Hi,
Ah, hello Bank Holiday weekend, half-term, and a cheeky non-working Friday to set things up….. and relax. 😎
Bags of Sugar
When it comes to describing my mental health, my go to reference is bags of sugar. I guess we can all relate to the physical weight and bulk of said kilogramme item. Perhaps I’ve taken the phrase “mental heavy lifting” a little too literally.
So, that waffle preamble aside – mmmm, waffles 🐖 – I’ve had the good fortune to work towards putting a few down of late. I guess this is a long winded way of saying I feel less overloaded 😉 But, hey, if I’d given a TL/DR (too long / didn’t read), we’d have missed out on thinking about waffles.
Ah, sometimes it’s the journey, not the destination….
…unless, of course, you’re very hungry and walking to a shop that sells waffles. Still, hunger is the best sauce and walking back will burn off a few calories.
Focus, Lynn! 😜
Yeah, so having less of those proverbial weights to lug around is proving to be very freeing. Yes, there are some I can’t put down and that’s okay. The duties around being a parent and a carer, and I do not say those with any negativity. I feel very blessed for having the Ever Lovely Mrs J, Wee Man, and Child 2.0 in my life. Yes, there’s adulting stuff that needs to be done to support them, and it’s absolutely not a chore. Likewise helping out at Chams is something that energises me and I feel I’m doing something positive. Maybe even pushing back against some of the cr*p trans folk are having to put up with at the mo.
The no-so-nice bags around poor body image, stressing over work, and Wookie Pins I’ve been happy to let go. When I get up in the morning or get changed, I don’t have that ‘ick’ feeling. Yes, I’m still a 50 something or so tubbyish man, but at least how things look now, they’re better than they were. Small mercies.
So yeah, my mind still runs quick – when I’ve not nodded off 😴 – but it’s no longer the banging & crashing of bricks in a tumbler. More the gentle hum & white, and I’ll take that as a win. Fingers crossed this continues through the summer and the rest of the year.
Project Tango
In an effort to look a little less Celtic Milk Bottle – y’know, where folk get more tanned because I reflect sunlight on to them 😁 – I’ve -ahem- experimented with some self tanning drops. They are quite subtle so you need to build up through mixing with moisturiser.
I’m pleased with the results and my skin certainly feels nicer too. It’s helped even out the whiteness of my upper arms and on my legs too. Plus, I’m not orange which is certainly a win 😁
Chams Stuff
To have a wee break from household chores, I started the mini PC and updated the website’s Contact Us GDPR settings. I know, so rock n roll, huh? 😉 Necessary, though, and thanks to Susie for suggestions on improving it.
I also started a new page on the history of the group. After working with CJ on their LGBTQ+ history book for Nottingham, I was struck how much of Chams’ past is handed down by word of mouth. As people come and go, through age and otherwise, we begin to lose bits of that shared knowledge. So it goes with long running community groups, I guess.
To that end, I’ve rattled off a quick page on it and asked the group if they’ve got any suggestions to improve that. I started going back in the mid 2000s, and Tracey & Sandy were organising, bless them. I’m aware the group has been going since the late 70s, so filling in some of those gaps would be good. Likewise adding in the arrival of Nottingham Invasion and related community events.
Night Out
A slightly late departure by Yours Truly due to the requirement of a Dad Nap post work. That helped recharge the metaphorical batteries and a nice warm shower felt quite the luxury before heading out.
I had overpacked because of the weather, my cluelessness around mix & match, and the slight worry around legs as I’m between waxing appointments. I did do a quick epilatory tidy up of my knees midweek, as they seemed to be working towards reWookying. Okay, not that bad, but it’s just got to go.
I had two new tops and two new skirts. Now, I had tried all of them on as they arrived during the week, but not together. So, concerned they might not go, I then put in a fallback option…. which meant different shoes, ‘cos reasons.
Anyway, all worry was for naught as I was pleased with how things went together. Funny, I’ve tried fitted t-shirts from a number of my usual go to shops, but they’ve been too thin, too clingy, or felt cheap. However, the Amazon Basics were anything but that and felt like good cotton top from back in the day. Lucky find, I guess!
I did try some new shapewear but found it too hot, so it had to come off. Luckily, it being a hook & eye waspie, that wasn’t a major faff. It certainly did the job in terms of holding me in shape. The skirt was in the sale from Roman and really pleased with the pretty pattern & fit.
We had a few returning not-so-new folk which is always good to see (Hello K 👋🏻). Also a new person who’s just found the group. Caught up with Jayne, Stevie, Diane, and Val.
I also signed Izzy’s Deed Poll for her. To save you having to bribe her for my address, it’s 23 Railway Cuttings, East Cheam. There you go, Sue, another modern reference 😉 Funnily enough, that’s the first Deed Poll I’ve signed for anyone at the group. I felt quite privileged, so thank you Izzy! 🩷
Everything seemed to go very well and the group gave a round of applause to a regular who’s recently gone full time at work 🏳️⚧️ Again, more good news.
So, a really good way to lead into the holiday weekend. Housework is done, garden under control, and Child 2.0 gets a week off from exams. Good stuff indeed.
I guess the only thing remaining, is to dispel the ghost of Imelda Marcos who’s stashed nine pairs of shoes in my size under the bed. I best go put them upstairs with the rest 🤭
L x