The Bluestocking Women’s Pub: definitely full of ludicrous halfwits who refuse to get a grip (with unionised gerbils)

[MyrtleLion]

Welcome to The Bluestocking: convivial by design, opinionated in the best way, generously stocked with excellent food and drink that complies with whatever it’s meant to comply with, and any calories, gluten or alcohol are entirely virtual.

Staffed by impeccably trained, unfailingly polite gerbils who run a tight bar with plenty of enthusiasm and good intentions. Quick with the drinks, but terrible spillers spellers and liable to turn an idle thought on existential existence into a full blown musical with Busby Berkeley routines. You have been warned.

All women welcome, just in case that isn't obvious. Men can go to The Staunch Ally round the corner.

Previous thread here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5477133-the-bluestocking-your-local-womens-pub-warm-friendly-and-not-at-all-unusual-in-any-way

There are many hand dyers in the UK who buy their undyed yarn from the same places and then dye it, but I don’t think that’s what you mean.

I can’t remember the names of the wholesalers, but I know someone who will if you’d like me to ask.

It was website that told you that (made up example) Sirdar Baby Blossom was from the same factory as Sunflower Yarns Fiesta

Please don't apologise. I love A House Through Time, but had no idea there's a new series after a gap of several years, so I'm delighted you mentioned it. Now on my iPlayer watchlist.

I've seen that but a blanket is two dimensional and can be seen on the back...

There’s a poster on X who talks about the achievements of women, historical mostly but some contemporary too. She has featured some fascinating accounts. Lily Craven, who posts as @TheAttagirls.Some military, trade unionists, civil rights - all sorts. I’ve not encountered her on other social media but she may well do.

FuzzyPuffling your patchwork is beautiful! So many talented crafty people here. I haven’t knitted in around 5 years since I had a frozen shoulder. But as we found out very recently that we have a grandbaby on the way 😊☺️🍾, I may yet try a little cardigan!

I've stopped pasting. I was getting cross with the same shit being asked - where's your evidence that people can't change sex etc. And it was a lot of work for five hours a day when I'm feeling overwhelmed.

And I had a call about becoming a charity chair which went well but I wondered if I had the time, energy and effort to do it. They were talking about trial periods and visits and ultimately the role is unpaid. I felt like it was another extended job interview. And felt overwhelmed and the thought of resuming pasting felt too much.

I think I just have too much going on with my health still.

Myrtle, you have had a terrible year. Very wise to try to slow down for a while.

Sounds lovely, but needs more cake. Or booze. Or both.

'Tea' embraces cake (biscuits, scones, apple tarts, sweeties, etc etc etc) but not booze (it's a morning event).

Oh and coffee, herbal tea, squash for the young . . .

Maybe we need green tea, that seems to be a thing all of a sudden.

I must buy a good quality gluten-free cake as well as some bics.

And in other news, this rural area is yet another neighbour down, fifth funeral since mid-December, that is too many.

Good Heavens!, this thread has really got away from me today. Apart from diving in with a suggestion for books about female SOE operatives, it's taken me most of the afternoon to catch up, as well as keeping up with the TT transcripts (is there something in the water in Fife that makes them staff their public institutions and large companies with complete idiots? (let alone their legal representatives!). Another excellent day's work Myrtle and you should not feel the least bit guilty about finishing a tad early today. I would be tying myself in knots if I tried it. You can't do everything and after the few months you've had, you still need to give yourself time to recover properly.

I'm only an occasional knitter and have no aptitude for other crafts, but I'm in complete awe at the work other Bluestockingers are doing and have loved seeing the results of your labours 🙂

Much of my reading these days is historical, with a particular interest in women's stories. I read a lot of books during lockdown on the SOE women and felt they were very let down by their seniors in London. Maurice Buckmaster, the head of SOE, made decisions that lead directly to the capture and death of more then one agent.

At the moment I'm re-reading a memoir of another war called A Week at Waterloo, the account of Magdalene, Lady De Lancey, who nursed her husband, Colonel Sir William Howe De Lancey, who was fatally injured during the battle in June 1815. It is written as a series of letters to her brother back in Scotland and it is hard to imagine the conditions that she would have endured, even as the wife of an officer. At the time she had just turned 22 and had been married less than 3 months.

@MyrtleLion wrote
I've seen that but a blanket is two dimensional and can be seen on the back...

That’s true, but the back is rarely seen, even on things like blankets used in a baby buggy.
I’m not clever enough to weave in my ends invisibly.
Consider the seam as a decorative feature. Because of the way it fits I’m currently considering whether to return a Bella Freud x M&S cashmere jumper where the shoulder seams (only) are on the outside. £140 reduced to £41.

Some Debbie Abrahams knitters back their blankets. It makes them warmer, and you don’t have to weave your ends at all.

Do an envelope border. Maybe?

I'd love to go! - but Plymouth is quite a distance.
I also long to visit a gallery near Inverness featuring many Scottish artists. Choices, choices ...

@AuntieMsDamsonCrumble Colonel Sir William Howe De Lancey is a fantastic name! I aspire to retire as Professor Dame Magpiecomplex.

You're not that Dr Dame Katy Denise, are you?

Unfortunately not. I've got the Dr bit sorted, but the Dame has so far eluded me.

I've somehow missed the SOE discussion. Has Sarah Helm (author) been mentioned? And Elizabeth Nicholas's 'Death Be Not Proud'?

I bought Tracey-Ann Knight's 'Women Warriors' at the Tank Musem last year - must start it. It's about various women who disguised themselves as men so as to go off & fight.

God I love her!! I’m thinking of donating some chairs…

Would the gerbils donate a few spares from the BlueStocking Arms?

DS just got his 3rd uni offer. Best get knitting…

I remember one woman saying that they would collect any plane & fly it - without ever having been trained on it. Astonishing! Another said she radio'd the airfield she was about to land at only to be told (because they heard a woman's voice) to get off the radio because they had someone more important coming in to land. She said, "No, that'll be me."

PS why do I only get ads for retirement villages, cruises and funeral plans? Surely they would be better advertising yarn and sewing patterns. And maybe booze and tunnocks?

I'm getting ads for (quite expensive) woollen scarves. But I think that's because I've been searching for pure wool fabrics on my phone, because reasons.

I know! Why not yarn, kittens & chocolate? I do like the French property ones, though. I click through on most of those & if they'd only let me win the Euromillions I'd buy one or two, which would give MN a few pennies in commision or something.

BTW, Elizabeth Nicholas was a schoolfriend of one of the SOE agents who was killed, & not long after the war she set about unearthing her story & that of other female SOE agents.