Me-no-poste? It's My Blog And I'll Wail If I Want To!

Here it is, then. 2023. I sat up with the ceilidh on BBC Alba, then listened to the thunderous fireworks that peppered the neighbourhood (all in the wrong direction from the Hutch's windows, even if I was inclined to watch), 'first footexted' all the important folk in my phone's address book, then faffed around with puzzles and the tubular channel into the wee small hours. Oh, and I completed another crochet syringe-driver bag for the Beatson clinic in Glasgow. That was #4, and I am aiming for a dozen, yarn stock permitting. Each bag takes about five hours to complete. 

All of you sewers and yarners out there, have you checked to see if your local pain and cancer clinics require these bags? A nice little project of practical purpose. This is the very simple pattern I have used. Download it - or biggify and screenshot it. There are many other options for quilters or knitters with a quick net search. It feels good to be doing something that will have value to others. Also, giving in this manner holds a degree of worth for the giver. For myself, who has been socially fallow for two years, this holds some importance. The giving to the Ukrainian poetry page and to John's Collection Pot for the Lviv hospital (what, you didn't know? see below!) has been important not only for those who will receive but also for the mental health of the sender.

Last week, some commenters noted that a sense of frustration is prevalent in the world just now. There were some very interesting responses when I blew off steam about that in my FFF. Something to be aware of is that sadness/grief is the flip side of anger. I am actually in a fairly neutral state of mind and generally content. However, it is from the intellectual aspects of what is happening in the world that my frustration and gnashing of teeth arise, prompting that post. In seeking to address these things from the intellectual level, you will see a lot more 'gab' from me, as well as the more challenging posts. At least for the immediate future, I will explore the threads already laid down over the last two weeks as I wrestle with myself as much as with the world. 

Tigger's F had mentioned that women in general are now found to be more angry/sad than had been the case in the previous decade. I was intrigued and - natch - went off on one of my intermutt rambles. The BBC had done a recent report on this, but the data is actually a year old, and there were several earlier articles to be found - all based on the Women's Health Index from Hologic (in conjunction with Gallup Poll). This research organisation was set up in 2020, and only two reports have been created to date. I am guessing the 2022 report will appear over the next couple of months. The reference to ten years as the data comparison must have been derived purely from Gallup's data, which would not have been specific to women. Hologic's sole purpose is to measure women's data. It claims to do so by representing: 

"94% of the world's population from 122 countries, sampling 127000 people, of which 66000 are women." 

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Is it just me, or does that leave you wondering a bit? Sixty-six thousand out of four billion (if one takes the m/f ratio to be 50/50) to draw data conclusions regarding that entire population seems to me to be somewhat quantum working! This is the problem with statistics. Endless number-crunching with infinite possibilities. Remember that numbers (maths) are closely related to music... and think of the cosmological variety that can be gained from only twelve notes.

Anyhoo; there are five categories of well-being, with the emotional/mental being but one. And while the 'world' figure may well be up, country by country can give a different impression. For example, the UK actually sits relatively high in that category, although it is ranked 30th in the world overall. The top five were interesting...

If you would like to have a gander at the complete list, or just your own country, click here. Even the best of them has some way to go for the 100%. I am of the opinion that 87% would be an excellent marker to aim for. (That's an old Blogville reference, in case any stragglers are still reading...)

Anger, frustration, disappointment, dismay... women have a right to display their emotions in this regard. We have witnessed several rallies in the past two years - most recently Iran - as girl power comes to the fore once more. Yes, there are likely to be multiple reasons. Still, it is not hard to think that the rise of populist and fascistic leaders resulting in the withdrawal of hard-won rights, as well as the ever-present, but once again, more open misogyny that prevails in society, play a significant part. 

So yes, this is my blog, and there will be some moments of wailing and gnashing of teeth... are you coming along for the ride?

PS - in case you did not see it, or as a reminder, I put out a call to action on the 

Christmas Eve Post. I am going to keep placing the link. Please spread the word and quickly. The Collection Pot is only open until January 13th. Thank you.