General Chat

It's (literally) not half the place it used to be :-(
Gunwharf Keys seems to have engulfed a bit, the two office blocks have gone, and Unicorn Gate is rarely used

I wonder if it's still the same these days to some degree, or have social standards changed and a young woman wouldn't feel so comfortable there these days?

AnninGlos,
I used to wander around the Dockyard during my lunch break - there were some amazing buildings, and lovely feral cats :-D
I worked in the Secretariat dealing with messages from boats, but didn't really like it - I had nothing in common with the other 5 in the office, so asked for a transfer to reception.
That was great! I was the first point of call for the 'lads' - and they were so sweet!
I even rode a bike, so I could join the mass cycle blockage out of Unicorn Gate on a Friday :-D

Rollo, please don't twist my words, I was comparing Parliament to Gormenghast , and said Gormenghast was more truthful than Parliament.
Edit: There's also the fact that I read the trylogy a long time ago.

I don't wish to get into a discussion on books you have read, and how my opinion will (of course) be wrong.
As for you alleging I have 'bizzare' takes on life - my 'take on life' is honest - not some fanciful creation I wished I lived in.
Perhaps you find that 'bizarre' - but it's real life - try living in it.

Like Maggie I too worked in Portsmouth Dockyard. I worked in the payroom there all day Thursdays and friday mornings. to get to the payroom I had to walk right the way across the yard from the main gate at the harbour, we started after the men were at work so there were dockyard mateys everywhere. They were cheeky but they never overstepped the mark. I was 16. the only time we were wary was when foreign ships were in dock.

If MW considers "Gormenghast" a story of truth and openness it may explain some of her bizarre takes on life. Steerpike open? Truthful?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gormenghast_(series)#Ruling_family

Allan - that's one thing I hate!
What has it to do with anyone why a woman doesn't have children?
There are many reasons.
1) She may not want them
2) She may want them, but has a problem
3) He may be infertile

I would have thought the idea that the woman is always at 'fault' when children don't 'appear' would have died a death by now, but the chance that the man may be firing 'blanks' is still low on the 'why don't you have children' question.
Always the woman's 'fault'.

And , quite frankly, nothing to do with anyone else! :-|

Good grief Sylvia :-S
I had an argument with my ex when we were 'courting', so started chatting up al the other men in the pub (there were a lot of men).
Turns out they were all gay (this was Portsmouth) - but I had a fantastic time!

I've got 2 elder brothers - perhaps that influenced my views - but my ambition as a youngster was to mentally 'get one over' on the male species :-D

The younger one was worst.

When you have a 16 year old brother asking you 'O' level questions when you're 10, then, when you don't know the answer, he calls you 'thick' it sticks with you :-D

I had the chance to usurp him when I was 32 (yes, it lasted that long) :-D :-D

He, our dad and I had all completed a 'quiz' in the local paper.
It invited us to go further.
Dad wasn't interested, but I challenged my brother.
We both paid the fee, and took the test.
Exactly the same result!! :-D :-D :-D VICTORY!!!

Have to admit, I've never 'used' men in my life, and expect the same respect back.
Mind you, I have a 'look' that can have small children, vicious dogs - and my 37 year old nephew, the other day, cowering :-D

Perhaps slightly off topic (as I've been accused of consistently doing on another thread:-D) but perhaps this Pollie could have done with such a Code.

This relationship is consensual, but the Deputy PM has recently been spruiking about marital fidelity.

Earlier, in a discussion about a universal immunisation programme targeting cervical cancer he said he was opposed to it on the grounds that it could lead to promiscuity.

When in Opposition he was vocal in calling on the then PM Julia Gillard to explain why she hadn't had any children and enquiring about her personal life.

And he now has the hide to say that HIS private life should be just that



http://www.news.com.au/national/politics/barnaby-joyce-and-exstaff-member-vikki-campion-reportedly-expecting-a-baby/news-story/38619bde2a7f307a9576ec9a55538d94

and this

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/marriage/the-comments-coming-back-to-haunt-barnaby-joyce/news-story/816edfc4ceb042435f80267ebd64cd8e

I really do have to laugh when I read these stories of parliamentarians setting up a code of conduct.

One of my classmates at university got a science degree in 1963, then ended up as a lobbyist at Whitehall in the late 1960s.

She later wrote a book about how easy it was to lay MPs and get the help you needed from them.

She was a rather pneumatic young lady, very voluptuous figure, so I guess she didn't have to work too hard.

But it's always been the culture hasn't it?

Powerful men and young ladies.

She was also a every distant cousin of OH .......... and we used to get rather horrified descriptions of her latest escapades from his mother :-D :-D :-D

She's lived in Paris for many years, and I'm sure has had many escapades in the last 30 or 40 years ;-)

I worked in Portsmouth Dockyard from the ages of 18 to 20.

Those dockies knew how to be respectful to women!
They didn't need a 'code of conduct'.

The only 'incident' I had, was with an American sailor.
Fortunately, a huge dockie appeared, and the sailor ran off!
The dockie then checked I was alright, and offered to walk me back to the office.

But a kick where you said would leave bruises maybe not seen but still felt and a woman would only do that as a last resort. and I mean back in the 50/60's.

Well I was joking but a few tears rather than a couple of bruises.....

Women have to be seen to be looking after themselves while at work. and a quick smack in the gob will certainly put men off trying sexual harassment and once word gets round that women are sticking up for themselves then all the sexual harassment should stop.

Caroline think your idea goes too far.

If sexual harassment happened back in the 50/60's we used to get the person on his own and give him a good smacking.leaving a couple of bruises on their faces which would put them off touching any woman again.

I think Caroline's suggestion is nuts.

Or maybe a kick somewhere...bringing tears to their eyes.

Well thats the only thing that would put the perpertrators off of doing it to anyone else.

smack in the gob - love it!!!!

The only parliamentary code should be that if women get touched or harassed and they don't like it .Should be a smack in the gob for the offenders.

And then let the perpertrators moan that they have been assaulted

Too right Ann, you know my views and I know yours......