I was hoping to have written a couple of blog posts this week; sharing my joy and being able to talk to people about my book, sharing the strength and solidarity that is International Women’s Day.  Unfortunately, I have been in bed since Tuesday with Bronchitis and I’m still there, though able to breathe a little bit easier.

(choking coughing while you wet your pants is not a vibe I would recommend. 1 *)

So instead of all that I will share an extract from the book.

Thank you to all that have read it. Thank you to all of you that have come to hear me talk or have reached out to say how much the book speaks to you. I wrote the book for you, for me, for all of us who feel unheard and unseen.

There is so much for us to do. International Women’s Day, as well as being a day to recognise and support sisterhood is also a day to recognise how far we have come but also how very far we have to go.

International Women’s Day – Bordering Grey

But today, coughing and spluttering and waiting for the paracetamol to kick in, today I just want to say thank you! Thank you for your presence in the world. Thank you for being the miracle that is you, here, today.

Lean into love. Don’t let hate tarnish you.

Don’t stop resisting.

From CHOPSY The Resistance Tales of a Working-Class Woman

‘’if writing down all these words for you has made me realise anything, it’s that my stories, my life, has been one of resistance. These are my resistance tales for ‘girls like you’.

Girls like you are only good for having babies.

Girls like you are only good for one thing.

Girls like you should be quiet.

Girls like you shouldn’t tell. Girls like you should try harder.

Girls like you shouldn’t try so hard.

Girls like you should stand up tall.

Girls like you should be smaller.

Girls like you should not show off.

Girls like you shouldn’t talk so much.

Be a good girl.

Women like you should know your place.

Women like you are exhausting.

Women like you should be grateful.

Women like you are too fat to be pretty.

Women like you should not have so many babies.

Women like you should not eat that much.

Women like you should not wear that.

Women like you are a drain on our society.

Women like you are too much.

Women like you should just get a job.

Women like you don’t write.

Smile, love.

Women like you…

Women like you…

Should. Should. Should.

It’s death from a thousand cuts.

 Well, women like me have news for you, and your stories, and the truths that you think you know.

Come close, let me whisper into your ear.

FUCK. THAT. SHIT.

In sisterhood xxxx

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