(no subject)

[galadhir]

Going back to the queer youth group for which I volunteer today. (I basically am just like an assistant adult whose main contribution is to be present while the actual trained youth worker does all the real work.) I have lateral flow Covid tests and will make sure I'm clear before I go, but it's going to be the most social interaction I've had for over a year and I'm a bit nervous about it. Do I remember how to be a human in company? IDK. We'll find out.

I'd only just started being involved - I'd been like three times - before Covid struck. But it is so good to be in a real-life queer space instead of just on the internet. It does me a lot of good - it's a liberation just being in a room where you know people are making more accurate assumptions about you. As a non-binary person that's really the best you can hope for, in terms of gender affirmation.

I hope it helps the kids as much (or more, of course) as it does me :)

Comments

[watervole]

I was going to ask why you were interested in my journal, and then I noticed shared interests in morris dancing and gardening.

Do I know you in real life (I think it possible - I know a number of queer morris dancers - but I don't want to guess a name as it's your choice as to be anonymous.)

If you're okay to say, I'd love to know which team you dance with.

I'm in Anonymous Morris (Border) and Southern Star Longsword. I also teach maypole dancing.

[galadhir]

I'm not sure if we know each other in real life, but we've certainly been mutuals for a long time. I think since before I was Alex Beecroft, but certainly while I was posting as Alex :) But yes, I dance with Sutton Masque, Coton Morris and Ely & Littleport Riot.

I really hated the performative aspect of running Alex Beecroft social media, so now I'm settling back into my comfort zone of fandom, but I couldn't do that without following you again :)

[watervole]

I'm so glad it's you!

I missed your journal.

Now I just need to remember - I have to keep this mental map of who has changed names from where and remember which names are the same friends.

No, I don't think we've ever met in real life. But it would be lovely if we ever did.

[galadhir]

Oh thank you! It's very kind of you to say so :)

And yes, I'm sorry I've changed names so many times. I get antsy every five years or so and have this terrible compulsion to leave everything behind and start a new life as someone else, and fandom moving from one platform to another rather enables that.

It would be good to meet up. What big morris festivals do you do, that we might do as well?

[watervole]

I tend to stick fairly local - mostly for carbon footprint reasons.

I do Wimborne, Swanage, occasionally Chippenham, and some other small ones in Dorset.

But I am very tempted to come north again for Saddleworth Rushcart as I loved that the one time I came to watch it (and I've got family in Cheshire I can visit at the same time)

[galadhir]

Ooh, we do Chippenham quite a lot with one side or another. We've done the Rushcart as well as Sutton Masque for the last three years, but my knees are no longer up to that amount of walking, so Chippenham sounds like a good one to aim for in future. We've vetoed this year on the grounds that none of us are fit or in practice enough to put on a good show. But maybe next year?

[watervole]

Chippenham is an online festival this year.

Southern Star might do it next year. It would be a first for us, but certainly an option.

Our main handicap is that two of our key dancers both have jobs that require a lot of working at weekends. Rowan has to book holiday well in advance, and Jackie does care work in people's homes, so can't leave her ladies alone for too long.

Fingers crossed. Remind me well in advance of the festival. We aren't on Chippenham's radar yet, but I find festivals are generally welcoming of teams that ask for invitations (as long as the team is competent - and we have some good videos of us dancing).