Nina's Blog - Thursday 16th July 2026
Thursday 16th July 2026, 10:55
Had a good start to the day. As I was walking into the Botanic Gardens a tall black guy with the most amazing hair said "I like your style" as he walked past. And that reminds me that I had something to say about yesterday.
As I was leaving the Kelvingrove Gallery and Museum I chatted briefly with one of the museum attendants. I told him I felt a bit overwhelmed and he remarked that what is on display isn't even half of the collection and that there is a big warehouse full of things they don't have room to show. I told him I thought the building itself was also rather fine.
As we parted he suggested that I also visit the Burrell Collection and finished by addressing me as sir.
I don't know if he was purposely misgendering me. In fact I'm not all that sure he did it consciously at all, after all my my voice and face probably give me away. But in fact what jarred most was not that he had mis-gendered me but that he had gendered me at all. After forty years in Norway where we don't have these forms of address it just feels so odd, a relic of less egalitarian times
The equivalent of sir in Norwegian is herr. But I have never heard it used except in jest. My boss used to refer to one another my colleagues as Herr Doctor xxx but that was because out of the ten of us in the department he was the only one with a doctorate.
I left feeling very slightly put out but my mood was lifted only minutes later as I was heading back to Byre Road this happened:
Outside the Kelvingrove Gallery a woman passing by said "I love your hat. You look amazing." In a charming Scottish accent.
But today didn't continue so well. Nothing to do with gender this, just the perennial obsession with feet.
I had intended to visit the centre of Glasgow and as it is about 5 km away I thought I might take the Subway. So I walked to the Hillhead station, bought an all day ticket from a machine (good value at 4.85 GBP) and started walking to the turnstiles. As I passed the ticket office the man behind the counter started waving at me so I went over and he told me I had to wear shoes on the Subway for safety reasons. So I told him I would need a refund which he gave me with no comment in cash.
What risk of injury is there on an underground train that doesn't exist on an above ground train? And would my heels be acceptable footwear despite being considerably more dangerous. In fact what is the hazard that they think a pair of flip flops might protect me from?
Had a good start to the day. As I was walking into the Botanic Gardens a tall black guy with the most amazing hair said "I like your style" as he walked past. And that reminds me that I had something to say about yesterday.
As I was leaving the Kelvingrove Gallery and Museum I chatted briefly with one of the museum attendants. I told him I felt a bit overwhelmed and he remarked that what is on display isn't even half of the collection and that there is a big warehouse full of things they don't have room to show. I told him I thought the building itself was also rather fine.
As we parted he suggested that I also visit the Burrell Collection and finished by addressing me as sir.
I don't know if he was purposely misgendering me. In fact I'm not all that sure he did it consciously at all, after all my my voice and face probably give me away. But in fact what jarred most was not that he had mis-gendered me but that he had gendered me at all. After forty years in Norway where we don't have these forms of address it just feels so odd, a relic of less egalitarian times
The equivalent of sir in Norwegian is herr. But I have never heard it used except in jest. My boss used to refer to one another my colleagues as Herr Doctor xxx but that was because out of the ten of us in the department he was the only one with a doctorate.
I left feeling very slightly put out but my mood was lifted only minutes later as I was heading back to Byre Road this happened:
Outside the Kelvingrove Gallery a woman passing by said "I love your hat. You look amazing." In a charming Scottish accent.
But today didn't continue so well. Nothing to do with gender this, just the perennial obsession with feet.
I had intended to visit the centre of Glasgow and as it is about 5 km away I thought I might take the Subway. So I walked to the Hillhead station, bought an all day ticket from a machine (good value at 4.85 GBP) and started walking to the turnstiles. As I passed the ticket office the man behind the counter started waving at me so I went over and he told me I had to wear shoes on the Subway for safety reasons. So I told him I would need a refund which he gave me with no comment in cash.
What risk of injury is there on an underground train that doesn't exist on an above ground train? And would my heels be acceptable footwear despite being considerably more dangerous. In fact what is the hazard that they think a pair of flip flops might protect me from?
70-79, TVIP
