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Merry Christmas - whatever you're doing, don't work too hard. And join a union.
Petition to tell the government to stop demonising trans and non-binary people.
"Fifty thousand cis women have signed the Not In Our Name - NION Women open letter rejecting the demonisation of trans and non-binary people, and the false narrative that trans women are a danger to women.
It is overwhelmingly cis men who commit violence against both cis women and trans women. Trans women in particular face staggering rates of violence from cis men, especially trans women of colour.
The real threat to women has never been trans women. The real threat is a culture that enables male violence and then blames everyone except the men who perpetrate it.
Feminism must be intersectional. The liberation of cis women and trans people is bound together. Our safety depends on solidarity."
Read the open letter and add your name.
"Fifty thousand cis women have signed the Not In Our Name - NION Women open letter rejecting the demonisation of trans and non-binary people, and the false narrative that trans women are a danger to women.
It is overwhelmingly cis men who commit violence against both cis women and trans women. Trans women in particular face staggering rates of violence from cis men, especially trans women of colour.
The real threat to women has never been trans women. The real threat is a culture that enables male violence and then blames everyone except the men who perpetrate it.
Feminism must be intersectional. The liberation of cis women and trans people is bound together. Our safety depends on solidarity."
Read the open letter and add your name.
... about my complaint to the BBC about the descriptions of a forest in India as "infested" with wild animals:
Finally, today, Colin Tregear of the Executive Complaints Unit, (the third person to address my complaint) threw me a crumb:
"I understand your strength of feeling and I accept “infested” may not have been the most appropriate word to use in this context."
There was other boring stuff about how no one would have been confused by it blah blah blah but I count this as a minor victory.
The constant drip-feeding of anti-wildlife sentiments into our eyes and ears is something that must be resisted!
Finally, today, Colin Tregear of the Executive Complaints Unit, (the third person to address my complaint) threw me a crumb:
"I understand your strength of feeling and I accept “infested” may not have been the most appropriate word to use in this context."
There was other boring stuff about how no one would have been confused by it blah blah blah but I count this as a minor victory.
The constant drip-feeding of anti-wildlife sentiments into our eyes and ears is something that must be resisted!
Future shock
19 Apr 2025 21:17The recent half-marathon with robot competitors got me thinking. There will come a time soon when people are looked after in their old age, in their own home, by robots.
Imagine their kids' annoyance to find that the person has left their dwelling to their robot carer!
Imagine their kids' annoyance to find that the person has left their dwelling to their robot carer!
One warrior down
26 Feb 2025 18:55Gutted to learn that Michelle Trachtenberg has been found dead.
What a sad loss of a very talented young woman.
What a sad loss of a very talented young woman.
Metropolis and Hush
14 Feb 2025 11:30I went to see "Metropolis" at the Arts Centre the other day. It must have been amazing when it first came out, but I prefer a bit more science and a little less dramatics in my sci-fi.
What did strike me was a character called "The Thin Man", upon whom I strongly suspect "The Gentlemen" from "Hush" were based.
What did strike me was a character called "The Thin Man", upon whom I strongly suspect "The Gentlemen" from "Hush" were based.
If you have trouble rubbing body lotion on the middle and top of your back, spread it on the back of your hand instead of the palm.
If your bath water gets cold too quickly, spread a layer of bubble-wrap over half to 3/4 of the surface.
It has taken me until the age of 65 to work these things out.
If your bath water gets cold too quickly, spread a layer of bubble-wrap over half to 3/4 of the surface.
It has taken me until the age of 65 to work these things out.
Snowflake Challenge 15
29 Jan 2025 22:23I've got behind with the Snowflake thing, but this one is quick and dirty. Well, quick and easy, anyway!
Challenge #15
Talk about an unexpected joyous moment you experienced last year.
Well, I have three, actually.
1) When I was busy trying to get something done about the zoo, someone out of the blue sent me a card - anonymously, because that's how scared people were - saying "Thank you! You're amazing!"
2) One of my favourite people - someone with hundreds of friends and fans - said "I love you" - also out of the blue! Completely platonic, but it's usually me who says it first in those situations, so that was very lovely and unexpected.
3) Any time anyone comments on a fic is an unexpected joy.
Challenge #15
Talk about an unexpected joyous moment you experienced last year.
Well, I have three, actually.
1) When I was busy trying to get something done about the zoo, someone out of the blue sent me a card - anonymously, because that's how scared people were - saying "Thank you! You're amazing!"
2) One of my favourite people - someone with hundreds of friends and fans - said "I love you" - also out of the blue! Completely platonic, but it's usually me who says it first in those situations, so that was very lovely and unexpected.
3) Any time anyone comments on a fic is an unexpected joy.
Found a treasure!
25 Jan 2025 13:19I mentioned in my diary 20 years ago that Eliade had written a bit of Season Noir for a donation I made to something or other, and I looked back at it, and checked AO3, and found that it had not been archived there along with the rest. So I added it in large chunks in the comments section. Hopefully whoever did the archiving will sort it into a proper entry.
There is also a comment from her about future chapters! I've been looking for that for age.
Find it all here in the comments section.
There is also a comment from her about future chapters! I've been looking for that for age.
Find it all here in the comments section.
Snowflake Challenge 10
22 Jan 2025 21:17Challenge #10
In your own space, talk about one (or more?) of your fandom firsts.
The first Convention I ever attended was TerraCon, in October 1979. It was held at the Dragonara hotel in Leeds, which was convenient, as I had moved to York the previous year to go to York Uni. I don't know how I found out about it - possibly through reading "Starlog" magazine, or possible through membership of a newsletter group - I think there was one called "Empathy", and also the Star Trek Action Group.
It was pretty exciting, and I got chatting to two German girls - one of whom later came to stay for a few days in York. There was a great fancy dress parade, and a disco. We got to watch some of the 3 episodes which had never been shown in the UK including "The Empath".
And one of the guests was the great Douglas Adams - but he insisted I buy a copy of the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy in order to get an autograph, and as they had run out of copies for sale, he refused me!
One evening they auctioned a piece of art that he and television model-maker Philip Rae had made, called "Death of a Coke Can." It was basically about 5 coke cans stuck on a board, in progressive stages of being crushed, and it sold for a massive £2.50. I wonder where it is now - I wish I had bought it!
Star Trek was also my first real fandom.
The first fic I fell in love with was the sadly unfinished "Dancing Lessons" - a Spuffy epic, which was being done by a team of writers, but which foundered due to Cousin Jean's asking for money so that she could write the last chapter! This fic introduced me to the concept of the fanmix, and for a small fee, I received I think 6 amazing mixes on CD. This was a concept I adopted for my own first fic.
The first fic I ever wrote - and re-wrote, and re-wrote - was a Spike/Riley fic, Moonstruck, which turned into a five part serial, "Altered States." This was in 2004.
My first Buffy convention was the chaotic and wonderful event, "The Harvest" in 2003.
And these are the results of my first photo ops.
In your own space, talk about one (or more?) of your fandom firsts.
The first Convention I ever attended was TerraCon, in October 1979. It was held at the Dragonara hotel in Leeds, which was convenient, as I had moved to York the previous year to go to York Uni. I don't know how I found out about it - possibly through reading "Starlog" magazine, or possible through membership of a newsletter group - I think there was one called "Empathy", and also the Star Trek Action Group.
It was pretty exciting, and I got chatting to two German girls - one of whom later came to stay for a few days in York. There was a great fancy dress parade, and a disco. We got to watch some of the 3 episodes which had never been shown in the UK including "The Empath".
And one of the guests was the great Douglas Adams - but he insisted I buy a copy of the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy in order to get an autograph, and as they had run out of copies for sale, he refused me!
One evening they auctioned a piece of art that he and television model-maker Philip Rae had made, called "Death of a Coke Can." It was basically about 5 coke cans stuck on a board, in progressive stages of being crushed, and it sold for a massive £2.50. I wonder where it is now - I wish I had bought it!
Star Trek was also my first real fandom.
The first fic I fell in love with was the sadly unfinished "Dancing Lessons" - a Spuffy epic, which was being done by a team of writers, but which foundered due to Cousin Jean's asking for money so that she could write the last chapter! This fic introduced me to the concept of the fanmix, and for a small fee, I received I think 6 amazing mixes on CD. This was a concept I adopted for my own first fic.
The first fic I ever wrote - and re-wrote, and re-wrote - was a Spike/Riley fic, Moonstruck, which turned into a five part serial, "Altered States." This was in 2004.
My first Buffy convention was the chaotic and wonderful event, "The Harvest" in 2003.
And these are the results of my first photo ops.
Snowflake Challenge 8
17 Jan 2025 21:40Challenge #8
In your own space, write a promo, manifesto or primer for a beloved character, relationship or fandom. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.
Mine is about "Arthur of the Britons", and the pairing at the heart of it, Arthur and Kai.
The series was one of the first costume dramas, if not the first, made entirely on location. The finance came from the children's programming budget, but the themes were often quite adult.
It is a retelling of King Arthur, but Arthur didn't call himself king. He was the leader of a group of often fractious tribes of Celts, trying to defend their lands against the invading Saxons - and the twist in the tale is that Arthur's lieutenant, Kai, who was raised alongside him, is a Saxon by birth.
The principals, Arthur (Oliver Tobias - "The Stud") and Kai (Michael Gothard) make a very attractive pair, and on occasion you can cut the UST with a knife. This video is an illustration.
The show has a wonderful soundtrack and score, and inspired me, and other fans, to locate filming locations, meet people involved with the series, and set up an archive about it, including transcripts, call sheets, photos, and nit-pickers' guides.
You can order it on DVD - the German production, Konig Arthur is superior, and has the english soundtrack - or you can watch it on Youtube. If you do, the best order we have worked out so far, is below. The English airing of the episodes was not the same as the filming order, which has been painstakingly worked out!
Arthur is Dead
Daughter of the King
The Challenge
The Gift of Life
Enemies and Lovers
In Common Cause
The Penitent Invader
The Slaves
People of the Plough
Go Warily
The Prisoner
The Duel
Rowena
Some Saxon Women
The Marriage Feast
The Prize
Six Measures of Silver/Rolf the Preacher
The Games
The Pupil/The Wood People
The Girl from Rome
The Swordsman
The Treaty
In your own space, write a promo, manifesto or primer for a beloved character, relationship or fandom. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.
Mine is about "Arthur of the Britons", and the pairing at the heart of it, Arthur and Kai.
The series was one of the first costume dramas, if not the first, made entirely on location. The finance came from the children's programming budget, but the themes were often quite adult.
It is a retelling of King Arthur, but Arthur didn't call himself king. He was the leader of a group of often fractious tribes of Celts, trying to defend their lands against the invading Saxons - and the twist in the tale is that Arthur's lieutenant, Kai, who was raised alongside him, is a Saxon by birth.
The principals, Arthur (Oliver Tobias - "The Stud") and Kai (Michael Gothard) make a very attractive pair, and on occasion you can cut the UST with a knife. This video is an illustration.
The show has a wonderful soundtrack and score, and inspired me, and other fans, to locate filming locations, meet people involved with the series, and set up an archive about it, including transcripts, call sheets, photos, and nit-pickers' guides.
You can order it on DVD - the German production, Konig Arthur is superior, and has the english soundtrack - or you can watch it on Youtube. If you do, the best order we have worked out so far, is below. The English airing of the episodes was not the same as the filming order, which has been painstakingly worked out!
Arthur is Dead
Daughter of the King
The Challenge
The Gift of Life
Enemies and Lovers
In Common Cause
The Penitent Invader
The Slaves
People of the Plough
Go Warily
The Prisoner
The Duel
Rowena
Some Saxon Women
The Marriage Feast
The Prize
Six Measures of Silver/Rolf the Preacher
The Games
The Pupil/The Wood People
The Girl from Rome
The Swordsman
The Treaty
Snowflake Challenge 7
14 Jan 2025 13:47I couldn't do challenge 6 because a favourite piece of canon is IMPOSSIBLE to choose!
Challenge #7
In your own space, create a list of at least three things you'd love to receive, something you've wanted but were afraid to ask for - a wishlist of sorts. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your wishlist if you feel comfortable doing so. Maybe someone will grant a wish. Check out other people's posts. Maybe you will grant a wish.
Well, not sure I have any wishes I've been afraid to ask for, but here goes:
1: I would love to recruit people to one of my fandoms, a little-known (now) show, "Arthur of the Britons" - it was shown all over the world in the 1970s and 80s. You can watch it on Youtube, or buy the DVDs. There is a Facebook group for it, and a site where I have put my research. Let me know if you are interested and I will give you a better watch order than that on Youtube!
Here are some of my vids for the series, which has one main - slash/pre-slash/bromance - pairing:
A Raven
The Truth
The Journey
Complete list
2: I would love it if anyone would read and comment on any of my fics on AO3: fandoms are BtVS/Angel, Arthur of the Britons, and a fic each from Heartstopper and Blake's Seven.
3: Do something to help a non-human animal - eg. rescue a drowning insect; feed the birds; donate to the World Land Trust; if you eat meat, have an animal-free meal instead.
Actually, 4: I would love it if someone podficced either any of my fics, or Subtleties by Eliade
Challenge #7
In your own space, create a list of at least three things you'd love to receive, something you've wanted but were afraid to ask for - a wishlist of sorts. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your wishlist if you feel comfortable doing so. Maybe someone will grant a wish. Check out other people's posts. Maybe you will grant a wish.
Well, not sure I have any wishes I've been afraid to ask for, but here goes:
1: I would love to recruit people to one of my fandoms, a little-known (now) show, "Arthur of the Britons" - it was shown all over the world in the 1970s and 80s. You can watch it on Youtube, or buy the DVDs. There is a Facebook group for it, and a site where I have put my research. Let me know if you are interested and I will give you a better watch order than that on Youtube!
Here are some of my vids for the series, which has one main - slash/pre-slash/bromance - pairing:
A Raven
The Truth
The Journey
Complete list
2: I would love it if anyone would read and comment on any of my fics on AO3: fandoms are BtVS/Angel, Arthur of the Britons, and a fic each from Heartstopper and Blake's Seven.
3: Do something to help a non-human animal - eg. rescue a drowning insect; feed the birds; donate to the World Land Trust; if you eat meat, have an animal-free meal instead.
Actually, 4: I would love it if someone podficced either any of my fics, or Subtleties by Eliade
Challenge #4
Set your own goals!
Complete house tidy and spring clean.
Work through all the new info from new "Arthur of the Britons" contact, add it to my archive, and make a Blogbook of it.
Reset my biological clock, so that I can wake up before 10 am. For this, I have to stop taking naps any later than 3 pm and start my exercise by 6 pm, so that I can get into bed by 11 pm. You might suggest I use an alarm clock, but I find that if I am woken by an alarm, I feel like I am about to have a heart attack!
Challenge #5
Talk about what has improved in your life thanks to fandom.
I am a natural born slasher. For as long as I can remember (which is quite a long time) it has given me warm fuzzy feelings, like I have been given a basket of kittens, whenever I have seen two guys looking like they are in love.
So, yeah - I remember as a kid, of maybe 11, typing a story on my grandparents' typewriter, about two guys, Leo (who was dark-haired) and Alex (who was blond), and a tragedy involving a mean sister killing Leo's horse, which brought them together ... I think it was a H/C thing at the time, but I hadn't any ideas about sex of any kind back then, so I'm sure once I had, there would have been kissing ...
I can't rationalise this in terms of my upbringing, education, or friendships - it's a deep seated biological reaction, which I suppose must have originally had some survival benefit, probably long before humans evolved.
Say, two male primates of some sort are fighting for dominance; one wins, and expresses dominance by mounting the other, and so gets to lead the troupe, and mate with the females. If the females have all got bored and run off, both of them have wasted their time. But if some of the females were fascinated, and even turned on by the spectacle, it's possible that both males will successfully reproduce ...
Anyway, all I'm getting round to is the way online fandom has:
- made me realise that I'm not the only slasher in the world - which was both a revelation and a relief.
- given me lots of free stories (cough: ... porn) to fill my brain and lots of files with, and greatly improved my sexual experiences - this is something that used to be talked about a lot on Livejournal, but I feel a bit like people have gone back "in the closet" in that respect.
- got me started writing for other people's eyes for the first time.
- helped me meet lots of new and lovely people, both online and in real life.
- ensured that I am never lacking something to do, or something new to watch or read.
Set your own goals!
Complete house tidy and spring clean.
Work through all the new info from new "Arthur of the Britons" contact, add it to my archive, and make a Blogbook of it.
Reset my biological clock, so that I can wake up before 10 am. For this, I have to stop taking naps any later than 3 pm and start my exercise by 6 pm, so that I can get into bed by 11 pm. You might suggest I use an alarm clock, but I find that if I am woken by an alarm, I feel like I am about to have a heart attack!
Challenge #5
Talk about what has improved in your life thanks to fandom.
I am a natural born slasher. For as long as I can remember (which is quite a long time) it has given me warm fuzzy feelings, like I have been given a basket of kittens, whenever I have seen two guys looking like they are in love.
So, yeah - I remember as a kid, of maybe 11, typing a story on my grandparents' typewriter, about two guys, Leo (who was dark-haired) and Alex (who was blond), and a tragedy involving a mean sister killing Leo's horse, which brought them together ... I think it was a H/C thing at the time, but I hadn't any ideas about sex of any kind back then, so I'm sure once I had, there would have been kissing ...
I can't rationalise this in terms of my upbringing, education, or friendships - it's a deep seated biological reaction, which I suppose must have originally had some survival benefit, probably long before humans evolved.
Say, two male primates of some sort are fighting for dominance; one wins, and expresses dominance by mounting the other, and so gets to lead the troupe, and mate with the females. If the females have all got bored and run off, both of them have wasted their time. But if some of the females were fascinated, and even turned on by the spectacle, it's possible that both males will successfully reproduce ...
Anyway, all I'm getting round to is the way online fandom has:
- made me realise that I'm not the only slasher in the world - which was both a revelation and a relief.
- given me lots of free stories (cough: ... porn) to fill my brain and lots of files with, and greatly improved my sexual experiences - this is something that used to be talked about a lot on Livejournal, but I feel a bit like people have gone back "in the closet" in that respect.
- got me started writing for other people's eyes for the first time.
- helped me meet lots of new and lovely people, both online and in real life.
- ensured that I am never lacking something to do, or something new to watch or read.
Snowflake Challenge 3
7 Jan 2025 23:01Challenge #3
Despite society's insistence otherwise, the beliefs and opinions that we hold about things change over time. In your own space, talk about a fannish opinion you hold that has changed over time. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.
I very rarely change my mind about anything, so this was tricky. But when I was first a fan of Star Trek, aged 10 or 11, and for some years after, I kept wishing that Kirk would die and Spock be made captain, so that everything would run smoothly!
I know - hilarious. Where would be the drama? The tension? I guess I had enough of that at home!
I gradually grew to realise that they were the perfect foil for each other. No one ever offered me slash fanfic magazines, though I would have loved to have them - I am a natural born slasher, so I don't know why they never came my way, and until 2004, I thought I was alone!
But in a relationship or not, Kirk and Spock go together like ... two things that go together perfectly.
Despite society's insistence otherwise, the beliefs and opinions that we hold about things change over time. In your own space, talk about a fannish opinion you hold that has changed over time. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.
I very rarely change my mind about anything, so this was tricky. But when I was first a fan of Star Trek, aged 10 or 11, and for some years after, I kept wishing that Kirk would die and Spock be made captain, so that everything would run smoothly!
I know - hilarious. Where would be the drama? The tension? I guess I had enough of that at home!
I gradually grew to realise that they were the perfect foil for each other. No one ever offered me slash fanfic magazines, though I would have loved to have them - I am a natural born slasher, so I don't know why they never came my way, and until 2004, I thought I was alone!
But in a relationship or not, Kirk and Spock go together like ... two things that go together perfectly.
Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie ProulxMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I don't think the Wyoming Tourist Board is going to be offering Annie Proulx a job any time soon! It sounds awful. I found it hard to care about most of the (way too many) characters, with their chaotic lives, which were mostly nasty, brutish and short. She could have titled the book, "Ways to Die in Wyoming." I'm sure it's well written, but the plots jumped around too much for my liking, in this desperately depressing set of tales. Weirdly, Brokeback Mountain is the most upbeat - at least Jack and Ennis had some good times together before one of them died!
View all my reviews
Snowflake Challenge 2
5 Jan 2025 11:57Challenge #2
In your own space, talk about your fannish origin story. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.
My first serious fandom was Star Trek. I was 10 or 11 years old, living with a horrible aggressive mother, her nagging boyfriend, and a little sister of 2 years old. Television was my refuge - there were only 2 channels: BBC and ITV - but there was always something I wanted to see - sometimes on both channels at once, which was torment without any recording devices. Every week, I would mark all the TV shows I wanted to watch in the Radio Times.
( Read more... )
So much of my time is filled up with my fandom obsessions. It has greatly enriched my life; I have met some lovely people, and I imagine there is plenty to keep me occupied for the next few years.
In your own space, talk about your fannish origin story. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.
My first serious fandom was Star Trek. I was 10 or 11 years old, living with a horrible aggressive mother, her nagging boyfriend, and a little sister of 2 years old. Television was my refuge - there were only 2 channels: BBC and ITV - but there was always something I wanted to see - sometimes on both channels at once, which was torment without any recording devices. Every week, I would mark all the TV shows I wanted to watch in the Radio Times.
( Read more... )
So much of my time is filled up with my fandom obsessions. It has greatly enriched my life; I have met some lovely people, and I imagine there is plenty to keep me occupied for the next few years.
"Platoon" is NOT a gay romp.
ETA: Oops! Also, I mis-remembered - apparently he said "Apocalypse Now" not "Platoon".
ETA: Oops! Also, I mis-remembered - apparently he said "Apocalypse Now" not "Platoon".
1. What is the most adventurous food you've ever tried?
Generally, I don't like being adventurous with food - seems like a good way to end up getting your stomach pumped. The weirdest thing was, when I was about 6, my mum asked what I wanted to eat on my birthday, and for some reason best known to some child psychologist, I said "rabbit." I had never had rabbit before, I didn't enjoy it at all, and I never ate it again. What on EARTH possessed me?
2. What is the most adventurous food you'd be willing to try?
Any non-poisonous fruit or vegetable - no weird mushrooms, please.
3. Would you have a problem eating dog meat and why or why not?
As a vegetarian of 50 + years, yes, there is no way I would eat dogs, or any other animal. While I know that every animal wants to live it's own life, and cows have best friends, and fish do NOT have bad memories, there seems to me to be a special sort of betrayal involved when a human eats a dog. We have kept and bred this species for millenia, and they are the other species which has played the most intimate part in human history; we created them to love us unconditionally. How DARE we turn on them and eat them?
4. For the most part, do you consider your diet to be balanced?
I am a junk food vegetarian - my diet is not well organised. But I'm still here, and in better condition than many people my age.
5. Which is more appealing: being a vegetarian for the rest of your life or being a strict carnivore for the rest of your life?
A strict carnivore's life would be nasty, brutish and short. I intend to be a vegetarian for the rest of my life.
Generally, I don't like being adventurous with food - seems like a good way to end up getting your stomach pumped. The weirdest thing was, when I was about 6, my mum asked what I wanted to eat on my birthday, and for some reason best known to some child psychologist, I said "rabbit." I had never had rabbit before, I didn't enjoy it at all, and I never ate it again. What on EARTH possessed me?
2. What is the most adventurous food you'd be willing to try?
Any non-poisonous fruit or vegetable - no weird mushrooms, please.
3. Would you have a problem eating dog meat and why or why not?
As a vegetarian of 50 + years, yes, there is no way I would eat dogs, or any other animal. While I know that every animal wants to live it's own life, and cows have best friends, and fish do NOT have bad memories, there seems to me to be a special sort of betrayal involved when a human eats a dog. We have kept and bred this species for millenia, and they are the other species which has played the most intimate part in human history; we created them to love us unconditionally. How DARE we turn on them and eat them?
4. For the most part, do you consider your diet to be balanced?
I am a junk food vegetarian - my diet is not well organised. But I'm still here, and in better condition than many people my age.
5. Which is more appealing: being a vegetarian for the rest of your life or being a strict carnivore for the rest of your life?
A strict carnivore's life would be nasty, brutish and short. I intend to be a vegetarian for the rest of my life.
... or are they just annoying at this time of year? Have you ever made your own fireworks display at home?
When I was a kid, my grandad would light fireworks in the back garden - just little ones like Roman candles and Catherine Wheels, and I was allowed sparklers. I remember loving the smell.
Also, sometimes we would walk along the beach, and there would be small bonfires every few hundred yards, with people lighting fireworks, and you could just go and watch them.
Nowadays, whenever I become aware of fireworks or a bonfire, all I can think about is the hedgehogs and invertebrates being burned to death, and the terrified wild animals and terrified pets and terrified people, and idiots throwing fireworks or posting them through letterboxes, and fires getting out of control, and fireworks littering the countryside or setting it on fire, and I would just like to ban the whole thing, because people are not responsible enough to be allowed fireworks, or fires outside.
When I was a kid, my grandad would light fireworks in the back garden - just little ones like Roman candles and Catherine Wheels, and I was allowed sparklers. I remember loving the smell.
Also, sometimes we would walk along the beach, and there would be small bonfires every few hundred yards, with people lighting fireworks, and you could just go and watch them.
Nowadays, whenever I become aware of fireworks or a bonfire, all I can think about is the hedgehogs and invertebrates being burned to death, and the terrified wild animals and terrified pets and terrified people, and idiots throwing fireworks or posting them through letterboxes, and fires getting out of control, and fireworks littering the countryside or setting it on fire, and I would just like to ban the whole thing, because people are not responsible enough to be allowed fireworks, or fires outside.
