Hi,
How’s things? Hopefully going well and if not, fingers crossed they will be soon enough 🤞
Blah blah blah
A few months back I cancelled my subscription to a well known newspaper. Not completely due to price rises but because of their blindspot around giving a platform to discrimate towards trans folk.
/S But, y’know, let’s face it; if there’s one minority who need bring down a peg or two; it’s those pesky trans people. Walking around, just being themselves, trying to get on in life, and wanting the same rights as others – like, say; employment, medical rights, body autonomy, to not being murdered – it’s insane isn’t it? 🙄
With the return of the monkey king to a remote part of the world, I’m wondering if there’s a browser extension that can block the howling and poo throwing contests that will no doubt follow. Right now, I don’t want to know. It’s not like I can influence anything and frankly, I don’t have the emotional spoons to be handling that level of filth.
But, what I can do, is try to look after those close to me: family, friends, and community. To that end, I’ve been trying my best to work with our (newly elected) MP and tURn hIm too teh wHoke agenduh offer to answer any questions, plus share appointments where trans organisations are meeting in Westminster.
That and do what I can at Chams to keep things on an even keel, as well as looking out for folk who come along. It may not fix the world, but I think you have to what you can do.
With that in mind, I’m expanding the mental health circles model. Typically, that would be matters I can control, things I might influence (but cannot control), and the outer zone: stuff that I push to a level of concern because I can’t change them. However, zone four is now ‘get in the bin’ 😏
Witty and/or observant folk will notice that I’ve not used circles to show the above model. If you have any snarky comments, feel free to pass along to my developer colleagues, Dev Null or Don o’Treply 😏 There’s two puns for you: one for the deep geeks and another for the R4 anagram massive. Don’t say I don’t spoil you 😁
Chams
A busy evening this time around which makes for an eventful meeting and means we’re not twiddling our thumbs trying to drum up conversation! 🙂
I had a slight wardrobe wobble on not being able to decide what to wear. Thank you Ann for your support and suggestions ❤️. I think I will leave the denim dress for when I’ve got the right top…. and when I’ve lost a bit more weight around my middle. I did pack a fall back – my cat tunic and a long-ish top from Roman. The latter won out.
The good news is that I felt good in how the outfit had come together and the boots, while heeled, were comfortable. I was happy with how my make-up went – which helps with the old self acceptance – and a new attendee was kind enough to compliment me on the latter, bless them. All I’m saying is it’s been a long road to learning and it ain’t over yet 😁
Next thing to sort is fixing my new hip pads to some shorts, so they don’t roam. But on the positive, I was less warm given the need for less shapewear.
Talking of the latter, the lack of bread is helping reduce feelings of bloating, even if I am missing it with soup and snacks. Still, more fruit is not a bad thing given vitamin C and fibre.
Val was kind enough to give me a hand with some of the paperwork for the room hire. Hopefully we’re now on top of our insurance documentation requirements and the bookings for 2025. Larks, 2025 – a proper futuristic date 🙂
We had a handful of new visitors from another group which was cool. We also started to sort out the Christmas Fuddle – pretty much ‘bring a dish to share’ – for our last meeting of the year.
L x
‘Fuddle’. Is that a northern word Lynn? Context suggests something like muddle- as in everyone muddling in.
Nice outfit for Chams. It looks well on you. And, conversely, you look well in it.
I will assume that your graphic is a slice (sector) though the mental health circles diagram rather than reporting you to the Trigonometry Police for mixing circles and triangles. (I’m sure there’s some sort of metaphor lurking in there, but it’s escaping me.) It also reminds of that saying, “God grant me the strength to change what I can change…..” that used to adorn student and Yuppie walls in the 1980s.
There is a browser extension that can block the howling and poo throwing, by the way. It’s marked with a little X in the top right corner. Use wisely.
I think I’ve found the wee red x during a few online calls this week. Oddly, it seems to end the meeting very quickly. 😁 Other than that, top advice, madam!
(Psst: A little bird told me that Detrumpify is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge)
Sorry about the slang – or if you’re a fan of Blazing Saddles, “authentic frontier gibberish” 😁 – I think Fuddle is a Notts/Derby word. I’d not heard it in the Shire – sorry, Lincolnshire.
The Visit Notts website defines a fuddle as ‘an indoor picnic’. Close enough, although I’ve never had one sat on the floor. I think the key thing is that folk all bring a dish or drinks to share with everyone.
I lost my patience with trying to draw concentric circles and reusing from t’interwebs seemed a bit cheeky. So it’s the – [ rereads your comment ] – sector, yes 😉
Thanks for the kind words about the outfit. My calves are aching a bit from the stretch in heels.
Love the look very much, Lynn – very contemporary and cool.
Glad Chams is thriving. In crazy times, I’m sure it provides a beacon of hope and relative stability.
I am mulling over the state of the USA and I am mellowing towards an attitude that it might actually be better for the world in the long run if the USA had less influence, military, political, cultural and environmental. They seem to have caused themselves a retreat that no-one else could achieve. However, we’ll have to see just how bonkers it really turns out to be come January. I’m betting on Stupendously Bonkers but I could be swayed by Gibberingly Maniacal or Braincrackingly Doltish, or the more down-to-earth Whackjob Central or just plain Gimme Strength. It’s a tough choice.
Have a nice weekend.
Sue x
Thank you, Sue. The top was long enough to cover and yet short so I felt it fitted the the modern ‘leggings as troos’ vibe.
As to Chams, I count my blessings around having the group near. Even when things are a bit pants, I can rely on friends old and new to lift my spirits 🩷 That and I feel that the group helps others – and that’s absolutely a team effort.
As to what happens next overseas, I’m hoping for inept and ranty.
Sounds like a good night. Loving the outfit choice, by the way, very in my wheelhouse that look. And I’m not just saying that because I’m jealous of the ‘do and boots!
I, too, am avoiding the States at present.
A good night indeed, thank you. Do you think you might be able to make the Xmas Do in December? No pressure and be good if you could.
Thanks for the kind words about the outfit. I did feel very comfortable in it. Mind you, I guess I’m not used to that exact level of boot heel – even though these weren’t high – as my calves (not the mooing type 😁) made themselves known the next day. 🙂
Yes, the absolute state of the States. Indeed. Populist rhetoric, control of the (social) media, fear in the free press, and open threats; where have I seen that before? 😉 Ah, I’m sure it’ll all blow over…. Must remember to pay my subscription to Vault-Tec 😉
I am well aware of the bias in some news sources, Daily Wail, Daily Torygraph etc. But you might want to checkout https://ground.news/ to find out the real source of a story and which part of the Political spectrum is pushing things
Thanks Anon. I’ve had a look through the site and they’re pulling data from some very sketchy sources, IMO. I think I’ll stick with C4’s fact checking, Snopes, et al for now.
If you’re curious about the source of some activities in the media, Hope Not Hate and The Good Law Project do their best to uncover the money trail.
Thanks Anon. I’ve had a look through the site and they’re pulling data from some very sketchy sources, IMO. I think I’ll stick with C4’s fact checking, Snopes, et al for now.
If you’re curious about the source of some activities in the media, Hope Not Hate and The Good Law Project do their best to uncover the money trail.
Snoop and co make fact check items, but Ground news is attempting to report the political ideology of a news source. Sometimes this can be very important.
But each to their own, I like the truth, but I do not like the rose tinted filter that some news sources put on their items,
Yes, I think I can see how that might be useful to know.
TBH, I kinda tuned out when they started to post and source check the UFO abduction stories. 🙄
The truth is not out there 😉