Making Your Mind Up - It's Time!

You gotta speed it up, and then you gotta slow it down
Coz if you believe that our love can hit the top
You gotta play around
But soon you will find that there comes a time
For Making Your Mind Up

Well Hawkins and Brown are tipped to win. But it's still up to us to decide... here's what I thought of the acts. The final result is just a couple of hours away.

"Why don't we invade the Balkans?" - I LOVE TERRY WOGAN!

Audience is a bit dull... but this is being filmed in Maidstone... come on Kent show some vigour!

Liz McClarnon - (Don't It Make You) Happy!

Very Dusty. I like it. Good voice, good looks, catchy? Maybe not. But hey certainly a good start to the show!

Ooo... John Barrowman is judging. PHWOAH. And it's Mel! Oh I love her hat....

Brian Harvey - I Can

A "colourful few years" since leaving East 17? Terry you are being very reserved for once! Embarassed by Bucks Fizz? Bless...

I feel sorry for him but he can't seem to hold a tune, his voice keeps breaking and this song is just not doing anything for me.

Painful.

Big Brovaz - Big Bro Thing

I think it probably was quite good but this is soooo not my sort of thing. Got the Indigo feel about it (Indigo being a crap nightclub down in Folkestone).

Eurovis... love it Mel!

Cyndi - I'll Leave My Heart

Bonnie, Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond anyone? Good, not Eurovision material I'm afraid. But she seems really nice and wow, she can sing.

Scooch - Flying The Flag (For You)

Never going to win. Jim hates it....

I LOVE IT. Thank you Scooch... I've missed you!!

Proud to be British.. you go Mr Barrowman!

Hawkins and Brown - They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To

I've put three quid on this. Even though it is bollocks. The British public will pick this because they know Hawkins. I don't like him.

Liz is the one I want to win because I think she could do us proud. Scooch is the act my gay little heart wants to win, just because I love them.

Technorati : big brovaz, eurovision, making your mind up, scooch
Del.icio.us : eurovision

One More Week

Yesterday... I don't know how I got that drunk. Honestly. I only had a few. Just a few.

But let's go back to yesterday lunchtime first for a story of horror, pain and disgust. I went to the vegetarian cafe. I haven't been in over a year and I think some strange force over took me when I agreed to go with Paul, Kallie, Jessica and Simon. Imagine walking into someone's front room. That's what walking into the veggie cafe is like. Imagine a woman named Naked Ruby not finishing her meal so popping outside to scrap it into the gutter. That is the veggie cafe. Imagine the cook appearing from the kitchen, expressing shock at having customers, and quickly writing up the menu on the blackboard.

I choose Thai Green Curry,imaging the sweet taste of the Thai Curry with the crunch of properly cooked vegetables on a bed of properly boiled rice. What I got was a tasteless mush. Kallie wouldn't admit it wasn't nice, I think she thought my complaints about the cafe and its food were based on some anti vegetarian streak. They were not. They were based on an anti bad food streak.

Anyway... after work we headed to the Riverside for some drinks. I only had 4 or 5 pints but I got BLADDERED. Really drunk. I got home and headed straight back out the fried chicken place up the road and drunkenly demanded food. LOTS OF FOOD. Of late I have been losing my appetite. Not last night.... mmmmm....

For news about everyones favourite boy, Brent Corrigan, check out Rants From A Mysterious Place and Jason Curious. Looks to me like he is suffering quite a bit so maybe send him some love as well over at his blog.

I just saw my first new 20 pound note.. Very pretty.

Jim Recommends...

IClash Music. Check it out...

Jae Recommends...

Mark Dalton.


Technorati Tags: Gay

Back To Bangkok?

Jim went off to hospital unexpectedly yesterday, but was back home by the time I arrived. Amazing how worried I get about that kind of thing.

On Tuesday Jim and I were discussing holidays and of course Bangkok was mentioned. I didn't realise just how much I miss Bangkok until it was brought up again. Reading my blog from the time (check out May 2006) I now remember just how much of a good time we had. So we have provisionally stencilled in a return in May 2008. Which would be LOVELY!

Holidays plans coming up: Jim is off to Boston, USA for a couple of weeks on Sunday so I may have a week off work and go down to Folkestone for a few days. Mmm... home cooked meals, nights out with my mates and the SEA.

In July/August Jim, Ian and I will be heading to Brittany for a week staying in what looks like a beautiful bed and breakfast in the middle of nowhere. I haven't been to France in a long time and as our last proper holiday was May last year I am very much looking forward to it.

It's too hot at work at the moment, it's very sunny and our landlords won't turn the heating off. With our air conditioner out of action I am now spending my afternoons barely working at all. I don't like heat when I'm working. It's my belief I'm descended from people who lived within the Artic Circle... the colder, the better is my opinion. Walk in freezer... that's what we need!

Spring must be arriving, the butterflies are out and pidgeons have started to get disconcertingly amourous with each other in public. Can't wait for summer, all those topless men... Not that'd I'd perv of course. Purely mentioning it because of it's a sign of the summer... yeah... that's it...

Technorati Tags: Bangkok

A Bad Customer Experience

It's amazing. For the first time ever I am not happy with a company! Wow I feel like a real bastard consumer (even though I didn't get angry or anything like that).

With a marked change (for the better!) in my financial situation over the last couple of weeks I decided to get a new phone, a Samsung X820. Very nice. Jim wanted one too and we found a good deal with The 3G Shop. I applied and knowing how fraud checks work (after all, it was my job until a couple of months ago) I wasn't surprised when I got a call the next day (from a lovely sounding guy) asking me to send a copy of my passport and bank statement. I happily obliged and sent it in this morning. Obviously I didn't want to show my transactions so I covered those up (as my company allows our customers to do, we only want to confirm you are who you say you are before parting with our expensive stuff).

I phoned them up a little while ago just to check up on things. After a few minutes the agent told me they'd received them but couldn't accept my statement... they wanted to see the transactions! When he told me this I could tell from the fear in his voice it wasn't something he agreed with and obviously something he was used to be abused by the customers for.

I didn't abuse him (he seemed like a nice chap). I just cancelled my order and took my money elsewhere. In the grand scheme of things that's far more effective.

Darn silly rules if you ask me. The company I work for has one of the lowest fraud rates for online business' and one of the best customer service track records. 3G have got a bloody jobsworth in their fraud department who's probably costing them more in lost sales than saving in stopping fraud.

20 Quid!

I'm not working today *does little dance*

A new twenty pound note is introduced today bearing the image of Adam Smith. I saw it and immediately thought I'd seen a similar design before...





Could this be the Bank Of England slowly getting people used to design? Please let it be so!!

Euro, Pound, Adam Smith

Documentary Evidence

Over the last few weeks I've been watching documentaries galore and I know feel very, very scared of the United States of America! ;)

First I started with Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends. Watching Louis in action can be slightly uncomfortable because he comes across as quite insincere. It was quite funny watching some of the crazies predicting the end of the world "by 2000ad". He he... bless them.

Then came a Michael Moore overdose. Roger and Me and The Big One. Their you are agreeing with Moore, sympathising with the people he is talking to and then suddenly he goes and does something pig ignorant or rude and you just think "arsehole". Hey Mr Moore I agree with you about the corporations being bullying bastards but maybe you should learn some manners yourself.

After that I moved on to the truely disturbing stuff: Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price and An Inconvenient Truth. While the Wal-Mart documentary was fairly predictable (Wal-Mart BAD) the Enron documentary was brilliant. If you watch one documentary this year make it that. But prepared to be terrified by the awesome overreach of some money hungry bastards. I spent the whole of An Inconvenient Truth imagining just how wonderful it would have been to have Al Gore as the President of America. Intelligent, compassionate and quite a looker in his youth! If there was an Al Gore 2008 ticket I think I'd fly over and volunteer!

And now I've just finished Jesus Camp. OH MY GOD! How can this type of child abuse be allowed? The kids were completely brain washed. Shocking. Any suggestions for future documentaries to watch would be welcome. I'm just starting on The Corporation...

Brent Everett is gorgeous. Brent Corrigan and him together... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... Brent Corrigan, Brent Everett and Charles Dera? I think I'd pay many hundreds of pounds to watch that movie...

Technorati : al gore, enron, jesus camp, louis theroux, michael moore, wal-mart

Charles Dera Does Porn!

So as you should know I've got an obsession with Charles Dera. Well look at him! How could I not have an obsession for him? Jeez I get an obsession with pretty much anyone tall, dark and handsome so it had to happen.

There I was scanning the blogs for pictures and I come across (LINK NOT WORK/STRAIGHT SAFE) this story. Wow. Charles Dera in straight porn. I think I might just give up my straight porn ban for that!

I still love Brent as well though.

Technorati Tags: Gay

Never Been To Vauxhall On A Saturday

It's amazing how quiet Vauxhall is at the weekend. During the week it is a hive of frenzied activity. The shops at the station are closed now, the crowds gone, even the homeless seem to be strangely absent. It's quite spooky.

I sit in my office with someone else on the other side of the room listening to the radio and trying to find the energy to do some last minute work.

It's been two years but the memory of weekend working is returning... and it isn't pleasant.

Hmm.. been spending some time today listening to Eurovision 2007 songs. Hmm.. some stars like Cyprus' entry but gosh some of those songs are awful.

Technorati Tags: Gay

Gotta Love The Tories

I am not racist, says Tory MP

Patrick Mercer can probably be summed up with two words; foot and mouth. Bless him but he seems to equate the fact that bullying occurs in the Army with a strange belief that it is acceptable. To the general public bullying in the Army might be a sign of a lack of discipline in the ranks. But then again Mr Mercer was in charge of the battalion so that might not surprise anyone.

He also seems to not have even a little bit of an understanding of the climate in this country with regards to racism. 50 years ago he might have got away with saying some ethnic minority soldiers skive off work by claiming racist abuse. Any astute politician would know you just can't say that kind of stuff any longer.

Even thought he is absolutely useless it's such a shame David Cameron sacked him; Mr Mercer was only saying what a lot of Conservative voters believe.

Tories; you have to love them!

Technorati Tags: conservative, patrick mercer

Bush

So... last night I just about made it to the end of the day at work. I just wasn't cut out for working in business. Too much stress over insignificant things, I'll never comprehend it.

We all went out for drinks to Bush Bar in Shepherds Bush. It's been over a year since we last went there. It's still pretty good, even if the mojitos have gone down hill at least since my last visit.

After many drinks there we headed to the Ethiopian restaurant as before. This time I was a bit disappointed with the food and the atmosphere. I was growing extraordinarily bored, a state I find myself in more and more.

So I kind thought I'd start moving people on to somewhere else, so I stood up... which is when I bumped into Sarina coming to find me... she had thought exactly the same thing. That is how we end up in the Walkabout. Haven't been there in a while.... Antipodean men are so Gorgeous.

Then I got a taxi home with a couple of other south east London based colleagues.

I am so bloody bored/stressed/sick to my stomach of deadlines at mo. :( I wish I could just fall asleep and wake up in a months time when everything is ok.

Technorati Tags: Gay

John Inman: Rest In Peace

John Inman has passed away. He played Mr Humphries in Are You Being Served?, one of the best known UK sitcoms in television history.

Who hasn't said "I'm Free" at some point in their life? So today spare a moments thought for him and for his partner. He was one of televisions great poofs from the good old days.

Technorati Tags: Gay

If You Go Into The Woods Today

Oh God. I have a bad feeling about today.

After almost forgetting my door keys for a second day running I headed off to the station a few minutes late. Halfway there I realised I'd forgot my wallet (this is why I never used to have a wallet, you could never forget it if you didn't have one). So I stomped back to the flat got my wallet and headed back down the stairs to find the door had jammed. One minute of frantic pulling later and I was out.

I had a feeling maybe I should just call in sick.

So I get to the station to find no ticket booth open. I don't mind I avoid them and prefer the machines. Sadly because no ticket was open all the STUPID people who can't use machines were gathered around the ticket machine in a very confused state. I could hear the train approaching and decided that they were a lost cause (normally I help them) and went to the permit to travel machine. There was a 40 odd year old business man there. Oh God I thought...

Now for those who don't know a permit to travel machine has a coin slot, a button and a ticket dispenser. THAT IS IT. It is not hard to operate.

But this man couldn't operate it. I grabbed his money shoved it in the machine and pressed the button. I handed him his permit and as I created my own he asked in a posh voice "What do I do with this?".

His voice reminded me very much of someone I currently know and hate. I find a lot of business men are THICK AS TWO SHORT PLANKS. He sounded like a petulent child, so I spoke to him like a parent does to a 2 year old. "You take this permit to the nice man at the station you get off at and you hand it to him, pay the remainder of the money and he'll give you a ticket."

Rather than notice the sarcasm in my voice he thanked me, as I sped past him, my Halo Jones book fluttering in my hand, and jumped aboard the train...

I arrive finally at Waterloo East and wait behind all the people who didn't get tickets or permits as they get told off and fined. Finally I get to the ticket collector and he is shocked (in a good way) that I had got a permit to travel and was polite to him. "Don't get many like you..." he mumbled as he got my ticket.

I rushed to Waterloo and caught the train to Vauxhall. I waited in line for my Guardian... a line filled with other people who just didn't know how to queue. There was two people serving, and there was three queues. Grr...

Get to the ticket barrier... my ticket didn't work... the ultimate in commuter embarassmment.

I get to work... I'd ordered stationary yesterday... and along with the normal order was three HUGE bubblewrap rolls. They had the correct customer address on them. But they ended up here. Way to go US! So I've queried that already.

And now there is an email in my inbox that makes me believe I'll be working all weekend... it's 08.25 can I go home yet???

I'm only here because I'm going out tonight... that is the only reason....

Let's cheer ourselves up with some (very dumb looking) beefcake...



Technorati Tags: Gay

Jae Becomes A Grown Up

Yesterday I received my first credit card. Don't bother warning me that about the risks, I've got my own case studies for that one! I have it in order to be able to buy lots of clothes all at once and pay them off over a period of time. Clothes for me have become an unaffordable thing (High and Mighty isn't the cheapest) and it's got to the point old clothes are wearing out faster than I can afford to buy new ones. I will not be using it for frivolous purposes!

And I received confirmation of my new savings account. I'm going to put aside £100 a month for the time being. I'll increase it as and when I can.

Gosh... I even had to contact a customer service department (something I've always prided myself on not having to have done) as my card didn't arrive first time. My credit card companies customer service was great and sorted it straight away. But then again I know the main cause of bad customer service... the customer.

My favourite podcast has returned! Sparkletack has been away for so long. Great to it back with an awesome cast about the San Francisco Spite Fence. Go listen!

Another Day

Work. Why do I have to do it? When was it decided that we would all have to work for a living and that money was the most important thing in the world? Can't I just have a piece of land somewhere and live out my years in peace and quiet with nothing to do with this strange alien creation of Capitalism? Hmph. Got a project to complete at work and it's starting to stress me out. God Lord... and this one person at work is driving me mad at the moment with their incessant stupidity. I may be on hiatus for this project but I've been doing customer service for five years. It's stressful and a bit like banging you head on a brick wall but it isn't difficult. It's not rocket science!

Oh well...yesterday I received my once a month parcel from Amazon with Beth and Georges birthday pressies, Man In The Middle , The Complete Halo Jones and (last but certainly not least!) The Complete Case Files of Judge Dredd Part One.

Judge Dredd cheers me up, nothing like a bit of pessimistic future shocks as the Mighty Tharg would say.

Had dinner with Jim at the Cafe Rouge last night. Pah... bad service, ok food. Not going back there again! Did see a new Texan place had opened opposite the Greenwich Picture House. They had hats on the tables. Big hats. Jim worryingly wants to go. I'll take my camera so you can share in my horror. I think the cute waiter we saw trolling around inside was part of the reason for Jims interest.

Eurovision 2007 - So Far

Location Thanks to Lordi winning last year in Athens with the brilliant "Hard Rock Hallelujah" the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest is to be held in Helsinki, Finland

The Presenters

Jaana Pelkonen
Mikko Leppilampi

Semi Finalists

Not everyone makes it to the Eurovision Final. A Semi Final will be held on 10th May 2007. The Top Ten from the semi final will go onto the final and join last years Top Ten and the Big Four; France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. It's nice to always be in the final... sorry guys! The links will take you to a video of the song.

Albania: Aida & Frederik Ndoci "Balada e gurit"
Andorra: Anonymous "Salvem el món"
Austria: Eric Papilaya "Get a life - get alive"
Belarus: Dmitry Koldun "Work your magic"
Belgium: The KMG's "Love power"
Bulgaria: Elitsa Todorova & Stoyan Yankulov "Voda"
Croatia: Dragonfly feat. Dado Topic "Vjerujem u ljubav"
Cyprus: Evridiki "Comme ci, comme ça"
Czech Republic: Kabát "Mala Dama"
Denmark: DQ "Drama Queen"
Estonia: Gerli Padar "Partners in crime"
FYR Macedonia: Karolina "Mojot svet"
Georgia: Sopho Khalvashi "My story"
Hungary: Magdi Rúzsa "Unsubstantial Blues"
Iceland: Eiríkur Hauksson Ég les í lófa þínum
Israel: Teapacks "Push the button"
Latvia: Bonaparti.lv "Questa Notte"
Malta: Olivia Lewis "Veritgo"
Moldova: Natalia Barbu "Fight"
Montenegro: Stevan Faddy "Ajde Kroci"
Norway: Guri Schanke "Ven a bailar conmigo"
Poland: The Jet Set "Time to party"
Portugal: Sabrina "Dança comigo (vem ser feliz)"
Serbia: Marija Šerifovic "Molitva"
Slovenia: Alenka Gotar "Cvet z juga"
Switzerland: DJ BoBo "Vampires are alive"
The Netherlands: Edsilia Rombley "Nooit meer zonder zou"
Turkey: Kenan Doðulu "Shake it up sekerim"

The Finalists

Armenia: Hayko "Anytime you need"
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Marija Sestic "Rijeka bez imena"
Finland: Hanna Pakarinen "Leave me alone"
France: Les Fatals Picards "L'amour à la Française"
Germany: Roger Cicero "Frauen regieren die Welt"
Greece: Sarbel "Yassou Maria"
Ireland: Dervish "They can't stop the spring"
Lithuania: 4Fun "Love or leave"
Romania: Todomondo "Liubi, liubi, I love you"
Russia: Serebro "Song # 1"
Spain: NASH "I love you mi vida"
Sweden: The Ark "The Worrying Kind"
United Kingdom: Scooch "Flying The Flag"
Ukraine: Verka Serduchka "Danzing"

Opinions

OK, I've been listening to these songs for a while and I have to say: I think Sweden is going to win. But I do love the UK, Romania, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus and even Israel. So I think it'll be a close fight.

Sexiness wise: Spain and Belarus. Yum!

Technorati : eurovision, Del.icio.us : eurovision

Drunk

Oh I don't feel so good. Not good at all. I am NEVER going to drink again. Honest.

It all started with work drinks at the Riverside. I put back a few pints and talked rubbish. At about 8 Sam America, Phil, Sam's Friend Justin and I got a bus to... Clapham and the Kazbar. It was nice in there and we met up with a couple more people... one of whom was Sam's scary flatmate Sara. Uber scary.

We then went to the Two Brewers where I got very drunk, acted very tall and acted stupid.

Got an unlicensed cab home with some Jamaican guy where we talked shit about gun crime, homophobia in Jamaica and how gay men are the best people in the world.

I was drunk. I don't know what his excuse was.

God I was drunk.

Bits And Bobs

John Amaechi was on the Daily Show the other day. What a lovely guy! And 6'10"... same height as me... phwoah...

Greece has unveiled their Eurovision song Sarbel's "Yassou Maria"



Hmm...

Up close with the UK hopefuls

Technorati Tags: Gay

Wake Up To AIDS

Of late you don't really hear about HIV/AIDS in the UK. Slowly the public perception of HIV/AIDS has moved from a homosexual problem to an African problem. That, sadly, is not the case. The tragedy playing out in Africa is just the worst sign of a global epidemic. HIV/AIDS is here in the United Kingdom. Around 5000 people are being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS each and every year. Right here in our country. 5000! Who hears about this? No one.

And the young gay men of this country are not being educated about HIV/AIDS. Was I educated about it at school? A little, I went to a good school after all. But mainly when it came to the homosexual side of things I had to educate myself. I don't want to blow my own trumpet but I'm not a fool. I know lots of gay men who didn't even know what Section 28 was back during it's controversial existence. How many young gay men understand that every time they have unprotected sex they are playing with fire? Even I've had a lot of unprotected sex, I am very ashamed to admit. But I did get tested during my fun filled youth. If we don't act, and act NOW, then our community faces decimation. AIDS victims may not look as ill as they used to... but it's still a death sentence.

It's not just homosexuals at risk, ethnic minorities are a growing section of the population being hit. It's been 20 years since the last (terrifying) Government push against AIDS. Time to scare people again...

On a lighter note the line up for Making Your Mind Up (the UKs Eurovision artist selection show) has been announced. Forget the headline grabbing lead singer from the Darkness, read down the article. SCOOCH have reformed! Oh my GOD! Flying the Flag (For You). God Bless Them. Love you Scooch. But Brits won't choose you. :( Here is my fave Scooch song...

Technorati : AIDS, Eurovision, HIV, Scooch, gay

New Labour Is All That Stands Between Us And David Cameron

Oh as much as I complain about New Labour it's hard to not support them. With my beloved Lib Dems disappearing back into the political wilderness (Darn you Mark Oaten and Simon Hughes... *waggles fist in air*) they are all that stands between us and the evil one; David Cameron. I've met Tory political campaigners. They tend to be quite EVIL. I mean that in the nicest of ways but just look into their eyes and you'll see the flaming pits of Hell. Honestly. Try it. I dare you. Michael Howard wasn't the only one to have "something of the night" about him.

So it's nice to hear Tony Blair standing up to the Tories crazy plans to give tax incentives to keep fathers from leaving their families. You may be quite the illiberal one Mr Blair but sometimes I just wanna give you a hug.

Big Up Tall Pride!

Something was going on near Starbucks in Vauxhall today. 3 police vans and 2 police cars? JP suggested a bus ticket riot... I wonder...

Pay Day tomorrow... praise the Lord! I am now earning double what I was earning at Eurotunnel back in 2002. Let's see if I can double it again by 2012.



All the things I could do with Charles Dera...

Technorati Tags: Tony Blair

Eurovision!

My companies name sounds a bit like Eurovision (if you're a little silly). JP called a customer today and announced where he was calling from and they were like "You're calling from Eurovision???"

No dear. No. But I think that gives me a good excuse to showcase another 2007 Eurovision song hailing from Cyprus.

Comme Ci, Comme Ca by Evridiki



Very good. Yoinked from Raptus Regaliter

killbattyman.blogspot.com has been removed. I believe in freedom of speech except where it threatens violence or murder. The last article posted (which is now unavailable obviously) contained images of a gay man leaving a pharmacy protected from a jeering crowd by reluctant police (with a glooting title).

(Me say) Boom bye bye

Happy Birthday 2000AD - The Zarjaz-iest Comic In The Cosmos! Judge Dredd is awesome (read Necropolis and tell me it's not true) and The Ballad of Halo Jones is in my top ten best things ever.

Note to self: collect 2000AD collection from parental units.

Dear Constant Reader

Well what do you know! There I was using Google Analytics for very narcissistic reasons and I discovered something interesting; since the start of February over 200 people have visited this site more than 15 times, the majority of whom came over 25 times! (today being the 25th...) So Dear Constant Reader why not drop me a comment to say hi? Come out of the closet as a come back to what you know reader!

Yesterday the kids came round and we all went to Wagamama's at Canary Wharf. Yummy. They've just left a few minutes ago. It's been a long time since they visited, was actually nice to see them.

Yesterday was also the day I choose to recognise as my coming out day. And to celebrate I upped the ante in stalking stakes. Yay! I've still got it... :) Trust me... you don't want to know!

David Cameron has come out as a Tory Social Engineer. I cannot believe that he thinks absent fathers are to blame for gun crime. I had a very absent father but I don't go around shooting people. So maybe the true cause is bad parenting, bad education and BAD KIDS. All this blaming others makes me sick sometimes. And he wants to give MARRIAGES tax breaks to encourage fathers to stay...

1) is a Father who chooses to stay in a marriage to get a tax break really the kind of man we want bringing up children?

2) will it actually work?

3) keeping marriages together shouldn't be up to anyone other than those involved. Whether we like it or not.

Tories: hands off our families!

I love Jensen and Jared...

Technorati : Conservatives, canary wharf, david cameron, jensen ackles, wagamama

The Nottingham Adventure

Yesterday I got a little bit of a lie in before beginning the long commute to London St Pancras. The DLR was so crowded; until we got to Canary Wharf I couldn't move at all. Thankfully the Northern Line wasn't so bad. They've changed the layout of St Pancras again and being my usual dumb self I came out at Pentonville Road, just to make finding it more fun. I did have an interesting time finding out that Euston station is a mere stones throw from there...

Anyway... Simon, then Bonnie and Ben, eventually appeared and we boarded our Midland Mainline service to Nottingham. I've never been in First Class before but I have to say it's very nice... comfy seats, food and drink and no annoying yobs.

We got to Nottingham and dropped off our bags at the Jurys Inn before heading directly to our meeting with our suppliers. The meeting really wasn't that long and wasn't particularly controversial. I did find out some things that'll be useful for my team and it's always nice to see where the people we talk to every day are based.

Afterwards we went back to the hotel and had a couple of hours of personal time. I used this watching Stargate SG1. I've always kinda liked that show but still can't see why it's as popular as it is.

6.00pm and we met in the bar. After a couple of drinks and some gossiping about one of the people at the suppliers we discovered a group of the suppliers staff sitting behind us. Including said gossiped about person. D'oh. Don't you just hate it when that happens? Had another drink there then headed off into town.

We met everyone at the Cock and Hoop (much confusion over whether it was called the Cock a Hoop or not, People didn't believe me that cock a hoop is a phrase!). It was great to finally meet Emily, our account manager and someone I regularly send sarcastic emails to (in a nice way!). It was a quiet, smoke free pub with really friendly staff.

We then headed for dinner at Piccolino. Sadly they had only pizzas due to some problems in the kitchen but the pizza I had was delicious. Mmmm... Bianca Pizza Ai Bianci. Sadly the waiting staff were of the rude homosexual description and didn't seem to understand a request for a pint of Peroni. First request got me a Boddingtons. Second request got me a bottle. Everyone else got a pint... I even pointed to the pint when I was requesting the drink!! Oh well. As you know I didn't complain and just drunk what I was given... I'm a good customer.

I tried to convince people to go to the Pitcher and Piano as recommended by my last commenter. However we instead went to The Living Room directly opposite it. A few more drinks later there and I had come to the decision that it was the most dull place I'd ever been in, filled with likely lads trying to come on to girls well out of their league. I decided to leave and my boss tagged along with me. Our mission: find a gay club. So that was why at some point after midnight we wandered through Nottingham, up and down hills, across empty roads until we reached the dark entrance to NG1. Closed. Grr. So we headed to Oceania instead...

They wouldn't let me in... I looked too young! Woo. I liked that a lot. So we headed back to the hotel bar to find the two groups ours and the other group we'd seen at the hotel earlier had merged into one. Many drinks later (just how much did I drink?) and having outlasted all but 4 other people I gave up at 3am and went to bed.

I woke up early this morning and wandered around the Nottingham Station area for a while before meeting up with the others who were a lot more worse for wear than me. We went to a nearby greasy cafe... Oh my God! The woman who served us was one of the most sullen people I've ever encountered. Brilliant! Stereotypical Northern can now be added to my list of species found. Train home took for ever.

Soooo tired. Let's all spare a thought for Prince Harry as he heads off to battle.

Not those kinds of thoughts! Dear Constant Reader, how rude of you!

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Nottingham

Mmm.. Helo.

Off to Nottingham, I'll be back in two days.

Never Did Me Any Harm

Oh God. Channel 4. What are you thinking?? This show is just terrifying as we watch useless parents attempt to make up for previous failings by copying what they parents did! Now their parents are the ones who created these useless parents so I don't think emulating them is the best course of action.

Todays edition had a family of 6. The parents and 4 sons. Joe, 16, was the campest camp boy in the world. The other three were equally unique. The way these parents spoke to Joe (and the others) was astonishing.

Now when I was 16 I was the man of the house (this being the period of Mum and Stepdads break), having sex and going down the pub (only for a couple... I wasn't some young drunken ruffian). Never did my Mum have to send me to my room. Never did she have to shout and scream at me. And I never spoke back to her. Oh I sulked. But we were a team, a family, and we worked together.

So I was astonished to see Joe acting like a 5 year old and his Mum treating him like one (which came first? The chicken or the egg?). Weird! Is that normal parent/child relations???

And did parents really dress their 16 year old boys themselves in the 1950s??????????

I don't think so. Crazy weird show.

It's A Conspiracy

Let me just come out and say it; I don't like President Bush and I find his administration and what it is doing to be abhorrent to all things decent. But: This whole 9/11 "Truth" thing has gone a little too far. I watched Loose Change a while back just like every other geek out there. It was very interesting and well produced. It asked some intriguing questions. But ultimately I found it quite perplexing. Why? Because it seemed to suggest that there was some Government conspiracy (be it American or Israeli) behind the attacks. Now, with all the goodwill in the world, I really don't think the American Government is competent enough to arrange this kind of thing and ensure there were so few witness'.

Have any of you met another human being before? They tend to be quite unpredictable, rather irritating and the vast majority wouldn't be able to keep a secret that big for long. This is where most conspiracy theories fall down... humans are not just fallible, they are bloody irritatingly flawed all round.

And the way conspiracy theorists go about their arguments seem to be suggestive of an unstable personality (if thinking the CIA and FBI were competent isn't a dead giveaway...). Any opposing argument is either part of the conspiracy or they just ignore it quoting from some obscure Arabic newspaper to back up their version of events (AS IF JOURNALISTS COULD BE TRUSTED!). And just read this Digg thread. Crazy. They seem to think that the BBC is partly run by the Government... Bless them...

Our Government can barely come up with a working transport policy let alone manipulate the BBC. I really have to agree with last nights Conspiracy Files; I think people are just too scared to face the possibility that 3000 people could be murdered right in front of them by just 19 men armed with small little knives. It sure is a scary prospect, but that's the real world... people are scary... And that's why I believe that our Government and the American Governments silly, Fascistesqe anti terrorism policies are doomed to fail... you can never stop the random act of violence.

9/11: What Really Happened.

British Pride

If there is one thing that just about every person in the world associates with historic Britain it is the Navy. Since the Mary Rose through to the Ark Royal we have sailed the seven seas and flown the flag around the globe. Now I don't think we should have any delusions about our new place in the world as a medium sized state, it's China and America's world now. But nevertheless we MUST keep our Navy in tip top condition. Why?

1) Because it is part of who we are, Britain without a first class Navy would be a bit like Germany is without it's first class army; sad, ineffective and a little depressing.

2) We are an island nation with island dependencies spread out around the world. We need aircraft carriers to ensure the continued safety of our overseas citizens. Hi to the Falkland Islanders!

3) Because ships are just plain fun.

4) Sheer darn pride. No one wants to be mediocre!

So when the top Admiral asks for more money I say give it to him. Evacuate our forces from Iraq and this idiotic campaign on behalf of the half crazed President of the United States (not forgetting Mr Blair, good intentions indeed...) and use the money saved on making sure our Navy remains the pride of Britain.

Crazy

Can someone tell me how gay men stripping naked behind closed doors could possibly offend anyone not behind those closed doors? Really... sometimes I worry about that some people think about these things way too much. Case of "Doth I Protest Too Much?" in my opinion.



Last night I went out to the Wheatsheaf for a leaving do. I hate it when people leave. Good luck RJ

What Is It With My Obsession With Dates?

It's February! Which means later on this month it'll be 9 years (9 YEARS!) since I came out to myself and accepted my sexuality. Now what I keep asking myself is... why on Earth is this important? Why do I, even when I pretend I don't, look upon the end of February as some milestone of my life? It's absolutely pointless, without any relevance for my current circumstances.

Back then I was 14 years old (strangely called Jay), terrified by the realisation that all he'd been lead to believe about himself (marriage, kids) was a lie, and God was I unhappy! Now I'm a happy 23 year old with a long term boyfriend living in London and extremely happy that life never quite turns out the way you think it will.

1998 is held up by me as a sacred year. Anything that happened that year HAD to be good. Just look at the music charts. Brimful of Asha! Awesome. But it's more than a little strange this obsession of mine.

Oh well. On the 24th of February have a drink for Jae! I sure will be.

Now this year... let's try to find out the name of The Sixth Former, my first crush. He still has yet to be beaten for looks... except by Jim of course.

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Let's Not Look At The News

Just think happy thoughts... toddler fights, gun murders, war... It's FINGERS IN YOUR EARS time! La la la la We're Not Listening.

But then again I might just be doing that because today is the day for Albania's Eurovision 2007 entry. Why are Albanian songs always so... dull?



Making Your Mind Up is due in March. I pray that the country learns from past mistakes and chooses a Eurovision song rather than just the one the country likes.


British people are racist and are terribly rude on the phone shock!. I think you can guess what I want to say about British people as customers so I'll spare you all the rant.

Although I can see the benefits of a smoking ban I'm not in favour of one. And the idea of thousands of enforcers makes it sound like the ban is going to be rather heavy handed (and dare I say fascist...)

You're My Secret Passion, And I Have No Other

Dearest Jim,

You are my world, without you I'd still be languishing in the backwaters of Kent, alone and unhappy. Now I'm with you I couldn't care whether we go out or stay in. Just as long as we're together.

My Love Always

Jae x x


Nigeria; where is the love?. Hating all the time will only stress you out.

Two North Americans, a Kiwi and a Brit talking about yams. Who knew that'd be so funny?

I did a credit check today. Who knew the reason I can't get credit was simply because I've never had credit?! Bizarre, but puts my mind at rest.

Charles Dera is a God.



Romania's Eurovision Entry Locomondo's 'Liubi, liubi, I Love You':

Russian Soldiers Used For Sex

I think the title says it all really. Young Russian boys go to serve their country and are abused by an undisciplined mob of older jaded soldiers just for cash. To be submitted to prostitution must be absolutely degrading, especially when it happens when on the Governments paycheck.

I'm not against prostitution where voluntarily undertaken, but slavery is one of the most heinous crimes possible. Disgusting.

I went to Prowler Soho at lunchtime with my boss. Haven't been there in a very long time. Got Jim his Valentines card (and present, I couldn't resist. It's kinda a joint present for him and me... more tomorrow on that one).

Isn't a shame that it's always the gorgeous guys who join the BNP?

Could Be Heaven

Let us all take a moment to remember the founder of Gaydar, who has fallen to his death over the weekend.. Gaydar has brought me many hours of fun during my single days so thanks for all the fish!

OK. Today I really decided to stop letting other people in this city get to me. I have been slowly evolving into a selfish bastard and not thinking about others simply because that is what everyone else around me is doing. It just isn't me. So I've been allowing people to go ahead of me, thanking people more sincerely for things and trying not to irritate anyone else. Maybe if I do the people around me might start to change. Miserable gits that the general public are.

Ooo.. first Eurovision news of the year. The winners are beginning to be selected and Denmark has chosen a drag act named DQ with her song Drama Queen. Camp classic in the making! Watch with Jae



I'll be doing regular updates and will try to showcase every song before the contest in May.

Gotta Love That Feeling

I miss being depressed. I miss being lonely. I miss sweet melancholy

I know that might sound a little strange but there really is something good about a little bit of melancholy. I got to the point a few years back where it was easier to be depressed than happy. I loved settling down to watch tv shows like Will and Grace and bemoaning my love life. I enjoyed listening to depressing music. I enjoyed having my dark little secrets. And now... nothing! Oh sure I worry, I get stressed, I feel a little bored with somethings. But no deep comforting blanket of selfish depression.

I haven't been properly depressed in YEARS. It's very strange. I was listening to the Manic Street Preachers the other day and I just got this memory of a feeling of utter dark unhappiness, and I LOVED IT. It's such an EASY emotion.

I shouldn't complain about it too much I suppose...

Who wants to be Louis Theroux?? I've just got back into watching my old favourites like Weird Weekends and I have to say that man has met some interesting people. Just watched Porn where he gets a walk on role in a gay porn movie while shadowing a gay for pay actor. Awesome.

Gay for pay? You would not get me to have sex with a woman for less than 10 grand... I can't understand the whole gay for pay thing... each to their own I suppose.



Chad Michael Murray is v. cute.

Jae Gets Lost

Ah London is a brilliant city. Last night work drinks were held in the Royal Oak in Vauxhall. Sam America chose it as she said it was "quaint". Hmm... this is not the kinda pub for a work night out. It was a smokey, old men's pub. Spit and sawdust to boot. Good if you with one or two blokey mates and you want a drink. Bad when your with 20 people half of whom are loud travellers. The old men stared at us all evening. All the Brits quickly left, leaving me with the Americans and Sarina. Never again Sam. Never again.

Today I got up early and rushed into town to High and Mighty on Edgware Road. The Central Line was PACKED at 9am on a Saturday. Weird. Why do I always feel compelled to use the stairs at tube stations? I left Marble Arch a little out of breath... Rushed into and out of High and Mighty with a new shirt and coat and without a lot of money. Then I headed, via tube, to Forbidden Planet. It was closed. Reluctant to retrace my steps I headed down a side street calculating it'd lead me back to Charing Cross Road. That's when I got lost.

I've been wandering in the Charing Cross area since I was about 16. I feel like I know pretty much every nook and cranny. It's nice to know I was wrong. I wandered among weird shops "New Age Music Here" and huge flags (how big a French flag does a small shop need???). I found a little round about that was quite pretty, I discovered an entire street of large stores and was that Channel Fives HQ?? Who knows... I kept wandering until I came to Covent Garden tube station... quite a bit off course! Oh well... nice to know London always has a surprise up it's sleeve. Headed home, got a haircut on the way and now here I am.

My God it's cold today!

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Snowman!

You didn't believe me when I said I was going to go to the park and build a snow man at lunch time.

Jae Is A Happy Boy

Last night Jim came home with a present for me. It was a white Nintendo DS! And Super Mario Bros. (MY FAVE!). I am once again a Nintendo boy... HAPPY JAE!

And then I wake up this morning and... SNOW! Lots and lots of snow. Sure I had to take my hated alternate route to work as the overland trains were not running, BUT I SHALL NOT LET THAT GET ME DOWN! Snow, snow, glorious snow...

And it's Thursday... nearly the weekend. Although I shall be working for most of it. :( But it's working from home! Yay!

Oooo... and I've got Doctor Who DVDs to watch.

I may just go to the park with Sarina at lunch and make snowmen... Yeah I'm 23 going on 5 today.

Folkestone Letter Bomb

My home town is one of the seven towns to be hit by a possible letter bombing campaign.

One article piqued by interest, and my usual anger.

Nigel Humphries, from the Association of British Drivers, told BBC Radio Five Live he was "appalled" by the apparent bombing campaign.

He added: "In fact, it makes us feel a bit guilty that we haven't campaigned hard enough on the legitimate front against the things that we oppose, to do with criminalising and bullying motorists and because of our failure to campaign hard enough, somebody's had to resort to this."

Had to resort to it? Could they not live with the possibility of a speeding fine (gosh who knew speeding was illegal and dangerous!) or high fuel bills (because without driving everywhere the world would come to an end)? Was that just too much to take? Sorry but I am not very sympathetic to motorists at the best of times but suggesting that the situation for them is so bad people "have to" resort to bombing innocent people is a stretch too far!

In the world of mox: We've all wished someone dead I'm sure, but devoting a blog to the death of others should rightly be illegal.

Keep thinking happy thoughts.

Spacemen Scandal!

Captain Lisa Nowak. What were you thinking?. My faith in humanity slowly fades further and further into nothingness. If you can't look up to and respect an astronaut, who can you respect??? Bloody humans. We ruin everything.

Gun crime is getting ever more out of control (obviously gun crime has never been in control but you know what I mean!). How many people, especially young black people, have been killed in the last few years? Lots is my rough estimate. What kind of people do this? What kind of people have such a crap life as to get involved in crime, especially crime involving guns? Scum? Yeah. Idiots? By definition. People who need our help? Well that's the question isn't it. God, people are so dangerously stupid.

Given my views on the human race I'm never really shocked by the murders of people. But really guys... what kind of sick creature kills a cat by putting it in a washing machine??? (perspective? Moi???) A deaf cat as well. I feel there's a good argument for a mass extermination of the lot of us.

Let's all just think happy thoughts...

Brent Corrigan Is Very Cute

Pizza Express is so yummy. Mmm... And so is Brent Corrigan. He stars in the short movie Didn't This Used To Be Fun? (a line from one of my fave movies "Jeffrey" I believe!). The trailer is below...

Islamic Homophobia

I cannot believe I live in a country where people are still able to sell pamphlets suggesting the murder of homosexuals. Do people just think "Oh well, they're Muslim, that's just what they do"? These fiends should be prosecuted!

I believe in freedom, except where said freedom impinges on the freedoms of others. So you can say what you like as long as it doesn't propose that others should be hurt, maltreated or murdered. I do not believe anyone has the right to suggest that I should be put to death just because I like cock. I am not immoral. I am not sinful. And I am getting sick and tired of saying that.

Why on Earth do these people get questioned by police but Muslim preachers who advocate MURDER get off without much of a fight?? Something needs to be done. What? Well the police need to stop trying to look good to everyone (be nice to the gays, be nice to the Muslims etc.) and start standing up for British values of tolerance (and not killing each other). Arrest the bastards, charge them and have them in court for something!!

It's Back

Did anyone else hate my intermediate template? Having played with Blogger Beta for a while I've decided that it has no features I want and was made simply so that all those internetphobic people out there could blog without the need to even think about HTML. As that is the case I've reverted back to my old (beloved) template without any of those Blogger Beta evil things except for that damn navbar. Grr... I wish I hadn't had to upgrade.

We will never hear the end of this. I hate how things are now in news media. This story will be dissected for WEEKS to come. And no doubt it'll end up "being the Governments fault". As always the farmers will be portrayed as innocent victims of the Government rather than victims of bird flu.

A person of interest is sought in the Bryan Kocis murder case. Brent Corrigan has made the first post to his blog since the murder. He confirms he was in the final stages of making a formal agreement with Mr Kocis over their ongoing legal problems.

Jim thinks he sold out.

Oh.

Last night I was out at the Riverside for a couple of drinks with work and two blasts from the past; Maria and Natasha. I spent my time trying to persuade Natasha to come back to work with me.

Tonight went down the Wheatsheaf with work and had a good couple of drinks.

Thanks to Jim for introducing me to John Cena.



What wouldn't I give to see him and Randy Orton going at it? Hmmm...

Charles Dera

Charles Dera
Originally uploaded by Jae Kay.

It's too true. I think I've finally reached the point of not understanding other human beings at all. Living and working in London I've come to see the really selfish side of people. I couldn't imagine being like them and I'm worried that very few people seem to care about how a large percentage of the population behave.

I work in customer service. Working there you soon learn that some people call in just to have an argument. I've had many customers who start off the conversation angry. And they don't actually have a problem (say it's a general inquiry). I could never, not in a million years, contemplate seeking out someone just to argue with them. It is, to me anyway, something that they should be deeply ashamed of.

Then you see those people out and about who can't seem to comprehend that other people exist. They stand on the left on escalators, they get in your way when you try to get off the train and they delight in walking very slowly in a zig zag pattern in front of you so no one else can get past. When commuting I spend a lot of time thinking about where I'm standing, walking and sitting. I think about it because I don't want to get in anyones way.

There is one man at Waterloo East who catches the same train as me home. I avoid standing near him because, despite the train having room, he will board the train and then... stop. Right there, in the doorway everyone is getting on at. There is room for him to stand to the side. Room for him to sit down. He could go to the other side of the train. But no he doesn't. And he doesn't wait to get on, he will push to the front of the crowd as the train pulls up. HE DRIVES ME MAD!

And then there's the people who don't have their tickets ready when they need to be checked. It's the same people every day. They suddenly look up and realise they need a ticket and stop, in everyones way, to search through their bag for it. I've got my ticket ready BEFORE I'm even off the train. Why? Because it means I don't need to worry about, I don't get in others way and I make the ticket collectors lives a little easier. Isn't that how we should all behave, doing our little bit to make other peoples lives better?

I'm sick of listening to my customers moaning about one thing or another. They are rude, arrogant (especially when they are wrong/stupid WHY IS THAT??) and it baffles me how these people can actually function in society.

I want to run away somewhere isolated with Jim, the Canadian wilderness for example. People scare me. I am just not like them.

attitude is back.

Charles Dera.... one person I could never hate...

Ever Changing Tastes

It's strange how our tastes change so much, isn't it?

I mean a few years back I was a 100% top. Now... well things are a little different. And my taste in men changes on a daily basis. Some times I love guys like Brent Corrigan, slim and cute. Other days I just cannot get enough MUSCLE. And then some days I head off down the route less traveled and go for bears or ginger men or something equally bizarre.

And food. When I was 11 I wouldn't even eat toad in the hole because it sounded exotic. Now... I'll try most things although I'm not too big a fan of hot stuff. Easy on the chilli's.

Why not let me know about an example from your life? Ever changed your taste in men/clothes/marmite?



Leighton Stultz yoinked from Twisty Love. More of him here.

One Law For All!

As a libertarian I'd rather not have laws that protect individual groups of people. However as there is a ban on discrimination against women, ethnic minorities and the religious I feel it only fair (if not ideal) for us moxs to get the same treatment. So may I just say... in your face! No exemptions on the grounds of faith against the Equality Act!

Fundamentalists may cry about their "rights" but I didn't hear them shouting much in defense of the rights of others to discriminate against people on the basis of religion so as such I don't see why they should have the right to discriminate on the grounds of sexuality.



Had a horrid day at work, needed the picture above to cheer me up!

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Perspective!

I cannot believe that some people on the Just Us Boys forum are suggesting Brent Corrigan murdered Bryan Kocis. Get a grip people. Sometimes I think the internet is full of idiots. Other times I know it! (You only need to check out ANY forum site to know it yourself!).



Charles Dera in fetish gear. All my Christmas' come at once? Those rings around his arms are quite likely to feature in every one of my dirty dreams for the rest of my life!

I was woken in the early hours this morning by some moron walking down the street shouting about being lost who was throwing metal signs into the road. Grr... violent drunks are the worst.

OK. My Doctor Who obsession of the mid nineties is back. With bells on.