Nigello

^Apple^ cider vinegar

Drag is DEFINITELY over. It is total overkill - everything is ICONIC or YAAASS KWEEEN. It has been on the wane for a while. Drag kings, though, are worth a look, but because it is women taking off men, rather then men taking off women, they rarely get a look in - sexism even permeates gender bending! The very fact that Seabag seeks to burnish right-on creds by highlighting my oh-so-offensive world "titillating" when referring to my take on the adoption of what once was a subversive artform by Grayson P shows just how far drag has become mainstream. (Titillating is totally appropriate because Perry would not had the coverage and fame he has without the knowing and semi-ironic Aunt Sally schtick he knew would appeal to the arty set. Likewise Izzard, who thinks he can just see himself and be seen as a woman just by donning an exaggerated garb, was very much feted and applauded for his X-dressing as well as his comedy.) Divine was a good example of good drag, as was RuPaul when he lived in the Meatpacking District of NYC in the early/mid eighties. Danny LaRue, Stanley Baxter and even Les Dawson were comedy gold in a way the new wave couldn't even begin to hope to aspire. And some men do get sexual thrills from dressing up in women's clothes, which is totally fair enough and if you are into that, go for it. So, back on topic, no flag from anyone, including Grayson P.

I heard some children repeating their teacher's Chinese at a school in the area, and it got me thinking about which languages forumites know, and how they acquired them.... (English, French, Italian, others - only English is mother tongue).

They are letting it run down, and have been for a while. The cardio machine monitors don't link to TV or YouTube, as proclaimed on the screen, for example. The staff are good, though and I hope they manage to stay employed.

Clair his alter ego is his expression of himself in part, of course it contrives to shock and create discussion, but it shouldn?t render him or his work redundant, unlike Cath?s ironing board covers etc. And tell me, do you think this ?panto? he?s been engaged in has added to or diminished the cause of gender politics? I?d say it?s given a lot of people the courage to be themselves, and for the world around them to accept them easier, in general. It did but then teh tide turned and more and more women are concerned about the effects on panto-women (eg. drag) on the idea of what is a woman. Times and mores change, so what was once to be feted and what once titillated and was said to "encourage debate" is now not so universally accepted. I know that Grayson's alter-ego is part of his art, but Izzard's donning of lippy and stilettos and woman-facing is, I think, much less admired these days.

Seabag - my point is that they are too "out there" but that they are "out there" in a socially unacceptable way now. The peopel who would have lauded them are now much more likely to decry their pantomimic "woman face" antics. Cath Kidston is not my scene, either and no, London, does not need a flag or motto or sticker or hashtag.

I have not had a contract for many years but may go back to one for the new iPhone 13. Any recommendations for SE22 best coverage. I use Tesco, which piggbacks O2, I believe. I am not interested in perks like free film tickets or Netflix, etc. Money talks, so cheaper the better - with caveats, I know.

Young families on bikes - stop fetishising what ought to be just a normal, everyday thing, a normal, everyday mode of transport. When I hear/see phrases liek that I just think it is a mask, a totem for all manner of other things. Kids can and do use bikes, as they have done for years and years, including the bad seventies when the idea of cyclist's rights were not even thought of and drivers were much more likely to be un buckled-up or drunk. You cannot legislate or bollard-ise danger or hazard out of anything, so please don't think that for more people to cycle we need ever more elaborate infrastructure.

I rang Day Lewis on F Hill Rd.,was asked to come in, and just had it done. Thanks

There was a time when such loveable luvvies as Perry and Izzard with their OTT transvestism were seen as artistically ironic, etc. but maybe not now? Be interesting to see whether Grayson frocks up less in public. (And it is still no to a flag, made by whichever person.)

Enough Grayson Perry, too.

It?s still a reservation only service for swimming! It?s not on. I was told it?d go back to as it used to be in August by staff.

Which one?

I don?t understand - you?re not referring to a GP surgery which usually texts or phones you with an invitation if you?re in a certain category of patient.

Has anyone had one yet? Please reply with your GP surgery name. I?ve not ? DMC.

Many of these shops have vandalised frontages that drag the area down. Councillors don?t intervene to offer cleaning or ask business owners spruce themselves up, probably lest they ?offend? them. I won?t use a business that is tatty and disregards its neighbours, especially when they shut up shop and leave at end of business leaving tatty and uninviting shutters, etc.

The National Insurance is in effect a 2.5% rise because employers match the employees? contributions, as stated and the 1.25% shares tax is new so it?ll add up to a fair bit, most of it going to health service shortfalls for the first year, I think.

There?s nothing stopping anyone going solo. The more of the merrier. Just pick what you can and bung it into a nearby bin, or a recycling bin that are handily left out do many pavements! The group idea is also very welcome but don?t underestimate the usefulness of one-human bands.

Agreed that walking (or using a wheelchair) is underserved. Very little is done to improve walking routes - jud5blook at how puddles form because drains aren?t cleaned and ponding develops on cracked pavements (already a hazard when dry) or at drooped kerbs. Households are not asked to trim bushes and branches - especially bad for blind or disable? people - and trees? limbs are left to grow as low as the height of an adult. Yes, this would cost a bit to address but it?s not with-it and the stuff of ad campaigns. If you?re not keeping your bins off the street and your privets, etc. tamed, then please do so because it?s your responsibility as much as mine to keep pavements in good shape for pedestrians and wheelchair users.

Fish bits were always on offer at the chippies I knew and loved. They were just the scrappy bits of batter or tiny, crispy chips that were skimmed off the fryers. I think they were free and I never go5 more than a handful.

On two days on the trot I have seen what I think were clumps of (I guess) pigeon feathers on the ground at two different locations near the lake in Peckham Rye Park. I have seen them nearby on other occasions. What, do you think, could have caused the birds to shed their feathers? Is it possible a fox could have got them or a bird of prey?

A not-really-needed reminder that car/other vehicle use causes congestion and pollution as witnessed by the substantial numbers of cars on the roads due to the schools being back, at least some of them. It is the people wot do it!

DMC used to be fine, then it got really bad vis-a-vis the phone line. They somehow managed to go from about 7 people in the Q to 25+ when they changed the format or tech. (It now sounds different from before, with different voice and prompts, etc.)

https://members.parliament.uk/member/4510/contact - write and leave your address and phone number and email address. I am sure she woudl be interested.

Gotten - yes, I know it is actually a form of old English and that we in the U K got rid of teh final syllable so maybe we are in the wrong, but GOT has been the acceptable past participle for at least 150 years. (Apple and YouTube, etc. and all the social media are partly responsible, especially when the hardware is often set automatically to U S English. This is how cultural hegemony starts out, people!