The Search For Pizza

Since the demise of Pizza King there has been a pizza shaped hole in my heart. Last week we discovered Super Pizza was probably the best pizza we've had in Folkestone so far, but their delivery service was pretty awful.

*phone rings*

"You order Super Pizza?" shouts a gruff voice.

"Yes"

"We downstairs" hangs up.

I headed downstairs to find the delivery guy sitting in his car waiting for me. I had to go to his car to get the pizza!

So after they "lost" our order yesterday, Jim took an executive decision to wander down and pick up the pizzas ourselves.

Of course on the way we got distracted and ended up in the Pullman, our favourite pub in Folkestone, where we had two bottles of a delicious sweet wine in the beer garden (much to the confusion of the barman who was half ready to pour us our usual pints of Amstel). We then moved on to Wetherspoons (I refuse to call it the Samuel Peto!) where we had another bottle of wine and caught a glimpse of a bit of flesh (well if a guy is going to lean over a bar and have very low hanging jeans, what's a boy to do?).

We eventually stumbled to Super Pizza where they attempted to overcharge us by a few pence. Whilst I'd just pay that, as I'll do anything to avoid a fuss, Jim has a keen sense of principle and a small awkward moment occurred where he attempted to explain how we were being overcharged and it ended only when a manager intervened and corrected the error. I totally understand why Jim does what he does, but God those sort of altercations are my worst nightmare.

We've got two house guests at the moment, Lenny and Bart. They are my brother George's rats and they're actually rather cute. And there's a new Celebrity Big Brother on the telly! Doesn't get much better than that!

Jim's not been well again recently which is playing on my mind, and works all a bit of a dull SSDD. Otherwise I'm not doing so bad... how are you, Dear Constant Reader?

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

A Customers Guide To Driving Me Insane

You know those things that people do that set your teeth on edge... Well imagine having to put up with those things throughout your working day and you'll begin to have an insight into my own personal hell. Here are just a few things that drive me up the wall.

1) Call openings

Me: "How can I help?"

Customer: "Yes I hope you can help"

This may seem innocuous, it may seem sensible but everytime a customer says that I die a little. I was asking how I could help, not whether I could help! Of course I can help, don't they know who I am??

Me: "How can I help?"

Customer: "Hi"

Me: "Hello, how can I help?"

Customer: "My name is..."

Thus the call proceeds for about two minutes before the customer tells me what I can do for them and I solve the problem in a second. Don't blame me for your phone bills if you don't wish to answer a very simple question.

Me: "How can I help?"

Customer: "Customer reference 4....."

RUDE.

For all the talk of customers complaining about not being treated like human beings most simply go into robot mode when they call a customer service team.

2) My name is not James, it's not Mr Jason, I'll accept "Sir" but that'll be begrudgingly. My name is Jason, and I'll even let you get away with calling me Jay. Is this so very difficult? When, invariably, someone calls me "Mr Jason" during my working day I have to take very deep breathes to maintain my professional calm.

3)Customer: "Can I pay please?"

Me: "Of course you can, what's the number of the card you want to use?"

Customer: "Oh I'll just go get it"

Why did you call to make a payment when your card wasn't there? I can understand if part way through a call you decide to pay but don't have your card with you. But when that's the whole point of your call... why?? It's not this is a once every so often thing. It happens 50% of the time!

4) People who ask a question then interrupt halfway through your answer with a completely different question. And repeat throughout the call. Why????

5) People who talk to their neighbours and get the completely wrong end of the stick.

Customer "My neighbour only pays a pound a month!"

Me "Trust me, I can't look at their account with you but I can guarantee they pay more than that"

Customer "Are you calling me a liar?"

Me: "No, I just think someone's got the wrong end of the stick..."

And thus it continues until they go and get their neighbour and we prove conclusively that what they said was that they pay "about a pound a day" or some such thing. AH!

And thus the horrors continue day in, day out...

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Something Like Summmer: Review

As you, Dear Constant Reader, know too well I do not generally read fiction outside of some set criteria: if it's not written by Stephen King/Dean R Koontz or it's not about time travel/freaks of evolution/zombies then generally it's not read.

However whilst Jim was in Boston last week he informed me I simply had to, no excuses allowed, read a book by Jay Bell called Something Like Summer. Given I was in the middle of reading a particularly awesome alternate history novel at the time I was not so keen. But, out of both a trust of Jim's taste and fear of his wrath if I hadn't at least started the book by the time he got home, I decided to give it a go.

The book's story revolves around the life of one gay guy from high school through to twenty-somethingness, from his first crush through marriage and tragedy. The main character, Ben, acts in ways I can barely comprehend, but the story drew me in and I found myself actually empathising with the characters so much that I struggled to read through the embarrassing/dangerous situations Ben got himself into because I find those sorts of situations so terrifying. His on/off romance with Tim is well done, even if I couldn't ever imagine acting the way Ben does at times, with Tim reminding me very much of the character of John Dixon in Get Real.

The mark of a good story is how well it makes you care about the characters and, honestly, by the end of the book there were tears in my eyes which was quite embarrassing as I was sitting at my desk at work! And it did a truly awesome job of capturing those early years in a gay guy's life when he's just coming out and gave me a nice nostalgic glow regarding my own misspent youth.

If you're looking for something that's easy to read, engaging, affordable and touching then this book will tick all those boxes. Check it out!




If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

I'm Not Proud To Be Gay: I'm Ecstatic

I may no longer attend pride parades but that doesn't mean I still don't annoy my better half with my constant obsession with all news and affairs which are little bit gay. And I thought it was time to remember why I feel the need to obsess over them... because if I'm not putting my views of things out there then, as sure as summer follows spring, some other gay guy out there will be putting his view across and passing it off as everyone else's.

There are so many self-hating queers out there. Yes I used the q-word, but I think it's far more all encompassing than any other and is far more interesting a word than using "LGBT". I know, I've alienated half my readers already, but that's the other group driving me mad these days "The PC Queers". But I'll get to them in a moment.

Firstly we have the recent Brian Sewell incident where that self-hater, who has described attraction to the same sex as an "affliction", said Coronation Street had gotten "too gay" (4 characters out of 60 regulars is "too gay"?). Of course the Daily Mail loves gay, or in this case bisexual, men who hate. Just look at their love in with Andrew Pierce (see what I've written on him in the past here). These folks are conservative True Believers who will happily join forces with Satan himself if they felt it would advance their political agenda. They've sold themselves out, and would have no trouble selling us all out. This is why I remain ever careful about newly out Tory politicians, like Nigel Evans, because their past actions have shown them for what they truly are... self-haters. Self-hate leads to real hate which leads to the Dark Side. Or something like that.

Which brings us to the other side of the crazy coin. The PC brigade. Once I thought raging against political correctness was something only the Daily Mail reading, tin-foil hat wearing contingent could get away with. But it's becoming ever more obvious that you really CAN'T say what you want to say in this world. From the banning of the word queer in a LGBT grouping at work, to Scotland's latest cunning plan to ban the word homosexual. Worse are those who fought tooth and nail against East End Pride not because the EDL were behind it but because it might upset some fragile community relations (i.e. piss off some homophobes who just happen to share their leftie agenda).

And then on top of that you have actual homophobes and well-meaning leftie "straight allies" (I use this phrase sarcastically as I think I'd get violent if anyone actually used it in real life) who believe I should be nicer to murderers because people used to not be very nice to homosexuals and the two things are, of course, equivalent.

So I say "not in my name". I'm proud to be gay, queer or homosexual. I'm not disgusting or wrong. And I'm not in need of pity or any more sympathy than you'd give to any other neighbour or friend. My sexuality does not shape my political agenda and my political agenda does not shape my sexuality. I'm a free agent and I damn well wish other gay men would stop speaking for me, because they are about as good at it as Stonewall is at fighting for equal rights.

No excuses, no apologies, and no caveats.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Rocksalt, Folkestone - Excellent Food

I'm just back from an excellent lunch at Rocksalt. I was meant to go on opening night but Jim's work schedule made it inconvenient and I gave the booking to my boss (yes, still brown-nosing with the best of them). After a rather scathing review by the Independent, I was a bit concerned but I needn't have been.

The building itself is beautiful both outside and in. Outside it blends in to, and compliments better than Jetty's managed, the harbour surroundings. Inside it is cool and fresh, dredging up memories of hip bars by the Thames in London or cool little restaurants by the marina in the Costa Del Sol when I was younger. The balcony, and thus the whole restaurant, affords wonderful views of the harbour itself and the sounds of the seagulls calling to each other and the sea lapping against the harbour walls makes for a wonderful venue.

We were greeted and seated quickly; the staff were charming and just the right side of chatty. The lunch time set menu was very reasonably priced (£17.50 for three courses compares very well with some of the more undesirable restaurants in town). Jim and I both had the salmon pate to start, which was creamy, tasty and served with delicious sour dough bread. We followed that up with the lamb, carrots and spinach with a side of duck fat chips to share. The lamb was cooked perfectly, the carrots crisp and the spinach just perfect. The duck fat chips cannot be described with mere words (except perhaps nomnomnom) but were faultless in everyway. There was a half hour wait for the dessert but it was dealt with well by the staff (and we got one of the desserts free for our troubles, so can't complain about that!). Jim had the Bakewell tart which was beyond beautiful. The combination of flavours and textures were absolutely spot on. I had the rhubarb fool which, and I say this having been to many a fine restaurant with Euroffice when I worked there in London, was the best dish I've ever had. Anywhere. Even better than the yellow curry at the Balcony Pub in Bangkok or the spaghetti carbonara in Il Bordello in Wapping. It was fresh and sweet and the rhubarb melted in your mouth. I cannot sing it's praises enough.

I'd go back just for that, but there are plenty of other very good reasons to return (and we shall be). The wine was also fantastic, Pinot Grigio 2010 Friuli Banear, and extremely well-priced given the quality.

So don't be put off by other reviews, the service was excellent, the food gorgeous and the surroundings sublime. Go now. Do not delay.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

One Of Those Days

*sigh* From the moment I left the house today until I returned across the threshold this evening, it's been "one of those days". Every person I encountered appeared to have had some sort of encounter with a stupidity stick, which had obviously been vigorously applied just before I met them. I had a meeting at work at the end of the day and I sat there in silence, almost in tears, as I slowly lost the will to live with all the stupidity going on around me. Even the basic concept of "one at a time" seemed to have been thrown at the window.

I have rarely been glader to be home even if it is an empty one right now. So to see us through here's a picture of my current favourite husband Dhal Drogo Conan Jason Momoa. 

And to finish off here is the BEST Youtube video of all time. 

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Tick Tock Tick Tock

It's a Sunday, so time is on my mind. The relentless countdown to work tomorrow isn't made even one iota better by the knowledge that I am off on Tuesday. To make matters worse, Jim is away with work for a week meaning I'm having to entertain myself (Mr Gibbs popped out for some waxworms this morning but quickly felt the dullness wash over him and slid back under his log for a sleep).

And even worse... I'm another year older on Saturday. Yes, time is slipping away from us Dear Constant Reader.

But of course, you know what a birthday means... a totally selfish plug for my ever expanding Amazon Wishlist (accept no imitations).

So what have I got planned? A trip to Bruges a week Wednesday, a holiday in Berlin in September and I'm saving for a roadtrip in California and Nevada the following September. Yes, Dear Constant Reader my usual minute-by-minute travel blogs are coming back after a terribly long absence.

Tomorrow I shall get back on my diet. Don't laugh. Honestly I will. Oh alright, I'll try but I can't lie to you old friend.

Oh yes, I'm back to being a libertarian again. That'll last a week, you know how fickle I am. Speaking of which... ooo... pretty man.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Oh To Have The Comfort And Certainty Of Faith

Spring has well and truly sprung, birds are singing in trees and our resident gulls, Gary and Glenda, have set their nest up again and have begun raising another family of chicks. It's at times like this that memories of my years as a Wiccan come to the fore.

There's something about the vibrancy of nature at this time of year that makes me very nostalgic for the feelings I had as a "believer". The comfort of believing in a higher power, the oneness of "creation", is a heady drug.

My fascination with religion in general has always persisted even after I lost my beliefs but I often have very mixed emotions when encountering the religious. One side of me feels deeply sorry for them, as I have no doubts that even if there was a God the chances they've chosen to worship the right one/pantheon are minimal, whilst the other half feels deeply jealous of them. To be able to lessen the minor and major pains in life even just a little, thanks to your belief that it'll all pale into insignificance compared to the glories of your afterlife future, would be extremely welcome.

The certainty of believers of all stripes must be a relief too. The truth of non-belief is cold and uncertain. I do not claim to know if there is or is not a God. But my logical mind suggests there is not. It certainly does not see how any of the religions on display in our world today could be the "One True Religion" that they all claim to be.

I can see why it can be so difficult to give up on faith, even if you flit between denominations and religions in a desperate search to find the "Truth". I long to return to the warm embrace of thoughtless belief and devotion to a pantheon of Gods who I once adored.

Being sceptical and independently minded has it's benefits. But certainty and comfort are not among them. I find myself drawn more and more towards absurdism and I think Albert Camus sums up my feelings well:

I don’t know whether this world has a meaning that transcends it. But I know that I cannot know that meaning and that it is impossible for me just now to know it. What can a meaning outside my condition mean to me? I can understand only in human terms. What I touch, what resists me — that I understand. And these two certainties — my appetite for the absolute and for unity and the impossibility of reducing this world to a rational and reasonable principle — I also know that I cannot reconcile them. What other truth can I admit without lying, without bringing in a hope I lack and which means nothing within the limits of my conditions?

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Eurovision 2011: Live Blog

Georgia Meh. Make it stop. 

Serbia It's alright. I'm on the hard stuff now, whisky

Ukraine Again failed to pay attention to the song... sand artist epic.

Spain. 

Iceland YAY! Love the song, had it in my head all day. Touching, fun performance

Slovenia Entering "Can this go on any longer?" territory??? 

Azerbaijan Meh. 

Austria I liked a lot, but very mixed reactions on Twitter

Romania Great but not as good as in semi final

Germany My favourite song. But let down so badly in tonights performance... :( 

Moldova There are no words... 

UK Could've been a bit better

Switzerland I like that song. Summed up "Na na na na na na na na"

Italy Godawful, but it's nice to see them back... I think.. 

France Yawn. 

Russia Perfect singer for awful 1990s song with boring dance routine. 

Greece C....Rap 

Estonia Great performance, a magic trick and catchy song. :) 

Sweden I love Eric Saade. That is all... 

Ireland *KILL ME NOW*

Hungary Love the song... but performance was not that good today. :(

Lithuania Needs a much stronger singer, but she does sign language so... forgiven.,..

Denmark Cute singer, LOVE the song. Jedward wannabe though... 

Bosnia and Herzegovina Rubbish, nothing exciting or interesting about it. Bah!!!

Finland Love the song, love the singer, love the message. Never going to win though... 

Loved it... :) Best opening of Eurovision ever!

No Lena singing Satellite??? Presenters singing instead... erm... genius?

I wish they'd stop talking over the presenters!!!

Graham Norton... vast improvement over Scott Mills and Sara Cox.... 

START Less than 30 minutes to go... Liveblogging Eurovision like it's 2009 all over again. Oh yes!

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Fraudsters MUST DIE

I'm going to have to go into my bank tomorrow. It's not a situation I ever want to be put into, with the queues, and the people, and all of that "human interaction" that is necessarily involved. The reason? My bank account has been compromised and someone has been topping up their mobile phone in, of all places, Hatfield and thus my debit card has been cancelled.

I will, almost certainly, get that money back. But the scars that will be left on me by having to talk to people in a bank shall last a life time. I want it known now that if I ever track down those who caused this to happen, I shall deliver swift and decisive justice.

Inconvenience is a bit like a slow death for someone like me. I dislike it greatly. Grr... in other news... it's Eurovision week! Yay! Cue picture of floppy haired Swedish entry, Eric Saade

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

How Have You Been?

Dearest Constant Reader, what would I do without you? On Twitter you're judged for tweeting too much, or tweeting too little, or you have even the most vague and innocuous remarks dissected and analysed until one feels quite tired. But not here. I can pretty much write and publish anything I want without controversy or comment (except insults about Simon Hughes or porn pictures of certain celebrities, as we've learnt in the past).

People are miserable old so-and-so's, aren't they? Ironic that I should say that given the reams of misery that fill this little blog of mine... enough tales of depression and low self-esteem to keep a counsellor busy for years. But I'm mellowing with age, my depression's seem few and far between and my low self-esteem is slowly disappearing as I stopped caring what other people think. As Jim often tells me, I'm "growing up".

What have I found since I was last on here...

the Pullman: a delightful little pub off Rendezvous Street. Can't believe I've never been there before but the staff are always very welcoming.
Googies: a bit offbeat, but a nice cafe with good food and the occasional nice thing to look at. The art's good too ;)
Gary and Glenda the Gulls are back... and have three eggs. Jim and I are going to be Uncle's again!
Food is good. Diets are BAD.
American football players may not be rough and tough like rugby players but they have their upsides:

I also stood for election. Cool, huh?

Jim has left for Las Vegas this weekend and my brother and sister are due to arrive any minute. A "fun" week ahead... oh what am I saying... it's EUROVISION week!!

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Mini Rant

I must get this off my chest. I spent years moaning about the fudged, half way house that are civil partnerships. Never once did I meet someone, or receive a comment here, from anyone who said something other than "They may not be perfect but they are a step in the right direction". From left to right I was confronted by this same argument.

Now I use that same argument (having admitted I was wrong to be such a marriage equality idealist on my other blog) regarding AV and House of Lords reform... it's not perfect but it's on the right road. And I am confronted (almost universally) by people on the left going "But it's NOT perfect, we want perfection".

I wouldn't mind so much if these people weren't the EXACT same people who were telling me not to be such an idealist and to embrace civil partnerships! Talk about pot calling kettle.

AH! It's amazing how a move from Government to Opposition turns them from pragmatists to idealists isn't it? And vice versa for me I suppose, if I'm honest. But still... I've come over to their way of thinking and they've gone and abandoned me. Typical. I could scream.

Thus ends the rant.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

This Is A Public Service Announcement

The Flaws Of First Past The Post

AV is not a perfect system, nor is it my preferred system, but it does help eliminate some of the worst features of first past the post. This video shows you exactly what they are...



Yoinked from here

I made my own case for AV here

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Naughty, Naughty Jae Part 1200 Of A Continuing Series

After such an awesome start my diet is failing, and not because I'm stuck at a particular weight (although I am) but because the reason for this is that I'm being incredibly naughty. I blame the Jim.

Tomorrow, it has been agreed, I shall be returning to my extremely strict diet to lose the next 20 pounds. I am determined to get fit. DETERMINED. When I stare longingly at my latest crush and his perfect body I think "You're a fat bastard Jae, you could look like that if you really wanted to". My latest crush, of course, shall remain nameless beyond "Rugby Boy".

In other news: carvery at Paul's restaurant yesterday (a hop, skip and a jump from our front door) was absolutely excellent in terms of value for money, tastiness, staff friendliness and general atmosphere. Recommended.

I passed my probationary period at work today! Huzzah.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Skuba. Frenchman. Kebab.

Friday night was a bit random. Jim and I decided to out for a couple of drinks at Skuba (I don't know why we bothered, the staff are boring/rude, the music ridiculously loud given there was probably less than 10 customers and the beer pretty metallic tasty). Whilst there Zoe contacted us to say she was in the Frenchman and so we wandered over there to see her, Jodie and Eleventh Hour, the live band for the evening. Not bad, a bit random indeed.

Had a kebab afterwards. "Reimagining" my diet on Monday. ;)

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

A Fine Specimen Of A Man

My boss was off today, meaning her seat next to me was empty. It was soon filled, however, by Rugby Boy. Wearing just a tight white top and denim shorts, he proceeded to flex his muscles and act all charming for the whole morning. If I ever feel the need to query my sexuality, I just need to turn my mind back to the morning of the 25th of March 2011 and I will be reassured.

Men. They are the most gorgeous things in the world.

In other news... Jim bought me a gift today, one he says sums me up in one word: Sharktopus. So true, he knows me so well!

And today's blast from the past... GRUMPY JAE!

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

An Olde Style Blog Post

Today begun with a quick trip to Sainsbury's where I picked up a copy of our beloved local newspaper, the Folkestone Herald. I only really buy it for three reasons: 1) to cry over the lack of decent job adverts to at least allow a nice "I'd love that job" fantasy, 2) local political news (seems we have an independent anti-cuts guy called Eric Segal stirring things up at the moment, sadly his letter reads like "more of the same" rather than the less of the same he's trying to represent. More "those parties are all the same, whereas I'm different" stuff which is getting quite old now) and 3) to allow me to distance-stalk my victims.

Today it was mostly useful for the third and final reason. There was an MT story! Good times *scribbles notes furiously*

In other news... I saw Zoe today! We went out to Googies for lunch which was... quirky. Lots of models, and badly stacked board games. But the food was decent (my Pinky and Perky burger wrap was lovely), the staff friendly and relatively attentive (more than Django's) and the clientele interestingly random. I could see myself going back there often.

It was lovely to see Zoe who was very polite in suffering through the early afternoon day time TV fest I subsequently inflicted upon her.

Today's blast from the past... is not my own post but one of Zoe's very own about a very amusing day we spent in London.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Stop the planet, I want to get off!

Watched Christopher and His Kind last night, foolishly as it was a deeply melancholy experience (but still very, very good) which left me unable to sleep for a while. I'm only 27 but I think I had a mid-life crisis for about 2 hours last night. Doesn't bode well for my life expectancy does it! ;)

So one month into Diet Chef and... I've lost 20 pounds! Quite proud of myself really, but have been extremely naughty of late. I shall get back on the wagon later today, after a McDonald's breakfast. Don't look at me like that!

Work's manic at the moment, it's just that time of year. Dearest financial year, what exactly are you good for?

Now here's a little musical explanation of my feelings last night. Avenue Q gets more meaningful by the year ;)



If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

I Am A Bad Man

I know I fail. I suck. I hate me too. There, you have it, BAD JAE! I think this blog should actually be renamed "Bad Jae". It'd be a lot easier.

But in other news... I've lost a stone in two weeks on Diet Chef! Amazing stuff. I admit since then there has been two major slips from the diet (a Saturday night curry fest and Tuesday's pancake extravaganza) but I think sometimes indulging isn't totally awful.

I also now own... dumbbells! Yes.... the first piece of exercise equipment I've ever owned. Slowing easing myself into exercising... watch this space (to see them sit in a corner and gather dust...)

Jim's doing okay considering his ever increasing list of hospital appointments. We used to joke that he was falling apart, and he's now trying to live up to this reputation!

Current obsession has moved from Doctor Who (a temporary change I suspect) back to another old favourite: the German Democratic Republic! What fun!

Today's Blast From The Past is.... The Last Days of Sam America in honour of the fact that today I placed an order with... Euroffice! Those were the days, huh? And what did I order? Bubble bags. Why? Because I've decided to sell off my comic collection. I'm sure a few tears will be shed before they go...

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Naughty, Naughty Jae

I know, I know. I've not written a post for the last few days. I'm spanking myself as we speak (keep those dirty thoughts to yourselves, please).

So how's the diet going? I hear you ask (is that a hint of cynicism I hear in your voice as if I might've given up??). Well actually... it's going really well. I feel good. I feel like I'm losing weight. The foods good too, which is always a bonus. Worst thing is... I'm struggling to eat enough to get my calories up to a reasonable level. Who knew that substituting chocolate and crisps with three square meals, fruit and veg would lead to such a big calorie deficit??

Having discovered the secret to eating more than even Jae "Bottomless Pit" Kay can manage, I've spent most of the week with Jim. Which has been good. Whilst he's still recovering from his illness, we have been able to chat about our planned trip to Berlin in September. I've set myself the target of learning German by then. That'll keep my mind off of chocolate...

Yoinked from When Only Hot Will Do

Past Jae Adventure: Wo ist mein Werwolf? Part Three

Ooo... what's this? Predator? The Musical? Dreams coming true?



If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Weighty Issues

Weighed myself for the first time in many years today. No, you shan't be finding out the weight... hence my ongoing diet!!

Yesterday I received a cheque from the taxman for the princely sum of £215. Today I received a bill from British Gas for £600. The Lord giveth and he taketh away... *sigh*

Diet continues and it's not too bad at all! Yesterday I had vanilla and banana porridge (alright), more Thai Chicken soup for lunch (yummy) and Tomato and Vegetable pasta for dinner (very yummy) plus a couple of small pieces of fruit and two slices of toast.

I've not been feeling too hungry, despite the actually rather worryingly low calorie intakes.

Today's Past Jae adventure is: Wo ist mein Werwolf? Part Two

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Inappropriate Touching

There's a title that's sure to get your attention. Today I went for my irregular shearing. Unfortunately the barbers I had been going to, directly opposite my house, closed down, which meant I had to try somewhere knew and deal with all the annoying little things that come with that.

You have to have a relationship with your barber. It's not something I'm at all keen on. There always comes the embarrassing moment when he realises you know nothing about football/cars/girls and you are thus completely immune to his usual set of conversation openers.

So it was today, I sat there as some man with sharp implements hovers around your head in complete silence. It's very unnerving. Thankfully he was a bit of a looker so I didn't mind the silence all that much and at the end I thought he may have crossed the line into inappropriate touching when he gave me a head massage. At least he seems willing to work on his relationships...

Today was Diet Chef day number 1!!!

The Pink Apple and Cinnamon granola breakfast was small but perfectly formed. Quite delicious really.

Lunch was Thai Chicken soup which was equally yummy.

Dinner was Pasta Bolognese which again was surprisingly pleasant.

Snacks: Carmelised Onion Oat Bites and a pack of McCoys Crisps (naughty I know, but they had to be eaten).

A total of 947 calories. Not bad!

Currently planning a one week holiday to Berlin for September. We're getting quite excited already and hopefully finances shall allow us to have quite an awesome time. In celebration today's Past Jae adventure is my "Wo ist mein Werwolf? Part One" post detailing the first part of our last Berlin Adventure.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Diet Starts Tomorrow!

Tonight is my last night of food freedom. The Diet Chef food has arrived. Tomorrow I begin the weight loss plan. *shudder*

Past Jae visits a farm... in the city...

And now for a blast from the past in pictorial form... Roderick Bradley, aka Spartan!

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Another New Diet

From the man who brought you "10 Days On The Orange Diet" and "Paleo Diet Make Jae Growl", comes my latest diet "fad". Diet Chef. It's out of sheer laziness of course, all your meals prepared for you etc. But hey who needs a healthy lifestyle when you can just do this? ;)

I'll keep you informed on the progress.

For no apparent reason, here's the second part of Jim, Ian and I's trip to Brittany in today's Past Jae slot.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Valentines Day

I came home from work tonight to find Jim, who is meant to be resting, had been out and bought me a red rose, a box of chocolates, a card and a Doctor Who book (he knows me sooooo well). Plus he had a cooked a three course meal! I berated him (for his own good) before tucking in.

I've got a few days off work, dotted here and there, to look after Jim a little over the next couple of weeks. He needs lots of rests. And after the lovely evening tonight... hugs too!

In his honour here is a Past Jae blog post... from a different blog! Cheating, I know. But it's all about our first trip to Prague which lead to us finally becoming boyfriends.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Have I Ever Liked Civil Partnerships?

No, I think will be the answer clearly spelt out in my post from the past for today, in honour of the current media rumours of movement on this issue.

Let's see what Past Jae thought of them back in December 2005 (PS reading back, I think I was a little harsh but there is still a small part of me that agrees with Past Jae):

I really don't wish to darken anyone's special day now that civil partnerships are legal. But those who are taking part in civil partnerships are selling themselves, and the rest of the LGBT community, short. They have given up the fight not just for true equality, but also for freedom for everyone (be they gay or straight) from the demands of the "righteous".

We have failed to meet two totally different goals of two quite different parts of our community. One was total equality, to have no difference between gay, straight, trangendered etc; to have full, equal marriage rights not similar to, but the same as, heterosexuals. That we have now not achieved and may not achieve for decades!

The other goal was more radical. It was to change the face of the world, and to free us all from a very self destructive socialisation we fell into around the time of the industrial revolution. This was the mixing up of romantic love and marriage, a mix that really doesn't fit. By selling out to this bizarre and strange mix of marriage (a formerly practical institution) and love (not practical, beautifully aloft) we have enslaved ourselves and abandoned our basic principles.

Somehow today a dream has died, and something wonderful has become dreary.

Link to post here


If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Eurovision And This Blog

As we continue the retrospective over the 10 years of this blog, it's time to take a look at that one topic that has come round time and again... Eurovision!

The first Eurovision post was a relatively small affair. By the next year it did become a little more coherent.

2004 and 2005 remain unrecorded, due to my year off and my May 2005 move from Folkestone to London interfering. By 2006 things had evolved to point where I was live blogging the show (and even the new-fangled Semi Final). 2007 was the year when things started to get a little out of hand with live blogs of the semi final and the final followed by... analysis!

2008. Eurovision only went and put in TWO semi-finals. So we had both live blog (here and here), plus the final, results analysis and the commentary (where I actually went and called for Terry Wogan to stand down)

2009 toned it down slightly with the semi finals (here and here), the final and some commentary.

2010... I was moving on Eurovision day and watched it later... so no live blog. What a Jae fail! This year I shall do better....

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Jim Is Home!

So in celebration here's a blog post from the past about other blog posts from the past about various Prides I've been to.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

What A Difference 10 Years Makes

Well... 9 years really but you know what I mean. 10 years ago I wanted nothing more than to die and get it all over with. Nothing mattered one jot. Now? Jim's gone into hospital again today and nothing matters to me more than him getting better so we can get on with our lives. 10 years ago I had nothing to live for. Now I have Jim. The difference is so great it is barely comprehensible.

In keeping with that, and to really show the difference, here's my infamous January 2002 post.

Now for Jensen Ackles who pulls of that most difficult of tasks... to look even better in glasses than without.

I would like Jim home now please, if you could arrange that for me Dear Constant Reader, I'd be most grateful.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

If wishes were kisses...

Maybe I'm just over-reacting or being too worrisome but every ache and pain Jim expresses fills me with a special kind of dread. I just want to make him better but feel powerless to do so. Every problem can be solved, but I lack the necessary knowledge to solve this one. It's frightening and upsetting. Can't he just be better now?

In other news... I absolutely love the Galaxy S phone. It's the coolest thing I've ever owned (and I own Mr Gibbs the Bearded Dragon).

Now for some OTT arm fetishism...

Today's post from the past is Kallie Come Back!

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

The Only Way Is Up

Oh it's been a long time Dear Constant Reader. A long, long time!! But 2011 is here and it's already ticking along quite nicely. Well that's if you consider Jim suffering some serious health issues, my card details being used by fraudsters thanks to buying Mum's Christmas present from Lush and a rather cash-tight start to the year "ticking along quite nicely".

Well it's a start isn't it? Something to move on from and improve upon? I've been saying the same things for 10 years. Which is a roundabout way of getting to why I'm posting here again. In 6 months time this blog will be 10 years old! And I thought it was fitting that I should try and post every single day from now until the blogaversary. I owe you that much at least!

Work's pottering along quite nicely, although I spend most of my day worrying about Jim and whether he's okay. Of course there's nothing I can do to help him, as he tries to navigate the bureaucracy of the NHS in order to solve his health issues (despite having private cover, but let's not get into that).

In better news we have a new crush. Tube Boi is a distant memory and now we have Rugby Boy who is a time limited work related crush, but I'm enjoying it whilst I can. The arms people. Oh the arms.

And in really, truly awesome news I won a Kindle in the "locals" (local being 80 miles away) pub raffle which I picked up this weekend and I've just received today a brand spanking new Galaxy S phone. I might have absolutely zero cash, but I'm technology rich at least...

Now let's get down to what we really came here for... Charles Dera. Is it me or has he beefed up? I whole-heartedly approve.

As it's this blogs tenth anniversary year each post until the actual blogaversary will feature a link to a randomly selected post from the past... today's post is "What Happened Next..." a tale of woe involving San Francisco, a train related suicide and a reallydodgy spacebar (did you see what I did there?). Enjoy.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

It's Been A Long Road

How are you, Dear Constant Reader? I hope this year has been good to you. It's been a strange one for me what with 5 months of not working in total, 3 different jobs, 2 different homes.

I got the job at TVW, my old place of work, returning to being just an ordinary man on the phones. Which I don't mind. However two weeks in I am becoming increasingly depressed at the slowness of training, yes training, for a job I've already done and remember very well. And the way people are treating me like an idiot is intense. There was some light relief when I was asked if I knew the guy I was about to sit with to listen to his calls, and the guy turns around and says "Jason trained me when I first started here". It's nearly over and soon I shall be released to actually work, and, bizarrely, I can't wait!

It's going to be a tough Christmas money wise as, for the first time, I will be taking on responsibility for a few household bills. This is more than welcome as it has already forced me to budget, and think about my finances. As you know Jae, budgets and financial responsibility are age old enemies, but I hope we can final come to some sort of settlement.

And in that vein, I (and I think Jim) have embarked upon a "future plan" for a dream holiday to Singapore, Tokyo and/or some other place in Asia. It'll involved much saving of money which I trust will further focus my mind on my finances.

In May we started a new life for ourselves here in Folkestone. This coming year I hope to begin settling the debts of the old one (my overdraft has been the same for 10 years [thanks university!]). I think it's time to sort that out!

Anyway, here's to new adventures!

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Today We Remember

As is traditional on this blog, below is the poem Dulce et Decorum Est. Today I remember all those who have given their lives, their happiness and their tears for my freedom. And I remember my relatives who fell and had been forgotten. They are forgotten no more.

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.

Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,
And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime...

Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

All Change

Where have I been? Working, I'll have you know! So don't give me that look, I don't mean to abandon you for such long periods of time, Dear Constant Reader.

In amusing news I was laid off from work two weeks ago, although in an unusual show of generosity, I was given two weeks notice. And last week on Tuesday I took time off to attend a job interview. In even more amusing news this job interview was at TVW, my former employer before I moved to London. They have adopted a fancy new Greek name so shall for ever more be known as Spartan (in memory of my much missed favourite Gladiator, who hasn't graced our screens for far too long).

The interview was a bit "X-Factor"-ish and just generally surreal. First of all it was just weird to walk through the reception doors again after my years away. Then whilst waiting for the other 11 candidates to arrive, I was greeted repeatedly by my old friends as and when they walked past (which got me some raised eye-brow looks from the other candidates, especially as when we were being walked to the assessment room people were coming out of their offices to greet me like some returning hero). After each part of the assessment (maths exercise, English exercise, and roleplay), the unsuccessful candidates were asked to leave after an agonising wait in the break room. Eventually there was just the five of us left and whilst the other four had their interviews, I was asked to wait... in my old office! Chatting away with old comrades-in-arms just before an interview for a job you've already done is insane.

Needless to say... I got the job. I knew I had the skills to do it but I also know TVW were sticklers for protocol and I'd have to prove to them I did all over again before they'd employ me. Now I've just got to complete a millions bits of paper so they can do background checks on me. Fun times!

So... I left DFDS Seaways last Friday, as per usual I was the last temp standing (I have a habit of staying with things until the bitter end) as the rest had already made a run for it. I start my new job at the end of November so have a few weeks of being a jobless bum to suffer enjoy.

And the kids are soon to be here which is quite fitting as my last post was made on the day they left us last! See... it all works out in the end...

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist