Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Stranger On A Train

I was on my way home from yet *another* night of boozing down in Soho (Monday night is the new Sunday!) and I was sleeping in my chair, when I woke up I noticed a very handsome man staring at me and smiling. Unfortunately, he was with (I assume) his boyfriend and they got up two station stops before me (well, good to know he's local though as it was clear they were heading home). It sort of made my night, but left me a bit frustrated as it felt like one big tease! Oh well, it was nice for my ego, so that should count for something.




Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Booker Prize and Inspiration

I stayed up last night to watch the results of the Man Booker Prize , the winner was The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst . I have to admit that I haven't read any of the short-listed books but the ceremony last night inspired me to pick up the FIVE BOOKS (none of which are from the short-list) that I have bought or gotten as gifts recently and are still sitting on my shelf unopened. I also need to start taking some time out and actually write the stories that I want to write down and not just imagine the concepts in my head. I had some ideas last night, but again my body decided it was time to go to bed!

As a sidenote, I am always amazed at how weblogs can be used in so many ways. Here is a link to an unofficial Booker Blog which I found very interesting and informative.




Thursday, October 14, 2004

Yet Another Best of List

Yes, yes, its very original. But in the always changing world of London's gay club scene, I believe that a guide to the best nights on at the moment is crucial. Had this been two months ago for example, my #1 on this list would have been LA3 @ 333. Ofcourse, now the LA3 name has moved on to another venue (FIRE, which has also claimed my other favorite night, DNA) , and the night is still untested in my eyes to warrant a placement. Here are my favorite 3 clubs in London.

#1 http://www.allthingsorange.com/

Oh , what a difference a few months make. Beyond used to be one of my least favorite nights, and I always avoided it the way Kirstie Alley avoids low-carb food. But now , I can't get enough of the place. The music is in a word, awesome. The main room bumps with the most progressive, uplifting, hardest funky house music which manages somehow to sound fresh and also familiar at the same time. The DJs know exactly what will make the punters move, and in response they throw their hands in the air in total submission. The venue has also improved, its a lot darker now but in a good way and it feels more spacious for some reason. There are comfortable sofas to lounge on in the second room while its a decidely funkier chilled set being played on the smaller second dancefloor. The bar staff are also very friendly now. Even the crowd seems to have forgotten about their attitude. There's also a really nice mix of everyone flooding out of Action or Crash and wanting to contine the party.

#2 http://www.horsemeatdisco.co.uk

If anyone knows what a good time is, its the people who come to HMD whenever it is on. There is a really great mix of people, from the hardcore bears and skins who need a break from all those SClub Almighty mixes being played down the street at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, to the sk8er bois who have managed to discover that the world doesn't begin and end at the Ghetto in Soho. Sometimes, a diverse crowd doesn't work if the emphasis was more on image and less on music and having a good time. Thankfully promoter Jim Stanton and co. keep it squarley on the music, which is unlike anything else being played on a sunday nighter in London. Its a decidedly retro/disco vibe, but you cant' really define or box it as a particular sound. If its old school and can make you boogie, chances are you'll hear it at Horsemeat. And chances are you'll come back again and again!

#3 http://www.megawoof.com

I was slightly put off by Megawoof about 2 months ago (sorry Didz!), and I wasnt sure why. All the required elements were still there. Horny Fit Bears: Check. A Crowded Club: Check. A Crowded Dark Room: Also Check! Funky Music House: Check! Funky and Uplifting House Music: Ummm. So that where the problem lied. For some reason the music policy stopped emphasizing the 'fun' and 'uplifting' elements, and focused more on the harder stuff. So you were dancing hard and still having a good time, but were left just drained by the end of the night. Thankfully Daz, Didz and the boys have heeded our advice and the last two outings at Megawoof have brought us back to the fun times that have made this night a staple on my clubbing schedule. Crash has started to improve as a venue (moving us closer to the DJ box REALLY WORKS) and the lighting system along with it. There is room for improvement to make the night an exceptionally great night, for now I'll settle for a consistently good one !


Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Next Stop : Pure FILTH!

Also on the tube home last night I started thinking of Tube Station names and how they can be changed to Porno Titles. When I mentioned this to my good friend Ben on OutInTheUk he decided to post a thread in the boards about it. Here are some of the best entries (a * denotes one of my own entries) :

  • Earl's Whore *
  • Cybill Shepherd's Bush*
  • Action Town *
  • Swiss Cottaging
  • Breast Hampstead
  • Moanington Crescent
  • St John's Got Wood
  • Arse-n-al
  • Bondage Street
  • Whoreditch
  • Royal Poke *
  • Marley's Boner
  • Marble Ass
  • Up Mister
  • Bang Her Lane
  • Hammer Miss Smith (I also like 'Change here to Hammer Miss Smith and Cindy' Line)

Another Pet Peeve

On my way home on the tube last night, there were these two somewhat loud obnoxious teenagers speaking to each other at top volume. They were very sarcastic, with that demeanor that they knew everything. That didn't bug me so much. What really bothered me was when they started to quote lines from The Simpsons and they got them all wrong. I wanted to jump out of my seat and yell 'its I am the LIZARD QUEEN you idiot, not the Alligator Queen' .. sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

Monday, October 11, 2004

Weird thoughts that pop into your head (when you're high!)

A few random thoughts that I have managed to remember from the weekend :

- I am in (most senses of the word) versatile in bed. I'm also a libra. I wonder if all Libras and all Gemini's are versatile (the former to maintain the balance in their world, the latter to appease both sides of his personality) ... I must maintain a mental note of all libras and geminis preferences ....

Actually thats only random thought that I can remember. I am sure the rest were just as interesting (they seemed to be at the time!)

Thursday, October 07, 2004

NY-LON .... *an updated review*

After my initial review of this show I basically missed all subsequent episodes and only caught the finale a couple of nights ago. I have to say, I have to retract my review and say that this show is utterly SHITE. Not only did it feel like the story went nowhere in between the episodes that I missed, I found the dialogue and acting very forced and overdone. I mean how many times can the two leads have an argument that ends with a 'fuck you' match, reunite, have sex, then lie in bed, someone says something and they have yet another argument which ends in another 'fuck you' match. Utterly crap !

The Only Gay In The Village

Well, it has been a very BUSY few weeks down here on my end. I have moved (YAY) to a nice little one bedroom flat which has its own garden. Its in Brackenbury Village in Hammersmith, about a ten minute walk from my office, so very convenient. I still manage to make into work late, not sure why. I noticed that my area is one of only a few in London where EVERYONE RECYCLES. All these recycling bags were out today, and I'll be honest I felt really guilty as I have been so busy with just throwing things out that I haven't bothered. I will start from today though. Its a nice area, very suburban and quiet which I like. It is a bit of a trek from where most of my friends live, but maybe that'll discourage me from going out as much (not likely). I also have a feeling that I am the only homo within a 2 mile radius .... which is fine so far, but I'm sure all the grandmas will have a heart-attack when the next leatherdaddy shows up at my door with nothing on but chaps, a harness and a leather whip (well, one can dream!) ...

Saturday, October 02, 2004

The Big 2-9

OK, so its my birthday today ... what a difference a year makes. I wish I was keeping my blog from this time last year just so I can track the changes that have happened in my life. I am always in a very reflective mood this time of year. So here's what I'm thankful for this year :

- getting close again to my friend Steve (Slick!). We had our rough patch and that made us even stronger. There was a point last April where we had a little chat, and I cried and I became better for it. I don;t think Steve knows how much he means to me. He's the person who has kept me sane throughout my time in London, he's cooler than fuck and he knows it. We have so much fun together and he knows me so well that I can't imagine London and my life without him being a part of it.

- Meeting Ben ... if Steve is my ying, then Ben is my yang. One of the funniest and coolest people in my life, with a big heart and big personality. When I was at my lowest point last year, it was Ben who was there for me. My confidence has grown because of his friendship, and my love for him is endless. I remember nights going to the Ghetto and Bump on sundays getting totally pissed, us starting to be RVT regulars at around the same time. And of course, The Fellowship of the Rim, RamE! Entertainment News and Sparkle, all original Ben creations! (Trademark pending!)

- Joining Imperial Royal Family - Nick, Mother Michael, Chris, Sisi, Richard, Joel, Bob et al ... wow, the nuttiest, funnest, coolest group of people I have ever encountered. They have fully embraced me and I love them all in a very special way. My two titles are those that I hold dear, The Viceroy of Canada and The Gay Hussar. I blame and thank them for my late nights at the LA3 and rough monday mornings.

- All the friends that I have made this year. Wonderful Wonderphil .... If there's anyone I'm looking forward to getting closer to this year it is Phil. Totally caring, wicked sense of humor and a good person on the inside and out ... the k chic walk is a classic.

- All the other people who have entered or stayed in my life, Uncles M and K, Richard and Stephen, Steve and Gary, Mike and Andy, Gary, Andi, Dana, Rob, Don and Phil, and too many others to count and all of whom have helped me come out of my shell this year.

- The friends who I left behind and who are still in my life. The Mit and Marcy have shown me what its like to be strong in the face of the worst that life can throw at you, and coming out the other end even stronger. The Mit has been a rock, and he was my biggest inspiration this year. Sue has kept me grounded and always had the courage to tell me the truth, my best girlfriend. David has loved me unconditionally through it all, if David never entered my life I can't imagine being the person I am today, he has no idea how much I miss him.


- Learning what its like to have self-worth. I wanna thank the two foriegn guys (no names needed) who did a number on me this year and who made me go down that dark path (que Jamelia's 'Thank You'). Without that happening I would have never had to pull myself together and I would still be aimless and wandering at the minute.

- Paris and Brussels - finally travelling in Europe. FAB!!

- MUSIC...songs of the year, Lola's Theme; The Weekend, I Just Wanna Fucking Dance and To The Club - Monday night.... to the club ...

- DME - fantastic. Highlight of the year at Brighton Pride singing 'Beautiful' and feeling so proud and happy.

Ok, this is going down as my most sentimental post, like EVER. Oh well, I can 'do' sentimental just like the rest. I wonder how i'll feel at 30!

Friday, October 01, 2004

Disaster - D-I-Saster ....

My favorite episode of Will & Grace is on Channel 4 tonight, you know, the one with MADONNA in it. Why is it that we gays get sooooo excited over Madge. Nevertheless even though its a bit late in showing on terrestrial tv here, there are some (dare I say) cracking lines in this episode. I downloaded it off Kazaa last year.... 'you never know if people like you for you or the 80s hits' ... Brilliant.