Reflecting

Hi, How’s things? Hopefully good and if not, let’s cross our fingers and maybe they’ll turn that way soon. By random happenstance, I stumbled upon this article: the difference between reacting and responding. Well worth a read in my opinion and YATGB can certainly wait if you want to read it first. If you don’t, my takeaway from it was self care – and perhaps for others too – by giving yourself time to respond to something after thinking. It seems that in short media posts, clickbait, tweets, and manipulative headlines, well, it seems hard not to react a lot of the time. But, yet, in recent months I’ve found myself taking a deep breath, allowing myself an eye roll, […]

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Heroes in heels

Hi, Earlier in the week I happened to stumble upon the film musical, Everyone’s Talking About Jamie. Some of you may remember the BBC documentary, Jamie: Drag Queen at Sixteen. If you’d like to be reminded of your age, it was easy back in 2011. By all that’s fabulous! I might even have been in my 30s back then. 😉 I don’t remember the documentary that well – I mean, it has been a decade! – but elements of its memory echoed as the musical played out. Incidentally, I happened to catch an interview with an older Jamie on Radio One’s drag podcast a few years back. It was interesting to hear how his life had developed and also, bless […]

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The joy of choice

Hi, With both kids back in full time education, the Ever Lovely Mrs J mostly at work, and the slowly descending temperatures, I felt it was time to ditch the summer coat. So long Wookie pins. May you rest until springtime and recover your energy from providing bloke mode over. I’ve written this before, but I feel it needs repeating that when my body matches how I feel, my mood is lifted. It’s not that I feel dysphoric or similar emotional pain, but it’s akin to an ache or carrying a heavy weight around. When either of those are gone, you’re reminded of how life should feel and to feel content, or even good, about yourself, well, I think that’s […]

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Pastures new

Hi, It’s been a somewhat funny week this time around. Some good news in that we managed to get the downstairs bathroom shower replaced – I know, first world problems eh? But it will give the kids (both teens) more privacy. True perhaps for the Ever Lovely Mrs J as well who uses the ensuite one upstairs. Like most early teens, our youngest has been back at school for the new term, although due to an Inset day for the staff, had today off. Wee Man on the other hand, will be making his way to university this coming Monday. Quite a change for him, I think, and I hope he finds what he needs. It was an age since […]

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Then, now, and what next?

Hi, Last week’s post about growing up and Sue’s comment about the next generation made me think about the positive changes I’ve seen in the T community. While we seem to be having a slight dip in the Mostly Upwards Rollercoaster of Rights at the mo, I think we’re in a better place than the 80s and subsequent decades. Listening to my kids talk about their classmates who are out – all the way across the LGBTQ+ rainbow, bless them – it’s, well, heartwarming. One of the good things, IMO, about the Internet is its ability to bring people together. I think that that’s helped our community share our experiences. Through that, new language and stories have arrived. Now, I’m […]

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Now compared to the then

Hi, Given the travel situation seems to be quite on again, off again, the Jones Massive are staying put this summer. Plus, both kids are off an age where I think they want to be at home with their friends, online, or gaming. I seem to recall when I was their ages – around the time the glaciers retreated from Europe 😉 – that I was happier with my own company, with friends, my trusty old 8 bit computer, than visiting country house gardens with my folks. Funny, while we’re not doing the country house thing – or (rolls eyes) a ‘fun’ visit to a museum, the Ever Lovely Mrs J and I are quite happy to wander along lanes, […]

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