25.04.08
Bring on the ear trumpet, bathchair and sweet sherry!
My great-niece, Matilda Grace, was born a couple of days ago.
Great-Aunt Sophie. Nope, it really doesn’t sound right!
Of course, this entailed passing some time in various card shops, making alarmed noises at the deeply sentimental new baby cards.
And what alarmed me most? The fact that the majority of the sickly pink cards referred to the joy brought by a little baby girl (and, in one particularly sick-making instance, an ‘ickle baby girl). None of the blue cards used the L-word.
Stereotyping really does kick in from the first minute, doesn’t it?!
Talking of stereotypes, R just read something out from the Grauniad about the LGBT film festival being unable to find a Muslim lesbian.
“Well,” I said thoughtfully, “I’m sure there are some, but I bet they’re keeping their heads down …”
[pause]
“… as it were.”
Ouch!
(BTW, if anyone finds this blog having typed the words “Muslim” and “lesbian” into a search engine, then step away right now. You are definitely in the wrong place!)
Donna said,
April 29, 2008 at 11:45 am
Welcome to the world of the wrinklies!
Great Aunt Sophie and Matilda Grace sounds nicer than Great Aunt Donna and Tyler, so you are ahead on points there (though Mad Auntie Kebab and My Mate Ty has a certain lunatic charm).
Totally agree on the cards for newborns - Oxfam have a brilliant one-size-fits-all card that is just a pair of booties in white. Can’t remember what I bought for Tyler, think I sent him a leaflet on adoption and told him he could divorce his parents in his teens
Sophie said,
April 29, 2008 at 11:50 am
Well, I just sent a cheque and pointed out that Kim can spend it on vodka and earplugs …!
chloe said,
May 15, 2008 at 10:14 am
congratulations!
what? the bathchair is for old people? since when? I’ve been using one since i was 15 (that’s when i turned super lazy).