Friday 31 December 2021

Goodbye 2021

That's that. Feeling fine at the moment there's been the usual ride of imposter syndrome, anxiety and the rest at times but I seem to spot the signs and learning to say no at the right time. Generally seeing my niece's and nephews so infrequently that you notice their growth spurts and they've moved on from that thing you thought they were interested in. Haven't been out and about much, or as you'll see taken many selfies, noticed I fitted a dress that I didn't, though this may not be the case after Christmas again. 

Go well, be kind and see you next year.



Saturday 25 December 2021

Happy Christmas

As it's after midnight on the 25th, a happy Christmas to you all whatever you're doing today, hope it's a great day.



Monday 20 December 2021

Cards

After many years we are still receiving cards addressed to the previous residents, without any return address I've no way of letting them know. If you have sent a card do check whether they still live there to avoid wasting a stamp.

Monday 13 December 2021

Tin Town



Built in the early 1950's a large group of prefabricated houses were built on the edge of the inter-war Pinehurst estate as a temporary solution to the post war housing crisis. More than 70 years on they are nearly all still standing and known locally as "tin town. The council a few years ago renovated some a few years ago making it easy to spot the privately bought. 

Sunday 12 December 2021

Conversion Therapy

So the consultation on banning conversion therapy in England has been extended allowing for it to be potentially be kicked into the long grass more time for responses so if you haven't already and can, make the time to fill it in.

Wednesday 8 December 2021

Head For Heights

 Crikey it's midweek I don't know where the days gone, its not like I've been very busy. Watching a tree surgeon high up cutting a old branch in the wooded area rather too dauntingly high even without the breeze. Mind I haven't got a head for heights in the best of times, anything above a curb gives me vertigo. 

Sunday 5 December 2021

There's Something About Miriam

Stumbled across an article which reminded me wow that really was a thing. The thing being There's Something About Miriam. To copy from the Wikipedia page.

"...it featured six men wooing 21-year-old Mexican model Miriam Rivera without revealing that she was transgender until the final episode."

It was around the time of the reality boom where formats were limited only by the depravity of the pitchers mind and no thought was given to the participants. I can't comment further as I couldn't get past the first minute at the time and this from someone who watched a lot of rubbish at the time. The series also fed into the trans deceit libel which still lingers as recent articles have shown. As the recent coverage and hand wringing over Britney Spears highlighted, a lot of things from the 2000s haven't aged well, this was a particularly egregious example.

Thursday 2 December 2021

World AIDS Day

 Yesterday was world AIDS day and its amazing to think how much things have changed and yet there is still global inequalities in treatment. Also the stigma and homophobia from that period hasn't truly been eliminated. 

Wednesday 1 December 2021

Time For Blogmas

It's blogmas time again. It's like an advent calendar except it's a regular dose of your favorite blog, instead of chocolates which you'd have to provide yourself I'm afraid.

Saturday 20 November 2021

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2021

The annual transgender day of remembrance (TDoR) exists to pay our respects and draw attent to those who lost their lives as a result of anti trans violence and hatred.

The number of victims are definitely underreported but what is certain is that most victims are people of colour and many are sex workers. 

Friday 5 November 2021

Infantalising and Trans Youth After Bell v Tavistock

Events, my dear, rather delayed me finishing my luke warn take into a cold one. Sorry.

When it comes to trans care there is heavy infantalising attitude abundant. Where in a normal healthcare situation you are mainly considered to be able to give informed consent and that's true of under 16s who are deemed able, or "Gillick competent" after the case that established the legal principle. But when it comes to trans assistance whether you're 8 or 80 there's an attitude of you can't possibly know what's best for you or you're just following the latest playground trends or those "cheerleaders" are leading you astray because [insert latest crazy conspiracy theory].  
Last year Bell v Tavistock went against the decades old Gillick rule effectively shutting down treatment for transgender teens even with parental consent and the rigourous assessments of those at the Tavistock. Requiring court approval for every prescription of puberty blockers because they can't possibly contemplate what that would mean for them when they become old enough to start hormones and begin surgical interventions. 
While I agree with the court that further research is needed, it's not like puberty blockers are brand new. The earliest recipients are well into adulthood and there have been numerous follow up studies and if there was even the slightest issue T********** Tr*** and their media friends would be mentioning it every second. 
One hopes prescriptions can resume and the shocking two year waiting list can be cut.

Tuesday 31 August 2021

Disorganization

Hello chaps, sorry for the hiatus, life has been a little hectic and disorganised. Its been great to see my nieces and nephews they've all noticeably grown so much. My oldest nephew hitting puberty quite hard at the moment. Puberty is something I wouldn't wish on anyone cis or trans with all its assorted ganglyness and awkwardness. 


Saturday 26 June 2021

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.

Sunday 30 May 2021

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.

Friday 30 April 2021

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.

Wednesday 31 March 2021

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. 

Sunday 14 March 2021

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. 

Sunday 14 February 2021

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. 


Saturday 16 January 2021

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.


Friday 15 January 2021

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.

Monday 11 January 2021