e r i x l i f e - blog - photos - and more

hospital horror
Only because I have the car at the moment, was I able to collect a friend from Watford General Hospital. It was my first visit, and as I drove in I was horrified to see this large collection of old buildings resembling an Industrial Revolution heritage site. I hear the hospital has a good local reputation, and there are ambitious plans for modernisation BUT at the moment it is looking bad. Lets hope the service is better than the outward appearance. My friend spoke well of his treatment, but agreed that it was rather Victorian inside. The other local hospital in Hemel Hempstead is closing after a long campaign. This seems to be the story nation-wide!

gay-o-meter
Look what I've discovered on the channel 4 web site, a gay-o-meter! I scored 46%. What a laugh. Try it if you want to see how gay you are - even in you are straight? It is a quick online quiz with multiple choice answers, all rather stereotypical, but so... its Christmas. Don't be offended. It is very easy to get upset by homophobic types, and their comments. Of course sometimes it gets violent. One wonders whether they are trying to suppress latent urges? Half the "straight" population has double standards - they call gays "poofs" or similar and yet are enjoying gay sex whenever they can get away from wifey. They are at it in cottages, in cars and anywhere else they can get instant guilty satisfaction.

newspaper
Bought a newspaper today. A luxury for me, and rare event, but what a waste. Cost a lot, and very little new that I hadn't seen on the TV or Internet. Yes, there's some "background" to stories and opinions, but these I can do without. The weekend papers have many supplements, and often a TV listing magazine, so I can see the attraction for most. If I was commuting to work, then a paper would help to pass the time, but now so many free papers are given away, I wonder how the established titles keep going. We must be a nation of paper readers. I used to work at The Daily Telegraph when they were in Fleet Street. I was a cuttings library assistant and worked evenings. Very interesting. The number two there took a liking to me, and invited me to Muswell Hill one Sunday afternoon for tea, and biscuits and ... BUT there was a terrible small of gas at the flat when I arrived, and I urged him to call the emergency number for leaks. He did, and the whole of the rest of the afternoon the place was surrounded by overall clad hunkies fixing the problem. So I never got my tea and biscuits and ... whatever that would have been?

career
Would you believe it - the first job I wanted to do (after a childish engine driver) was a lighthouse keeper! I fantasised about the romantic remoteness of the wild rocky seas, and saw myself as a butch, bearded, pipe smoking land based seafarer. In the days when we had Trinity House lighthouse keepers (lighthouses are all unmanned now) the men (no women in that job) worked two months on, and one off. I dreamt of travelling the world with all that spare time, until I discovered how much they earned. However I pursued this, and discovered that my eyesight was not good enough.
The next job I wanted to do was a monk. Is that a job? How incredible to live entirely in an all male world. This must have been a factor? But I grew out of that idea.

guru
I would love to be a guru, how could I do that? Imagine if people from around the world would turn up at my door to hear what I have to say, or worship me - for what? I would have to be famous for something, and how would I be able to tell people. The internet? So many people want to be a "celebrity" it has almost become meaningless. Instant celebrity status seems possible now through the power of TV, but equally that status can be taken away overnight - usually by the media. The power of the press, television etc is more significant than anything in our society. It used to be the church or the state. Without a figurehead who will lead the way by example... ME as "the guru" ?

Bush
One of the most recognised faces in world - Leader of the World, well USA for now. Found this photo on the internet - made up of the images of dead US servicemen, killed in Iraq. Perhaps the biggest mistake of the decade, with many long term implications. How do politicians live with themselves over things like this. Do they have a conscious, feelings and memories. It is no wonder they have 24/7 protection for the rest of their life (including the British Prime Minister). Are they too arrogant to notice, or do they blame their advisors? Not an enviable position to be in, but it is the power that people crave. The attention, fame and POWER.

biorhythms
This came up during a festive conversation. It used to be all the thing - do you remember? Four-weekly lunar cycles determined our physical, emotional (and something else) peaks and troughs. It did make good sense but I can't remember how it worked, or how one could work it out - in advance? As with all these things who's to say any starting point is correct, and who decides who is what, or how is when - know what I mean?
I never phoned up an employer to say I was off sick because my biorhythms were out of sync, but perhaps I could have done. I don't have an employer now, but there are certainly some days when I feel it is the old biorhythms again...

Harrods
The sale of sales at Harrods, traditionally the best. I used to work there - in the Mans Shop and Winter Sports (during the season). I knew nothing about skiing, but soon learnt enough to blag. Did enjoy the menswear and of course my gentlemen had very special attention in the changing room - think I spent more time in their than on the shop floor! They said there were over 5000 staff, and it seemed that 40% were queens, so it was a laugh every day. The staff canteen overlooked the best part of London, and we sat together and screamed all through the breaks. I mentored a few young staff members, who always showed their appreciation willingly, and had offers from customers which I couldn't possibly refuse - could I?

sales
Almost every shop has a sale. They started well before Christmas, and now discounts are bigger than ever. This will fuel the national obsession with spending even more. Shopping must be the biggest activity now, more than football? I've been there... Now I am much more careful with my modest income (no credit cards). It is part of my spiritual philosophy - less dependence on material matters. More a question of needs than wants. Does it matter if it is not the latest, shiniest model? You can only use one thing at a time. So what if you've worn something more than once! I always wear black, so no one can tell!!!

the day after
This is how I (still) feel after yesterday's Christmas dinner - five of us met for lunch, and it was very good. I didn't intend to eat much, but the richness makes up for the quantity. Helped with the washing up afterwards. When I lived with D in London, we took it in turns to visit respective parents during Christmas. I thought as we lived together all the year, it was a pity we couldn't spend the holiday together - on our own? We lived together for seven years, and never had Christmas on our own. They were happy times - my longest relationship, but inevitably ended with bitterness. He was much younger than me (the story of my life) and as he developed as an adult, his ideas changed. He didn't want to be a passive boy any more, so I looked elsewhere, even importing some young slut back for a shag. D begged me to sleep with HIM, but I turned him down, and that was the beginning of the end. More about this another day.

Christmas
Here at last, and as promised - the picture on my Christmas card - Hugo of course, and the caption "Hugo loves Christmas". It went down well, and he even received a card! Mad. Lunching with friends today, and I will offer to do the washing up. Am doing grace, so will mention the world of the hungry, and our gratitude for everything we have - that we don't always appreciate. I hope you will do the same. I've already opened all the presents, so must make sure I don't open a bottle! So many memories - parents, families, and friends - old and new, past and present. What about all those we have lost touch with? I think of them all - the partners without names or faces. Do they think of me, or was I just a thrusting shadow - intent on personal pleasure?

cleaning
For no particular reason, I was "spring" cleaning this afternoon. Had been on the bus to Hemel Hempstead - it was SO busy there. Bought a little something for the pc, but kept well away from the food stores - queues just to get in! Anyway, after chats to neighbours, and before it got dark, I dusted, hoovered and wiped any surface I could find. Very satisfying! What a joy life is without dust, but as a faithful companion, it will soon return. If I won the lottery, I would employ a regular cleaner, and a housekeeper, AND a chauffeur, and probably a gardener. The list goes on and on. What would I do then with all that spare time... get up to mischief no doubt.

sofa sofa
The sofas have arrived at long last, and I have trashed the last remaining deck chair, which was splitting and about to collapse. So luxury at last, and had a few friends in for tea to celebrate. I was watching where the crumbs from the biscuits fell, and nervously provided plates and serviettes. The instructions say you have to plump the cushions daily - to circulate the air, and keep them like new. Boring.
I am looking forward to a lazy snooze after Christmas dinner (lunch) with friends - not here. These winter afternoons the sofas look very inviting, and I am hoping for some passionate activity one day!

latest
Don't get cross, but I have yet another duvet cover - call it my Christmas present to myself! Splendid isn't it?
I used to always buy myself something wickedly expensive each Christmas, something I had been thinking about for some time, but now without credit cards, I am unable to. Perhaps a good thing, because in the past I sometimes found I had actually bought a duplicate item - forgetting I had one already. Can you believe that?

wheels
Been away to visit a friend for a few days, and was loaned a car to drive home with, keep over Christmas and return early in the new year! Wow, really great driving again, and what power, what comfort, also what FOG on the M25 - ghastly. The silver Mercedes is a joy to drive, and I am thinking a car should not just be for Christmas... (but I couldn't afford the petrol anyway).

windy
This is what we need - wind power. We have the only one in the greater London area, towering above the M25 in Kings Langley. If you've been to Cornwall you will have seen wind farms, and now the government is talking of extensive development off the coast. I was talking about renewable energy 30 years ago, but nobody listened. There's wave power as well. Are we an island or not. We could do really well with these. Are they ugly, well that's a subjective answer. Not in my back yard, I hear you say, but better this than part-time power to run all our gadgets. It needs the government to get started though. Will they?

in the buff
Joined In the Buff, a naturist web site yesterday. Told about it by a new friend. Disappointed that they refused to list my web site, because of the commercial massage service, the dating page, and the lack of a naturist connection (?). By the sound of it they don't think like gay people, or else they have double standards. For their information I have been a practising naturist since 1983, when I appeared in Health & Efficiency magazine.
I nearly got the sack from my job then, because someone saw the feature, cut it out and posted in on the staff room notice board. A director spotted it and reported it to the chairman, who I worked directly for. He called me up to his enormous office overlooking most of London, and as I peered across his desk - the size of a tennis court, he informed me that he was a public figure (although the item did not mention my employer), and that it would bring him into disrepute (?). My life flashed before me... I could either protest, insist on my rights or apologise - guess what I did... but at least, years later I get a company pension off them!

bridge over...
Another Christmas present - Simon and Garfunkle:The Collection boxed CD set. Six albums from the sixties thru to their Central Park concert in 1981, fantastic. Don't have anything of theirs now, but used to collect them. I was introduced to the duo by a young teenage boy friend, who I met when I was living in Ealing. It was a romantic affair, and if I was out when he called he put his hankie through the letter box! Not always clean, but I lovingly washed and ironed them. He would write me poems, and we strolled in the local park, surreptitiously holding hands. It was real love, and we shared magic moments together. Would you believe we still exchange Christmas cards after all this time.

voucher
Do you open Christmas pressies before the day - I do, but on this occasion I thought it was a card. I have received a Sainsbury's voucher. What a wonderful present this is. You know how one is reluctant to buy luxury food items because of the expense, well having a voucher means you CAN, and I will! I've never got enough food in the fridge or cupboard, so hope to stock up with a few necessities as well. The fridge is leaking, so will have to get another in the new year. It only cost £15, so has done well. Even Sainsbury's seems to sell so many non-food items, I might find something for the home - their clothes are abysmal. I love their paper plates though (saves the washing up). They are circular, white with a fancy blue border, made by a French firm, the best on the market. I shall get a load of these. I know its poor isn't it, but I don't have enough proper plates without washing up every day. I do recycle the paper plates, don't worry!

panto
Hilarious time at the panto, at Watford Palace Theatre, yesterday. Went with a load of friends, and let myself go with lots of "Behind you" even when not expected. I always shouted NO when everyone else was shouting YES, but the trick is to shout out NO, just before they shout YES - get what I mean. Utter chaos. Trillions of kids in the audience, mostly spellbound by the activities on stage. I always find theatres much too hot, so heaps of clothes bundled under my seat. Tradition demands a choc ice in the interval. "Oh no it doesn't. Oh yes it does!" In this version the giant turns out to be Jack's father!
During my school holidays I attended the Rex cinema in Northwood Hills (demolished now, and another supermarket) with friends, and we all had a choc ice during the film - trouble was it was melting quicker than I could eat it, plus couldn't see where it was dropping. You know what its like when you've got melted chocolate down your jumper - well I'm just the same now ... Messy!

spam
Curse of the internet - spam. There just seems no way to eradicate it. Every day I get invitations to collect my winnings, increase my breast size (!) and other intriguing headers trying to capture my attention. I have none of it. Everything gets deleted before I open it, especially it there is an attachment - the quickest way to infect your system with a virus. If I don't know them, I never risk opening them. A chore, but worth it. Still people get caught. Don't forget that old saying, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is. Don't be greedy or one day you'll get caught. It must be worth doing as it wouldn't happen. Don't make it worth their while.

winner
How about that, 3 numbers on Saturday so won £10. Its been a very long time since I had 3 numbers. So rare in fact that often weeks go by without my getting a lucky dip ticket. I once chose 4 winning numbers and won £60. What shall I do with the money, re-invest or replace the one ticket and buy some scratch cards. I am not a gambler by nature, mainly because I so rarely have any spare cash. You need to have spare cash for gambling, or its the slippery slope...

no feet
I travelled on a lot of trains over the weekend, and I can see why people want to travel by car! There are some obnoxious people about aren't there. People will always tend to protect "their" space as they perceive it. Even at home people have "their" armchair, so its no wonder that they will do anything in public to keep others at a distance. They aim to keep the seat next to them vacant by putting their possessions on it, pretend not to see or hear you as you approach, hoping that you move on - you usually do, don't you. Some will even place a barrier between them and you - feet on the seat syndrome. I sat between two passengers on a seat for three, and was so squashed, I said to the man (who was hogging his seat and half of mine) "You are taking up too much space". His reply "tough". What can you do? In my Buddhist way I got off at the next stop and travelled by a different line!

no leaves
Leaves have now gone, and only the bare silouhette remains. A sad sight, but I am reminded of the winter cross country runs as a boy. I was good at running. With poor eyesight I found ball games difficult, but I could run fast and well. I did best at the 100 and 250 yards - how many metres is that? I enjoyed the long distance challenge of the winter runs, and would usually be first back. That meant I could watch all the others boys undressing in the changing room. I could admire their sweaty bodies, steaming with exhilaration. The naked chatter often turned to sexual matters, and their was much boasting about size! I just loved their smooth rounded curves, and decided then that the most beautiful thing in the world was a naked male body.

first job
Visited a friend in Ealing, west London today. My first job was at Ealing Reference Library housed at Pitzhanger Manor, Walpole Park. It is a Grade 1 listed building, designed by the architect John Soane in 1800. The reference library was situated upstairs, and the Reference Librarian was an eastern European, pipe smoking, overweight gentleman with PhD after his name - a fascinating character. I had been school librarian at school in Harrow, and determined to make a career in librarianship, although I only had O levels. I enjoyed the job tremendously, but after two years decided that there was no progression without further qualification, which needed A levels, so moved on. During my time there I came out as a gay man - then it was illegal under the age of 21! I remember campaigning for legalisation by starting a petition - how brave?

Covent Garden
Bitterly cold day in London yesterday - with friend in the Covent Garden area. Here's my picture of ice skating at Somerset House. Visited the C V Market, with festive decorations, and lunch in the crypt of St Martin in the Field - extensive refurbishment of the church should finish next Spring. Also went into St Paul's church C V and saw many plaques in memory of famous actors. Wandered along busy streets and into alley ways, but it was miserably cold, so we drunk too much coffee in an effort to keep warm. Got back home before dark.

never enough
I never have enough - money. My dream present would be a cash machine in the living room. My expenses always seem to be more than my income, why is that? I need to save a bit for that rainy day, so that when I have some extra expense, I can raid the piggy bank. I always seem to be overdrawn - within the agreed limit, but in the minus sector. I have to pay for that - a small amount each month, but this has got to change. Not another new year resolution! I think this has got to be priority though. Can I spend less, I never seem to live a luxury lifestyle, no holidays, no car - what else can I do without. Looking at my waistline, perhaps it is food I should consume less of?

erection
This is what I need, a really hard erection, with increasing age I find the downstairs department sometimes is less than perfect. The ancient Cerne Abbas Giant, carved into the Dorset chalk down lands is a splendid example of manhood, although I don't know what the club is for? You can get pills for it, hypnotherapy, and other aids, but in the end it is often a matter of confidence. Once you've been let down, the next time you think you will be again, and as a result you probably will!
If every encounter could be with that fantasy figure you wake up dreaming about, then every time would be totally successful, and within minutes you could recover and start again - like it used to be!

cctv
I used to think it was a good idea, but now not so sure. CCTV has become an epidemic on our streets, in our buildings and even where I live. There must be thousands of poorly paid operators working 24/7 with failing eyesight and increasing back pain, watching our every move. Poor quality images are recorded onto thinning video tape, some of which is never seen by the human eye. The next thing will be digital facial recognition. I hear it is being developed rapidly for use at airports, especially. They can read car number plates already. The ID card seems inevitable, but later will come chipping, not chip and pin, but internal body chips. This has happened in a small way for night club entry ID. Our bodies could become computers, and with that the programming - so that no one commits crime, no one on benefit and well... zombies here we come!

wet knickers
Love washing clothes - in the machine. Luckily the previous resident left the washer/dryer so I can do it whenever I like. Hate using a towel more than once, and just cannot wear knickers more than a day. As most of my clothes are black it is easy to put things in together. I separate towels, tea cloths and flannels, and the bedding which is white, I do apart. There is always something hanging up to dry, then it goes into the airing cupboard. I am just so organised. I don't normally hang out my bits in the garden, so do use the dryer for some things. Hate ironing though, have to do the handkerchiefs, but everything else has creases and that's it. Do I care? Use low crease conditioner in the wash which does help a bit. I am not trying to look smart - you get what you see!

will they die
One of the most adorable creatures - the polar bear, but will they become extinct? The polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate, and they are running out of habitat, and camouflage. Penguins are already suffering because of a shortage of fish, caused by the same reason. A one degree rise in temperature has a devastating effect on their delicate eco system. Do we care. I do! Every day, species become extinct. So many endangered species. How can we let this happen? Everything is global, cutting the rain forest down in Brazil, factories in China etc - we all suffer as a consequence. It is no good buying a low energy light bulb and thinking that will do it... BUT if we ALL do it, led by governments - well done Australia, then perhaps there is a chance. Please DO IT.

first dinner party
Celebrated the arrival of two stools by entertaining two neighbours for supper. I use the breakfast bar for meals, so can now invite two guests at a time. Planning several more. Had a lunch party last month, but that was trays on laps. So much better this way. It was a modest meal, with the help of Marks and Spencer. I had to rush out yesterday and replace the dessert, because I had eaten it the night before! Their tv advertising for food is just so wonderful. They could make baked beans on toast sound incredible.
I don't live to eat, but have been putting on weight, and hate myself. This year have increased by one stone, probably because of giving up smoking last January, and all the other things that have happened this year. No excuses, and plan a reduction strategy straight after new year. Everyone says this though, don't they!

peace
Miss World contestants advocate it, politicians pretend they want it, and Christmas cards sell it - peace on earth. A lovely idea but difficult to achieve. Religion seems to be the cause (or excuse for) so much turmoil and strife. Cultural feuds often prevail for generations. I cannot understand that sort of hatred. Police now recognise hate crime here, and act sympathetically with and for, the victims.
I think peace must start within ourselves, and is part of the greater picture. Peace and love became a hippy slogan back in the seventies and I think it is very apt. Love must be the key. The positive way forward for everything. The greatest gift is surely unconditional love. This should be the guiding spirit in each of us, as the answer to everything. Have you noticed how love is spread like the ripples on a pond, after a stone is thrown
- outwards in an increasing circle. The bigger and heavier the stone, the more powerful the ripples. I think this comes from ones aura, and this is why we are sensitive to the "atmosphere" in a room when we enter. We quickly detect the atmosphere of love or the opposite. If you are in a good mood, you will find others respond very well. Walk into a shop, and smile at the sultry assistant, say something nice - and see the difference. Why say something bad when it could be good. Let's try to forgive the bad in others, and set an example.

gentle-man
My trouble is I am too considerate, how many times have I been described as a gentle-man. Meant to be a compliment perhaps, but seen by the world as weakness. I should be a butch hettie, and do what I want, take what I need - for my benefit alone? My sensitivity has been with me all my life. My mother recalled the story from childhood, when I told her one Christmas that I didn't want a gun as a present. I remember dreading National Service (but escaped because it had been scrapped), and would never indulge in any killing sport. I became vegetarian. I joined CND. I sought alternative ways and became interested in massage and healing. I would rather write poetry than play football. I avoided competitive activity. All because I was gay - NO that often goes hand in hand though. One of the reasons that pubs went over to being gay pubs was that there was so little trouble from their high spending clients. Women were attracted to safer environments and old queens could drink in peace!

earth
Will the Bali summit save the earth - no not yet, but this year has seen an acceleration towards action in reducing global warming, thank goodness. Politicians must be seen to be doing something effective, whilst of course they are reluctant to do anything which will lessen their chances for economic dominance.
It is easy to imagine Hollywood type disasters around the world, but some would say we have already reached the point of no return. I think there will be long term damage from which we will not recover, and I see the very economic forces which caused this, to be the downfall - we will not be able to afford to stop the trend. Sea levels will rise, cities will be flooded, and civilisation will never be the same again. I predict that as a result there will be massive casualties, and a return to a peasant economy. Hollywood rules!

hands off
Decided to discontinue the free massage service, because so many people let me down by messing me about and not turning up, wasting my time. Suppose that is true of anything free - people don't value it. So now I will charge. This means the majority will suffer because of the minority, but that's life, I'm afraid. I am sad about this, because I enjoyed giving the massages, and meeting interesting new people.
Will develop the massage classes, and do occasional private massage. Only want to work part-time anyway. So if you are seriously interested see the massage page.

birthday
No, I'm not going to tell you... I lie constantly about my age. People say that I look younger... but I haven't got to the stage of telling people "you know I am xx years old..." On my two gay dating profiles I list my age as 97 and 99 - no one has commented yet, but I still get as many viewers, as when I said I was 53! Suppose anyone
over 29 is OUT?
It is today though, and I am celebrating in style. Two neighbours are taking me to Watford for coffee and cake.
Tonight dining with 18 friends and neighbours at a local pub (the Christmas meal). Countless birthday cards, a few presents and one e-card. As the numbers increase, the significance decreases. My mother lived to be 100, but not 101. She received THE telegram, and complained it was a printed digital signature - as if She would actually sign every one. The DHSS first approached Mumsie some months before the day. A gentleman called at the house. Then weeks later there were confirmatory letters, then days before - discreet telephone calls - in case she had popped off!
I don't want to live that long, if the decline accelerates proportionally to age. What would I rather have, a million pounds or good health for twenty years? No problem - the twenty year option, as long as I am capable of getting a hard-on for the duration!

why no photo
In recent weeks I've had a lot of contact with internet dating sites, and one thing I cannot understand is why people want a profile - without a photo. If they want to be listed, what are they afraid of? Perhaps they are married or have career worries, but this is the 21st century in Britain, there are laws about discrimination. Perhaps they are really in the closet, and living a fantasy about coming out - these must be the people that make appointments and don't keep them - without explanation or apology. They must be very frustrated and have fear of upsetting their comfort zone. Maybe they settle for a lonely wank. Very sad. We are all victims of our childhood (and parents) and it can be very difficult to break free from those programmed taboos. Live the fear and fear nothing. Use that energy to better use. It is worth it, believe me.

naturist meet-up
Yesterday afternoon went to my first meet-up naturist group meeting in Hendon. It was the Christmas massage session, and I was made very welcome. About 12 guys were there, all ages and types, but all in the nude - a great equaliser. I'll go again. After massage practice, mince pies and sausage rolls, great.
What a journey to get there - train to Watford Junction, bus to Edgware station, tube to Hendon Central then a ten minute walk. It only takes 20 minutes by car! Explored a new area, had coffee and cake in a very nice cafe. Although outwardly the area presents a shabby appearance, look at the cars, clothes and restaurants - all signs of an affluent district.

cards arriving
Loads of birthday and Christmas cards arriving daily now, and the annual dilemma of whether to show the birthday cards and/or the Christmas cards. No room for both, sometimes I end up by not putting any up, but this time I am showing the birthday ones this week only, then its all Christmas.
Already the nightmare has begun, cards received and the question "did I send one to them" or perhaps I didn't mean to, but as it is Christmas perhaps I ought to? Always have some spares so can, and probably will.
As a child I felt really deprived having my birthday so close to Christmas. I was convinced that I got fewer presents than others with birthdays in the summer. Now, I don't really care. It is lovely having a birthday and being able to enjoy it, whatever the date. On my birthday I will be eating out with many friends and neighbours. It is traditionally the date for our Christmas meal at a local restaurant.

winter gardening
So much rain still, but yesterday, during a dry spell emerged into my small garden to rake and collect the leaves, which covered the front lawn - best to clear them so the grass is not spoiled. I use those plastic grabbers which soon pick up. The recycle bin is almost full with leaves, but the grass looks OK. I have a small rose about to bloom in the tub under the front window - very satisfying, but a lot of plants have suffered because of the frost, so cut them back. Swept the path of more leaves, in between the many pots of small shrubs. Noticed the gutter at the back was dripping, so checked them, and at one place applied some gunge to stop the leak. Happy with my outdoor activity, I returned, and put the kettle on.

dave tv
That's a Freeview channel I have recently discovered, featuring old BBC programmes including QI and Whose Line is it anyway both firm favourites of mine. I laugh out loud frequently, and its great therapy for me. TV has come a long way since the Coronation when my parents acquired their first tv set. Black and white picture of course, very small screen, and yet it was pioneering wasn't it.
Neighbours would gather together, and people stopped talking - did you notice that. Then colour, stereo sound, big screen, now flat screen, plasma... it goes on and on. With Sky you can get hundreds of channels, but do you get time to watch that many, are the programmes worth it. I am not sure. Every now and again something new and special comes along, but is it worth recording. Then again will you have time to watch?

snoring
No, I don't. But oh my goodness how many people do. That's people of all ages, even 21 year old last boyfriend. We tried separate rooms, then I bought some anti-snoring strips which you stick on the bridge of your nose - that certainly did help. I tried ear plugs - for me, and that was helpful. The only good thing about it was that when I had been woken up by his snoring, I had to wake him up to stop his snoring, and while I was there, well ... you'd do the same wouldn't you. However after three occasions, even he would get fed up with too much of a good thing, and get out of bed and make tea - and then while he is sleepily waiting for the kettle to boil, standing in his underpants, I would come up behind him and caress his body, ending with my hands on the waistband of his knickers which would then be slowly rolled down to reveal ...Wicked.

bedtime
It took 3½ hours to get back from Worthing, so my early bedtime was disrupted. The trains were all over the place, and because of the late hour, they were less frequent. Even so, I had to check my Email and the post, and have a cuppa. I have a regular routine, and I sleep quite well. While away I bought two pairs of pyjama bottoms, as find my legs get chilly in bed. I've moved the bed around to accommodate a luxurious (looking) white chenille bobble rug - feels great under bare feet, and I am having a fantasy about nude bodies romping and throbbing on it!!!
I have always been an early-to-bed person. I think they call me a lark, as opposed to an owl. Often though there are periods of bad sleep. I usually get off fine, but sometimes awake during the middle of the night. My remedy is to get up, make tea, watch tv, or go on the pc. Within an hour I pop back into my (cold) bed and off I go again. I find it difficult to sleep next to someone - even in a double, not that I get the chance at the moment.

Worthing
Back from trip to Worthing (where I used to live) to visit a dear friend who is off to New York for Christmas. This was a catch-up, and exchange of gifts - and my birthday next week. Very pleasant time, with meals out, shopping and sightseeing. Amazing how many changes to a town in a few years. Every time I visit I see so many differences. Shops closed, buildings completed etc.
But the tide always comes in... I sort of miss living by the sea, but after the initial excitement (when I had a beach hut for the first year) I didn't see the sea from one week to the next. It always seemed too windy or too hot, or too crowded! I lived two miles inland, and walked a lot around the town - mainly level. I have lost touch with most of my Worthing friends, so difficult to keep in touch isn't it. Like when you leave a job, at the time you really intent to - but the reality is ... And what about the holiday friends, how many times have you exchanged contact details - never to do anything about it after returning to ones routine!

texting
I was a late starter with texting, in fact ages before I even realised that I had the facility on an early Nokia mobile. Now I can use predictive texting, but don't enjoy it. A friend asked me the other day if I had forgotten how to make a sentence - regular Email and texting does mean this I'm afraid.
People seem to hold their phones, ready to read the latest text - or send one. Oldies keep them in handbag or pocket, and take ages to get them out. Phone networks probably make a fortune from them having to ring back, because they missed the call. Me - I keep mine hidden, and just don't answer!
Overheard two girls talking on the bus to St Albans today, and apparently there is now a number code for regular statements, including 1-4-3 meaning "I love you" - clever that. Wish I had someone to say it to ...

cards 'n presents
Wrote my Christmas cards today, and wrapped the unwanted, re-wrapped gifts from yester-year to put under the "tree". Will give them away to unsuspecting visitors between now and then. They are anonymously wrapped, but I have a list, so I can choose an appropriate one for each recipient. Clever eh!
As you know I have printed my cards with a Hugo image, so that will confuse them. Often used a picture of me, but moved on from this. I also print my own gift tags - two sorts this year, yes - one is a pic of me, but the other one is a polar bear mother with cubs. Still refusing to put up decs. Hate those over dressed houses covered from floor to ceiling with gross lights and flashing things. Lots of social events between now and Christmas, with a panto and Gilbert and Sullivan. Had planned to stay with the Franciscans in Dorset for a spiritual time, but don't feel so spiritual just now, so may stay here and hibernate.

world aids day
Twenty years of remembering, but still the world seems ignorant - yet thousands of new cases every year, and what about Africa - seems like millions there! With a recent rise in casual sex, the STD's are increasing hundred fold, and so is HIV / Aids. In the UK there is this cultural thing about binge drinking and shagging. Multiple partners every Saturday night, and ads on internet sites for bareback sex and anything unprotected!
So many gay men seem so fixated with cock, that it controls their mind. Surely anonymous sex is the most unsatisfactory kind. I could never understand cottage activity - perhaps the excitement, and of course married men. I can remember sex before condoms - yeah it was just brilliant, but it is not worth the risk. How can four minutes of fun be worth 40 years of living hell - with good drugs, if you're lucky. More likely 4 years agony. Think about it.