensible people say, and That There London is a recently interloping upstart.)

Can a wise Bluestocking person help?

Now I won't be able to get Terry Kelly out of my mind when I see the unemployed maharajah.

Which won't be long, I'm sure, because it's become custom and practice in many British circles - not just left wing activism, but things like book festivals - that you have to invite Tariq along to add a little class to the occasion.

I think a similar role was played in America by Gore Vidal, whose novels are not as famous as his hair treatments.

Just caught up, and I’ve missed you all 💙.

I came to stay in a cottage by the sea a few days ago and have decided I’ll stay as long as I like.

I really wanted to wash my hair tonight but have just realised I haven’t brought any hair washing stuff with me. Will have to go to the shops tomorrow. Have been busy renovating again so I feel dirty, with bits of plaster and wallpaper clogging my pores. Can deal with the pores, but did fancy lathering my head. Sigh.

Swashy, there is something cathartic about a good hair-wash.

Enjoy the sea. It is fairly lively at the moment.

Thanks, Edith. The sea is magnificent. Bit nippy all round today.

Hello Swash, I was thinking about you today and was going to send a little wave in case you were lurking👋
Better that that, here you are and I can say Hello Swash in person...well in the Bluestocking version of 'in person'

Agreed. Bloody freezing in the north wind. I was very glad to get into the trees when walking the dogs.

Hello Marie 🙂. I liked seeing the Punk Angel further back. I was remembering the post so I could say “It was me!” but somebody else credited me further along 🙂. So pleased you liked it. I remember us discussing your vision and how we did several drafts until we arrived at that one. 🪽

Heavy snow here too, Edith. Bit lethal out there.

I used to drink in the Malbororough Arms as a teen! Consequently I've never been able to spell anywhere properly that ends in borough!

Washing up liquid? Bar of soap?

And hello

<waves at too dirty to hug Swash>

Gosh! Why wasn't it corrected?
Reminds me of the pantomime in my hometown many years ago. Cininderella...

Waves back, Boiley to avoid contaminating you.

Can’t waste the washing up liquid; I need it for stripping the wallpaper ☺️.

And I hope they weren’t charged for the two extra letters.

My Dad told me this story, he swore it happened to a man he worked with. The friend was in a pub and got chatting to this bloke. The bloke asked what he did for a living, he told him he was a yard man. The bloke went quiet, then suddenly punched my Dad's friend! He went down on the ground and the bloke bent over him and shouted, 'not so hard now are you?'

And scene.

Hello 👋 Swash!

Hello Cake.

I lovethat story. I might find myself re-telling it 🙂

No idea!

Fair!

😁

I drove through leafy bits of That London.

Hilly. Far from shops and things.

Narrow, especially when delivery vans are parked outside posh houses. I did worry about being scraped.

Got a great view of London when I drove past Ally Pally.

Lime bikes are a pain because they're just dumped places and those on them don't actually follow the rules of the road or realise they are not the only one on the road. Nothing serious but I have the dash cam footage of a complete idiot who nearly went under my wheels.

Home now. I missed not C&P the tribunal and I haven't been caught up. Assuming it's still sitting for submissions tomorrow I will be available between 11.30 and 3pm.

Hurty foot is more hurty and swollen than it was two days ago. I'm obviously still in need of rest and elevation.

And I had a good time with my friends and a great hospital appointment with a follow-up in early January and a good meeting today.

Glad to be back. Lots of pillows for elevating my back paw and a gallon of Malbec, please, Bar Gerbil.

<peels off three layers of thermal underwear, one lined waterproof trousers, two additional jumpers, one winter waterproof lined with fleece. Three pairs of thick socks, woolly fleece lined hat and scarf and gloves>

Hi everybody !!! Well that was a bracing weeks holiday on the canals of the midlands!!!

<sits by fire>

can i have a stiff Gin and tonic, and a stack of snowballs please 😁

Crikey, I bet that was cold!
Here you go, Hedgey…

We did wonder how it was going.

Someone DH knows is about to go away in a camper van for the weekend.

Me, I'm staying with the central heating.

I’m usually rather frugal with the central heating. Not this week though; I have happily become a heating spendthrift!

I tried to take the central heating with me but she clung on to her pipes and refused to go