InBabel @InBabel@writing.exchange

It must be nice to have the confidence of belonging.

I got to watch a hospital ward going onto a war footing today. We were suddenly decanting people home or moving them on their beds to other wards to make space for an anticipated influx of covid patients. Then just before I left, I looked round and there were empty bays where there had previously been beds. And every member of staff seemed just tiny bit quieter and a tiny bit more focused.

Sitting in a coffee shop the other day, trying to read a book but being distracted by a man at the next table. He was talking to his friend, but in a self consciously showy-off and shouty manner. He boasted about golf, how good he was, his upcoming trip to golf courses in New York and Florida (this was in England.) I had an idea for a short story about a woman who murders her husband because his voice is too loud and his conversation too dull by stabbing him 9 times, it could be called 9 Holes.

@mastobikes @mastobikes A shot of the finished bike. Creme cycles Caferacer Uno. With “special” modifications.

The past year has been an emotional roller-coaster, I have successfully completed my first year as a student nurse, 2nd year begins in just under 4 weeks. It has been full of experiences most of which I can only discuss in vague terms or not at all. I am acutely aware that nurses have a professional responsibility to respect the right to privacy of the people who we care for. A responsibility I take very seriously. With that in mind... Fam, let me tell you, it has been wild.

Its seems fitting that the international scale for grading neurological impairment is named after Glasgow. But you have to feel sorry for the people of Bristol. I can’t comment on the aptness of that one.

An evening photo for you Masto, from the passenger bridge at Clapham Junction. Where else. Between platform 6 and 7 is the entrance to the maintenance depot. Which is a jumble of lines and interesting looking workshop sheds.

Absolute cheeky feckers.

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I found 1970s London. “Not All who Wander are logs.”

I have a free afternoon, so I’ve been wandering about Camberwell, a legitimately magical bit of London. Its supposed to be autumn but summer has decided to bless us by sticking around a little longer.

Be transgender, have a happy and fulfilling life. It’s pretty far from the worst thing that could happen to a person.

Transphobes “What if you’re not really trans, and only think you are because of abuse?”

Welllllll… What if you’re not really cisgender, but only think you are because of abuse?

See also; High achiever, heterosexual, religious fundamentalist, soldier, conservative, capitalist etc etc etc. The list of possible long term trauma impacts in adult life is actually endless. As coping mechanisms for abuse go, being transgender is one of the least harmful. Focusing on it as if its the only one though…

Compulsory grieving. You can see, still, the social forces that inspired writing by people like Orwell.

Took this on the way into work. The newspaper headline is “Our Hearts Are Broken.” My heart is fine about the death of a filthy rich billionaire hereditary Monarch at the age of 96. It does ache however when I see people forced to sleep in doorways in that same country. Driven by a hatred for the poor harboured by the same people demanding I give a fuck about Queenie. All I can say is England has no fucking shame.

“Operation London Bridge is now in force and that will see many changes made throughout the country.“ No, and its difficult to overstate this, it forking well will not.

All I can think of tonight is Sophie Okonedo as Queen Elizabeth the tenth.

Good morning from the Misty Morning Express in Englandland.

You all make me proud sometimes.

Friday night diner in the 24hr cafe at Victoria Station.

Your occasional update from the passenger bridge at Clapham Junction.

Apologies for the birdsite link, but I had to look. People are already doing fan art of Death. I also can’t say this enough, even if you aren’t going to watch the series, episode six is stand alone enough to enjoy, and its a bumper. https://mobile.twitter.com/GMeinzen/status/1558876198553501697

If you have Netflix watch Episode 6 of The Sandman “The Sound of her Wings” It was a stand alone story in the comics when they were published, they have done an amazing job translating it to Netflix.

I’m probably going to re-read Sandman before I watch the Netflix version. I’m really pleased to see Lucienne and Death are played by black women, in the comics they’re drawn as white and Lucienne is male. However, what I can’t help being amazed about is that it was an Indie comic in the nineties. They had the choice to draw the characters any race they wanted and they still opted for white. It has taken so long for that to change and it should always have been the norm.

Death is hands down the best character in the entire comic serial (after Wanda - but I’m biased about Wanda.)

In the nineties, diversity was making Death a white goth girl. I am glad they made the choice to cast boldly for the Netflix show. I haven’t bothered to check what fans are saying, I can’t imagine it’s complimentary.