I’ve been a little quiet on here lately for various reasons. This is one of them:
Two single friends, one radical plan: why I’m having a child with my gay best mate
#platoniccoparenting
Is anyone else disturbed by the coverage of poor Archie Battersbee? It feels like a lot of journalists (esp. broadcasters & tabloids) covering the story haven't actually read the court papers. I have read them & they make for horrific reading about Archie's true condition...
FFS. If a man wants to sexually assault a woman, the female sign on the toilet door will do nothing to stop him! It is not some magical talisman. Predators attacked people in toilets long before the The Equality Act came in. Stop using toilets as an excuse for your bigotry.
Big shout out to the Guardian who emailed to say they will still be paying casual shifters like me if we can’t come in because of coronavirus. Does anyone know if other news orgs will be be doing the same? For a lot of freelance journalists, shift work is their main income.
... with no mention of what the doctors treating him – and the numerous other "second opinions" – have actually said about how bad it really is for Archie. It's infuriating to see it reported in this way because it literally does no-one any good. Least of all his poor mum...
it isn't just what's happening to his brain, which is catastrophic. His other organs are failing & becoming necrotic. I've just watched a Sky News clip of a presenter saying Archie's mum thinks he can be saved in Turkey or Japan and the presenter just reports it like it's a fact.
The hospital are not allowed to go on TV and defend themselves from comments about them "executing" the boy and so I know broadcasters only have his family to interview but they do have the court reports & experts to decipher what it all means to help counter misinformation.
I'm not a mother & none of my loved ones have ever been on life support so I can in no way imagine how awful it must be. But I think she is getting terrible legal advice (no surprise given it's the Christian Legal Center helping her!) & (some) journalists are making things worse.
Reminder to anyone writing about Christmas rules - Not everyone lives with their boyfriend/husbands/kids. Quite a lot of people live alone or in flatshares with people they hate. Not everyone is in the same boat. So pls don't say shit like: "Stay home with your immediate family".
@rellimnosilla
Of course. It must be absolutely horrendous but my point is about the way some journalists and broadcasters have been reporting on the case. I can’t imagine what she is going through at all. It’s all awful. But the media circus has made it worse IMO.
16 JAN, 23 years ago + age 23, i typed this in a note to my oma (rip).
on the exact same date, 1 yr later, i would be stung in a shopping mall by FBI agents + linda tripp.
happy 22nd survivor’s day to me + my family!
@MorganBroadcast
I’m so sorry Charlotte. The actions of the bank and gym are almost as sickening as the theft itself. Can you go to the shops yourself and ask about the CCTV before it gets wiped? I’ve heard of people who have done that before… not sure on the legalities though.
I’ve written for
@theipaper
about the cost of being single and how the latest stats, as depressing as they are, actually made me feel better in a way because I’d been beating myself up for being bad with money. But it’s not just me! It really is expensive to be single!
I agree we need to fix the fact we live in a society where women fear being followed, attacked, sexually assaulted and murdered. So let's do our best to fix that problem. Feminists should be uniting over this issue. It's infuriating (and great for the patriarchy) that we are not.
A few weeks ago I got to do some journalism in real life when I went along to a hotel in town that has been housing homeless people since March. Unlike other hotels that did the same back in Spring, the
@PrinceRupert18
hotel has refused to kick any of their guests out...
I wish those writing money/energy saving tips would remember that millions of people in this country rent. Most of us can't get our houses insulated or get smart meters installed or new boilers fitted or have our windows and doors replaced & our landlords aren't likely to help.
On 13 December 2020 I made defamatory statements about
@AyoCaesar
, which I sincerely regret and retract and have undertaken not to repeat. I have agreed to pay substantial damages to Ash Sarkar and her legal costs. Here is my full and wholehearted apology. Please retweet
Guess what? I'm going to be on actual
@BBCWomansHour
‼️😱😭 Tune in now. I'll be on about 10:15 talking all about – you guessed it – the cost of being single (of course!) Hopefully will also get to talk about
@thesinglesupplement
too. This is a total dream come true for me!
The whole toilet debate is a totally manufactured one, designed to prey on the feelings women already have about feeling unsafe. In reality it has been like this for more than a decade and you didn't even notice until this "debate" got started. Please stop drinking the Kool Aid.
"He’s a fucking wanker, and you can quote me on that” –
@NimkoAli
didn't beat around to bush when telling me how she feels about Christopher Chope after he blocked the FGM bill
I am muting this now because the terfs have found it. But thanks to all who have shared in good faith and contributed some excellent points to the discussion. Sending lots of love and solidarity to my trans friends and followers xx
I wrote about the battle for Greenfields Park in Shrewsbury. It's a very local issue but the case could have ramifications for the sale of public land up and down the country.
In The Observer today:
Actually before I do, here's an article I wrote a few years ago explaining why this panic about toilets is so ridiculous. Trans people can and have been using the toilets that match their gender for years without issue. This is thanks to the Equality Act.
Have received scores of messages from downgraded students. Here are a few. Firstly, David. He goes to an FE college in Gateshead. He's the first in his family to go to uni.
He got a place
@pembroke1347
(Cambridge) to read engineering. Assessed AA*A- got A*AB. Place is on hold.
I’ve only just realised it’s my one year anniversary of being freelance 🤯 I’m thrilled that I have not only survived a whole year but - dare I say it - thrived being self-employed especially given the pandemic! It’s been quite a rollercoaster but I wouldn’t change a thing.
Excited to say I am going to be writing about air pollution all this year for
@standardnews
! This is the first double page spread and if you have seen all my
#journorequests
lately it won’t come as a surprise that it’s all about woodburning stoves! Will share the links below!
I run a community of thousands of single people, many of whom live alone. Many of these people are not elderly. They are in their 20s, 30s, 40s etc. Why do they never get a mention when it comes to the government’s exit strategy? There are 8 million people in this boat!
I’m friends with one of the mums Caspar co-parents with & these people are so far off base, it’s actually ridiculous. Their family story is one of my favourites. Trying to make something that is beautiful ugly says so much more about these trolls than it does Owen or Caspar.
They've been at it ALL MORNING - a ceaseless torrent of furious poison calling us creeps and misogynists. It's incredibly depressing and not a little upsetting.
Here goes... excited to say I have signed to a literary agent and am now represented by the wonderful
@zoe_ross12
at
@UA_Books
@UnitedAgents
! Watch this space 👀
Where are all the men in my timeline? Many of you have benefited directly from safe & legal abortion. And if you haven’t personally, some of your loved ones will have.
Very excited to announce that alongside my freelance journalism, I am starting a P/T role as the Campaigns Manager for
@presspaduk
which aims to help solve the problem of journalism being so elitist.
Nearly 10% of the national workforce has been locked out of any financial help this year for arbitrary reasons. These people are taxpayers like everyone else.
@RishiSunak
claims to have met with representatives of
@ExcludedUK
. He has not.
#ExcludedUK
There's officially nowhere in England where rent is affordable for women – without a second salary.
I spoke to
@rachelmoss_
for this important piece, which I'm thrilled to see is leading the lifestyle section of
@HuffPostUK
>>
I've seen a house I really REALLY want to rent & the landlord is going to be deciding today between me and 11 others. I need all the luck I can get so please think happy thoughts, pray or send good vibes that they choose me. I really need to move out of my parents' house now! 😭
I moved to a cheaper area. I haven’t had a gym membership since March 2020. I haven’t been abroad since May 2019. I no longer buy Pret coffees every day (because I WFH) and I still can’t buy a house because house prices keep rising faster than I can top up my deposit savings!
On BBC News someone just said people will be excited to return to the shops. I beg to differ. People want to know when they can go and see their parents or in my case when my sister, who has been in lockdown alone, is allowed to drive up from Cornwall!
Just got officially discharged from the breast cancer clinic after finding a lump before Christmas (actually in the last couple of days of the crowdfunder as if I needed another thing to stress about!). I got the results today and I’m so lucky that my lump is benign. 1/2
Are you married or in a relationship? Did you meet your partner somewhere other than a dating app / online dating?
If yes to both, please tell me how you met them.
It’s to help me answer an agony aunt question!! Your help is much appreciated 👇👇👇
#AskTwitter
I know this because I run a large community of single people & it comes up time & time again. Nothing was more insulting during the first lockdown than all the "we're all in this together" & "let's celebrate spending more time together at home" & the endless family adverts on TV.
BIG NEWS!
I am going freelance (again!) at the start of September. I've done some stuff I'm really proud of
@HuffPostUK
and I am going to miss the amazing team so much but I am SO excited to be my own boss again and get my hustle on. I've really missed it.
Hey
@BBCNews
when you say that the government is planning to help “struggling families” and “working families” do you just mean everyone?? Because the measures aren’t just for people with kids and this language is not inclusive. Millions of people live alone or in house shares.
This is my first article for Guardian Weekend mag, which is exciting (!!!), but mainly I want to shout about it because all too often those with disabilities are viewed by what they can't do rather than what they can do ... (1/3)
Sorry to say but this would really piss me off. Spending time alone should be seen as normal. It is normal! This is one of the reasons some of my readers don’t do things like go for walks alone as they’re worried strangers will think there is something wrong with them 🤬
I have formally asked to have a cat in my place and the lettings agent is going to ask the landlord for me. Please keep all your fingers and toes crossed for me 🤞🤞🤞
Please enjoy this non-coronavirus related news...
My parents are officially getting a puppy! This puppy to be exact. I’ve been lobbying for this for the majority of my life. I’m so happy 😭❤️
Look at her 🤩
@jessphillips
Thanks so much Jess. Always emotional to watch. I’m particularly grateful you mentioned Brianna. I’m sure that meant a lot to her loved ones.
I’m having a shit day. Just feeling totally fed up, nothing actually wrong. Anyway, to cheer anyone up who is feeling the same here is my parents’ eight-week old puppy, Ruby Rose Slawson who was delivered* to us last week.
* the breeders got permission to do this.
I'm 36 and I needed to read this. Sharing for anyone out there worrying about what they haven't achieved yet or finding themselves caught up with career envy. Just keep going!
It also reminds me of this quote: “The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.”
Deep breath! I have recently been diagnosed with ADHD. I know there are still so many misconceptions about what that means so I decided to I write about my experience in my newsletter this weekend. You can read it here:
Again, this is not me saying the rules shouldn't be scrapped if the scientists say they should. I'm all about doing what is best for the health of everyone. It's just a reminder about the language used around the issue. It hurts people when this gets forgotten.
@ndchaos
@TobiRachel_
I have ADHD too and saw my younger self in that. Absolutely flipping my lid and pushing people away 😩 It’s hard to be around that person but it’s also incredibly hard to be that person. Maybe she doesn’t have it too but hope she gets some support when she gets out.
This really is not a good look. And these images wouldn’t be all over Twitter and the news had the organisers been allowed to hold a peaceful covid safe vigil as they wanted to. It would have been all pictures of candles and flowers and signs.
Top tip for the young journos following me: Do not get so sucked into the world of journalism that you neglect your non-journo mates. Aside from your own wellbeing, they will also help you stay in touch with reality & not make so many assumptions about the public AKA your readers
Weird juxtaposition between all the journos on here discussing the next lockdown because they saw Tomorrow’s papers today or tweets with the leak last night and the WhatsApp groups of friends who aren’t journos who haven’t seen the news yet and are blissfully unaware.
A few weeks ago I have the privilege of meeting Steve and Billy who ended up living on a beach in a tent for 15 months despite being in work. They are on
@BBCTwo
's
#Broke
right now. Read more about their story and what's happened since filming:
Thrilled to have my first feature (across two double page spreads, no less) in a glossy magazine for the first time. It’s in the lovely
@PsychologiesMag
& is about the power of words to help us in difficult times. I interviewed
@matthaig1
& others and shared my own experience.
nice his landlord had been after learning he had been homeless. (Proof lovely landlords exist!) I spoke for hours to the people quoted in this article but only had so many words. Hopefully, I captured a bit of how amazing this has been for everyone.
Book/celeb PR - I have a popular newsletter aimed at single women (&also read by men & coupled up people). I'm approaching 10,000 readers. They are VERY engaged! I love interviewing people for it & am always looking for new things to recommend. Pls send me stuff!
#JournoRequest
I managed to write a personal essay without once mentioning the fact I'm single! Loved writing this for
@theipaper
about what my new normal looks like.
@butwhatifitsall
@EmuHp
The rules are not being relaxed though. The Equality Act which came into law in 2010 already means trans people can and have been using the toilets that match their gender for years without issue. This is a manufactured argument designed to stir up panic.
It's officially one year since I fled London & moved in with my parents for lockdown. In this piece for
@theipaper
, I looked back over what it's been like to be single during the pandemic and spoke to some other single people to see how they have fared.
I was asked to contribute to the
@theipaper
's lovely series on friendships and how they can change you. I wrote for
@ipaperviews
about
@cl_alyson
, who is 25 years older than me, and how people who only have friends their own age are missing out.
I’ve just finished rewatching Gilmore Girls so the timing to receive this book of essays by
@thelaurengraham
couldn’t be more perfect. Thanks
@katyaellis_
🥰
I’m going to be on BBC Radio 2 in a few minutes talking to
@theJeremyVine
about the cost of living crisis and the impact it has on people who live alone. Tune in!
So happy for my local community 🎉🎉🎉🎉 Huge kudos to Peter Day and all the campaigners who have worked tirelessly for the last six years!
This is great news for other communities up and down the country who are seeing public land being sold off.
🌲🌳🌲WE WON🌲🌳🌲
We’re delighted that the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Greenfields Community Group over the sell-off of their local parkland to property developers.
We’re proud to have supported them in this important case.
Helen Joyce, here, openly talking about “reducing and keeping down” the number of people transitioning.
“The fewer of those people, the better”
This is sick.
This is what all those “GCs” who publicly say they don’t hate trans ppl & would march for them are really thinking.
@lilycanter
Yes Lily. I’ve been guilty of this too. Assuming friends wouldn’t want to come to stuff but equally sometimes I have asked mums and they have rolled their eyes and been like “of course I’m not coming .” And the message has been “you would know I wouldn’t come if you were a mum.”
I don't know what has happened to Nicola Bulley but what I do know is that some people who do fall into rivers do not surface for weeks or even months.
I wrote this a few years go on the topic of men who die in bodies of water after nights out.
I've officially joined The Discourse.
Here I've written about two things that stopped me in my tracks this weekend. It explores infertility, childlessness, friendships, motherhood and why the patriarchy is to blame for us all feeling like shit.
My Covid results came back negative. Thanks so much for all the luck and well wishes. Must just be my asthma playing up and a cold. Sending all my love to those who got different results or who are still waiting. Merry Christmas everyone! See you on the other side ❤️🎄❤️