Back Blogging Boogie Boy

OK, I'm doing a bit of back-blogging to catch up on events that I've been meaning to write about for a bit. I'm dating them in the order they happened, so rather than search for them, here's what I've done so far....

A Long And Proud Tradition

Everyone Wants To Be Gay

Touch me I'm Canadian

"!$%@% Blogger!!

Arrrgghh. I'm getting VERY fed up with Blogger. I can't seem to upload picture properly, or if I do, then try to add a second one, it replaces the first picture. Or it just fails to load at all. OK, it worked this time....but its very hit and miss. Mostly miss.

Blogger says 'oh, everything seems to be working just fine'.

Is it BOLLOCKS.

Found a very nice alternative blogging site, Wordpress - have created an account on there and am currently exploring if its for me or not. I think might be...thing is although it has lots of templates, I quite like this one I'm using at the moment on here. Its not easy being a 'cake and eat it' type person.

Watch this space.

Hot and Bothered

Oh my god. It is sooo frickin' hot in London right now and has been for the past few days. Oh, and its going to get worse. 33C today and 35C tomorrow. Makes tube travel such fun. NOT!

To make things worse, I keep seeing guys like this around the squares and walking the street.

Ok, maybe they are NOT quite as gigantic but where have they been all winter? Mind you, if he was that tall in real life, I wonder how big his...um, well, perhaps best not finish that sentence!

At least I can wear shorts in my non-aircontioned office. Got it in writing from my boss (using the "reverse discrimination angle") I've had a few comments from staff but I don't care. One from a very stupid woman yesterday who said "oh gee, how come you get to wear shorts", sounding most put out that I could. I said "look you stupid cow (well, actually I said her real name, but stupid cow is more apt), have you looked at what you're wearing today? You're in a short skirt and a sleeveless blouse. If you can get away with that, then surely I can get away with a pair of decent length shorts".

She was speechless....which was nice since she has the sort of voice that makes fingernails dragged down a chalkboard sound like chorus of angels.

I'm pouring myself a HUGE drink when I get home.

Summer of Booze

I am officially putting my liver into storage until the end of September. This summer has been and will continue to be my most 'social' in my already fabulous life so far.

I will try to do some 'back-blogging' on the specific events, but as I've not made an entry in awhile, nor have I put a new post on my blog (tee hee), I thought I'd just do a quick summary.

For me, the summer / silly season started with the aforementioned Tupperware party at Blake and Ed's. Its been all downhill since. Two weeks ago, on a warm and sunny Friday afternoon, my office and a number of organisations in London put on Canada Day In Trafalgar Square. Our office was stood down at 1:30pm to allow staff to attend. I seriously doubt however, that everyone who left, actually attended the event, but more fool them, it was a great afternoon and evening. There was street hockey, native dancing and musical acts from Canada. The whole square was buzzing, as was I, but that's more a result of the many tins of cider I consumed. The Tesco's across the street was very busy that day. Suffice to say, I fell asleep on the tube and woke up seven stops past home. Luckily it wasn't the last train, and was able to get home easily. I figure in my almost 16 years of living in London, that's the first time I've ever done that, so I'm now part of a club I guess.

The following day was Europride, which was also Canada Day, so met up with our mates, had a fry up in Soho, and watched the parade. Soho was so packed, Scooter and I just sat in Leicester Square and watched the cabaret on the stage.

On the Monday, some office mates and I did our annual Canada Day pub crawl and decended upon Hampstead. Another very hot day and in a break with tradition, we decided that everyone was allowed, indeed should take a break or two from the booze and have water and or soft drinks at some point. I'm so glad I did, as I was feeling ok the next day, although I did have the foresight to book that day off. A nice sauna / steam in the afternoon and I was feeling much better.

Last weekend was my friend Paul's 33 1/3rd birthday party and the theme was Jesus. Apparently JC was nailed to the cross at that age. Lots of good costumes, and a fantastic up and coming band, Paleday performed as well. It was also the sixth anniversary for me and my lovely Scooter!!

On Sunday night we had decided to stay in that week and give ourselves a rest. That lasted until Monday afternoon when our friends Blake and Ed said they'd like to take us to dinner at the Gaucho Grill to celebrate our anniversary. Having been there before, it was an offer we couldn't refuse. I challenge anyone to find a better steak in the heart of London. I had the 'meat sweats' that night, but it was worth it.

Friday was our annual dinner with our rugby club, The Kings Cross Steelers. Much food, much booze and much fun was had.

Last night Blake and Ed had their official housewarming party and much food, much booze and much fun was had. I think it ended about 3am or so, but as we'd already arranged to stay the night, I turned in about 2ish. Scooter has only just surfaced whilst I'm blogging on Blake's PC. He's feeling rather delicate this morning...I on the other hand am fine as I drank lots of water and soft drinks between my booze. I would do the "I told you so dance" to Scooter, but won't be so mean. hehe

So, here I sit in this fantastic flat, just in a pair of shorts, no doubt scaring the neighbours, (but its all council flats, so I'm sure they've seen worse in their own homes) thinking about just how to survive the rest of the summer. We have two more weekends of house parties, then four days in Brighton for the Pride festival there. I can't wait for that.

So, that's what I've been up to lately, I'm going to put the kettle on, make a cuppa and have a nice sit down and enjoy the view from the balcony.

** My friends Ash and Andrew are currently on a trip to the west of Coast of America and Canada. They are blogging their trip at http://brownyoung.blogspot.com

A Long And Proud Tradition

About 12 years ago, myself and a few office mates decided that we should celebrate our 'lieu' day for Canada Day by doing a proper pub crawl.

We had a few rules:
1. Be in a pub by 11am
2. Have one pint per pub.
3. No 'not' drinking booze
4. No girls
5. No spouses / girlfriends / boyfriends
6. Talk bollocks

We've been to Cambridge and Oxford a few times, twice to Canterbury, Brighton, and several areas in and around London such as the City, Hampstead, Notting Hill, Kensington, and Camden to name a few.

I've always looked forward to these days as its spend with good friends from the office and its a chance to let off steam, bitch about work and more often get let in on some good gossip. I just love a sentence that begins with "I really shouldn't be telling you this, but did you know...". The things I've learned about the office and people on days like this, well, I could write several books!

Over the years, the rules have become less rigid...we still aim to get into a pub by 11am, but sometimes its not always possible. Some don't open until 12 and more often than not, some of the group arrive late.

The next rule to fall was one pint in one pub. Sometimes, you find a lovely pub with big comfy chairs and sofas and you just cannot be bothered to move after one drink. So we have another one...or two.

Recently, we've let girls attend. Well, it is the new millenium isn't it? Besides, the girls we've had attend drink like guys, and swear like sailors, so we're not going to let the fact they have boobies, get in the way.

Last year, 'other halves' turned up. This year we all agreed at the start since it was going to be one of the hottest day of the year (during the heatwave), taking breaks and replacing a pint of beer/cider/bitter with water, soft drinks was ok.

So that's all the rules broken. So much for macho bravado of past years when we could get through a dozen pubs in an afternoon and still have room for more. I think we're just getting older and hopefully more wiser as the years ago by.

But we still have one rule left...talk bollocks! And by god, we are bloody good at that. Our conversations get more profound as the day goes by. More often than not, the conversations are repeated as we tend to forget what we've been talking about.

This year our group did Hampstead and visited many lovely pubs and a good time was had by all. Days like this are one of the reasons why I love living in London and long may the tradition continue!

Everyone Wants To Be Gay

July 1 2006 - It's Europride! Woo hoo! Half a million gays, lesbians, bisexuals, tranvestites, transgenders, transexuals, intersexeds, those who like the colour pinks, people who like musiclas, fans of Barbara Streisand, Liza Minelli and Judy Garland, people with gay friends, gay parents with gay children, straight people with gay pets and lots of bemused tourists all lined up along the length of Oxford and Regent Street, down Piccadilly, Haymarket and Whitehall to watch the Europride Parade.

For one day, London was the gay centre of Europe. Well, it is anyway, but we don't normally get to mince down the middle of the road in tight shorts and no shirt...unless you're in Soho of course.

And what fun it was too. Mother Nature was extremely good to us this year and provided lots of sunshine. Cue lots of shirtless men showing off their hard work at the gym all year. Cue even more shirtless men showing off their hard work in the pubs all year! Still, not everyone appreciates the rippling muscles of those gym bunnies...others like those built for comfort, not for speed.

But I digress. I was feeling somewhat delicate that morning. It could be something to do with the large amount of booze I consumed in Trafalgar Square the previous day, but I'm not really sure. Scooter and I met a group of friends for breakfast in Soho around 11am at Cafe Boheme. They do a nice fry up and those thoughtful people include black pudding too! Yum! Luckily Scooter hates the stuff, so I get to eat his too! Double yum!

I'm still feeling a bit woozy, so we head off to the pub for a pint before the parade starts. Good thing too - I felt soooo much better. A bit of the 'auld hair of the dog' does wonders.

We picked a nice shady spot on the curve of Regent Street. That lasted all of five minutes when we realised that we'd get a better view across the street. In full sun too. I didn't fancy spending all that time standing in the sun, but then, I thought, how selfish of me. By doing so, I would allow all those people to see ME much better than they would in the shade. I like to do my bit for the community you know.

And before you could say 'I don't think were in Kansas anymore Toto', the parade began.

Its truly amazing to see all the different community groups with a gay focus to them. Its also great to see organisations like the Metropolitain Police and the Royal Navy allowing their gay and lesbian members march as one in the parade in uniform. They got lots of cheers, as did the fireman, and of course we gave the Kings Cross Steelers a big one as well...and a cheer as well. Tee hee.

Saw some fantastic costumes, some great drag queens, some not so great ones, and some things that made you say 'what the fuck is that'? But hey, that's the whole point of the day, celebrating diversity and not being afraid to say, 'this is who I am' whether you like it or not, and I'm NOT going to hide it anymore!

And of course, MOST importantly, it's a chance to ogle hot men non-stop all day and not worry about getting caught because everyone else is doing it!

Now, if you're straight (or homosexually-challenged as I like to call it), you might think you're missing out on all the fun. Well, I got news for you. You ARE!

You've been watching Ellen, Will and Grace, The L Word, and Queer As Folk and they are having much more fun than than their 'hettie' friends. Well, maybe Ellen wasn't having that much fun but you know what I mean. Then Brokeback Mountain came along...jeez, even the cowboys in the fifties were getting it on. If only all cowboys looked like Jake! *swoon*

OK, so you don't have to be a big mincing queen or bolshy dyke to know how to have fun, but the thing is we do it with style, flair and panache (and other flouncing sounding French words). And at the end of the day, we don't have to grovel to our spouses, because chances are they are right there beside us having just as much fun rather than working late or tending the house (hey, that's what staff are for honey!).

There's been a noticable shift recently towards all things 'gay', even in the TV commercials - ever seen that Impulse ad where the guy ignores the nice smelling girl to go back to his boyfriend?

So, with all this in mind, I present to you, dearest reader a little ditty I composed recently. I have it in mind that Kylie or Madonna would be singing it at Wembly Stadium with about 50 scantily clad adonises as backing dancers.

EVERYONE WANTS TO BE GAY!

Is it me or am I a bore,
But is the world
A bit more queer
Than before?

There's more girls loving girls
And more boys loving boys,
Same sex weddings
And same sex joys.

Run out of the closet,
Be quick, don't delay,
Tell everyone, everywhere
"I want to be GAY!"

There's gays on the stage,
Armed Forces, more bent!
We're out on the commons,
Both Clapham, and parliament!

Coming out now?
Not such a stink
If that pound you spend
Happens to be pink.

Hallejuah! Hallejuah!
Oh Happy Day!
Everyone, Everywhere
Wants to be GAY!

There's gays on the telly
Will & Grace, Six Feet Under,
Brookie and Corrie,
Stealing straights' thunder!

There's gays in movies
Heath bends like a willow
Giving into his lust
While Jake bites the pillow.

Run out of the closet,
Be quick, don't delay,
Tell everyone, everywhere
"I want to be GAY!"

Hallejuah! Hallejuah!
Oh Happy Day!
Everyone, Everywhere
Wants to be GAY!