Hi Moonblue, I'd really like to that, but it seems like such hard work to read the whole thing and know what's going on. I need shallow, non taxing diversions while working; so, yes, I choose to debate about highly emotive topics instead!!! hmmmm...

======= Date Modified 17 Nov 2009 18:47:18 =======
Bug: Yeah, that's fine, all well and good. However, re-use does not mean nicking a famous and glamorous sounding name in order to promote the idea that you are sophisticated, while turning the entire point of the text (which is extremely relevant, important, and otherwis little discussed) on its head.

Oh and also, I don't think in terms of high or low art; I'm passionate about lots of culture and life is far too short to worry about classifications. I'm especially passionate about Bunuel's Belle de Jour (which by the way has not always been classified as high art - by those who spend their time on such things), it's an incredible film with a message that I, personally, think the world should know about, and I, personally, don't like to see it b*st***ised. Just because somebody is a sex worker, that doesn't make them out of bound for criticismI'm treating her the way I would treat anyone else; she's chosen to put herself in the public eye (years ago with the blog, and now with the outing - she could have just told close family and friend if maintianing the secrecy was that diffiult)and she'll make a lot of money out of this, even more than she has already - and good on her, but I am still allowed my opinion about a beloved and socially important film. Yes, I would be appalled if she were sacked for this, but she's not above criticism.

Yeah, alright Ruby. I just find the whole thing really tacky and a bit fake, very, very marketed; the faux frenchification of it all (pardon the pun), and the theft and gross misuse of Bunuel's original title; it's just like she's trampling all over Catherine Deneuve's tailored suits, and one of the great film art works to boot, in order to make a buck. This media storm will make her millions and I just think she'll probably be on sleb get me out here before you know it.

I do have an inner and uncontrollable fashion police woman living in my brain, it comes from having dressed people for a living.

Aaaah! Thank you so much Heiffer, it does mean a lot to know that the mountain we face is not beyond us. CONGRATULATIONS and well done, that's wonderful news.

The time has come for me stop faffing, put my fashion radar down, and get on with the primary business of my life: my PhD research.

This evening I will work on the chapter abstract I need to send off by Friday. This will include:

1. typing up and re-drafting the hand written notes I made while sitting on the train today.
2. writing up the suggested content of the chapter abstract.

======= Date Modified 17 Nov 2009 17:02:04 =======
I think this is my inner fashionista speaking - the shallow alter ego I just can't seem to leave behind: having just seen photos of the blogger in the Daily Mail (I didn't buy it, I just read it in the shop) I'm quite appalled by the slinky satin neglige number and bad, hilighted, non ironically reconstructed 80s shag hair do she's sporting. Oh! and the fact that she's sold her story to the Daily Wail. If you ask me she really doesn't look comfortable in those photographs. Well, if people will pay 300 quid for sex with this lady, there's hope for us all, I was expecting somebody far more glamorous. Sorry for being so shallow, I can't seem to help it, I'm a natural born fashion policewoman - I'm sure she's a very nice person - but crickey if you're going to appear in the national press, surely some effort, pleeeaaase. Or maybe it's the resident Daily Wail stylist...

My friend's partner and father if her baby is broken hearted. He works 9am to 10pm almost every week day and some weekends (he's not an academic, so, yes, it happens in other fields too!) and he has no bond with his daughter that is greater than that of an aunt, uncle or friend of the family. His child doesn't run to him when hurt or upset; won't turn to him for comfort when vulnerable. He isn't from the UK and is shellshocked by the way inbalance in childcare is integral to our family and working systems. I think that's tragic: he's a lovely man who has always wanted children.

I think it's much more important to tell boys that they can't have it all, then the girls would be freed from taking all the responsibility for propping up the family. Also, I think men, in the UK at least, get a really rough deal where children are concerned: they're just expected to be distant and not be an integral part of their kid'slives. Perhaps if boys were taught that 'having it all' for any partnership and family means the potential for joint responsibility for work and child care must be present, then women wouldn't have to worry so much about 'having it all'. I think men can be just as 'maternal' as women, the only thing they can't do is breast feed, and I think that, in this country, they miss out on their children. My dad was much more maternal than my mum, and I know fathers who feel estranged from their kids even though they live under the same roof because of extended bread winning duties.

Not speaking from the experience of having kids here, but from observing friends and family. I do very much feel for many men re: their kids though.

I doubt I'll have kids, purely because I'm 40 now and can't see it happening in the near future. I'm not burning up about it either and I think perhaps you should be in order to bring anther human into the world (unless you have a mistake, of course!, and then its a matter of swimming with it, I guess). I'll be able to watch Dr. Who and eat sausage rolls whenever I want for the rest of my life.

I'm missing Dr. Who already, but pleased that my first years are coming along well. I'm also still putting off writing the book chapter application abstract I'm so frightned of.

Blimey! It's all going off on here... Just think if they sack the blogger, morally they should also sack all other academics who have used prostitutes, and who have been prostitutes: there'd be a massive shortage of academic and we'd all be quids in! No more job worries eh. Bagsy the post of head an art school. If they sack her without a 'john' witch-hunt I will be outraged. I'd be pretty appalled anyway.

Yeah, Wally, I reckon escorting is defo prostitution/sex work or whateve.

Hmmm sounds awful. I'd be tempted to ask him if he is trying to put me off carrying on the next time he does it - something like 'oh, in that case, do you think it's a good idea to continue with the PhD? I want to finish this so badly, it would be such a shame for me if you weren't keen for me to continue'. Also, I'd be tempted to ask what alternatives to academia he thinks there are for you. These are just my thoughts though, and I am a very direct person! A quality which des me good, but which also brings challenges, such as pissng my last, rubbish, supervisor right off - I did then get a supa dupa one tho.

I agree, I opperate in a state of denial and blind optimism most of the time; I think, unless you prepared to give the PhD up, this is the best policy. Good luck.

I watched Dr. Who tooo. Oh dear, he's taken it too far this time; I hope his much younger replacement is as good as the wonderful Mr. Tennant.

The sausage rolls were inspired by a recipe on the web which I can't find. Here's what I did:

1.Preheat the oven to gas mark 6 - sorry don't know the electric.

2.Remove the skins of some good sausages and mix with chopped up apple and chestnuts to taste (I used two sausages with a quarter of an apple and two chestnuts) in a bowl along with some thyme and rosemary - fresh if possible.

3.Roll out some puff pastry to 0.5cm thick, and into rectangles to the width you want the length of your rolls to be, and long enough to wrap arounf your sausage mixture almost twice; or you can buy jus roll already rolled and cut it into shape.

4. Shape the sausage mix into sausage shapes, place them onto the rectangles of pastry and then roll the pastry around them. Seel by dabbing milk along the inside of the loose edge and press down.

5. Place the rolls on a baking sheet covered in a greased baking sheet with the pastry join side down. Cut a series of scores across the top edge and bake int the pre-heated oven for 20 minutes.

Delicious!

Bug, you'll have to make your own...

I know of a friend of a friend who took up lap dancing to pay her undergrad fees and living costs, and, apparently, that was verging on prostitution. It is a very, very sad thing if undergraduates, and other students are looking to this as a last resort. Although I don't think the blogger did go into this out of desperation, I suspect she may have had a best seller in mind all along. One that nicked a famous title from, and misrepresented, a film of a very different story (GGrrrrr). I mean, why move to London? We all know that your next potsdoc could be anywhere in the world, so why plant yourself in one of the most expensive cities in the world when your skint and waiting for the opportunity?

Oh, ok. Sorry Slowmo!

Yes, that's what we are saying, the blogger was not 'forced' into prostitution. And the fact that some people want to be sex workers doesn't change the fact that Belle du Jour was about trauma response.