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pensnestDid you know that kangaroos have three vaginas?
I had a delightful day last Thursday. Went to a craft show at Hatfield House with three friends from the musical society, one of whom I hadn't seen much of for ages. Despite the weather, which was wildly erratic, we had a very good time looking at Stuff of all kinds. Practically the first thing I happened upon was a selection of very pretty knitwear that appeared to have lots of yarn-overs, but upon closer inspection turned out to have rows of dropped stitches. Is this becoming a Thing right now? Because the next marquee had another collection of knitwear with dropped stitch motifs. And, at yesterday's knitting group, someone was knitting a Mystery Shawl with dropped stitches going on.
Anyway. We tasted pies (excellent pastry) and tried on hats—women should wear more hats, I feel (one at a time, to be sure); my grandma never left the house without a hat, but you hardly ever see them these days—and I bought a wine-red one and shall have to develop the habit of putting it on. There were some truly *fabulous* rocks (do a search for 'labradorite' and you will see how fabulous). I don't quite know what rocks have to do with craft, as such, although there were some handsome framed ammonites, so possibly shining them up and putting them in a frame counts? Loads of jewellery stalls, from glass to actual gemstones, and every kind of style except whimsical; some butter-soft leather coats—not, I think, designed as impulse purchases—and arty bits for gardens, and a woman doing freestyle machine embroidery, which is not my thing but was fascinating to watch for a while, and all sorts. I suspect if I'd gone on my own I might have done an acrylic painting workshop, but instead the four of us left early in the afternoon and went back to have Afternoon Tea at one of their homes.
Afternoon Tea may be the most civilised of all meals. It is completely unnecessary, and totally frivolous. I mean, cucumber sandwiches are not 'nourishment', exactly, are they? I don't even like cucumber, but cucumber sandwiches are somehow perfect. And there were also ham sandwiches and sausage rolls and cheese scones with butter and plain scones with jam and clotted cream and a really excellent chocolate cake. We talked *all* day—really, it was like being with Fans—and 'tea' finished when we realised it was half past seven, and I at least had a probably hungry man at home to deal with.
I like the company of women. Not to say there aren't individual men I enjoy talking to, but overall, I'd far rather spend time with female friends and acquaintances.
Beast and I generally watch an episode of something on DVD as we have our lunch (decadence indeed), and have recently finished going through Call the Midwife. I suppose it must be the most feminist show I watch—based on a book written by a woman, produced by a woman, etc. It focuses on women doing an important job (giving birth/delivering babies/nursing in a community etc), it has varied and interesting characters in a range of ages, and although it does have a slightly regrettable tendency to go straight for the happy ending, that's not such a bad thing. There is romance, but it doesn't take precedence in the story, and it doesn't distract anyone from doing her job, it's a facet of life rather than the be-all and end-all. The nurses are believably friends. The nuns care for Sister Monica Joan (whose vocabulary fills me with delight) and cherish her. They have honest dilemmas and different ways of understanding and tackling them. And the Christmas Special was so well written and perfectly acted, and so, so sad.
And another thing—the characters in the show look like a collection of normal people—some are pretty, some are drab, some are stout, etc. That's one of the things that doesn't work for me about The Good Wife, which ought by rights to be a contender for Most Feminist Show I Watch—every woman is on the same axis, ie slim and sexy (whether that means cute and pretty or strong and bone-structure-y). Nobody is ordinary-looking (except possibly the male judges). That's generally much truer of American shows than of UK ones… there's a polished prettiness to most cast members, and only the occasional man is allowed to be exempt from that (eg Cal Lightman in Lie to Me). I mean, I loved Buffy, but—all those teenagers, and not a zit between them? I like pretty, sure I do, but it is nice to see a selection of humanity on the screen, sometimes...
So, how was your day?
I had a delightful day last Thursday. Went to a craft show at Hatfield House with three friends from the musical society, one of whom I hadn't seen much of for ages. Despite the weather, which was wildly erratic, we had a very good time looking at Stuff of all kinds. Practically the first thing I happened upon was a selection of very pretty knitwear that appeared to have lots of yarn-overs, but upon closer inspection turned out to have rows of dropped stitches. Is this becoming a Thing right now? Because the next marquee had another collection of knitwear with dropped stitch motifs. And, at yesterday's knitting group, someone was knitting a Mystery Shawl with dropped stitches going on.
Anyway. We tasted pies (excellent pastry) and tried on hats—women should wear more hats, I feel (one at a time, to be sure); my grandma never left the house without a hat, but you hardly ever see them these days—and I bought a wine-red one and shall have to develop the habit of putting it on. There were some truly *fabulous* rocks (do a search for 'labradorite' and you will see how fabulous). I don't quite know what rocks have to do with craft, as such, although there were some handsome framed ammonites, so possibly shining them up and putting them in a frame counts? Loads of jewellery stalls, from glass to actual gemstones, and every kind of style except whimsical; some butter-soft leather coats—not, I think, designed as impulse purchases—and arty bits for gardens, and a woman doing freestyle machine embroidery, which is not my thing but was fascinating to watch for a while, and all sorts. I suspect if I'd gone on my own I might have done an acrylic painting workshop, but instead the four of us left early in the afternoon and went back to have Afternoon Tea at one of their homes.
Afternoon Tea may be the most civilised of all meals. It is completely unnecessary, and totally frivolous. I mean, cucumber sandwiches are not 'nourishment', exactly, are they? I don't even like cucumber, but cucumber sandwiches are somehow perfect. And there were also ham sandwiches and sausage rolls and cheese scones with butter and plain scones with jam and clotted cream and a really excellent chocolate cake. We talked *all* day—really, it was like being with Fans—and 'tea' finished when we realised it was half past seven, and I at least had a probably hungry man at home to deal with.
I like the company of women. Not to say there aren't individual men I enjoy talking to, but overall, I'd far rather spend time with female friends and acquaintances.
Beast and I generally watch an episode of something on DVD as we have our lunch (decadence indeed), and have recently finished going through Call the Midwife. I suppose it must be the most feminist show I watch—based on a book written by a woman, produced by a woman, etc. It focuses on women doing an important job (giving birth/delivering babies/nursing in a community etc), it has varied and interesting characters in a range of ages, and although it does have a slightly regrettable tendency to go straight for the happy ending, that's not such a bad thing. There is romance, but it doesn't take precedence in the story, and it doesn't distract anyone from doing her job, it's a facet of life rather than the be-all and end-all. The nurses are believably friends. The nuns care for Sister Monica Joan (whose vocabulary fills me with delight) and cherish her. They have honest dilemmas and different ways of understanding and tackling them. And the Christmas Special was so well written and perfectly acted, and so, so sad.
And another thing—the characters in the show look like a collection of normal people—some are pretty, some are drab, some are stout, etc. That's one of the things that doesn't work for me about The Good Wife, which ought by rights to be a contender for Most Feminist Show I Watch—every woman is on the same axis, ie slim and sexy (whether that means cute and pretty or strong and bone-structure-y). Nobody is ordinary-looking (except possibly the male judges). That's generally much truer of American shows than of UK ones… there's a polished prettiness to most cast members, and only the occasional man is allowed to be exempt from that (eg Cal Lightman in Lie to Me). I mean, I loved Buffy, but—all those teenagers, and not a zit between them? I like pretty, sure I do, but it is nice to see a selection of humanity on the screen, sometimes...
So, how was your day?