Hi,
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a nesh* person in possession of cold feet, must be in want of slippers, and ideally: a heated pad and fuzzy blanket.
As the Ever Lovely Mrs J points out, it’s more efficient to heat the person than the whole room. This also means less on the ‘leccy bill and I can avoid getting the open fire going. As much as I love a wood fire, I know the particulates are not good for the planet or people.
I will confess to currently being cosy, given the recent purchase of knitted slipper boots, and I’m tucked up under a throw with a heated pad on my back. I’ve just finished a steaming mug of spiced tea, and over on the fireplace, a scented winter candle flickers warmly.
The only worry I have now, is the Chewbacca level of rumbling and gurgling of a nearby hound’s stomach…. and worryingly, not from hunger. So, if the post cuts out halfway, you’ll know the candle has ignited something 🤪
The Quietening
This last few weeks I’ve noticed a drop off in the background noise around gender grumbles. Sadly not the guff & huff of opinion trying to identify as a news (see what I did there? 🙃). But, and I feel this is positive, that personal tick tick tick crackle squeak of the proverbial trans Geiger counter dropping.
There’s certain times of the year where that noise is too loud. Certainly my fellow bloggers Sue and Lotte have commented on this just recently and here was I thinking: they’re getting that, but oddly, I’m not. Which – I feel I need to add – does not diminish their experiences or feelings; only that in it getting a mention, I wondered why I’m not?
It could be luck or my dose is late in the post 😉 Maybe the cooler weather and being able to mix ‘n match a bit helps too? Certainly opaques under my jeans help on cold walks with the hounds. I’ve yet to find a bloke thermal vest, that’s a snug as a cotton bodysuit. Also, they’re easier to layer with tops and shirts.
Plus, colder climate means less of my body is visible, so I don’t have that background noise of anyone picking up my painted toes, smooth pins, and I can attend to my arm hair as time permits.
In early autumn I had a few trips and they really helped me ground myself. Just a few hours behind out & about seemed to help settle me somehow. It’s been a month or so – or so it feels 🤔 – and I’m okay as I am. I’m not feeling that push to make the time and get out.
Whatever is causing the new contentment, long may it continue! 🤞
Changes to Chams site
With some time on my hands today, I had chance to pick up on a few digital tasks that needed work.
I think I mentioned last time that I’d updated YATGB’s Getting in Touch form, given that Google are looking to start charging for their anti-bot reCAPTCHA system. While the Nottingham Chameleons’ site doesn’t have comments, we do have a few contact forms, so and update was required.
While there I noticed the ‘How to access the forum’ page and finding Chams HQ was looking a bit higgledy-piggledy – not great if it’s your first time to a site, IMO.
That was ninety minutes well spent in tidying up the navigation menus, merging pages, and polishing up the content. Hopefully that will make it easier for folk now.
Chams
Talking of the group, it was that time again. I’m not quite sure what happened to cause a huge traffic jam last night, but I decided to employ some local yokel knowledge, and get around via the country lanes. That added a bit of time to the journey, but I didn’t have to sit & wait, nor was I too behind schedule to set up for the night.
I’d bought a new jumper dress – well, new to me – given -ahem- I’ve put some weight on around my tum 🙁 That’ll be the chocolate and snacks during the evening, you silly moo. 🙄 Luckily my cat print number from Joe Browns still fits, although that’s more a tunic, and I wanted something more dress length. Ah, the curse of being six foot eh? Good for reaching shelves, not so great when it comes to regular clothing. Still, could be worse! 😁
The new dress fitted okay once I’d put some shapewear on too flatten things down a bit. Given the length, I was pleased to mix things up from the usual, and go with opaques rather than leggings. Just nice to have a change, I guess! 🩷
We had a right old chat about all sorts of things. The changing history of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire; gentrification of towns on the mainline; laughing at orange idiots; what folk are enjoying (TV, gaming, books); the history of tanks; welcoming new folk; the plans for the Xmas ‘Do, what we do at the group; and the tidy up on the forum of unused accounts. Oh, and trying to rearrange the visit from a local stylist and colour expert too.
Take care,
L x
“It’s more efficient to heat the person than the whole room”. Mrs J is a person of infinite wisdom and should be running the country. I am also lowering my utility bills by wearing warmer clothes indoors this winter. It’s simpler, cheaper and there’s no excuse not to these days with crazy gas prices and worldwide climate issues.
As for the hound’s stomach and connected conflagration risks, I think we’d rather not know. There’s no need to update us about the status of your dog’s flatus apparatus.
The dress is lovely and works well with your figure. Good choice of tights and footwear giving overall a cosy autumn look.
Sue xx
Thankfully it was all mouth and no trouser. We live to write another day 😉 I’m currently being kept warm by a snuggly – and silent – hound, so it’s not all bad news.
Thanks for the kind words about the outfit. Nice to make a change to something more casual & everyday, I think. I nearly went with wool tights, but preferred the opaque look at the last minute.
I did get some festive dark pink opaques with a sort of Fairisle style pattern. They’re rather vibrant and I think they’d need to go with a plain top and denim shirt. Might be too much otherwise! 🤪
Hi Lynn,
Your cosy winter setup sounds absolutely perfect, slipper boots, a heated pad, spiced tea, and a flickering candle is pretty much the ideal way to survive the colder days!
What you wrote about the “quietening” really resonated with me. That background hum around gender can shift so much with seasons and circumstances. I’ve felt something similar lately.
I’m glad your recent trips out helped ground you, and that sense of contentment sounds wonderful. Long may it last.
The Chams updates sound great, those little improvements make such a difference for anyone finding their way for the first time.
As usual lovey outfit photo.
Take care,
Lotte x
I think cosy is the way to go when the weather turns and the afternoons darken early. Embrace the hygge! (“hoo-ger”) ♥️
Feeling less… of a live wire, I guess, is a good thing. To be able to feel that you’re not ‘panic dressing’ or ‘outfit seeking’ because whatever you do, doesn’t seem to help. Yeah, it’s good to be a long way from either of those ne’er-do-wells. They are so draining. Ugh.
Being out of feels quite the gift and time to be savoured if at all possible, IMO.
Thanks for the props on the site and the outfit choice. Felt quite relaxed, even if I could feel my lippy disappearing during the evening. Oh the humanity! 😉
The whole setup at the start made me want to grab a blanket and a mug myself. I’m right there with you on the colder months. Layers make everything easier. Tights, bodysuits, sweaters, all of it. It’s the one time of year where I feel like I can just settle into myself a bit more without thinking so hard about what’s showing. (Though admittedly, I do NOT like the cold…)
Colder weather does mean you’re less likely to overheat, mind…. Even if the wind is a touch bracing 😁 Bracing as in “brave yourselves, winter is coming” 😉
You have my sympathy on the canine front. Ours got me up at 5 this morning and, as he’s getting on a bit, you fear for the worst.
But no. He wanted to go out and woof at the owls debating their parliamentary business in the oak trees across the road. He does have a thing about flying things, especially rooks and pigeons, although he has been known to have a go at low-flying aircraft. Military ones I don’t mind, but private helicopters do my nut and quite frankly I’d be out there barking at them with the dog if I thought I could get away with it!
Oh, doggos do love to have a wander and a woof, don’t they? Luckily, our lot are very good at sleeping through. One of our previous hounds, not so much, bless him.
The owls sound lovely – unless it’s the scream of a barn owl, rather than the hooting of tawnies and the like.
Private helicopters? Is that Wee Richie Sunak spending his wife’s millions? 😉
Ironically, we have a former PM nearby but this one ‘only’ has a ‘shepherd’s hut’…
Honesty, around here it’s not just second (and third) homes, it’s mansions. And for that gilded few, perhaps the helicopter’s a must-have because Range Rovers are all a bit common!
Perhaps there’s one upside to it all getting a bit cosmopolitan around here though. The other week, nobody batted an eyelid as I walked back to my vehicle barefoot as I’d forgotten to take sandals when I got my nails done!
“No shoes? No, I’m wearing SpraySoles. They let you feel the path and the grass under your feet, but without the hurt. It’s the latest thing in Far Asia….” 😉
I had to look up nesh, being a soft poncey southerner, but yes, exactly. And thick woolly socks. I haven’t quite gone as far as those sock-slipper combos but maybe it’s only a matter of time.
While I’m also with Mrs J on heating the person first , there’s a point where I have to agree with L that sitting in a cold room to save three quid on heating while spending the same amount of treats is a weird set of priorities. So we compromise and only heat the room when we’re in it for the evening, which can sometimes make going into the hall or kitchen akin to an polar expedition.
Background gender noise is a personal unpredictable thing. I’m glad you’re feeling a respite. Being at home this last week with a full closet and little or no opportunity – mainly weather related, or a general feeling of ‘bleugh’ when faced with the thought of having to strip off three dozen layers in a cold bedroom to change – hasn’t helped.
The Chams dress looks super comfy.
The slippers have been sent back as I feel for the classic blunder: believing the on-line sizing! 🙄 So they’ve been sent back for a swap. 🤞
Apologies for the slang. Sometimes I forget how much it peppers our speech….. she says, adding a further colloquialism 🙃
Yeah, the ‘person not the room’ needs a bit of balance. Perhaps like everything in life? 🤔 As to your comment on a polar expedition to make tea, our last house – a new one, at that! – was perishing! 🥶 I blame the big hallway that bisected the whole house with big stairs and a landing. It cooled down very quickly. I rather prefer our older property’s design of thick walls, a smaller hall, and bigger rooms.
I hope things warm up for you and the weather is better suited for a trip out.
PS: Thanks for the comment on the dress. It was the right side of warm and comfy.
Looks like everyone is feeling the cold at the moment and wondering whence feelings come. It is interesting to see how these things pan out across the interwebs!
Glad you have found some contentment and a place where you can heat yourself rather than a room to your heart’s content!
Some folk seem to be feeling the chill, Joanna; yet a resilient few hang on in shorts or running leggings. Maybe they’ve topped up on ReadyBrek? 🙂
Fab jumper dress, really need to find some more but vinted is not fun at the moment with the size debacle.
I am another who had to google nesh ! – AI seemed to suggest the people of South Yorkshire use it more than the West, so perhaps why.
Hoping to get along to the next Chams, assuming all goes to plan !
Thanks for the kind comment on the dress, and you’re not wrong about the Vinted sizing debacle. What a mess that is! 🙃 Look for 16/18 and then get recommendations for ‘large’ which turn out to be size 12. I wonder how much money they’re losing because of that mess? 🤔
Be good to see you at the Xmas ‘Do if you can make it. If not, I’ll wish you a merry Christmas here! 🎄
I have started to get the throws out now too. Definitely cost saving to heat me rather than the room – although, when on video conference calls, being wrapped up to arctic proportions doesn’t seem quite professional. The fleecy balaclavas and snow goggles particularly raise eyebrows. So there is a secret fan heater to my left that keeps me warm, but forces me to stick at my desk for longer. I can’t exactly walk away for fear of sharp temperature drops…
It is always lovely to hear of Chams news, thank you – and to know that it is thriving. I really must invade it again when I get the chance. Catching up with your lovely members – and you of course, is always a pleasure.
Take care lovely lady. x
“I’m just going to the kitchen…. I may be some time,” said Scott 🙂
I’ve not quite got to balaclava yet. Too many memories of Counterstrike (game). Mind you, I bet DJ Provo is toasty on a winters night 😁
I have a heatpad which keeps me suitably warm. The longline version went to Mrs J’s mum, as she was feeling the cold, bless her.
If you’re thinking of popping round to Chams, it would be lovely to see you. Please do check the calendar, mind; as we’ve only one more meeting this year.
I’m wrapped in a cosy blanket right now as I read this post 🙂
Very wise…. and hopefully equally snuggly!