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

Hurrah! May this be the start of a beautiful new life full (&I mean FULL) of yarn!

I have just spent a ridiculous amount of money of vegetable seeds and seed potatoes for the coming year. I had a couple of spuds in a container last year and they were so delicious I've decided to do a great bunch of them this time - I hope I don't end up regretting it like the Great Jerusalem Artichoke Mistake of 2015. I was digging the buggers up for seven years!

I am also hoping all 30 garlics grow well, and the 20 shallots, both of which I planted in October. We go through so much of it and it's nicer when it's fresh. I'm hoping to expand the basil patch this year after last September's holiday in Liguria eating all things pesto.

I have lost my yarn mojo at the minute and I wish I could find it again. I probably left it the back of a taxi, along with my self restraint.

Start with cat blankets, @RumNotRun. They’re small & the cats don’t mind if they come out looking a bit weird.

I had no idea rhododendrons were so dodgy. I suppose it fits in with their having such an ominous sounding name though.

Ah. I let’s not shorten that name as it’s only one letter away from my previous surname, the one I inherited from my parents. No guessing, please. ❤️

I knew this place was a den of iniquity and bad influences.
Yes, true, but also attentive and entertaining barGerbils and excellent company.

If anyone is normally free on Monday lunchtimes you might like to sign up to one or more of an interesting series of (free) Zoom meetings. I don’t want to say more here, but would be happy to via PM.

I am very sorry to have to miss this Monday’s, but will be out for* lunch for the first time within my very short memory.

*for, not to

She might also have to take a crash course in soil science😁
And tractors.

@PastaAllaNorma I was led astray by the seed display at the agricultural suppliers when I was last in there buying dog food. Apparently I will be growing butternut squash this year, which, if it succeeds, will mean a lot of soup.

B&B enjoyed their afternoon walk. We went about 4 miles, and they spent the penultimate stretch pointing and flushing whatever they could find. Which turned out to be a brace of partridges, a brace of hen pheasants, and one very loud cock bird who took off in full 'F!!! WTF!!' mode.

It was Batshit who found the brace of hens (dim as she is, her nose is excellent). Brains rushed over to 'back' her, and they did a very neat job of work - and didn't hoon off in pursuit of the low-flying birds either. Watching two dogs work together is always a little bit wonderful.

They were Very Good Dogs who 100% deserved the leftovers that DH had added to their dinner.

@PastaAllaNorma wrote I have just spent a ridiculous amount of money of vegetable seeds and seed potatoes for the coming year.

It’s an INVESTMENT and will return back to you a hundredfold (quoting from somewhere) in produce, healthy exercise and good reasons to grump when you have to go out in the cold and wet to care for and harvest them.

This isn't the first time that Stockingers have found out that they have connections to the same place, in fact I think once or twice they may even have been there at the same time!

Don't get too precise about your current location, Rum, you know what online is like🙄
For example, I live somewhere east of the Shannon, at a point where the recent Northern Lights could be seen over Dublin city, and that's as precise as I'll get.

Isn't it lovely that we are all within strolling distance of the Bluey?😄

Are you sure they don't mind?😾 And is it wise to risk it?😱

Well, none of my fosters seemed to object…

Also, Kitty loves wrestling with or sitting on a couple of very small blankets that I started & never finished.

I have found that cats aren't that fussy about blankets, and it can be a handy way of getting more use out of yon jumper with all the holes in it that you're ashamed to wear these days. If it's warm and smells lived in, cats will like it.

You may be concentrating on sewing these days, Fuzzy, but your knitting skills are not in doubt - remember when you knitted these lovely warm outfits for all the family? 😄

[recycled image from a previous thread]

Oh, don't we all look smart? I think we might be setting up a sea shanty group here!

I have to say Norwalk CT is not a place to visit in winter since anything of interest to us appears to be closed. It’s not that we’re here to sight-see - I’m taking part in a poetry reading this afternoon- but we had a free morning and half the afternoon but an expedition from the hotel proved fruitless and it’s too cold for a walk (-7 or thereabouts if the wind isn’t hitting you).

There will be oodles of veg - asparagus, cos lettuce, red lettuce, rocket, spinach, radishes, chillies, sweet peppers, aubergines, three types of tomatoes, french beans, borlotti beans, peas, sprouts, cavolo nero, cucumbers for eating and for pickling, courgettes, squash, red onions, shallots, spring onions, parsley, basil, greek oregano - lots of stuff.

Good luck at the poetry reading, Britinme - at last,* *something worth going to in Norwalk CT, I hope the locals appreciate you!

I hope it all goes well, @Britinme

Adding mine to the good wishes for @Britinme this afternoon.

Aww thank you folks. I will report back later.

Bugger! I have a lurgy. Please may I have a mug of lemsip, honey, hot water and whisky? It won't cure me but I will fall comfortably asleep.

Sympathy, @JanesLittleGirl. I’ve just recovered from the lurgy. I hope yours doesn’t last long.

yes they do!

Oooh. Those colours are gorgeous - I’d have had to succumb to that yarn too.

welcome to YACK (Yarn Addicts Club for Knitters.. and crocheters LOL)

I’d be interested? Mondays are great for me as youngest sprog is at college 9-5!

Fingers crossed it’s a great event. 🤞