curiouswombat: (Default)
 A quick link to  Armstreet - "War in Ukraine and ArmStreet .For those of you who don't know them, they make the most amazing medieval clothing for re-enactment, LARP and so on.   I have bought from them in the past.  They are a Ukrainian company.  That link goes to their blog - they are based in Kharkiv, which has been badly bombed and some of the staff have left the city, others remain.  


People have been buying gift vouchers to send them money - and now they are also making Warm blanket for refugees fleeing war for free. Available in: satin fabric of random colour :: by medieval store ArmStreet   They have bought fabric and are making easily washable blankets - which you can buy from them for them to distribute for you - the info is on the page from the second link.

Over on my LJ there are nice pictures of my daughter and her husband hand feeding red pandas, and some garden pics.  What  shame I can't post them directly here - there is little point in using the URL from LJ if the main reason for this blog is in case that one disappears.


curiouswombat: (hug)
I am still worried that LJ may disappear outside Russia. After all, we are a point of contact with the outside world and, as Putin tries to convince Russians that black is white and up is down, this might eventually be noticed. Apart from the possibility of it being cut off at our end.

But, as I mentioned to [profile] cairistiona7, I know that my journal is often read by 200+ people in a day as I leave many of my entries set to public. And who knows, some of those anonymous readers may be from the Russian side of LJ. So this is a post about Ukraine. And if my journal disappears my friends know I have one ready to use at Dreamwidth, and I have all my entries archived on a pen drive! Not that I really think my journal is that important.

Ukraine - I am very distressed by the unprovoked invasion of this independent country by the Russian forces. I am upset and distressed by the pictures coming out of the whole country of Ukraine of apartment blocks being demolished by Russian forces, of families with small children sheltering in underground stations from aerial bombardment by Russian war planes in scenes reminiscent of WW2.

I am just as saddened for the young Russian soldiers, and their families. It is clear that most of them have no idea why they are there. If they even vaguely are aware that they are meant to be crushing a nazist oppressive regime they quickly realise this is not true.

Whilst they may not realise just how pointedly insulting President Putin is to President Zelenskiy, who had relatives who died in Nazi Concentration Camps, to use that term, they are told, in no uncertain terms, by the Ukrainians they are now meeting face to face.

They are not welcomed as some sort of liberators. The Russian military is invading an innocent neighbour. The captain of the Russian warship who demanded that the 13 coastal guards on what we know as Snake Island (between Ukraine and Romania) hand over any weapons, learnt that he was not welcome when they told him to F*** Off. It is thought that all 13 may have been killed when the warship then opened fire on them.

The Russian soldiers confronted by an elderly lady, at least as old as their Grandmothers, realised they were not wanted when she told them to go home - and, if they would not go, to take some of her sunflower seeds and put them in their pockets... so that something Ukrainian might grow from their bodies if they died on Ukrainian soil.

The Russian troops confronted by fellow Russians whose homes and lives are in Ukraine, know they are not liberating anyone - for they have been told so face to face. Especially the ones who got lost and ran out of fuel for their tank... the local populace told them to turn around and go home.

The people they are fighting against are the people who usually sit at desks, deliver the mail, work behind shop counters - they are learning how to make petrol bombs because they do not want to be 'liberated' - they want Russians to come for holidays, for business, to visit friends and family, not to try to overthrow a democratically elected government. They were planning birthday parties for their children - the children now sheltering in the underground stations building tanks and guns from the new lego set birthday presents.

And now President Putin is telling his people that 'Western countries are being unfriendly' and so it is all their fault. So unfriendly that he might have to use nuclear weapons.

The Western countries are being so unfriendly that they have decided not to hold the European Champions League final in Russia, have cancelled the Russian Formula 1 Grand Prix, and told Russia they are no longer welcome to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest. So unfriendly that some countries have said they won't play international football against Russia, even if it means being classed as defaulting.

Now this is sad for all the people of Russia who enjoy the football, the motor-racing, and Eurovision and we would much rather have you enjoying the fun with the rest of us - but would you want to spend your leisure time with someone who has just turned on another of your friends and tried to batter them to death?

And now the Western countries are being so unfriendly that they have decided to slow down money transferring between themselves and Russia, and are preparing to not buy your oil and gas rather than waiting for President Putin to say they can't have it.

But let's get this straight in simple terms we can all understand. He is the guy who has sent his kids out with instructions to totally trash his next door neighbour's garden, dig up the plants and shit in the grass - and now he says the rest of the neighbourhood is totally at fault because they won't let him play in their gardens with their ball... and so he might just get a bulldozer and smash their houses.

And, finally -

The Joint Public Issues Team of the United Reformed Church, Methodist Church and Baptist Union in the UK has issued the following prayer:

God of all,
with alarm and concern we bring before you
the military intervention in Ukraine.

In a world you made for peace and flourishing,
we lament the use of armed force.

We mourn every casualty of this conflict,
every precious life extinguished by war.

We pray comfort for those who grieve
and those who are fearful.

Hear our longing that leaders and nations
will honour the worth of all people
by having the courage
to resolve conflict through dialogue.

May all our human failings be transformed
by your wonderful grace and goodness.

We ask this in the name of Christ,
the author of peace and sustainer of Creation.
Amen.

Dusting

26 Feb 2022 09:45 am
curiouswombat: (Sheep)
So - this is me dusting off this journal as a safety measure in case LJ goes down - as I think it might, but who knows?

I have not transferred any entries from LJ - but have backed them all up on BlogBook for myself as I would like to keep them. My feeling is that anyone who was interested in posts about life on a small island in the time of plague, unlocking our sound heritage, my garden, and my family would have read them there :)

Hopefully my main journal will remain there - this one doesn't really feel like 'me' - but I will try to remember to post here now and again even if LJ continues un-noticed, on its merry way.
curiouswombat: (Bugger!)
The last three times I have tried to comment, I have hit 'post comment', and found myself on what LJ tells me is my home page - not on [livejournal.com profile] gillo's journal with my comment showing, nor on [livejournal.com profile] azalaisdep's journal ditto.

So, sorry ladies - no idea where the comments went. Is anyone else having the same problem?

ETA - it does seem to be improving again - hurrah!
curiouswombat: (Rainy day)
I feel sorry for the people, including some from my Friends' List, who were watching the Thames River Pageant live as, sadly, it rained on the parade - but I enjoyed watching it on TV, in dry comfort. I spotted the racing Viking longboat from our island, complete with its Manx flag. The Queen looked as if she enjoyed the whole event too - which was the aim, so I am glad that they achieved it.

She was wearing a very interesting outfit - and the Duchess of Cornwall toned nicely (and had a sensible hat, too), whilst the Duchess of Cambridge contrasted beautifully, and also wore a hat that looked well secured! They all looked happy, actually, clearly an enjoyable family event for them.

Our weather has been a good deal pleasanter - not exactly sunny but, at least, dry. We aren't actually celebrating the jubilee this weekend - it clashes with TT - we are doing it in July, alongside Tynwald Day. So tomorrow is another, busy, race day. We will need more carrot cake...

In the past few days I have seen a lot of people complaining about the changes to the LJ Scrapbook system - so, as it is a nice quiet afternoon, I ventured to look at the pictures I have uploaded there - and lo! For the first time I have been able to easily sort them into albums - previously whenever I have created albums and tried to put pictures into them nothing happened and they all remained in one big heap - but now I could see those albums and, finally, move the pictures, easily, into them. So, although I really do commiserate with those of you who have had problems with it, for me it is a great improvement.

And now, to write - the next chapter of Immigrants has been somewhat delayed by WriterConUK, both producing my talk for it, being there (yay!) and writing up afterwards; I have had to go back, re-read, and get my head back to Valinor!
curiouswombat: (Powerful Absence)
I see on the breakfast news that today is election day in Russia. Hopefully the DDoS attacks on Live Journal might reduce after that....

Bouquet!

24 Aug 2011 11:06 am
curiouswombat: (Snoopy dancing - JudeBennet)
Just to say thank you to the people who have given me virtual sunflowers so that I now have a virtual bouquet!

The best sort, really, as I go to collect D-d from the local airport at lunchtime and she's allergic to lots of flower pollens.

Yes - after circumnavigating the globe she gets home today. I'm expecting her to be ready to collapse in a heap - but have the champagne ready to celebrate that First Class Honours LLB (Bachelor of Law) in case she is up to opening it.

The cheerful sunflowers are especially good today as it is gloomy and damp outdoors - she might find it a bit chilly after Thailand.
curiouswombat: (Autumn)
I'm not sure if anyone can see this, even if it posts, the way poor LJ is being brought to its knees again.

This is a short story in the Returnverse - featuring Rumil and Haldirin in particular. Haldirin is a 'young teenager'.

It could well be subtitled 'If you go down to the woods again...'

Title; Voices in the Wind.
Rating; 13
Word count; 3,450
Beta as usual - Speaker-to-Customers.

Voices in the Wind )

Not only is feedback greatly appreciated, but it will let me know some of the rest of the world is still alive...
curiouswombat: (K Baby pic)
Hugs LJ - how dare people go attacking our place like this!

I said on Sunday that on the to-do list for this next week is 'ring up blood-clinic and make an appointment'. Along with 'get boat/rail tickets to go to WriterConUK'.

Well it's only Wednesday and I have not only achieved both, but even been to blood clinic and had my blood taken for my routine thyroxine levels.

How exciting my life is...

Whereas a phone call from D-d at our lunchtime, her late evening, informed us that she has had two fantastic days on board this ex-racing yacht. She saw whales and a turtle swimming by and is hoping to go scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef tomorrow.
curiouswombat: (Hmm 2)
During our brief stay in York I also spent a day in London - leaving S2C behind. You can do that sort of thing when you've been married as long as we have!

What was I doing in London? Meeting LJ People. [livejournal.com profile] just_ann_now was in the UK on a tour from her home in the US and a wee bunch of us all arranged to meet her, and each other, in the British Museum. And so I was on a very different train on the Thursday - the train from York to London only takes a couple of hours these days!

There were seven or eight of us - I've lost track - including not just Ann but also [livejournal.com profile] kortirion, [livejournal.com profile] jay_of_lasgalen and [livejournal.com profile] azalaisdep. And we all got on immediately, as I had rather thought we might! Much fun and laughter over lunch - including gifts from Ann (I haven't dared start my book just yet - I need to get my Tolkien BigBang story finished and am afraid of being side-tracked!). then we set of on a quick tour of the museum before various people had to head of in various directions for trains and other things.

Ann's husband joined us when it was time for her to go - and somehow I forgot to pass him my camera to add to the others that he was kindly taking pics of us all with.

However - under the cut are a few Assyrian bits - and the weirdest little stone relief I've ever seen! )

It was lovely to meet up with LJ people - we always know each other so well straight away.

Like when we meet up at our annual do in Coventry. As a committee member I feel it is perfectly reasonable for me to take this opportunity to pimp [livejournal.com profile] writerconuk - meeting up in Coventry on the first weekend of August - provided enough people sign up...


PS - I'm busy because it's almost TT and I am making my usual industrial quantities of carrot cake to sell for/at church!
curiouswombat: (Bugger!)
For some reason I haven't had a single comment e-mailed to me from LJ for about 24 hours! Is it just me?

And if it is, apologies to anyone I might have accidentally ignored.
curiouswombat: (CrabbyLucy)
Some of my icons have disappeared. I go to my user pics and there are blanks. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to which ones. Yesterday one had gone, by today it is seven.

I know there have been icon problems in the past; but has this happened to anyone else recently, or is it just me?

ETA - it seems it certainly isn't just me - and [livejournal.com profile] cairistiona7 has pointed out that it is probably related to the maintenance on-going at the moment. So hopefully they'll just sneak back, looking a bit sheepish, later...
curiouswombat: (Soup dragon waving)
My LJ access has been totally cut for almost 48 hours - so it will probably take an awful lot of catching up on friends' posts.

If I have missed anything important do, please, point it out to me.

I have made good use of the time, however - not only is the next chapter of Brotherhood with my beta and almost ready to post, but the one after that is almost 2,000 words long and my presentation for WriterCon UK is now more than a few scraps on the hard-drive...
curiouswombat: (Blustery /day)
Like many other people I have been having major problems commenting on other people's journals - so sorry I haven't been putting in my usual two-pennyworth, but I gather it is a widespread problem, so I'm sure you will all understand.

I hope everyone got gifts or cards for Valentine's Day from those you hoped would send them - possibly a few nice surprises as well. And for those of you who get fed up with Valentine's Day, I hope you were able to ignore it, or got something small and nice (thinks heart-shaped shortbread [livejournal.com profile] bogwitch!) from a non-romantic source!

[livejournal.com profile] enigmaticblues suggested it should be a day for random acts of kindness - and I had fun over my breakfast yesterday sending random virtual gifts to members of my FL - maybe I should have made them anonymous but then some of you might have been worried about unknown admirers - or disappointed when you found out that you didn't have an anonymous admirer after all! If you didn't get one please don't feel slighted - it was a random act of kindness.

For those still interested in the fan-fic, my part of Chapter 5 of Access All Areas is written, but S2C has been at work for the last 5 nights, but now he will be able to finish writing and splicing his stuff into it. Hopefully I can post it tomorrow, otherwise Saturday. Chapter 6 is already shaping up well too.

It's been quite windy today - 40mph average wind speed this afternoon - so I think I can use my 'blustery' icon - it's the first windy day since I found it!
curiouswombat: (Reja view)
There is a petition to complain about the increase of commercialism on LJ - in particularly the setting up of 'sponsored communities' - who will be able to search our user info, and spam us here on our journals.

I object to the fact that when I joined LJ I was a customer - I am now a commodity to be sold to commercial organisations - and no-body asked me. Not that middle-aged ladies in Europe are the preference of most commercial organisations - so soon I expect to get hints to move over to Vox like a good girl to improve the LJ demographic for selling us/you to people who want to sell you stuff.




[livejournal.com profile] speakr2customrs says he realised that it would go this way when he first heard that 6Apart were buying LJ - he visited the personal blog of the vice president of 6A, Anish Dash, and discovered that it is plastered in adverts. So we are probably fighting in the name of a losing cause - but at least let us shout loudly that we are not happy about it.

Go - read the petition, add your username in a comment - make a middle-aged lady happy(ish).


P.S. - Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible! I am busy 'packing' my daughter for the trip to York on Friday.
curiouswombat: (GrannyW)
Thanks to those who commented on my last post pointing out that LJ are sneaking in corporate sponsorship. I'm sorry that I didn't reply to the comments, but there didn't seem to be a lot to say, and I've been busy in RL as well.

However I have noticed a number of my friends amongst the 3,000+ comments to the announcement - which was put out in one of the more obscue LJ communities, not LJ News to which we all subscribe - I guess they didn't really want us to know!

LJ founder Brad Fitz then posted a 'damage limitation' post which basically said he was sorry we hadn't been given the news in a better way - not that he was sorry that they were even contemplating letting companies pay them lots of money to be able to wander all over LJ you notice.

I was just looking at some of the comments, and have found a link to a community who are planning a day of protest - [livejournal.com profile] november52006 - a day where we just post a short post saying that we are not here for the day - and then go and do something else - the founder, like me, has a Greatest Journal as well, and says they will be there!

I think I might well join in. I thought you might like to know about it too!
curiouswombat: (GrannyW)
For those who haven't been pointed at this already -
http://community.livejournal.com/lj_biz/237534.html

LJ are asking what sort of sponsored communities etc. we want.

Not do we WANT to let big business set up communities etc on LJ, you note!

[livejournal.com profile] mygothangel suggests we see how many pages of 'NO' can be generated.

Please go read the LJ biz post - say 'Yes Please' if you want to, but I am in agreement with the posters who start the comments with the phrase 'Slippery Slope'.

I know at the moment paid users can avoid adverts - but I am beginning to wonder how long for, when the owners of LJ are now selling actual journal type stuff to commercial bodies - and it annoys me - a lot. And if I was not a paid user it could well annoy me even more, so this is not me just going 'Hey - I pay for this.'
curiouswombat: (Hmm)
When the LJ design team suddenly found responses to their quiet little post about how they were going to 'improve' the look of our user info pages had gone ballistic, I not only went to look, commented, and joined in the general howls of discontent, but I decided to add the design team to my 'communities watched' list.

So I have seen the latest post on the subject.

For those of you who haven't, but are still fuming, or just muttering gently, about it all, if you are interested - Click here to go and have a look at their response.

This post would seem to say that they have taken at least some notice of the hullaballoo - although they still want to 'improve' it, but at least not as horribly (hopefully) as the version they put up a few days ago.

Someone who appears to just be a normal LJ user - [livejournal.com profile] grrliz - did a mock-up of her idea of what would improve the user info page. And the design team actually seem to have noticed! Her version is HERE

I'd be happy with that - even though I am perfectly happy with the current version.

My mood is being confused by being interested, and even heartened, by what I am posting about, whilst having a Soca warrior on the settee beside me in a state of depression!

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