tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49534211251461475432012-01-01T23:39:29.504ZIn theory, a repository for my ramblings and scribblings.Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.comBlogger761100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-50567403586958878262012-01-01T20:21:00.001Z2012-01-01T23:39:29.523Z

Many questions home educators receive have hidden agendas. For example; "Does anyone have to inspect you?" hides the questions:  "How can you educate without someone telling you what to do?"  and; "How can you be good enough?" To which my reply ought to be: "I have a brain, I can figure out the stuff my kid should know. I can read at least as well as an average teacher, I can

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-67171978021737521112011-12-13T08:43:00.001Z2011-12-13T08:43:45.065Z

I've added a page up the top to put my home-made resources in! These are here in good faith for personal use, please let me know if you've used them and credit me where possible, I'll try to do the same if I happen to borrow anything. The first thing I have for you is a set of dinosaur silhouettes that you can cut up, laminate and use for anything you like :)  Print two and play

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-1102359389248109502011-12-05T18:49:00.001Z2011-12-05T20:14:26.117Z

"A graduate is taking legal action against the government over a scheme which she says forces people to do unpaid work." via BBC I'm really struggling with this report that was just on the news. I would love to hear a bit more from Cait - the aforementioned graduate; things like whether she has worked before, what experience she already has and what sort of job she wants.  I'd like to ask

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-2738278933059479442011-10-28T06:51:00.000+01:002011-10-28T06:53:06.278+01:00

We drop Mr Onions off at work most days and Little Onion (Shallot? Perhaps she needs an Onion-Based alias too?) loves it when he knocks on her window to say 'goodbye,' I actually think it's the highlight of her day.  Before we left the other morning he wrote her name in the condensation on the window, which was hugely exciting for her.  The next day, when we were out and about on our own,

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-30336428638054677542011-10-25T11:32:00.000+01:002011-10-28T06:51:59.408+01:00

My girly is trying to use a handheld Mega Drive. And getting really frustrated with it not doing what she wants. It's hard to stand back and stop myself from showing her. The litany of 'If you want to play you play, but if you're frustrated you can put it down,' is getting tiresome, but what is the alternative? What will she learn if I do it all for her? I'm obviously happy to help her

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-6440921457945337232011-10-03T15:00:00.000+01:002011-10-05T12:06:19.444+01:00

Let's lighten things up a bit here! I've been investigating making muffins for about 6 months now and finally think I'm getting the hang of it.  I invented these with NP and they were well received by all, they are low on (added, refined) sugar and not too fatty (I think). I reckon they could be tarted up a bit more with some nuts to slow the release of the sugar, perhaps some chopped

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-11851960198485689172011-08-25T09:42:00.000+01:002011-08-25T09:42:10.611+01:00

Sometimes I want to kick my ass. I have all these pretensions about What My Blog Is. So many, in fact, that I end up writing nothing on here for days, weeks, months sometimes. I feel like I have nothing important to say. I think about those blogs that I skip reading these days because they're so boring to me and wonder, what the hell can I do here that will be interesting? I've fallen way out of

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-58592840497261414842011-08-13T09:33:00.000+01:002011-08-13T09:33:36.831+01:00

Children are often liable to take you by surprise, aren't they?  At the moment, we aren't using any kind of structured learning but we are doing lots of reading and taking advantage of every opportunity. In this environment, over past month, my little one has discovered something awesome. The glee on her little face when she takes a book off me and says, "Now I'll read it to you mommy," eek! It

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-3598554141225201262011-08-06T23:06:00.000+01:002011-08-06T23:06:27.987+01:00

"I want to challenge everyone to do it better. By all means, tell your story. But when you do, don’t forget that the minor characters in your life are the protagonists of their own. If you respect their voices and honor their stories, they might just be there for you next time, helping you through the shit the world throws at you and giving you new worlds to write about outside of your own life."

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-27949727210587558542011-08-02T11:03:00.000+01:002011-08-02T11:03:32.601+01:00

OK, I need to talk about school. I'm not sure where this will lead. You know how hindsight is, it makes you feel much more important and self-righteous than you ever probably were; adult brains do love to rationalise past actions. It's important though. It's important in the context of why I want to Home Educate and why I don't agree that school is necessary for all children. Yet, please, don't

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-44342285934433782052011-07-17T09:30:00.005+01:002011-07-17T09:30:02.814+01:00

I was invited to the preschool Teddy Bears Picnic last week. It was pretty likely I'd be standing around for an hour, not speaking to any other parents and appearing to be a stuck up cow (my mom calls it 'aloof'), but for the sake of watching Miss J's face when introduced to Pink Bill Murray, I attended.  Little NP was ecstatic to have me there and made a beautiful jam sandwich for us to share,

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-73970866570278356702011-07-16T23:04:00.000+01:002011-07-16T23:04:08.242+01:00

We were at RAF Cosford yesterday (interesting visit by the way, and free apart from car parking, I liked the hands-on science things and the Cold War exhibition). We passed by a lady who was breastfeeding a small baby, probably under 3 months I guess (what do I know? It's been more than 3 years since NP was that small) poor baby had such a twist in her neck to reach the breast. But I didn't want

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-12708474551996852382011-07-14T12:27:00.001+01:002011-07-14T12:27:20.419+01:00

Appropriate for a 4 year old?

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-31658586149098207712011-07-13T23:19:00.002+01:002011-07-13T23:31:13.346+01:00

My girl has had a fabulous day at Thomas Land, Drayton Manor Park. She ran around the whole place, had a beautiful temperament all day and was a joy to be around.   Our whole day has been an exercise in positive parenting. When she had a minor freak out on Bertie the Bus, Mr Onions and I 'whee!-ed' and 'wow!-ed' with gusto. When she was shocked at the speed of the roller coaster I described how

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-71373411454555627992011-07-08T09:00:00.007+01:002011-07-08T09:00:06.373+01:00

My talented sister wrote a poem based on this blog post. Daisy chains in the sun I've never felt better than when I've sat alone making daisy chains in the sun. I've never felt better than when I'm sat alone away from everyone. I love to watch the people pass by and wonder what they've done. Feeling so sorry for all the children whose parents seem no fun. I’ve had enough of monotony and the

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-59394764602730773782011-07-06T21:31:00.001+01:002011-07-06T21:31:56.912+01:00

I've been waiting for NP to develop some sort of gendered attitude towards colour, and recently I thought it had happened with Gary and Pink Bill Murray (whose name will surely be hilarious to a select few and ridiculous to all the rest) Even though I said that Gary and Bill are boy names she insisted they were girls.  "Why are they girls?" I asked, and I'm *almost certain* she mentioned 'pink'

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-29319773509032704792011-06-30T09:00:00.001+01:002011-06-30T09:00:03.772+01:00

This blogging lark is pretty damn difficult sometimes. I started here wanting an outlet for my creative/academic side whilst I was at uni. I loved being able to get out those thoughts that didn't have a place in my uni work and being able to apply concepts to situations and texts so that other people could see things the way I saw them. I seem to have morphed into a Mummy Blogger.  Not that it's

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-76796773931306985432011-06-29T21:24:00.001+01:002011-06-29T21:25:02.758+01:00

If anyone gets a messed up situation in their reader I'm sorry, it's me faffing around trying to be clever. p.s. if you do read this in a blog reader would you mind clicking through, just this once, please? I'd like to see what kind of hits I'm *actually* getting. Cheers :)

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-42305605720132831972011-06-29T09:26:00.000+01:002011-06-29T09:26:03.466+01:00

A very happy green-fingered lady We've been growing vegetables in our garden for 3 years now and I can't believe that this year is the first time we've tried something legume-ey (that's a scientific word, btw). We've had plenty of success with potatoes for a couple of years but decided to give the soil a rest from those this year. A quick check in my self-sufficiency book has just proved that

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-52117403016827890742011-06-24T07:00:00.002+01:002011-06-24T07:00:12.422+01:00

I decided to broaden my own mind and experiences by taking up a new hobby or two: NP is loving her new toys and the crochet bag to keep them in. I'm currently working on a crochet brooch for her birthday and will probably get on with a few more practice pieces like these before I embark on a bigger project.  There are some fab magazines out there which give you loads of stuff to get you

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-999526827191749262011-06-22T07:00:00.001+01:002011-06-22T07:00:04.093+01:00

Want to know one of my weaknesses? Kick-ass strong women. I have a few favourite female fictional characters, but Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching and Granny Weatherwax should be right near the top of that list. Pratchett books get devoured over here. I savour every last drop, give a big sigh, feel slightly bereft, then leave them for a few months. I recently finished re-reading 'I Shall Wear

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-24869395781287009902011-06-21T10:49:00.005+01:002011-06-21T11:14:42.495+01:00

The Home Education lark is getting along nicely these days, probably one reason why I haven't been around here. Everything seems to be ticking over, we're meeting new people, doing new things and generally running like a well oiled machine. This is the point in life where I normally freak out :) With home life flowing so well, housework under control and lots of fun socialising going on, why on

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-17834802449151822972011-05-20T08:55:00.003+01:002011-05-22T16:52:27.796+01:00

I believe our life is a process of juggling to preserve a fine balance; thus to reset the equilibrium that was thrown off by our super smug home educating post on Monday, the universe has thrown us a glorious cold that has left the rest of the week looking mostly like this: This, I suppose, is actually another benefit of HE: little lady gets to spend her poorly time concentrating on getting

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-46728860767673985442011-05-17T12:15:00.004+01:002011-05-17T13:16:04.869+01:00

As an aside to our tale from yesterday, I thought I'd chat about the Phonics workbook we were doing, and the Playful Parenting technique that, I felt, gave us a massive breakthrough in working together.I know, it sounds hideously boring, but I managed to demonstrate to myself that Playful Parenting really *does* work better than having a conversation, sometimes. I'm in no way connected to the

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-39748786855632159962011-05-16T20:57:00.009+01:002011-05-17T22:25:28.761+01:00

I decided the best way to kick off our Home Educating journey would be to join the Patch of Puddles "A Typical Home Ed Day in Photos" carnival!Now, you might notice I don't do a lot of photo blogging, so forgive me if this goes slightly wrong, I have no idea what I'm doing :) Today had NP and me pottering about the house, buying new shoes, having lunch out and going to Stay and Play (a group for

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-16895360157254671092011-05-06T14:54:00.001+01:002011-05-06T15:01:38.313+01:00

Please excuse me whilst I work through some sh*t here, I'm slowly figuring out my relationship to school and my current feelings towards it for my daughter. If you were coming here for the feminism and analysis, I'm sorry, very little is appealing to my argumentative side these days, I think most of my passion is being channelled into my little one and her situation.Expect reflective essays and

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-19590880460382393432011-04-28T23:26:00.003+01:002011-04-28T23:55:09.216+01:00

More and more, I'm finding that I care less and less what other people think.When NP was in nursery I felt a strange obligation to fit in with the other parents, but, being the reserved and socially inept individual that I am, I would stand alone instead of striking up conversation at the gate. I think this is partly down to the co-incidence of all having had a child within the appropriate 12

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-76947198151512450862011-03-01T13:24:00.004Z2011-03-01T13:48:05.805Z

A slight epiphany descended upon my sofa-ensconced form just a moment ago.I've had concerns about how NP is settling into nursery (settling?! She's been at the place since September!). I've gone the usual channels, spoken to the teacher, talked to NP about it, all to find that, come the start of each new half term, she hates it, come the start of the holidays she's slightly settled (which gets

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-21273950294268646922011-01-02T23:58:00.003Z2011-01-03T01:26:22.879Z

Inspiring as ever, Felicia Day put me up to this (I make it sound like we're best buddies, but all I did was read her blog; I guess I've started going ever so slightly crazy after the best part of 3 weeks in cabin-feverish swine-flu-induced exile.)Routine is the path to a calm mindLast year I was at my happiest and most 'together' during the times I maintained an 'autopilot' routine for housework

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-71248692695181531752010-10-28T09:39:00.004+01:002010-10-28T09:47:00.740+01:00

I'm sitting on the sofa browsing the internet (yes naughty mommy) with NP next to me. Of her own accord she has fetched an educational numbers book. It's the kind where you count the number of 'things' on a page, then lift the flap to see the answer. Because she can recognise numbers 1 - 10 written down already (thank you Thomas the Tank Engine!) it's working really well. I keep hearing:'...7, 8,

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-4673875322309298652010-10-14T10:55:00.002+01:002010-10-14T10:58:22.781+01:00

I've been thinking lately that feminism and activism will get a renewed support in the years to come. I wonder whether there is a correlation between a vocal and enraged feminist movement and a conservative/right wing government? Or, more broadly, whether the left gets p*ssed off enough during these times that they start mobilising on a grand scheme?

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-10117995279990518992010-09-17T11:06:00.005+01:002010-09-17T11:40:32.128+01:00

I really enjoyed The F Word Interview with Zoe Margolis, she's very frank and passionate about her views and it's refreshing to see someone in the mainstream talking so clearly about the fine line between empowerment and objectification. Often people misunderstand feminist objections to sexualised images, and, from what I've read, feminists themselves can sometimes seem confused about what

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-44488940424419564062010-09-11T22:12:00.004+01:002011-04-14T21:24:25.815+01:00

Previous post had me thinking about what kinds of toys NP plays with, and why it is that she likes them. And you know what? The stuff she likes is the stuff we show interest in with her. Not just her mom and dad, but her grandparents too, the people she spends her time with. What a surprise?!Her most favourite thing of all time? Trains. Usually Thomas, but not always. Every single member of her

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-52311129355102941752010-09-08T09:40:00.008+01:002010-09-08T09:55:56.758+01:00

It has probably not escaped your attention that I've been absent since July. Hey, what happened in July? Oh, just my lovely daughter 24/7!I don't begrudge her, but it's been a tough time.Anyway, anyone interested in little girls and gender roles should go read this blog passed on to me via a lovely friend, who got it from the beautiful and talented Felicia Day who I didn't realise had done

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-60154305039481768352010-07-22T23:04:00.002+01:002010-07-22T23:05:42.182+01:00

My brain is exhausted, so, here's a question for you that has had a definitive 'yes!' answer in our house over the past 4 weeks.Three year olds are more difficult than two year olds.Discuss?

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-88576837199291118842010-05-25T09:39:00.005+01:002010-05-25T20:33:15.600+01:00

Recent conversations have brought my time at school to mind a lot recently, coincided with thoughts about how my daughter relates to other children, and how that might affect her in the future.And, ya know what? Like many, I had a crap time as a teenager due to various factors, but I don't harbour pain or anger at school, or the people I knew there.A recent post at Feministe outlines how

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-2721516237694893202010-05-19T09:30:00.004+01:002010-05-19T10:52:31.579+01:00

Well, I kinda missed most of the crazy child-hating conversations going on around the blogsphere, but a good review with some excellent links can be found over at Blue MilkReading BM's post made me think about how we've raised NP, her own behaviour in public, and how we contribute to the over-arching problem.We've always eaten out with our daughter, though there are definitely times I remember

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-39556657280418737142010-05-16T11:54:00.004+01:002010-05-16T11:56:40.416+01:00

Fertile Feminism hits it right on the head with this post about what is particularly wrong about 'sexualising' children: it's the standard that is set in the first place that is the problem.The hypocrite in the room

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-16690738409794273512010-05-13T12:50:00.002+01:002010-05-13T12:55:11.667+01:00

Sorry for disappearing for a while, I seem to have been massively uninspired to complete any blog I've started writing over the past few weeks. However, worry not! For I have 3 pieces of fab blog-fodder in the shape of Glee, sexuality as performed by Lady GaGa vs the Sugababes, and, strangely, pink straws!Stay tuned...

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-60110706926757949262010-04-23T21:29:00.007+01:002010-04-23T22:25:19.175+01:00

In my quest for books to study I've been consuming a large amount of kids lit lately. Finally, I repeat, FINALLY, I found a book worth talking about.Skullduggery Pleasant is about the eponymous dead detective and his (young, female) side-kick. And, whilst the female character is only supposed to be 12, the writing is mature and witty, something that I've found lacking in a number of other novels

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-40012752336830641352010-04-22T20:58:00.000+01:002010-04-23T08:43:31.671+01:00

OK, so, we all have guilty pleasures, don't we?This one has been one of mine for a while now. Though since the recent changes I'm starting to feel cheated.When I started watching, there were female wrestlers such as Awesome Kong and ODB, who seemed talented, physical and SUBVERSIVE. There was an ironic group called 'The Beautiful People' who seemed to be taking a swipe at those 'other' female

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-78468748783753335592010-04-19T13:49:00.004+01:002010-04-19T14:03:45.695+01:00

Sometimes, just sometimes, after something has happened to you, you gradually find out that it need not have been that way.And sometimes, knowing that, does not help you. It reminds you of the crap you'd rather not think about and, although you know you are not to blame, you do blame yourself. You wish you had educated yourself more. You wish you had a stronger will. You wish other people could

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-5272962844075165942010-04-12T23:11:00.006+01:002010-04-12T23:54:16.142+01:00

So, I have been looking for potential books for my next dissertation for about 2 weeks, and today I spent a good 30 minutes in a high street books retailer looking for children's/young adult novels with female protagonists.(Yes, I know it's cheaper to buy from Amazon, but I need to LOOK at the books, read inside, get a feel for the writing style, not just browse through a bunch of crap about

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-1687067408420490422010-03-28T09:13:00.000+01:002010-03-28T21:33:41.676+01:00

"[Rape] is nothing more or less than a conscious process of intimidation by which all men keep all women in a state of fear" - Susan BrownmillerThis quote was one of the problems that came up the other night in a discussion with my partner about the BBC4 program, Women.(I say it came up, when in actuality I started ranting on about it and Mr Onions listened and nodded at the appropriate points.

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-44202019632278182442010-03-23T15:21:00.003Z2010-03-23T15:28:45.649Z

It's great that there's a new campaigning organisation in the UK, however, two (personal) things:Basing the launch in London is great if you live down there, but, ya know, it isn't actually the centre of the universe. Having it plugged on a feminist website 4 days before the launch makes it highly difficult to arrange getting there if you DON'T live in London.That's all.

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-27925911695758727942010-03-22T21:02:00.010Z2010-03-23T15:00:34.327Z

NOTE: For my other writing about the BBC4 Women series see:Libbers 1Libbers 2MothersActivistsI admit, the reason I'm so disenchanted by this series is because I'm not represented.In my quiet little corner of the internet I found blogs such as Fertile Feminism, Blue Milk, and Mothers for Women's Lib, to name a few. Oh yes, I read the big feminist websites too, but those few women who were both

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-34346235121867160712010-03-19T14:47:00.005Z2011-05-25T21:56:32.897+01:00

Please welcome the OFFICIAL "Breastfeeding and Onions Post": Your Breastfeeding Tips To interrupt the flow of feminism for one moment, I'd like to address something I've been thinking about for a while, but only just got around to finishing. Lots of people are coming across my blog through searching for 'breastfeeding and onions'. BEFORE NOW, this blog never had any posts that contain both of

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-45913939701595370272010-03-15T22:13:00.011Z2010-03-23T14:59:02.143Z

NOTE: My other reviews of 'Libbers' and 'Activists' can be found here:first thoughts2nd watchingActivistsMothersYes, I watched it, and I have lots to say.Mostly I resented the demographic represented, but again, how else would it be pitched on this channel? I do believe that only one family lived north of London, and the parents in that family were both academics. I suppose it's appealing

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-86683616081772662622010-03-14T20:28:00.015Z2010-03-23T14:59:36.073Z

NOTE: Please read my other posts about BBC4 Women:First Thoughts on 'Libbers'Review of 'Mothers'Review of 'Activists'LibbersOK, after watching BBC4 Women - Libbers again, I have a few more opinions.Firstly, I actually enjoyed the program, I felt an affinity for many of the Libbers and seeing their passion and pain was a good contextualisation of the Women's Movement. Whilst I agree with The F

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-28761386733527523552010-03-09T08:51:00.015Z2010-03-23T09:57:31.822Z

NEW 23-3-2010I notice this one has been read a lot, but my follow-up post hasn't, so for a more in-depth analysis see:my follow up post: here2nd episode review: Mothers3rd episode review: ActivistsOriginal Post:I watched the first episode of the new BBC 4 series 'Women' last night, a 3-part documentary about feminism and its impact on women. When I've watched it again I'll write a little more,

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-82785017851785074482010-02-23T16:34:00.006Z2010-02-23T17:00:51.116Z

Right, this is going to sound like an over-privileged whinge and I'm sorry for that, but as you may have previously noticed I get pretty irritated when people make assumptions.So, this is dedicated to the person who said the following to me today:"Present company excepted, I don't understand how these young girls can get themselves pregnant, It's just so stupid." (paraphrased)Firstly, saying a

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-39103357675239906252010-02-10T11:17:00.001Z2010-02-10T11:18:55.788Z

Loving this idea:Robin Hood Tax

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-43932737271412850742010-01-31T22:14:00.004Z2010-01-31T22:16:18.650Z

Another scary article from a feminist website, this time The F Word, addressing the state of abortion 'services' (if you can even call it that!) in Ireland. Once again, apologies for being so lax about this previously.

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-77060927249474471472010-01-28T21:55:00.007Z2010-02-06T18:51:37.058Z

For the second part of my Buffy-thon postage I'd like to address an issue that might be triggering, so beware.In season 6 of Buffy, our eponymous heroine survives a rape attempt in the episode 'Seeing Red'.I think it was very important for BTVS to address the issue of rape purely because of the premise of the show: Buffy is strong. She is independent, powerful and beautiful. It demonstrates that

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-58820157926197250052010-01-22T22:52:00.006Z2010-01-28T21:36:14.246Z

My complete, utter love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was validated this month upon a re-watching of series 6. This is the first in a series of posts about 'stuff I liked in Buffy'. I'll be doing a bit of an introduction to the series and discussing the representation of a same-sex relationship.For those not in-the-know, this is the series where Buffy has been brought back from the dead by her best

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-11255820821669567762010-01-07T23:09:00.003Z2010-01-07T23:18:49.483Z

I think people in the UK really need to see what it can be like to try to get an abortion in areas of the USA.Scary article from FeministingPlus, remember - you have to pay for this privilege in the US. Many people can't afford to pay, so charitable organisations raise money for women to get abortions.And then, of course, there is the doctor who performed MEDICALLY NEEDED late-term abortions. He

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-17107063793032488702009-10-23T18:30:00.012+01:002011-05-22T16:48:45.149+01:00

NOTE: THE BREASTFEEDING GROUPS AND FORUM HAVE NOW CLOSED. I AM LEAVING THIS POST AS A PLACE HOLDER FOR ANYONE DIRECTED HERE. IF YOU REQUIRE BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT PLEASE GET IN TOUCH AND I MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU, OR DIRECT YOU TO SOMEONE WHO CAN :)

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-9649392505025292012009-09-25T08:51:00.004+01:002009-09-25T14:42:23.164+01:00

What a kerfuffleThe reason these photos were taken may not be cool but, man, that skirt is gorgeous.I don't agree with young children wearing high heels, they need to learn to walk in proper shoes that support their feet. I can't escape noticing, however, that Katie isn't wearing heels. Which suggests to me that Suri might just really like dressing up. What mother would put her child in a pair of

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-51152203163773482742009-09-24T15:33:00.004+01:002009-09-24T15:40:32.636+01:00

Sometimes, something comes up that makes you eternally thankful for the NHS and free contraception: click to read Yet, I know personally that I hadn't even considered that you might have to pay for the pill when I first started taking it. I cringe at the thought of how much money I would have spent by now if I'd lived in the US as a teenager.And we don't even have to pay for condoms, if we don't

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-73728566623682922009-09-17T21:47:00.003+01:002009-09-17T23:25:15.084+01:00

I'm thinking about getting a tattoo. Across my forehead.I am utterly and unreservedly pissed off with the attitudes of people in positions of power when they meet me. I say positions of power, rather than professionals, because this isn't just an issue I have with traditionally 'powerful' people. I even experienced it last week from a library assistant.What am I talking about? Judgemental

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-22592546822934625242009-08-13T09:40:00.005+01:002009-08-13T10:33:52.165+01:00

Sometimes I worry about feminist righteousness. Upon reading this blog post I felt I needed to reply, but seeing as someone else already covered some of what I was going to say, I thought I'd just have a little rant over here.After reading reviews on Amazon and doing about 5 minutes of research, this is what I found:The Surrogates is a sci-fi graphic novel. The premise of the story is that people

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-76923583709392675752009-06-14T20:51:00.004+01:002009-06-15T13:38:01.683+01:00

Just to let everyone know that two new posts have been added, backdated to March, and that there is one more left to come in the DbD series (Delayed by Dissertation).Direct Links:Baby LoveDog Fouling

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-21204726213192697842009-04-23T00:48:00.004+01:002009-06-14T20:43:32.945+01:00

I've been reading student forums about the 50% income tax.It's comments like this that rile me:"Firstly how is it fair if someone who works hard to such an extent that they can provide a better quality of life for themselves and their family, has to shoulder the burden?"How is it you define a better quality of life?I feel a bit ill when I think what 'quality of life' might mean to this person.To

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-46273663718327426272009-04-17T15:16:00.006+01:002011-07-16T21:12:31.007+01:00

There's a certain online forum [link redacted] that seems to be a place for women who pretend they're not yummy mummy's (but really are) to bitch about other yummy mummy's. It actually makes me feel a bit ill to read the way they snipe at other women. In this forum women were bitching about stuff that I *loved* to do as a kid, that my daughter also seems to like doing. There's some kind of

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-43736378144079689592009-04-05T23:24:00.003+01:002009-04-05T23:26:37.667+01:00

Hi all,just posting a note to let you know I have a few things half written but I'm taking a break until May to focus on my dissertation. When my half written work is posted it will most likely be back-dated to the original starting date.Thanks for your interest so far, I hope you'll stay with me!See you in a month.Liz

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-53687706164515064122009-03-26T08:14:00.005Z2009-06-15T13:39:35.010+01:00

Watching BBC news this morning was infuriating. This story about council surveillance seems to think that dogs s******g on the pavement is a minor offence that should not be monitored through CCTV in accordance with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.Yes, Ripa was implemented to fight serious crime, and I think I probably agree that it shouldn't be used for checking if rubbish bins are

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-71958247558428109132009-03-25T22:20:00.009Z2009-06-14T20:46:38.488+01:00

A little extract from the times website that has made me furious...'That is one side of the story: the disruption and chaos. The other, often equally unexpected development is the degree to which you adore your baby. For many women, the love they feel for their child far and away surpasses anything they have ever experienced before. At first you don’t really notice it – sure, this small pink

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-65983585996587936052009-03-13T20:41:00.005Z2009-10-23T23:40:59.812+01:00

I thought I had already written this. I must have drafted the entire thing in my head whilst falling asleep and convinced myself I'd actually posted it. But I digress....I know that the issue of wolf whistling/beeping car horns at women has been done to death by hundreds of other people, but I want to set out my opinion on it. I do admit, my attitude towards it has changed over the years.At the

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-3650882019184924102009-03-02T21:50:00.006Z2009-06-14T20:43:12.010+01:00

I'll make a mention of Gail Trimble. But only a short one, mind.Firstly I'd like to point out that I haven't watched the show, I am working from short clips I've seen and comments from other people. With this in mind, I shall begin:However much it might pain the feminists, I have a feeling that the antagonism towards this smart lady might not be so COMPLETELY about her being female.Is it, perhaps

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-90722700974724453772009-02-27T15:39:00.010Z2009-06-14T20:46:12.787+01:00

...for the lack of bloggage lately. Unfortunately my dissertation is taking up most of my waking thoughts (if not so much of my time).I thought perhaps it might be nice to describe what it is I'm working on; also, it'll hopefully serve as a reminder that I ought to be actually writing it, instead of providing you fine people with lots of useful procrastination fodder.Anyway, my main areas of

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-46436194831940981622009-02-14T15:49:00.006Z2009-02-14T16:57:17.436Z

Who writes this crap?Is this what being middle class is? Drinking yourself silly before (and after!) the kids are in bed and fantasising over men other than your husband?More than 1/2 of that list involves lusting after other men, dreaming about dating again or other such day-dreams of infidelity. Really, are these women actually enjoying their 'Alpha Mummy' lives? It doesn't sound like it.This

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-48232722856946096802009-02-13T22:10:00.004Z2009-02-13T22:30:48.204Z

Is a lovely inspiration.I don't usually get into the celebrity humanitarian thing, but what this lady did in Sierra Leone really touched me. If you watch through the video, past the injections and the poor newborn baby, you see Salma breastfeeding someone elses sick child.How many women would feel comfortable doing that?Beautiful.

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-61908847088852928652009-02-12T22:37:00.005Z2009-02-13T22:31:05.553Z

Wow...Browsing American feminist forums really opens your eyes to the world...Bill O'ReillyMr O'Reilly is, just, wow. I can't imagine anyone on UK TV being allowed to act in such a way. Ouch. It actually hurts to watch him.It makes me wonder, is the UK more open to women's rights, more anti-racist, or is it that the UK television media is more tightly restrained?I know that these kinds of

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-27418331692647173382009-02-09T21:09:00.004Z2010-03-19T00:26:06.238Z

I quite like pink, actually.I have found myself cooing over particular patterned laptops. But surely, if they're going to make laptops pink, they ought to be *good* and not just pretty?I don't see much wrong with the principle of making a pink laptop, however, if they're marketing them at women, and not taking into account the many different occupations of women, then I have a problem. Producing

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-26009656030567203452009-02-03T14:10:00.005Z2009-02-14T16:48:07.467Z

And following from my previous rant, imagine how I felt to find this in the news yesterday.I suppose in some ways it covers my undercurrent feelings about the whole issue of bringing up children.I believe that all children deserve to have the love and commitment that only family can provide and that children can really achieve their full potential in that kind of environment. This is not to say

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953421125146147543.post-38906972830432356842009-01-29T21:30:00.007Z2009-10-23T23:54:11.660+01:00

Having never been particularly affected by either feminism or sexism, I have tootled along for most of my existence completely oblivious to the two concepts. However, as I think about it more and more (and study it intensely for university), I'm finding myself drawn to feminism. However, I do have concerns about some feminist issues, particularly the gender gap in pay.Women still don't earn as

Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.com0