The Bluestocking: it's the season of mulled wine, conversations about pineapple and, of course, gerbils. Confused? You will be...

[EdithStourton]

Welcome to the anarchic and marvellous women-only on-line pub, the Bluestocking. The booze won't give you a hangover, the cakes won't make you fat, and the conversations are fascinating, covering knitting, health and safety, the Muppets and anything else that comes to mind.

Climb Peak Woo, have a cuddle with Rosie the Red Panda, and watch out for capybaras busy with any necessary building works.

Welcome in (and name change at the door if you need too).

< glugs Madeira on way back to bed>

<takes Boiled a hot water bottle>
<tucks her in>
Bad luck. There's a lot going round...

<sniffs>

<coughs>

<poorly voice>

Thank you Edith. Much appreciated.

ACHOOO

Much and sympathy.

@Boiledbeetle a hot toddy?

Ah yes! I have heard that some cattle in Austria and Switzerland have the same sort of legs. They wear cow bells to alert the farmer when they fall over

Hope the medication worked.

A large one please.

<does poorly pitiful face>

Not to be confused with fainting goats.
im sure you’ve all seen them on YouTube but a reminder that they’re really not ideal for goat yoga
https://youtube.com/shorts/W3dC25d8WWA?si=w1B4r55-5o0GNIJB

I've burnt my bagel

Waaaaaahhh.

<stomps back to bed with a gerbil under each arm>

It’s still making my mouth water.
Is that plate one you specially use when you’re poorly and what you really need is a mummy to tend to your needs?
(‘a mummy’ doesn’t have to be your own mother. Someone to give you hot drinks, a cuddle, tissues etc and sing you to sleep if you want.)

I have a tendency to drop my plate going from Point A to Point B. In the end I bought a job lot of cheap tatty teddy plastic plates. Not particularly grown up plates but at least they bounce rather than shatter when they hit the floor.

Despite the burnt bit of bagel the bacon and stilton bagel was delicious.

Germonleen has volunteered to play mother to me today. If you see her running around like an idiot she'll be most likely looking for yet another box of tissues.

I thought of 'Have more Madeira M'dear..' too.

Although I haven't heard it in decades and don't know all the words, I had a recollection that the Madeira was not being offered to the young woman to share a love of Madeira..

A thread about finding a brand name for a vegan/veggie food company tangentially set me off on a different F&S earworm. Anyone want to guess?

I like a bit of crunch so you bagel looks tasty, to me. And bacon and Stilton too! Sorry you’re poorly…

I’ll be doing a lot of driving today; long trip there and long trip back tonight. Might see you all later, depending. 🙂

Bagel plate...what is drawn on the plate to the left of the bagel?

Dunno, but I read that thread in an Australian accent, so possibly anything by Kylie.

Sorry boily that you are poorly <mops Beatle brow> <hands over plate of snowballs>

Fuzzy, you have a filthy mind...
Shocked, I tell you. Shocked.

Is Madeira like port in improving with age? If so I have an unopened bottle brought back from a holiday there with my sister 15 years ago, which should add to the festive spirit this Christmas. 🍷

Here you are, Marie.

NotAtMyAge - I think if it’s decent stuff then yes it does. Certainly one Christmas I was given a 15 year old bottle (like whisky is done by years if that makes sense?) and it was delicious! Didn’t last very long. I had to give up booze for a few months, Madeira was the only thing I craved!

Having found the thread, you rather gave it away! Not that I can remember what it's actually called. The Horn Concerto one. Can't hear it on Classic FM without singing along!

I very much hope no gerbils or pandas here ended up in this state last night.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8jnxxm70jo

That’s the one - “Ill Wind”. I used to know all the words. Yes, it does mean it’s impossible to listen to that concerto without ‘hearing’ them. Like not being able to listen to Jupiter from The Planets without ‘I Vow to Thee my Country’ intruding, but more fun.
Anyway that’s the only time I’d heard the word Quorn before DH started working near the vats it was made in. Quite how a village name associated with hunting came to be used for this foodstuff eludes me.

Hahahaha! I've been saying that for decades. Just go for it.💙

There are 2 different versions of F&F, one smooth & one ridged. I'm doing the smooth one. Will take a pic later - I think the effect is good for not much effort.