It’s not a new year, but it feels like it.

Howdy hey gays, how’re you?

I am tired but so so happy and content. There’s a lot happening in the world of Kirstifer and a lot that has happened and it’s mostly if not all good. Wild. Who’da thunk it?

I just realised it’s only September but it feels like it’s the beginning of a new year for me. I think that over the past couple of years I’ve rewired my brain in a way. I no longer enjoy christmas for a number of reasons and couldnt really care less about new years but I do go to this festival that feels like a reset for the year each time I go. So, it's not a new year, but it sure as shit feels like it. And there’s something weird and wonderful about that. The festival I attend (and kinda sorta work at) is one over here in the UK called Camp Wildfire (check it out, it’s rad as hell). There’s a whole lotta good that happens there and I’m something called a Patrol Leader ✨ I’ve been going there for 4 years now and I sincerely hope they bring me back again next year. When I went for the first time, I went alone and was scared shitless until I got there when I made friends in the queue, I made friends on activities, I made friends during games. I even got initiated into the patrol that I am now one of the protectors of (Badger Patrol, for those wondering). It’s such a lovely place, filled with people who will check in with you if you look even a little sad, lost or just because you’re there. Everyone cares. Its rare and beautiful. It’s also not a cult™ (this is a bit of a joke as people often refer to it as having cult vibes, but also I now want to design a whole line of clothing under the brand name of “not a cult” because that’s funny as fuck to me). Anywho, I now work/perform there as a PL and essentially are there to make sure everyone has a good time - the best job ever. I swear I fall head over heels for all the other PLs there every year, they’re such lovely people and bizarrely all incredibly attractive. Which is weird being one of them and being told that you’re in that category when you (read: I) do not feel that you are. Two pals at Camp Wildfire have taken up the mantle of “Cupids Club” which is essentially an analogue Tinder. You get a mini profile to fill out, a picture taken and 3-4 events across the weekend held for CC members to mingle at. We as PLs went along to help them and also a lot of us are single/poly and down to clown. I ended up talking to a bunch of lovely queer and trans folk whenever I ended up going to these mini parties (marties? Minties? Nope. no. none of those work) which was so lovely and affirming! I also ended up trialling some of my quiet queer stand up (I don’t actually do stand up but I like to daydream) which was essentially explaining my appearance at these mixers as a way to shake up the lovely straight/cis peoples points of view with questions like:

• So you say you’re straight? Is it just femininity you’re attracted to or is it the genitals? Or something else? Maybe it’s time to examine that.

• So you’re cis? Have you ever considered examining that? Self reflection is a skill, my friend.

• Still going by your birth name? Interesting.

… you get the gist. Essentially getting people to question the socialised standards they were brought up in and asking them to consider whether that’s what they actually enjoy or if it’s just going along with what they’ve been told. Critical thinking is a good skill to have and if I can introduce that to people then I happily will.

Regardless, I helped to host a couple of LGBTQ+ meet ups over each weekend (oh yeah I do this over two weekends because sleep is for the weak (and by the weak I mean me for the rest of the year but we move)) and met some adorable new pals who were great fun. 

Anyway, as I now regard this as my new year reset, welcome to new January. I have a whole bunch of exciting events happening in the near future including but not limited to; 

• Getting a studio in the garden for me to work from (so hopefully I will be able to sort my life as I move it all in. I have no organisational structure currently and it’s awful)

• Going to a bunch o’friends weddings

• Meeting and maybe dating some new people

• Making moves to make my business take off more

  • Make bulk patterns for basic clothes I can make en mass

  • Talk to local craft places for workshop possibilities

  • Build up the social media shit (this bit I’m less jazzed about but imma fucking do it)

• Leaving Universal Credit (goodbye security)

Yeah. Good shit.

Ideally I’d be making a bunch more money but here we are. Feel free to throw money at me if you have spare (lol I know, its my fault for starting a business during a recession but what can I say? I like a challenge). 

Righto. I think that’s me for now. I’m sure I have more to say and I am going to make more time to do this in the future because I really like this blog and have been coming up with ideas for it. I’mma make it. Lets GO.

Love you,

Kirstifer