I'm not at all sure why this was such a big thing, but for some reason I was actually kinda nervous about it. I guess because Diva is sort of a lesbian version of Cosmopolitan, and I felt a bit... self-conscious about being seen buying it? I really don't know. Anyway, I bought my copy for the coach home after London, when I was on an absolute empowerment/feminism/queer high! All is good!
Showing posts with label LDNaug2014. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LDNaug2014. Show all posts
Wednesday, 3 September 2014
Tuesday, 2 September 2014
London Trip: Sleepover/Southbank
The third (very) exciting part of my trip to London was that (drum roll please!) I got to meet some of the amazing people I blog for PBG with. In fact, I didn't just get to meet them- four of us had a feminist diner party/sleepover on Thursday night, and after parliament on Friday a group of us chilled at Southbank.
I was really really nervous and excited about meeting them, largely because they all seemed so amazing, which made me feel a bit inadequate. Also I was nervous about fitting in and getting on with everyone. However, I really needn't have worried whatsoever. When I got to FCC's house I was greeted with huge hugs from her and FCA. I helped them to prepare the dinner; we also got glittered up (and drew feminist symbols on our cheeks) and Skyped a couple of the other PBG-ers who couldn't attend the sleepover. One of them didn't pick up, so we left a beautiful message for her...
Once the fourth and final person, FCS, arrived, there were more big hugs! We eventually settled down to have dinner- very lovely pasta with two types of potatoes (this made me very happy as I am currently a huge potato fan) and lots of green leaves. We also had THE MOST AMAZING CAKE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, made by the totally fabulous FCC.
After that we spent more time on Skype to FCSA (who has THE MOST AMAZING Scottish accent) and also to FCG, who we managed to get a picture with...
Once we were done Skyping, we settled down for the best game ever: FEMINIST CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY. For those who aren't familiar with Cards Against Humanity, it's a card game that can be funny at times, but very easily gets very offensive, and then stops being so funny. However, feminist Cards Against Humanity is not offensive, just absolutely hilarious. It involves cats, and Birkenstock tan lines, and the phallic symbolism of Lisa Simpson's saxophone. Need I elaborate more, or are you sold already?! (A better description can be found here, and it can be downloaded here and here). Just beware- games take a while due to excessive laughter!
Following this, we headed upstairs to bed, something which was delayed by FCC having a small breakdown over interior design. To be fair, it was some pretty sweet interior design!! Once she had been counselled by FCA, we curled up in bed, and proceeded to chat about hell and feminism and all things fabulous for a while, before eventually dropping off to sleep!
The next morning was more rushed as we all had to get ready and to parliament for quite early. Nevertheless, we had the time to take some cute group pics, both at the house and whilst waiting at parliament!
More group pics!
So yeah, that was the awesome fantastic sleepover!!
In the same room was another interactive bit, titled 'Things I Wish I'd Known At 15'. We had fun looking at them and adding our own! There were some really lovely inspiring ones- far too many to upload :)
We headed to the exit of that section of the exhibition after that. Or at least, we tried to, and then we discovered the 'Teen Idol' dress up room. It was fabulous.
So. That was London, in three parts! Why was this part important? Because it was absolutely amazing and empowering and all round fab. It didn't feel like I had only really known people for a few hours; we all clicked straight away, and I love them all so so much. We all got to be very very radfem and queer and generally fabulous, and that was a really important experience. It felt like finding people who I'd always known- like coming home really. Just getting that time with them, and knowing that there are other people like me was a huge huge confidence/empowerment boost (something I will expand upon a little in my next post!).
I cannot wait to see them all again (hopefully in October... fingers crossed!!) and until then Skype/Facebook/texting will have to do... We've also got plans for a feminist commune, so if you need me, you know where I am! ;)
I was really really nervous and excited about meeting them, largely because they all seemed so amazing, which made me feel a bit inadequate. Also I was nervous about fitting in and getting on with everyone. However, I really needn't have worried whatsoever. When I got to FCC's house I was greeted with huge hugs from her and FCA. I helped them to prepare the dinner; we also got glittered up (and drew feminist symbols on our cheeks) and Skyped a couple of the other PBG-ers who couldn't attend the sleepover. One of them didn't pick up, so we left a beautiful message for her...
Once the fourth and final person, FCS, arrived, there were more big hugs! We eventually settled down to have dinner- very lovely pasta with two types of potatoes (this made me very happy as I am currently a huge potato fan) and lots of green leaves. We also had THE MOST AMAZING CAKE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, made by the totally fabulous FCC.
Dinner!!
Words evade me
Love
Woo!
This this this
The next morning was more rushed as we all had to get ready and to parliament for quite early. Nevertheless, we had the time to take some cute group pics, both at the house and whilst waiting at parliament!
We're so sweet, let's face it
More group pics!
And a Polaroid!!
*
After parliament, a group of us (three from the sleepover- FCC had to go to Dorset- two more PBG-ers and another girl from the tour) headed to Southbank for lunch.
Selfie on the way
When we got there we realised that there was a festival exhibition thing about love, so we had a look around that. I was really pleased- a while back I heard about the 'Museum of Broken Relationships', which is a museum devoted to objects leftover from relationships. It sounded hugely interesting, and I really wanted to go- so of course, it was all the way in Croatia, completely inaccessible. Imagine my excitement when I found out that the love exhibition included parts of the Museum of Broken Relationships... To quote, 'It's in Southbank! And I'm in Southbank! This is fate!!'.
The museum was really really interesting and pretty thought-provoking. It was really interesting to see what people considered important, and to read the stories surrounding each one.
Example story
The exhibition had also been made interactive, with a wall of 'confessions', which I enjoyed reading and then added to.
In an adjoining room, there was a wall made up of Agony Aunt responses from Jackie magazine. They were- interesting, to say the least. We didn't really agree with them, but had fun pointing out the worst to each other!
Agony aunt wall
We are all teen idols really
Rocking the costumes!
Spice Girl and Bowie
FCY makes a VERY good Elvis
Once we'd finished there (it took a while!) we went on the kids slides and looked in the shop. Then, very sadly and unfortunately, it was time to get a group pic and then to go our separate ways :(
I cannot wait to see them all again (hopefully in October... fingers crossed!!) and until then Skype/Facebook/texting will have to do... We've also got plans for a feminist commune, so if you need me, you know where I am! ;)
Monday, 1 September 2014
London Trip: Parliament!
The second exciting part of my trip to London was the tour of parliament that I went on on Friday (which was also the whole reason for my being in London in the first place). It was organised by The Emily Tree, an amazing group who are working to support young women getting into politics.
The day began with some group discussion work where we came up with three ideas- firstly, something quick and easy we could do to help women; then something bigger; then a huge idea. All the ideas that people came up with were really interesting and very varied- all equally important! I found the 'small ideas' especially empowering, as it's another reminder that really we needn't wait around to make a change. I've pledged to myself that I will do all the 'small things' I can (such as calling people out on everyday sexism, and complimenting other women instead of comparing etc.) because those small things can have a big impact.
After that we had a short talk on the aims of The Emily Tree, which was also really empowering. They're a grat organisation, and I really really want to get involved and do more with them!
After that we had the tour itself, which was very interesting, of course. It was quite different to the school tour I went on, and it was nice to have been on both as I saw and heard about different things.
Following on from that, we had a bit of a talk on women in politics, where we realised yet again that parliament is essentially just a boys club. It's really frustrating and saddening to be reminded about how unrepresentative parliament is (remember this?!) and to hear that, for women to fit in, they often just have to go along with things. I really really really hope that this changes- and it's organisations like The Emily Tree that are trying to get this change. Parliament should be a place that represents everyone, not just white middle class males.
Overall, I found the tour hugely interesting, and the parts that accompanied it incredibly empowering and inspiring!!
The day began with some group discussion work where we came up with three ideas- firstly, something quick and easy we could do to help women; then something bigger; then a huge idea. All the ideas that people came up with were really interesting and very varied- all equally important! I found the 'small ideas' especially empowering, as it's another reminder that really we needn't wait around to make a change. I've pledged to myself that I will do all the 'small things' I can (such as calling people out on everyday sexism, and complimenting other women instead of comparing etc.) because those small things can have a big impact.
After that we had a short talk on the aims of The Emily Tree, which was also really empowering. They're a grat organisation, and I really really want to get involved and do more with them!
After that we had the tour itself, which was very interesting, of course. It was quite different to the school tour I went on, and it was nice to have been on both as I saw and heard about different things.
Following on from that, we had a bit of a talk on women in politics, where we realised yet again that parliament is essentially just a boys club. It's really frustrating and saddening to be reminded about how unrepresentative parliament is (remember this?!) and to hear that, for women to fit in, they often just have to go along with things. I really really really hope that this changes- and it's organisations like The Emily Tree that are trying to get this change. Parliament should be a place that represents everyone, not just white middle class males.
Overall, I found the tour hugely interesting, and the parts that accompanied it incredibly empowering and inspiring!!
Sunday, 31 August 2014
London Trip: The Touristy Part
This week I went on a VERY EXCITING trip to London. It was exciting for three different reasons- each of which is getting it's own blog post. The first reason was that I went on my own. This was pretty amazing- I felt very grown up. It meant a lot of responsibility (eg, looking after stuff like money and tickets; getting myself to the right place at the right time; figuring out the tube) which was a little scary, but it was also really really fun. It felt really free- for most of Thursday I got to choose exactly where I went and when. It was really independent, and I absolutely loved it. Of course, it was also a bit of a recovery win- another example of something that I definitely could not have done last year!
Seeing as I had the choice, it was pretty obvious that my first port of call was going to be Camden Market, which is possibly one of my favourite places. I really love the food at Camden, so it was the best place to have lunch. I got one of the Chinese 'mix and match' things and settled by the loch to eat!
I spent a long time in Camden Market, just mooching and enjoying the atmosphere. I bought a few things, but nothing very much.
At around 3ish, I aimed to get the tube to Covent Garden. However, in the end, I indulged my fascination for getting sort of lost. This is something that I do quite a bit, where I go down random streets and take random turnings, meaning that I'm not quite sure where I am, but I pay attention enough to know how to get back. It's great fun, and it means that you find things you wouldn't have done otherwise. This time I got off a stop early, then explored a bit of Chinatown!!
I also accidentally ended up in M 'n' M World, which I've actually never been in before. That was an... 'experience'!
Eventually, I did end up in Covent Garden, which is another of my favourite places.
I had fun looking at the street performers, who I always love to pieces.
After that I went straight to the shop of my childhood, which isn't actually the shop of my childhood... Basically it featured in one of the books I loved when I was younger, so it has a place in my heart because of that!
That was pretty much the extent of my Thursday tourism. However, I did also get these pictures on Friday... Tourist or what?!
Victoria Station
Ahhh so happy!
At around 3ish, I aimed to get the tube to Covent Garden. However, in the end, I indulged my fascination for getting sort of lost. This is something that I do quite a bit, where I go down random streets and take random turnings, meaning that I'm not quite sure where I am, but I pay attention enough to know how to get back. It's great fun, and it means that you find things you wouldn't have done otherwise. This time I got off a stop early, then explored a bit of Chinatown!!
Touristy Pic...
Yay!
Dressed Up Plastic Chocolate?!
'The Beatles'
Woooo!
HOW?!
The Non-Childhood Childhood Shop
Westminster
London Eye!
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