Thoughts

Friends,

A few years ago, I discovered this community of people doing these things called burns. I've probably talked your ears off about it at some point and made it sound like a cult. It's something that has changed my life and brought me joy and connection. Some of them are little gatherings of around a hundred people, others are thousands coming together to make a temporary settlement based on different values found in the default world.

This list below is good, but to me it seems to be a community based on self-expression and exploration. It's a place where adults expend a lot of effort on play and humour. A community people have value in a way that capitalism doesn't always allow. And a place to learn and grow. And some of the conversations and connections are far deeper than you'll find in the everyday world.

If this sounds like your jam, hit me up.

Also #NotACult

The minimalism of this is appealing to my brain today.

Also the juxtaposition of prison refectory aesthetic with 21st century technology and overpriced hipster breakfast.

Non-burner friends: Getting involved in the burning community has been one of the biggest life upgrades I've had. Celtic burn is an event run by the participants, full of love, moments of connection, strange & magical experiences, interesting, funny people and laughter in a beautiful Scottish setting. We practice Radical inclusion so all are welcome, though this is probably not a thing you'll enjoy if you're a politically right leaning person (but if you are I guess you stopped reading after the second sentence).

Burner friends: I keep mentioning CB to our group and people not really knowing about this burn... which is a shame, because it's a really beautiful little one. Memberships still available.

Celtic Burner friends... See you soon.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/i7raFq6UUN9xv1Ry/

So I did a thing today....

Thank you @rhitaylorhair

Cheeky Espresso Martini in the Bike Shed

Post haircut high

Content Warning: Transphobia, Cruelty, Torture, Murder

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The sentencing of the Brianna Ghey murderers is an intense and appalling listen which discusses the transphobia that contributed to the killings of an innocent teenage girl that was just trying to live her life.

"Brianna's murder was exceptionally brutal"..."involving sadistic conduct"

Eddie "motivated in part by hostility to her because she was transgender dehumanised her by constantly referring to her as 'it' and your messages in wanting to see if she would "scream like a man or a girl" and really wanting to see 'what sized dick it had' along with checking the night before the killing if Brianna was coming, show your own interests in killing her linked to your hostility towards her as a transgender person"

"Both took part in a brutal and planned murder that was sadistic in nature, with a secondary motive of hostility towards brianna because of her transgender identity"

What a shitty world we live in. You may think of this as an isolated, horrible event, but it isn't. It reflects the hatred towards and dehumanisation of transgender people at the hands of the UK media and politicians. If you know trans people, they will likely be impacted by the findings in this case. I am.

This judge's ruling is staggeringly thorough and hopefully this will leave very little wiggle room for appeal.

Scarlett: minimum sentence of 22 years
Eddie: minimum sentence of 20 years

Watching Dilly this morning was a moment of joy in quite a tough week.

Another little joy was taking Robyn to the train at seven this morning to go up to London and participate in a debate competition.

Wonderful to see both girls thrive doing their own, different passions. ♥️

"Don't defy the will of the people" says unelected banking oligarch PM trying to drive through fascist policy who won't be in power after the next election because of the will of the people.

Is there any chance anyone I know has one of those digital compact cameras )that we all used to use before smart phones) in a drawer that's not been used for years that we could have or borrow please?

My daughter is going on a school trip and is not allowed to take her phone. She is however allowed to take a digital camera. I'm loathe to go buy one as she's probably not gonna use it after the trip.

I love the tweenage trait of sometimes being a big cool teenager, but then at other times being in a very childlike space. This is clearly the best way to watch TV when you're 11.

Our last day in New York saw us going for a walk in Central Park

What a marvelous, but tiring day.

We took a morning walk along the Highline. And there was a moment when I said "Robyn, look over there in the sea... what's that?". And, as she saw the statue of liberty in the distance she did a little yelp of excitement. We "discovered" Little Island park, which is a coll park on organic looking stilts in the river. Next we had brunch, then a cupcake at @mollyscupcakesny

I realised as I was seeing it, that the Ghostbusters fire station was a minor bucket list item. I felt really excited seeing it in person. I can't believe that I've been to this city at least 20 times and never made the pilgrimage.

On the way to the ferry, we walked past the Wall St bull. I think this scored lowest on teenage interest-o-meter. Robyn actually was quite cold as she'd insisted on not bringing a coat and was glad to warm up on the Statten Island ferry, so she didn't come out to bag the green lady selfie with me. On Staten Island, we saw there was an outlet mall with several apparently very compelling stores. A mere ninety minutes later I managed to negotiate a departure and we got the ferry back to Manhattan.

Next we wanted the Brooklyn Bridge. And then a quick photo outside the Brooklyn 99 police precinct.

Nine Nine!!

Happy Birthday to Robyn, 14.

We had a day of shopping in Manhattan going to all the kinda of shops that she wanted to go to and did a bus tour as well as vast quantities of calories consumed.

I'm not sure she knows we're NYC

This is very sad. He was remarkably talented and so young.