Hi,
A few items of note this week.
In national news, there’s a few things on my radar. There’s new legal powers where anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime is classed as an aggravated offence. Given the loss of the Pink Punters nightclub to an alleged arson incident, dare I say that hate crime is sadly all too topical.
[ Update 2/5/2026 – BBC News reports “no evidence of criminality was found”. ]
It’s been a long time since I went to Pinks. I think it was for an anniversary of the UK Angels. Visiting Pink Punters seems quite the rite of passage for many in our community, and I hope the owners are able to rebuild in time. I think it would be a loss to queerfolk and our shared history if it disappeared. We can but hope.
At a much smaller personal level my new job has been switched to a permanent position (yay!). Previously it was a year contract. My boss & the top boss have been suitably pleased with my help and talents – I cringe at my own words there 🫣 – that they’ve brought the offer forward. Happy times indeed!
With today being my day off, I’ve had a morning out. Firstly to to have my pins dewookied and a leisurely stroll through the park to meet an old work mate for lunch. Indeed the park was resplendent with flowers, greenery, and bright sunshine. Indeed feeling the warmth but not the heat seemed to recharge. Not that I’m solar powered, that would be a bit odd 🙂
The lunch catch-up latter was a hoot and retirement certain sides my old workmate, bless him. His health is on the up and he’s found a charity to volunteer for during the week. As with Chams, I think it’s a good thing to offer help when you can. I mean – and even professional misanthropists like myself 😉 – it’s uplifting to know you’ve done something to make another person’s life a bit better.
As to the pin situation, despite the last hurrah around my knees, there’s very little hair left on my lower legs. I could probably switch to buzzing those over the summer with the epilator. Without (hopefully) over sharing, up from there still needs treatment. But to be thankful not critical, my legs fell as they should and that’ll last for a good few weeks now 🙏
It also means I don’t worry about skirts and shorts over the summer. I don’t have to “re-fur” over the warmer months, when my skin is on show and dysphoria goes into overdrive. Ah, the vanishing of the Annual August Angst – more good news! Apologies for the grainy photo, it is a cropped selfie from a few Christmases ago.
Indeed, to have the gift of having your body as it feels like it should be; well, that’s rather good. Perhaps all of that, the new role, posiblogging on gratitude, and a continued long holiday from the goblins, is all adding up to be a good times.
Yes, “life goes on” for good and ill, but having less to distress you? I’ll take that.
L x
Great news on the job front. Well done. And good to hear about the improved leg situation. Another win for the Campaign for Dysphoria Reduction. Although I guess saying it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling would be wrong in this instance!
Very sorry to hear about the fire at PP’s. The latest news this evening suggests the fire was accidental not arson. PP’s is significant to me, as to so many, as it was the location of my first outing as Sue. So I hope the matter is clarified and they can reopen and thrive. I suspect this is one of those events when people who have lost something discover just how many supporters they have.
Have a nice long weekend.
Sue xx
A warm non fuzzy feeling? 😁 Yes please! 🙂 The job thing is very much a welcome surprise. Both in terms of security and helping keep the Imposter Syndrome Goblins quiet too.
Thanks for the update on PP and I’ve amended my post accordingly. Given all that’s going on the press and politics, while it’s still awful news, at least this was an incident not malicious.
Here’s to a gentle weekend indeed! 🙏
Pins and no needles is a win – unless, of course, your are reattaching a button or mending a sock (Ah, is that where the phase “down at heel” comes from?)
But it does sound like a double win with the permanent job offer (hurrah – and one in the eye for any lurking feelings of imposter syndrome) and again with the hobbitless smooth pins. If they still look like they do in the photo enjoy them as much as possible before they start break out in odd marks and random blotches and you have to switch from 7 denier to 15 or 20.
But seriously, there’s plently lasses would kill for legs like those.
[ I nearly typed syndrum, but thats a whole new 1980s thing. Phiieeww, phiieeww]
Hang on, are you supposed to use a pin for buttons and/or sock repairs? 🤔 If so, I’ve been fixing things incorrectly for years! 🫣 Whoops. 🙂
Down at heel? Hmm. 🤔 My guess would be on shoes and boots, but I can see it might apply to worn out socks & tights.
Yes, good news on the job front and indeed on that dispelling Imposter Syndrome. While I think it’s a good thing to have your feet on the floor, to be worrying & doubting over low confidence – that’s not great.
Thanks for the kind words re the pins. TBH, in warmer weather in often in 15s and 20s already. I find the Snag 30s a bit much in terms of coverage but they are warm on chilly autumn days.
I think that photo is from 2022. So not right up to date. This one is last September.
https://yatgb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-09-_bday.jpg
Well done on the job becoming permanent. Like Sue, I’m very sad about the (hopefully temporary) demise of Pink Punters. Sue and I first met there at the UK Angels 10th Birthday Party in 2010. It’s a part of my personal history and a huge part of LGBTQ+ history in the UK.
Thanks for the kind words about the job. Being made permanent ahead of schedule was a lovely surprise.
Fingers crossed Pinks will be rebuilt in time and there will be many more folk with happy memories of visiting.
It’s nice to read that your job has been made permanent, Lynn. That must be reassuring from a financial standpoint.
It was interesting to read about your pins and the de-wookie process. I’m about to have my legs fully waxed for the first time, and my wife says that, over time, I might find there’s very little regrowth. I’m not sure whether that’s true or not, but she says she has hardly any growth these days after several waxing sessions.
“Dysphoria goes into overdrive” — I like that phrase. I can certainly relate to it.
Best wishes,
Lotte x
Yes, it certainly is, Lotte. I had forgotten the year contract agreement, as I’d got stuck in to doing & helping where I could. So, when it came for the post probation interview, I was well chuffed when my boss said they wanted me to be permanent and well ahead of schedule. I’ll take that bit of joy! <3
So waxing. Yes, I’ve found that the hair on my legs is thinner and finer. Now, the truth is that the outer part of my shins was balding already, so waxing has just helped this along. Which is nice 😉 However, I would say the regrow is mostly above the knees – and frustratingly, still on my knees, grrr! 😀 – but it’s less. Has it gone away? No, but it’s not as dark or as thick as it used to be. Maybe that’s age related, but I’ll take this as a win.
Here’s hoping neither of us get a dysphoria overdrive moment.