June

I've seen a few brands trying to make Junemas a thing in which case I'm joining in by making Junexing day a thing after finding an unopened bottle of mulled wine and the sad sense realising that Junemas is over.

Foods

Missed it! World baking day, that is. Ah well. Can do a simple brownie or cheesecake or crumble but that's about it, too many soggy bottoms or burnt to a crisp mishaps to move too far out of my comfort zone. We've got some rubarb growing in our garden and rather than letting it rot away we decided to eat some only to realise neither of us like rubarb even when balanced with a ton of sugar. Fortunately a neighbor does and has hacked away several stalks so it doesn't go to waste we just hope she forgets to thank us by giving us some more rubarb jam. 

Speaking of revolting foods I once had to explain what Bovril was to my niece, the look of disgust was priceless.

Lesbian Visibility

We're coming to the end of lesbian visibility week and its worth reminding everyone that the narrow definition is a very recent construct and that you can be bi, pan, omni, trans, nb, gnc and so on. Its a very big umbrella and that I have no time for the gold star bi/transphobic rumblings of some. 

Now that I've done my soap box thing the picture is of Queen Christina of Sweden the 17th century lesbian gender non conforming and a bit of a bad ass. Made bids for the crown's of Naples and Poland after her abdication in Sweden (they could tolerate the crushing hard on another woman, not marrying thing but converting to Catholicism in a Protestant Lutheran country was a bit of a no no). Rumoured to be intersex (no evidence) and on the autistic spectrum (debatable) she was a great patron of the arts but not someone to get into a fight with.

Geocities and Beyond

31 Match marks trans day of visibility, more a celebration of trans, non binary and gender non conforming people's. The internet has been a way of being seen for a few decades now. 

I did think of marking this by going retro with a millennial style Geocities trans blog with a lilac background with purple lettering and a photo gallery that takes 15 minutes to load. It was the first time many got to connect with others like them especially outside major cities. Like other marginalised groups it's become a way to tell our story past, present and future beyond the stereotypes in our own way. 

Mothers Day

Happy mother's day, it doesn't matter if you're biological or not, gay or straight, cis or trans you're amazing. 

The Valentine Edition

Happy pointless hallmark holiday designed to make you spend money on unnecessary items. Yes I'm single, how did you guess?

I wrote a few things last year about how to date a trans person when the world and their partner were flocking to online dating. Now many months on when everyone is a bit more jaded it still stays true. 

Erased

Already a few days into the new year and apparently I'm helping to erase lesbianism. 

*Checks trans list*

Nope. 

If the might of centuries of cishet culture couldn't erase lesbians what hope would a minority marginalised group have. 

As for lesbian's, they're going to be alright even without the phony concern of the transphobes alliance and the right wing press.

Flake

So there's bit of a stirr about the new Creme Egg advert, involving a same sex kiss where an egg gets passed. I'm sure some comments were expected, even hoped for, by Cadburys. As for those saying it's inappropriate where where they when at teatimes for decades various women would simulate oral sex with a Flake. 

Also the Caramel Bunny was just pure filthy.

The Year Starts Here

Happy new year! 

Right then, let's get on with it.

25th December

A merry Christmas. 

Remember life is not perfect like the adverts and families can be annoying. You're never alone. 

Eve

Happy Christmas eve. We're truly in the bleak midwinter I'm with a frozen Woo Woo, basically tasting like an adult Slush Puppy. 

Elsewhere I'm sure many of you have read Elliot Page's elequent and passionate coming out letter, essentially the sort of thing I wish I wrote all those years ago. As you'd expect some people had a problem with this for some reason which probably says more about them.

Eddie

Seeing Eddie Izzard trending, I'm reminded of when I was a young and Eddie Izzard burst onto my screen. Watching I saw someone confidently smashing gender stereotypes and wearing whatever along with a highly creative and above all, funny act. She was an inspiration to a confused baby trans and in many ways still is to an older (but still often confused) trans. 

Friday

Was in the fortunate position of being able to take a duvet day Friday for my mental health I could feel the signs building and decided to push everything non urgent into the future, make sure I had a supply of Jammie Dodgers and turn off my alarm. 

Insert Competitor

Thinking back to disagreeable customers many will end with something like " well I'm shopping at (insert competitor) from now on" which I think they believe has any devastating impact on the harassed, under paid and non managerial person on the other end. In my time it was the welcome signal that they were about to leave.

Don't Be A

Card payment systems were down locally, frustrating undoubtedly and necessitating a visit to the cash point but it's not the fault the fault of the young woman on the till who earns only a few pennies above minimum wage and has definitely had to deal with a lot of crap this year. Yet some people continue to act like a dock.