FiLiA Portsmouth 2021

I spent a wonderful last weekend in Portsmouth at #FILIA2021. It was fabulous, uplifting.

But was marred by the nasty protests outside the venue.

Yes, of course protest is an absolute right, but surely, not when it is abusive or frightening for those who are the target. 

I've reported the abuse I personally got, as well as the general verbal and visual abuse for just going to #FiLiA conference, which simply discussed women centric issues.

.

I felt scared going in and out of the venue, despite excellent security. I was literally terrified.

The chants of TWAW, Sex work is work, blow jobs are jobs

really, literally traumatised me.

 The chalked images of errect penis were upsetting. 

Honestly, it all was frightening. Really so.

Who knew what the chants and placard waving might have led to? 

This is some of what I was faced with, for going in to listen to women sharing their experiences of corrective rape and genocide in Tigray.

And the Lesbians incarcerated in the LGBT block in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, which puts a target on them for corrective rape, children removed, or worse.

Draw your own conclusions friends.

Yet I went in. I didn't let the bullies stop me!

A trip out! To Shrewsbury Folk Festival

I'm at Shrewsbury Folk Festival, first big outing in public, (apart from local shops for food) since Feb 2020.

It was very nerve wracking at first being around so many people(even outdoors) , but I rapidly remembered what to do, and I'm really enjoying myself, now.

So good to be chatting to people, in the sunshine. Musicwise, Sekou Keita and The Longest Johns were particularly good. 

Then listened to The Spell Singers doing a sound check. Some of the songs they individually sang were pricelessly funny 

Lost Words Spell Singers were fabulous, Jackie Morris did a wonderful painting of two Red foxes while incanting the Fox spell and "her band" jammed along, ( to get that joke, you'll have to go and see them live!)

And we were treated to two new Songs, based on the newer book The Lost Spells. Which were also wonderful.

Lovely to see Robin Stenham after, really wanted to stay to the end for Show of Hands, but couldn't face leaving at midnight then driving two hours to get home.

Next year, I'll take the caravan and do the whole Festival weekend.

Hi fi!

Earlier, listened to a bit of Meddle, (fabulous Pink Floyd album, for you philistines) , on my earbuds from my phone. 

Them went and listened to the whole album in glorious full quad /stereo set up in the sitting room

, (, old school v good hi fi, lots of very good hi fi speakers, me sitting in exactly the right spot.

On CD, but have the option of original vinyl, if I want.)!

Oh so fabulous.

Swoon.

Smells!

I have just picked a stem of lavender from my patio herb garden, and as is usual, I ran my fingers along the head, and sniffed my fingers. I've been doing this for ever, but for the last 16 months, with any aromatic plant, I haven't been able to smell *anything*, since I got Covid, (in March 2020.) 

 For the first time in 16 months I COULD SMELL IT! (apparently it is very very strong, and I can't say I found it strong, but I *could* smell it!)

I am SO happy.

Sitting on the patio

Sitting on the patio, listening to birdsong (lark, thrush, blackbird, sparrow, raven, buzzard) and insect sounds (bees, hoverflies, grasshoppers, dragon flies, butterflies)

Finally cool enough to water patio plants and sit outside now. Been hiding in the cool of the house all afternoon. 

What a hot day.

It's astonishing the amount of insect life in the last 10 mins visiting this one 12" diameter patio pot of wild flowers.