Year: 2022

Sarnie?

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Hi, It’s been an odd week this time around. The gentle and persistent clicking of the work/life balance ratchet turning a little too far. I’m not complaining, more noticing that I seem to be working longer than I probably should. Again, I don’t say this as a ooo, aren’t I a good employee, but more about noticing how easy it is to slip into the habit of I’ll just get this done… and then it’s closer to 6.30pm than it should be. I think I’ll need to keep an eye on this. Not just for the sake of my own wellbeing, but Mrs J’s too. There’s also a risk that should I be encouraged back into the office, that productivity […]

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When they’ve finished with us

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Hi, A few months back I was writing another of those script things I do. Partly to get an idea out of my head and also for the fun of writing. The short version of it is a group of (talking) animals who have a dispute and then they invite wolves in. Now, far be it from me to discriminate against a fictional apex predator 😉 but in fiction, wolves often represent there darker sides of our nature. The idea was around arguing certain discriminatory groups – and there’s enough out there to target anyone who’s a certain race, gender, nationality, and/or sexuality – gravitate towards…. well, human wolves, frankly. A pack who will happily turn on those ‘out group’ […]

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Watching the pennies

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Hi, Ah, another long weekend. Reasons to be cheerful eh? That and a night out at Chams as well. I decided to go with an old favourite and also opaques. Partly due to the Wookie Factor, although my leg baldness seems to have remained. Not quite gone, but not quite there either. Hmm, somewhere in the middle as per 🙂 If only I coax it to quit from the ankles upwards as that would make cropped trousers and long skirts in summer easier. Biology eh? 🙂 Where was I? Oh yes, keeping warm. In an attempt to keep the electricity bill low, we’ve turned off our heaters a few weeks back. With the Spring sunshine, I’m reticent to turn them […]

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Talks

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Hi, I think I’m getting rather attached to these short working weeks 😋 More time outside walking with the hounds and the Every Lovely Mrs J. Plus, occasional sunshine and stopping for coffee. I had Thursday morning off to run an online talk. A local government organisation had got in touch with Chams a few months back and asked for a workshop. After quizzing them about their needs and hopes about the session, we agreed a two hour event and that’s helped put some money in the group’s bank account. I’m never quite sure how such things will go and there was the usual touch of middle class guilt about hoping said customers would get their money’s worth. However, such […]

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Letters to trans kids

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After seeing this over on Pink News, I thought I’d try my hand a letter. Dear friend, How’s things going? Hopefully well given all that’s going on. If not, well, yeah, life can be tough or a bit pants even. I guess the latter is ‘Old’ language when we’re trying not to say ‘shit’. 🙂 It was decades ago since I was a kid and trans stuff then is not like it is now. The language was limited and wasn’t really ours. Gay rights were still being fought for. Indeed, the parallel between a hostile government trying to stop children from finding out about being gay (hello Section 28), and where we are now with trans teens. The same old […]

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The short week

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Hi, If you listen carefully, you might hear the soft sound of contentment. The mythical four day week that lets us recharge and enjoy time away from the red tape machines. For yours truly, it’s been shorter than that, as I booked Thursday of as well. Given the Ever Lovely Mrs J is signed off ill, both children are off – and I am still getting used to Wee Man’s university schedule – it seemed a good idea to have a family lunch out. Talking of Mrs J, we had some good news from the medical experts, so fingers crossed things are going in the right direction now. She’s clearly not 100% yet. However, as after going out, she fell […]

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