Like a box of chocolates

 Today is World Chocolate Day and this post is something like a box of half a dozen little morsels that I hope will be tasty.

Allegedly, July 7th is the day, in 1550, when chocolate was first brought to Europe from the New World. I suspect this is just marketing guff and no-one has a clue when the first shipload of cocoa beans, cocoa paste or whatever it was first landed. You get these tall tales from PR people peddling food, like the one about Marco Polo introducing pasta to Italy, which he'd brought all the way from China. Presumably with a jar of Dolmio sauce!

Anyway, I shall be celebrating World Chocolate Day. I tend to celebrate it every day!

La Bulle

I've been reading a lot about a new refuge set up in the heart of Paris a few weeks ago with the support of the city council. It's a centre that is home to seven LGBT+ charities and provides a safe space for socialising and enjoying communal meals, with medical and legal help and even clothing where needed. It includes XY Media, a media station with dedicated studio for the M2F trans community.

Most significantly, some of the organisations associated with it provide help to LGBT people in countries where being gay or trans is illegal or very dangerous, working to help bring young LGBT people to France for their safety. Getting through French immigration is not easy at the best of times (been there, done that, and it's a slog even with assistance) and although it may take time and several attempts, the one thing that gay or trans people from abroad said they appreciated most was the fact that the French government and people accept that you are gay or straight, trans or cis without issue, which is not the case where they originate from. The French may not want so many foreigners living in France, but at least they take them for who they are.

I hope this centre thrives. 

Sparkle

It's the Sparkle transgender celebration in Manchester this weekend and I wish all the trans people there and their families and friends a good time.

I found this previously unpublished photo today, from Sparkle ten years ago, showing me with Jemma and Zazoo. It's a nice reminder of the fun we had in those days. This was in the Molly House pub.

Sad, though, to note my beloved friend Kate in my report of Sparkle 2013. She passed away in April this year.

 

Pretty thing of the week

I have some chicory growing in a pot. It was planted during the campaign by our local paper for readers to grow a kitchen garden during the Covid lockdowns, and the paper provided seeds every week. This chicory didn't get cooked last year and this week it has put out the prettiest pale blue-purple, almost lilac, flowers. They open by day and close in the evening into a dusty-pink trumpet. Who knew?

 

Stay cool

This week the world has beaten the all-time temperature records. I tolerate heat well and it's never too crazy here (about 30C or 86F in July). July is also my favourite month of the year, with its long days, balmy evenings and warm sunshine. Nevertheless, taking it gently is the way forward till things cool down. I am blessed with both an attractive swimming pool and the seashore very close by and that is where I shall be a lot of the time this summer.

 

Now that my friends have gone, I want to try out all my new makeup, but the heat is not conducive to water-based makeup or a big wig. We'll see if I can manage a really good effort on my makeup soon, though.

Red

Thanks for comments on my last post on whether red suits me. More comments are welcome. I shall try being bolder and brighter more often.

Sue x