I used to have budgies, one of the males used to chat up his (male) friend whilst perched on my head... and then he'd start grinding away while still on my head

Fortunately he never left a deposit

Freaky little (head) fucker

I'm part way through the article, and its a fascinating read, and very well explained

I think its interesting how people tie themselves into knots with the whole binary male/female with convoluted descriptions of large small gametes defining gender (I'm particularly thinking of jk rowlings tweet and all the terf stuff)

I can see how binary definitions can never adequately reflect the complexity of an individuals internal experience. And also the designation of male/female is a social construct than biological reality

I am a late in life diagnosed autistic woman, my experience of reality will always differ from someone who doesn't have sensory issues because of my autism. I've had my mother, teachers and friends deny my experiences of reality because it doesn't match theirs. It seems barbaric to apply outdated social constructs to something as varied and complex as a human being

I think I may be waffling, but TLDR thanks for the link, its helping me understand things more clearly

Edit, just finished reading it now, and I love how it suggests using the description of a "mosaic" definition of gender as opposed to binary or spectrum

Really good article

Ooof what an epitaph

I never realised how 'normal' my family were until I met my bf and his horrendous mother and brothers

It takes a lot of pain for a person to finally go no contact, or be relieved when a family member finally dies

There are far too many shitty parents and siblings out there

I hope you're still having a good day today, because he's not here

I managed to sort out the paperwork/admin last week and I'm now readying myself for the next step 👍

My dog once found a bag of cakes on our walk, I dragged him away, and kept on walking, then realised he wasn't with me...he'd snuck back and had his head in the bag scoffing away

So I dragged him away again, got home, sat down on the sofa ready to chill

Within about 5 minutes he was up and at the door indicating he needed to go out. Now this is a dog who was partial to manky kebabs found under bushes which he'd then throw up on my floor, so any indication that he needed to go out was to be taken seriously

So out we go and off he goes with purpose in the direction of the cakes. When I realise he wasn't out to throw up, but to eat more cake I dragged him back home.

He did this twice

I think old people are just not equipped to survive on the internet

I think its people in general

During lock down when people were at home and having to amuse themselves some made bread and did arts and crafts, whilst others ended up jumping off a cliff into conspiracy theories and right wing bollocks

One guy I know of suggested ivermectin and dog dewormers to treat my bf's cancer because 'cancer is caused by parasites.... there's plenty of information on the internet.... you can do your own research...etc etc'

I used to think the average person was mostly decent and sensible, but not anymore

Agreed....

[They have] a painful sting and symptoms similar to those of its prey [Portuguese man o’ war]. These include nausea, vomiting, and pain. source

Beautiful, but no touching

Same hairdo for the last 10 years, long on top with undercut

Redyed it recently to tidy up my grey bits and a bit of self care

One day I may just say fuck it and shave it all off, or maybe a mowhawk would be cool to see in my mid 50s 🤟

OMG I've got this one, different cover though!

I think I read it almost in one go and didn't give up half way through, which is a huge achievement for me

It really helped me understand my autism and explained so many of my difficulties as a child, teenager etc

Spoiler alert, the chapter on older women with autism is very thin, as let's face it we are a small, under diagnosed demographic, but here we are!

Weirdly, I've been thinking a lot recently of women on the margins of society historically, the spinsters, widows, the women who choose live alone because they function differently, and how they've been either ridiculed or treated with hostility and violence

I think I'm beginning my witchy part of life, and I intend to fully embrace it 🧙

edit, forgot to mention, she has some really good videos on YouTube if you find it easier than reading

Its not just the crying for me, its those random shrieks of delight that also get me, especially in supermarkets with all that noise and light reflecting surfaces

There are many reasons I never had children, but the crying would have been a special kind of torture

I had 2 sindy dolls (a UK version of barbie, but slightly more realistic proportionally speaking)

I didn't play house with them, instead I made them armour from card, and cobbled together weapons- metal nail files were swords, and I made a bow from a knitting needle and an elastic band, the arrows were straightened paper clips (I really excelled with making these as they actually worked and could take out bits of plaster from the walls)

I also once made a Viking village, complete with longship, again out of card.

I still think the best toys are the ones you have a hand in designing and making yourself, but then I am an autistic creative nerd 😃

That's the problem with my ash brown hair, I'd have to bleach it before I could go mad with colour, so its basically too much hassle, which is a bummer

Oh to have a blank canvas to paint on!

So sorry this has been used against you in such a horrible way

I have a naturally resting bitch face, and the tone of my voice can sound pissed off even when I'm not. It really boils my piss having to justify myself when all I'm doing is happily being somewhere in my own head minding my own business

Can you post a photo of your rock? So we can see how cool it is? 🦖

I repay my parents loaning me some money, then trees (apple and native for wildlife), do up my attic, get a man and machine to dig a pond for wildlife, some evergreen trees and plants for a Japanese garden, maybe laser eye surgery and a face treatment for reducing sun damage..... And a dog and cat, perhaps some goats (rehomed)

Fun projects that won't cost a lot

I had an okay peri, I think the main thing was night sweats, waking in the early hours with drips of sweat between my boobs was not comfy, but didn't last long

I'm not sure if I'm post menopause now, but my skin is drier verging on slightly crêpe, I've had to occasionally use vaginal moisturisers which help. And I've been on hrt patches for about 3 years

I think the anti depressants and low dose sleeping pills have been doing some of the heavy lifting too

Touch wood things have been okay 👍

I meant a man with a machine!!!

Seconding this, sometimes you just have to sit down and draw/make even if the end result looks like shit, and even then you can rip it up, use it for collage, over paint it and make it into something else

Maybe go on a tangent? Explore colour theory? A different medium? Look at other people's work for inspiration?

Even a crappy doodle can be the start of something new and interesting 👍

Feeling the pressure, but managing to keep going

You're very welcome, I enjoyed looking through the many pictures of Velvet Worms, they're beautiful creatures with interesting lives.... they really should get more love and appreciation 😍