I'm starting to pack my kit for the shanty weekend which starts on Friday. Apart from 3 tripods, my camera, lenses etc, I have a spare phone, chargers/cables/power-packs and a mini tool-kit. Add to that a complete change of clothes (and extra spare knickers!!) plus rain kit and spare shoes. 1/2

I needed a couple of name tags, 1 of which was for an annual event where many won't have seen me recently or who can't recall my name. I ordered a few on Friday, knowing it would take a few days. Monday it's on the way with Royal Mail tracking. Today it's 80 miles away instead of being delivered 1/2

If anyone has sent me an email today, sorry but my provider has a major outage. I've had nothing since 1130 BST.

This week's draft plan was just upended and I gained 2 hours - but (potentially) wasted one of those by falling back asleep. I have a number of jobs outstanding but achievable. The Shanty Festival starts in 4 days.

I'm having a plate juggling day and I can't see it ending. The Shanty Festival starts in 7 days - that may have something to do with the crockery situation.

Damn, almost caught by a scam, email posing as the hosting corp I use. I've blocked the visa card and will replace it very soon

1 have 2 weeks of HRT left, have just ordered a 3 month batch and will order again ASAP. Would be much simpler if my GP would write a prescription

Are there problems on '3' tonight? Real issues talking to my daughter (both on 3)

As the political party conferences roll by, I was making my opinion known as went about my day

Short (re-)intro: I'm an author shirazbooks.co.uk I'm a radio station studio engineer lv18radio.uk I look after loads of stuff for harwichshantyfestival.co.uk I look after loads of small businesses and community orgs on & offline I've been a radio amateur for over 40 years (G1PJJ) & I enjoy cask ale

#UK #TransRights An FOI has just confirmed what all of us have feared: for the Youth gender services, since July 2024, not a single patient has been referred to commence HRT. And 22 have been moved from youth to adult services , also without treatment. This is scandalous.

I'm a trans author, mostly writing YA trans fiction ... and I've been doing this a while! All my books are available through Amazon (UK link below) and a selection are also available through my own site (see links in my profile). www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Shira... 1/2

One of my banks sent me an email this morning suggesting that they could gauge my age (to sell me pension products). Facial analysis was the method - apparently I'm 51yo. I turn 60 real soon. Happy woman here (already on a pension so the bank can go swing!)

The current plan by Britain's PM Keir Starmer - to introduce a national ID scheme - is dangerous and unnecessary, especially in the existing political environment. I take a deeper look in my blog: shiraz.me.uk/2025/09/27/e...

The current plan by Britain's PM Keir Starmer - to introduce a national ID scheme - is dangerous and unnecessary, especially in the existing political environment. I take a deeper look in my blog: shiraz.me.uk/2025/09/27/e...

This dress is special to me as it's the oldest dress I still have and the first one I ever wore in public for just me. I was pleased to be able to zip myself into it this morning. I was on my way to Sparkle in 2018 that first time.

I was in a few women's clothes stores this morning. At one, a customers was asking about a garment in another colour than was out in the store. Shop assistant: "We can order it in?" Customer: "Oh, thank you, when?" "Not sure but we'll send you an email so you can come and collect it." 1/2

So Christians tell us all about, the sky wizard who made people wrong on purpose, then had to send his sky hippie son (who’s also himself?) to get nailed to sticks so they could drink magic blood and eat pretend flesh, but trans folk are the ones who don’t live in reality?

Today should have been simple - a meeting then walk the short distance to Dr surgery, followed by shopping ... then loop back. The meeting location was changed with 15 mins to spare. Everything after that was messed. Somehow, back indoors to make lunch at lunchtime!

There's 15 days before opening (unofficial) session of the @harwichshantyfestival.co.uk 2025. I'm already busy but will have 3+ days on the ground, plus 3 intensive post-festival days. It's hard work, but the festival is fun (in a very mad way). There's a few beers there as well as song.

Tonight at 8pm, Tim Wardley presents Sounds of the Sixties. This 2 hour show was initially presented live during our August event. If you tune in an hour earlier, at 7pm, Steve Jenner presents Before Offshore ... radio before March 1964. www.lv18radio.uk/2025/09/soun...

Our weekend (Fri to Sun) schedule has been published for over a year but has been revised a few times. With the exception of Monday, however, the rest of the week hasn't been published - mostly as we weren't ready! Now we can make the full 7 day schedule available: www.lv18radio.uk/2025/09/revi...

For future reference, let me put on record that I have twice organised a piss up in a brewery and 5 times organised a multi venue beer festival. My logistics skills have been proven.

Off to Colchester Arts Centre for this afternoon's Martin Newell gig with @attilastockbroker.bsky.social I'll have time for a pint on my way from North Station! #transontrains

My background, in the late 90s and early 00s was IT security, IT training and international IT support. All the time I worked in that environment I only every had one social account - Friends Reunited. A new blog post - Privacy & Identity Protection shiraz.me.uk/2025/09/20/p...

20 Sept 1941 // HM Trawler Marconi was sunk in a collision with another Admiralty trawler, the Lord Beaconsfield, off Harwich. There were no casualties. #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory #WW2

My background, in the late 90s and early 00s was IT security, IT training and international IT support. All the time I worked in that environment I only every had one social account - Friends Reunited. A new blog post - Privacy & Identity Protection shiraz.me.uk/2025/09/20/p...

My stylist was also one of the first people I outed myself to in RL. I was growing my hair out and then started dyeing it - this was years before transition, but a little each time so change was gradual. She respected my privacy. 13 years after that first nervous appt she still looks after my hair.

So far today 4 (or maybe 5) calls from my daughter. Although she's an adult I still get asked for all that information she can't remember, or to fix remotely something that she apparently can't fix. Oh, if I need her to do something for me, it never happens.

My laptop was getting slower, but wasn't using Swap memory. Gnome Shell (25% of CPU) was the primary cause, although Remote Desktop was also enabled. I killed the latter I restarted Gnome Shell then took a look at Extensions, killing all those that weren't essential (such as V Shell & Caffeine) 1/2

The litttle fridge in my room (mainly for milk) has been failing recently,causing milk to spoil. I looked on a well-known site for a replacement and was mindful of the sizing. My existing fridge is just 4 litres, I was upgrading to either 10L or 15L The product filter offers sizing in cubic feet!

My IT experience: Early/mid 70s - telex, punched tape (of course) Late 1970s - punched cards, CP/M, Pet 2001, acoustic couplers, Creed teletype 1980 - 6502s, networking 1984 - mainframes (PrimeOS), Unix (Sys V), Apple Lisa, DOS, GEM 1985 - Windows, Sun So 40 years ago I had already used the above!

I'm on HRT and seem to be in a hormonal cycle. Right now I have full waterworks and can't be too far from a loo, plus yesterday I was ratty ... this isn't normal behaviour for me! A month (ish) ago I had the same issues for 2/3 days. Oh well ... diary time.

I'm going to a gig next weekend so I've ordered a box of masks. I have a busy few months coming up and I can't afford to take risks!

I had managed to get myself a week ahead on one of my jobs, keep on top of another, and schedule a lunch with mother. That would have given me 4 clear days in which to write ... and probably I will need the first two just to get myself into the right mindset. 1/3

Well ..... I don't buy new music very often, and definitely not albums that have only been out a few days ... But, on a recommendation I bought The Chameleons - Arctic Moon without listening to any of the tracks first. I like! It takes me back over 40 years, but hey! metalhead.club/@MFDOOMALLCA...

I think we need some clarity from news organisations concerning when they cover marches. And when they vox pop and broadcast people on the marches. And when they lead news bulletins with marches. And when they do none of these things.

I think today has demonstrated that, if anyone thinks the media is not the driving force behind the rise of fascism in the UK, they are either dishonest and culpable themselves or total deludinoids. 100,000 trans people: crickets 100,000 fascists: max publicity.

In bed earlier than planned but have 🎧 on listening to @lv18radio.uk . I may be biased* but the Saturday night scheduling guarantees great music. Holding out for the Garden of Unearthly Delights at midnight. *Disclaimer: I'm studio engineer but I didn't put the schedule together.

Sat here trying to decide between reheating yesterday's homemade curry or ordering something from one of the takeaways along the street. My mood has slipped down to 'meh'

Not the best day I've ever had. I'm acting as guide at a public historical location and there's no avert risk to me but I have been misgendered so many times I have lost count. Mini black dress, red tights, fem shape, long auburn hair, pink nails .... it's not difficult!

I bought two bars of chocolate earlier today. Only one remains, and I don't recall having any chocolate - yet.

I had volunteered at a few major public events over the summer and increasingly have need my hands free. I wear a radio on a belt and have an ear/mic available but the issue is now my mobile, I need to photo or check WhatsApp ... but what to do when not needed? Solution is belt mounted pouch 1/2

A busy day. Firstly I visited mother, and stayed for lunch. Then to @lv18radio.uk and a chat plus an hour of studio work. Back to base, sorted out tomorrow's meeting. Then supper followed by a 2hr Zoom meeting 5 emails received - 1 meant work on @harwichshantyfestival.co.uk online store Goodnight!

I'm going to try something really radical today (for me), I'm heading out without my laptop. The potential repercussions are huge ... maybe.

There's another chance to hear the Brian Wilson Special that Paul Windsor put together live during our August live weekend aboard the LV18. Head to our site (or ask Alexa nicely) at 8pm on Weds 10th Sept, repeated at 2am on Thursday 11th Sept. Times are BST (GMT+1) www.lv18radio.uk/2025/09/bria...

I'm visiting my mum this week, having reconnected at Easter after a 2 year hiatus. Debating between the full mature woman look (I'm 60 soon) and the feminine middle age look. I guess that a minidress is probably not the best plan (despite my great legs) so it'll be calf length probably.

I was monitoring the local 70cm amateur radio repeater when a QSO between 2 hams diverted into covid vaccine denial territory. Off switch engaged.

I put in a request to my GP towards the end of August for my regular meds. The pharmacy confirmed by text on the 29th that they were processing it. Then nothing. Today I went to the pharmacy, my meds had been waiting since the 30th. "Problem with our notification service" was the explanation.

But they banned trans women from rugby, didn't that fix everything?