Caffosaurus☕🍁:mayo:

Adventures in modern banking:
Notice two pending transactions on my credit card statement for almost the exact same amount (one cent difference) from a vendor I have never heard of, done on a day that I didn't use my card. Lock the card since I can't report them until they are posted transactions. Wait two days, report transactions. Card is suspended pending investigation which 'may take more that five business days due to high volume of frauds'. Get email less than five minutes later saying they are sending me a new card which should be here in a few days. Will need to contact any companies that I have recurring payments with. Would have had to do that soon anyway since old one was expiring in less than two months.
Fun times.

2026-09-09 19:51:15 UTC

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Purple is just a bigger colour. Simple. 😉

2026-09-09 12:21:30 UTC

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One thing that struck me was how Google and Apple are saying that they need more information to investigate the apps and determine if anything illegal is going on. Does anyone remember how long it took for the Spinster app to be banned back in the day? Women talking to each other didn't require in-depth investigation but selling humans does. Funny that.

2026-09-08 23:04:17 UTC

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Would love some! I only made a small batch of cherry jam this summer and it's all gone. I did crack open a new jar of my blueberry jam this morning though.

2026-09-08 20:38:54 UTC

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Oooo, we have a series going!

2026-09-07 21:22:24 UTC

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I do love that green! So much I accidentally bought it twice!

2026-09-07 11:54:07 UTC

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You're right, what was I thinking?

2026-09-07 02:38:39 UTC

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That's very nice. Love the invisible seacoo too!

2026-09-06 18:44:16 UTC

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These girls shouldn't have to protest. The adults in charge should be doing everything in their power to protect them.

2026-09-06 16:39:44 UTC

I would very much like to meet whoever runs project Gutenberg's FB page. Their recommendations are always, ummm, interesting...
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/79520

2026-09-06 13:42:07 UTC

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Montréal has a big jewish population, some more orthodox than others. They set up their own stores a long time ago. What they did not do is insist that other stores, grocery or otherwise, cater to them. Every fucking grocery store now has a halal section and our slaughterhouses produce halal meats, to the point that we don't know if what isn't labelled as such isn't anyway since their offcuts make it into the regular food supply. I haven't noticed clothing stores having dedicated sections, but it wouldn't surprise me.

2026-09-06 09:48:21 UTC

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I guess the nice people at Biscotte have picked a good time to get into milling. Not sure when it will be up an running, but they have announced that they are buying fleeces and have acquired space and machinery.
We used to have a lot more mills than we do now. In hindsight, closing them and relying on the US instead of modernising might not have been a good idea.

2026-09-05 21:24:54 UTC

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So these people are objecting to the French being extra-French, in France no less.
They can all go fuck themselves. If they don't like it, they can stay home. It's not like they are being asked to participate.

2026-09-05 21:16:29 UTC

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I like the way it split. Gives the jellyfish dimension.

2026-09-05 21:13:10 UTC

Almost bought these slippers to see how Farah would react but it just wasn't 24$ funny to me. Now at half that price...
https://media.spinster.xyz/131b07b988815fe1b29e27c7e1fd6b4a2a0590e1fcb79c7f01fa4131e0aee8cd.jpg

2026-09-05 20:03:00 UTC

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If your car has a usb port, you can just put music on a usb thumb drive (if you have a more modern car that supports that, of course).

2026-09-05 13:26:29 UTC

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That's really pretty so far, it's going to be spectacular when done!

2026-09-05 00:32:44 UTC

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Our regular rose to around 2$ a litre in the past few days, which would be about 8$ a gallon....

2026-09-04 21:38:49 UTC

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It looks like it's waving at us!

2026-09-04 21:35:42 UTC

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This is pretty close to how I knit as well, except for the crook of the thumb thing. I don't let go of the needle and flick the yarn over, both on circulars and straights. My friend brought her knitting last time she was over and she does the crook bit and lets go of the needle to wrap the yarn.

2026-09-04 10:58:10 UTC

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Don't know why they are excluding Canada, there was slavery here as well, at a much smaller scale and a much shorter amount of time, but if we're doing a global struggle session then we should be included. And the great and the good here do love a good apology tour.

2026-09-04 00:49:32 UTC

https://media.spinster.xyz/eaf1c949a2b84e6556b7b266924e80a38a311ac10e85810c5c72196a0805faac.png

2026-09-03 20:06:35 UTC

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I don't know what colour tired is, but I really love this one.

2026-09-03 17:11:28 UTC

🙄
#note1p5g…lu6t

2026-09-03 11:28:51 UTC

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They do make a smaller one, which I haven't tried. This one I only use at home since it doesn't fit in most of my bags and the magnetic bar does tend to shift a bit if it is moved around.

2026-09-03 11:25:29 UTC

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For reference, I have this pattern hoder:
https://hobbii.ca/products/hp-1002938-pattern-holder-large?_pos=2&_psq=pattern+hol&_psid=58af0ec14&_ss=e
And this is the running stitch marker method I use:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2291WWchcc

2026-09-03 11:19:32 UTC

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I usually print out patterns since following along on a screen is annoying to me. I make notes in the margins and use a running stitch marker (a scrap of yarn that I move front to back every wet number of rows along a column of stitches). I move a post-it along the pattern to keep track of where I am, unless I have it in my fancy new pattern holder that has a magnetic strip that I move after each set of instructions or chart row.

2026-09-02 21:07:53 UTC

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We don't have councils here so it's a bit different. School boards take care of the schools and cities manage building permits and regulations such as short-term rentals. There is no obligation for either to provide housing for key workers or anything like that.

2026-09-02 21:05:11 UTC

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Love it! And that's a very good leaf!

2026-09-02 10:38:25 UTC

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I get to meet my first of four groups of year 1s today. Consensus is that they are a rather nice collection of oddballs. Several are siblings of older students but that doesn't always tell us much. We've had a shortage of specialists as well but our music teacher has a student teacher this year and we've had student teachers in art almost every year for the past few. Being in a large suburb of a large city, there is housing, but it's not as inexpensive as it used to be.
Some of our most problematic students have either graduated or gone on to adult ed or vocational training. We also have a new 15+ programme running for those who don't do well in academics and would benefit from being intoduced to various trades. It's just starting so we'll see how that goes but it does remove about a dozen kids who tend to get bored and become disruptive from regular classes. Hopefully it will redirect their energy to something more productive.
I am concerned that about half of my groups are very small which means they contain a lot of heavily coded kids, which doesn't neccessarily mean that they are difficult, but does indicate that there are going to be multiple learning/developmental/behaviour issues. When the maximum number in a class is 28 or 32 depending on the grade and you have fewer than 15, well, there will be some challenges. At least student services is fully staffed this year so that will help.
It sounds like himself really needs to have a chat with the head. Maybe getting other teachers to join in would be a good idea. He shouldn't be this stressed two weeks in.

2026-09-01 10:56:44 UTC

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That she did!

2026-09-01 10:24:08 UTC

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I get that. It took me a long time to get Farah after losing my previous one.

2026-09-01 00:02:12 UTC

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That's beautiful. I think I will print it up to remind myself to act with decorum and shit.

2026-08-31 23:41:54 UTC

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She's dealing with family issues. She pops in every now and again.

2026-08-31 20:45:10 UTC

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Awww, they look like they're dancing!

2026-08-31 18:19:05 UTC

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I'm so sorry Rube.
Glad you're still pampering yourself a little (and that your hair is fabulous).

2026-08-31 18:00:33 UTC

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I teach them the colour wheel with red, blue, yellow AND that the primary pigments are magenta, primary yellow, and cyan.

2026-08-31 12:14:18 UTC

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Have the cats warmed up to her?

2026-08-30 22:52:29 UTC

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Oooo! Fresh eggs for breakfast?

2026-08-30 20:20:17 UTC

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It's probably not satire. At least these were polite, they aren't always.

2026-08-30 11:19:17 UTC

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i found plenty of cabbage-shaped teapots, but the closest cozy I found was this: (and it's unavailable)
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/888505134/brussels-sprouts-mini-tea-cosy-knitting

2026-08-30 00:14:06 UTC

But in which time zone?
https://media.spinster.xyz/d2d1fed7c9eae6927ed33fa861c3c4333b3c214e4f8431aef7bc1b10828302de.png

2026-08-29 23:10:46 UTC

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There are a lot of beautiful circle blanket patterns out there, I just wonder how practical they are. They seem more decorative than useful as a blanket, but maybe that's just me.

2026-08-29 22:19:06 UTC

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Me too. There were far fewer of them, and they were only taken when something important (to the photographer) happened.

2026-08-29 22:14:33 UTC

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I have some of my grandfather's (maybe great-grandfather's) tools kept in a WW2-era metal ammo box. Friend's hubby is a carpenter and says they're not worth much and need cleaning up. Still not tossing them.

2026-08-29 21:41:21 UTC

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I have several boxes of photographs and slides. I'm in the process of sccanning everything and sharing with my sisters. I have most of the slides done but still have a metric fuck-tonne of photos/negatives to go through.

2026-08-29 21:02:43 UTC

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I like nice tableware. I also have her sewing kit and my kid has my grandmother's sewing box (as I already had more sewing stuff than I needed) and my mother's modern sewing machine. I have her 1950's one as well as her mother's from the 30s (I think). Both are in their wooden table/stands/whatever you call them.

2026-08-29 20:51:50 UTC

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My aunt has a lot of my grandmother's sewing stuff, or at least she did. I have no idea where it all is today as she now has dementia and has severely downsized. I know she had a garage sale before selling her house but I only found out about it much later.
When Mom was selling, she had asked me if I wanted her wedding china and I reallly, really did but had no room to put it. I think it hurt her that I had some that had belonged to my grandmother, but not hers. I still regret this, but still don't have room for it.

2026-08-29 20:41:33 UTC

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That's really nice. I do have a fondness for dark silhouettes against a clear background.

2026-08-29 16:48:23 UTC

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If pamphlets will stop them from raping, surely a sign will work to keep them from stealing, no?

2026-08-29 14:42:13 UTC

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I'm really not sure so I will have to wait until inspiration hits or something. I already have some blankets and I'm not wild about crochet wearables (apart from shawls and the occasional cardi).

2026-08-29 14:37:17 UTC

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You've had a very eventful week, I get why you wouldn't have been knitting much.
I am itching to start something new, but I need to finish my sister's mittens first. Then maybe I'll take the green cardi out of hibernation. I don't have a crochet project going right now, which feels weird. Maybe I'll go hunting for something to use up some stash yarn with.

2026-08-29 14:06:21 UTC

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It was at times, especially in the black section.

2026-08-29 14:05:16 UTC

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Thank you!
I'm glad I did it, but won't be doing it again, at least not with this splitty, faffy yarn!

2026-08-29 13:49:24 UTC

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She's done! Ends woven in, washed, and blocking.
Some of you will recognize the crochet cabbage which is now my t-pin holder.
https://media.spinster.xyz/db45f4f6b28a133f33a3ea7741ad992308487150128faf5f7df335a9a22a66b5.jpg

2026-08-28 20:50:08 UTC

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Hopefully there was more low-ugh than high-ugh.

2026-08-28 20:48:46 UTC

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Time to remind everyone not to fuck people with pustules!

2026-08-28 20:23:12 UTC

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'Themself'? Surely if it was a breast screening it should be 'herself'.

2026-08-28 19:05:28 UTC

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Given how much hair this cat has, it's happened less than half a dozen times in the last four years. I did come home today to a huge hairball in the living room, but that was an easy clean up.

2026-08-28 10:46:04 UTC

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MK did some updates a few days ago. Changed the look of it a bit but we're not getting constant error messages.

2026-08-28 10:41:34 UTC

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I think that's a bridge.
Glad Adèle is going to be okay with proper precautions, I know how important she is to you.
(Did you get your coffee this morning?)

2026-08-28 08:11:57 UTC

Someone remind me why I have a cat?
Cuz I am not enjoying changing the bed at 4 am because *someone* barfed on it.
At least she missed the bedspread and pilllows.

2026-08-27 21:30:38 UTC

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That does look like the colour of a headache.
How are things now? Progressively improving, I hope.

2026-08-27 12:30:53 UTC

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When I replaced my washer and dryer, the salesman was showing me the smart ones. Why? I have no need to turn on the machines remotely, I have to get up to put laundry in anyway. My air filter can be linked to an app so I can monitor it remotely or change the settings. It's about a dozen or so feet from the furthest part of my place. Why would I need to do that?

2026-08-27 12:26:03 UTC

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Was over to see my kid yesterday. He and partner have gotten themselves a smart kettle. She can turn it on from bed so the water is ready when she gets downstairs. Sometimes they turn it on on their way home so they can have tea when they arrive. I think it is stupid, but they like it.

2026-08-27 10:34:03 UTC

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I had wondered why she had suddenly stopped posting. I just assumed she got bored or decided to take a break. I'm sorry to hear this.

2026-08-27 09:24:51 UTC

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I thought the whole thing was a nothingburger and that the 'invaders' had all just popped in for a day and then gone home?
While I don't begrudge those girls protection, why can't they protect them in Cueta? And what about the spanish women and girls who live there? Why aren't they deserving of protection from those men?

2026-08-26 22:34:14 UTC

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Except it isn't women only now, is it? They decided that if a man callls himself a woman, he is welcome to join.
https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/hampstead-heath/activities-at-hampstead-heath/swimming-at-hampstead-heath/hampstead-heath-bathing-ponds-access-policy

2026-08-25 20:31:28 UTC

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Oh, you couldn't get gayer. Even the other gay teacher thinks he is too much.
We had a department meeting with the then-vp (now principal) about his hoarding tendancies and habit of interupting my classes. The music teacher snapped at him at one point because he wouldn't let me get a word in without cutting me off and going on a tangent. It's been the same thing at every school he has worked at. No one wants to deal with hiim any more.

2026-08-25 20:26:22 UTC

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Our meeting wasn't horrible. Admin barbecued some hotdogs for everyone at lunch and then we were left to our own devices. The other Art teacher, who I had major issues with at the end of last year, did not even say hello to me. To be fair, I didn't go out of my way to speak to him either. It's going to be a fun year.

2026-08-25 20:09:52 UTC

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Since I am in an English school, it is French as a second language. We do offer three levels, from basic to french as a mother tongue. I will be teaching the basic level class for the grade 10s.

2026-08-25 12:41:49 UTC

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I know! This is her regular balcony time, which is usually followed by a period of crying for treats and then a long nap. It's going to be an adjustment for her.

2026-08-25 12:33:10 UTC

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...and now to convince Farah that she has to come inside so I can leave for work....

2026-08-25 12:30:10 UTC

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I have mostly Art and one group of French. I've taught most of them before, apart from the newcomers. Will be meeting them next week.
And yes, I blame the lottery people. Still have my fingers crossed for Wednesday...

2026-08-25 12:01:31 UTC

Ugh. I have to go to work. Summer vacay is officially over. Pray for me friends, we have a staff meeting at 10 which I predict will be a combo shitshow/grievance session and 'this could have been an email'.
Going to make the coffee extra strong this morning. ☕

2026-08-25 10:52:37 UTC

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I'm so sorry. Extra pain is really not needed.

2026-08-25 00:38:10 UTC

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Trump also told Bruce Jenner that he could use the women's bathroom in Trump Tower once upon a time. He just parrots whatever the last person he talked to said.
And this might slow things down here if being 'anti-trans' becomes too closely associated with Trump because Orange Man Bad (well, he is pretty horrible, and he might provoke a knee-jerk reaction).

2026-08-25 00:33:29 UTC

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At this point, they might as well leave the shit up all year.

2026-08-25 00:26:47 UTC

Holy shit, Walmart, calm the fuck down! School hasn't even started yet and half of your halloween crap isn't out.
https://media.spinster.xyz/2161fb0530df59ee012326b7d5d0dcb0f570622a9f6eda8832ba28809624bdd7.jpg

2026-08-24 22:39:55 UTC

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It's a known issue. Wait until Flick approves you and it should be fine.

2026-08-24 22:03:55 UTC

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If it helps any, I can see them all if I click on your account from this side.

2026-08-24 21:10:34 UTC

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We have been pressured for a long time not to give zeros. At one time the minimum grade we could give on a report card was 28%. We are supposed to use our professional judgement to assess acquired competency. I give the grades they earned. If that means that they only handed in one half-assed assignment in a term and that assignment is worth, say 10% of the final mark, well they get 10% of not much on their report card. If they didn't hand anything in, then there is no grade, only a comment stating that the competency could not be evaluated.

2026-08-24 17:08:39 UTC

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Glad you're home and can get some rest now. And that they took good care of you.

2026-08-24 16:44:40 UTC

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To be fair, he is a lot.

2026-08-24 11:31:42 UTC

Good morning @Flick !
Hope you are having a wonderful birthday!
https://media.spinster.xyz/63c70556d4fac00bafac93065a252d8f4acd280d622e5b6c9a3c92606c55af3b.png

2026-08-24 11:17:59 UTC

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I hope it goes better than expected and recovery isn't too heinous.

2026-08-24 02:43:25 UTC

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There were updates done to the software earlier.

2026-08-24 02:40:57 UTC

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Thanks MK!

2026-08-24 00:37:32 UTC

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Yeah, something has happened. Not quite sure what.

2026-08-23 21:55:50 UTC

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Hello!
If you put something in the subject line, it shows up as a content warning here (MK is looking in to that)
You'll have to ask Flick in the morning about the length of posts.
No idea about cross posting. If you have followers on both instances, they will see it.

2026-08-23 21:23:29 UTC

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Have a good night - and a great birthday tomorrow!

2026-08-23 21:14:34 UTC

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This is why I am waiting a day or two. Going to let Flick catch her breath a little.

2026-08-23 21:07:27 UTC

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No, it's Flick trying to do everything by herself in a different time zone. There have been delays for others as well.
Patience, she'll get to you (but she might need to get some sleep at some point).

2026-08-23 20:57:46 UTC

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Captcha seems to have been an issue from what others have posted. Also, you have to wait for Flick to approve you. She's been doing that manually.

2026-08-23 20:43:00 UTC

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Go to the spinster.club homepage and sign up. There seems to have been a few growing pains today (I haven't tried yet), but Spinsters are joining and sending follow requests.

2026-08-23 20:40:53 UTC

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Flick set it up because Spinster was being glitchy as a 'just in case' instance so we can stay in touch.

2026-08-21 19:58:05 UTC

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Chonky hen is chonky.