How do you eat a Mango?

It may seem a bit peculiar but I have never eaten mango in its raw form before. I’m sure I have had it as Juice or as part of a Fruit Salad but I have never tasted mango on its own. So yesterday while doing some food shopping in Marks and Spencer when I spotted some lush green odd shaped fruits on the fridge shelf.

“Guaranteed Ripe” the label said. Being on a bit of a health kick I thought it would be the perfect dessert. So I popped it in my basket and headed home.

When this evening, some hours after dinner , Dusan was pacing the kitchen thinking, What can I have to eat? I said, “What about some Mango and Yoghurt?” (Id bought the yoghurt at the same time to go with it. Low fat, of course).
So I took it out of the refrigerator and looked at it peculiarly. How does one eat a mango? Well its got this thick skin on the outside for starters. So I dived into the drawer looking for the Potatoes peeler. Surely if it works for Potatoes it should work for Mangos right? Well in the end a good sharp knife out of the drawer was much better at getting the skin off.
Dusan had told me there was a Pip inside so cutting it in half was not an option. So I treated it like a chicken, slicing off slice after slice until I eventually had carved up the whole fruit. Leaving the Pip and skin in the bin, we tucked in. I thought Banana’s were delicious, but Mango. Wow. It was divine.
I took a peace that looked particularly fleshy and devoured its taste. My lips drooling for more. Now I know what a dog must feel like after having tasted his first blood. Mangoliscious. I will definitely be making up part of our five a day from now on. Hello Mango.

Perfect Summers Day

With Dusan out at work until at least 6 PM and the day to myself I decided to catch some Rays and headed to Greenwich Park to sit and enjoy the sunshine.

I had wanted to spend a good couple of hours at the gym too so packed my gym bag to take with me and popped in a bottle of water for the journey. Rather than taking the bus or DLR I decided it was perfect weather for a walk and arrived in the park just after 1300.

Found a nice spot on a hill where I could watch the passing crowds and sit compfortably and read my new book. It was what can only be called the perfect summers day. The temperature in the upper twenties, a nice and cooling breeze and clear skies.

By 1600 I had managed to get a bit of colour and headed back via M&S for some Dinner of not just Chicken but M&S in a Leak and Bacon wrap Chicken.

Got home before 5 and after a spot of rehydration later I was changed into my gym shorts and headed over to the gym in our development. Today being Cardio day I Managed to get 45 minutes of non stop cardio and a good 700 calories burned.

Standing on the Treadmill watching people walking past as they pile off the DLR in rush hour I spoted Robin who looked in and waved and then later Lyn who waved also. Proof that even in London you can make a sense of community on your very own doorstep if you just take a moment to get to know the neighours.

After Dinner, Thomas from next door called and we ended up for a quick drink in Red, our residence bar before coming home for a spot of television.

Its simply nice to have some time off that coincides with a spot of fabulous sunshine!

Lunch @ Miss Mews new pad with Best Girl

Emily had invited both Gill (Best Girl) and I over to lunch on Saturday. Emily has recently moved in with the boyfriend, Mr Love, in a new house in Tooting. Mr Love, I had always persumed was a term of endearment but it turns out its his real name.

I was told to arrive around 1330 and miraculously stepped off at her local tube station dead on time. Only to find I had left the print out map of directions to her house on the printer. I was only a few minutes late and right on time to make an entrance.

The weather could not have been any nicer if we had requested it. The whole weekend infact the weather has shot up from around 20 degree's last week to the upper 20's this week. Yesterday was a barmy 28 degrees. (86 F).

We made our way through the dinning room, then kitchen into her huge Garden (Lucky Bitch). Gill was sat there looking gorgeous as always. We were given a glass of Champagne each and settled down into a relaxing afternoon of great friends, great weather and some nice bubbles to wash it all down (Lucky Bitches).

Emily was going for it full hog (apparantly she doesnt cook very often but had borrowed her mothers pizza recipee and made home made caramel onion pizza with a crispy fresh pastry base. It was divine.

For dessert she whipped us up an Eton's Fool. Fruits, Lime Zest, Merangue and fresh (low fat) cream. It was really yummy but I was very concious that the cream was coating the fruit and I have been doing so well at the gym of late.

A few more drinks later and as the sun started to set we said our goodbyes and I made my way back to the Underground Station for my journey home. Was it me or was there a heatwave in the air?

I got on the tube and sat down on my train, a little bit squiffy from the Champagne but whats wrong with that when you are taking the tube?

I never speak to people on the tube. I rarely make eye contact these days with all the bad things you hear on the news but on this occasion I made the exception. 2 lovely girls were sat opposite me. Dressed up and heading out to Moorgate for a night of speed dating. Somehow we managed to chat the entire journey till I was back to London Bridge. It reminded me of how out of the blue some 8 years ago while on a night trip to the theatre I met three of the most wonderful ladies you could ever want to meet. The lovely Gill, Lisa and Emily. It was a hot night when we all met at the Bush Theatre back in 2000. Wow what an 8 years its been since. Lisa's wedding, my wedding. Birthdays, tears and laughter. You really couldnt predict that some good friends would come from a coincidental meeting at the theatre. (Coincidence? Or Fate?). Don't worry Lisa, Emily and Gill, I didnt even get the girls names, let alone their numbers.

I took the train home to New Cross and the traffic was grid locked like I have never seen in our area of town. I was planning on jumping on a bus back to the flat but it was actually quicker to walk. The reason, the new extension to the DLR had closed the road in one direction and it was backed up for miles in every direction of the intersection.

I stopped on route for a bottle of Merlot and was home in the appartment by 9PM. It was hot and sticky and still around 22 degrees at that hour.

Putting some dinner in the oven I was thankfull for my Air Conditioning Purchase as few years ago that will wheel on out and plug in and keep me cool.

Aside from my lovely 3 girls, my other real love is Dusan. You can tell its true love when you realise that you make sacrafices for them knowing that this does not conform with your usual patterns. As I went to bed at 2AM almost melting in the heat, I opened the window slightly but turned off the fan as its noise keeps Dusan awake. I was tempted to drag the AC into the bedroom too, but I know he doesnt like it. So instead I layed in a hot sweat until he eventually came in to bed at 430AM and lay there still unable to sleep due to the heat till way after 7.

My sacrafice will only go so far. Tonight I am taking the Air Conditioner into the bedroom. I have had the fan on in there and its nowhere near cool. Ill cool the room off before he comes in. That should do it. ;-)

Dusan was back at work early this morning after having done a 5 - 1AM shift, he had to be back at work at 11AM on an 11 - 7, Standby. By Noon they already knew that he had to pick up an extra shift tonight and the poor love is working now until 1AM. Then back in at 9 tomorrow. Well I guess at least we should be gratefull that one of us is working. Right now I am between jobs and studying at home. Playing the house husband. I guess that really does make me a Lucky Bitch eh?

Thanks to Emily and Gill for a great afternoon and thank goodness for air conditioning.

Working up a sweat

With the hottest day of the year so far, a barmy 29 degree's was the high today, I was too hot to simply sit in the flat all day.

I was up early to do a phone in for my friend Neil Sexton on Gaydar Radio. Then did a million emails, filled some paperwork and played online a bit while Dusan went over to the gym in the complex. I then had a shower, packed my gym bag and headed off my gym in town.

Especially now that I have more time on my hands I go to my main gym in town when I really want to have a good workout. I got there around 345 and managed started on the cross trainer, with the intention of doing a ten minute warm up. But when you hit "Auto Start" it defaults to 25 minutes and as I was just getting going decided to do more than just a ten minute warm up. 30 minutes and a fair few calories later I was ready to do my 45 minutes of weights. Being Friday the place is far quieter and easier to get on all the equipment you want to.

I then did a follow up 25 minutes on a different program of cross training until my knees and ancles were beging to ache and headed off to shower. Funny how it takes forever to get into going to the gym and then suddenly I want to go every day and really enjoy it. The 6 - 7 Kilos I have lost in 5 weeks is great. Makes you really feel good and that its worth the while.

Tomorrow, lunch at Emily's.

Yes Prime Minister

Gosh, Gordon Brown doesnt half like the sound of his own voice.

I have on the speech live from the Labour conference right now. Is it me or has the entire country lost faith in this man?

Having lost yet another Bi Election last night, in Scotland, this time losing to the SNP. It makes you wonder should we gay boys be more worried that Britain is moving over to a Nationalist Party? I dont know where they stand on anything but if the BNP gathers much strength, we gay boys and girls should be worried. Very worried. They are gay haters.

Meanwhile Brown is blurting out about how he will listen, how much Labour have given this country. Going on about how they gave women the vote and introduced social housing. I think it matters not what the party may have done in the past. I admit they gave us the equality bill and introduced civil partnerships and so many rights to my sector of the community. But they also enabled 3.5 Million people to go on Incacity benefit. They allowed inflation to rocket. They allowed knife crime to go out of control. What affects us today is the cost of living and crime on the street and not what they did back in the 1920s or 1960.

Don't get me wrong, I think its great we have the NHS and a policy that apparantly helps those that need help. Unfortunately its the abuse of this that has lead many people to feel dispondant. For here we are, one of the richest countries in the world and yet our governemnt has sold off all our utilities and has spent every penny and gotten us in to debt just when times are hard and when people need help most.

As winter approaches and the cost of fuel rockets, how many old people will die or substitute food for heat just so they can live? All I ask is dont tell us what you have done, tell us what you will do now.

The man who says he will listen and learn, I feel, never listens or learns.

Meanwhile. On a more personal side. Went to the gym yesterday and have been going a month now. Lost around 6 Kilos. Starting to get some definition and that makes it all more worthwhile. Not quite in time for summer but will be there by Autumn. Watch this space.

Nature or Nurture ... The conclusion

Well John Barrowman and his television team took out to discover is homosexuality something that comes from things you are exposed to growing up or is it something that you are born with?

His team took him to America where first of all he met with someone who had lived as an out gay man for 16 years then said that he realised the pain it had caused his family and therefore he became straight. What the....? I've never believed that I ever had a choice. It was not something you would choose, especially in those youth years when fitting in with other peers is so important. No, to me it was always something I was born with. Ask close family members, they will tell you that they knew when I was like 8 or 9. I think it took me a couple more years before I knew.

So off they went with a bunch of scientists and John underwent various experiments. One where they monitored the reaction to his Penis when exposed to both images of naked men or naked ladies. Conclusively, his Penis was telling him he was gay. All to be expected from a happily out and gay man. Next he went to a hospital and they put him into a huge MIR scanner machine. Where similarly, they exposed him to images of both naked men and naked women. Only this time they were monitoring how his brain was reacting to the images. Science once more proved that his brain did indeed prefer the images of men. 100% Gay?

So where did this gayness come from? Was he born this way? Or was it exposure to things growing up. Too much of a mothering? Playing with girls not boys?

In the end they monitored DNA and found that conclusively, the more siblings you have the more likely you are to be gay. Apparantly at some time while you are unborn in your mothers Womb you are exposed to more Testostorone than a hetrosexual would be. As though the Womb is over compensating at the production of a second or third child.

I'm adopted and know little of my blood mother. I do, however, know that I at least a second child. Who knows if there are other mini me's somewhere out there. But the science proved at last that homosexuals are born gay. It was a touching conclusion as if to say, God made you this way.

I cant imagine my life any other way. So I will never father Children, but there are other joys we cherish. I have married the man I love and we have a fantastic life together.

It was a really interesting documentary and God Bless John for making the facts known.

This morning I went on air with Neil Sexton & Debbie on Gaydar Radio Breakfast to discuss the show. Television Correspondant of the day. Check them out weekdays on Gaydarradio.com or Sky Channel 0158 (DAB Digital Radio in London and Brighton, Weekdays from 7:00). Debbie did rightly ask, if its true that the more siblings a womb produces can make a child more likely to be gay, but what about Lesbians? Science has proven that Gay Mens brains work just like hetrosexual womens. Lesbians brains work like straight men. Im sure more research will be done and we will be enlightened in time.

Nature or Nuture?

Well it has to be the age old question, Nature or Nurture? I am watching the tv show by John Barrowman uncovering, is it What you were born or what you become? Science will tell. But god bless John for going on this journey!

Forum Residents paint the complex Red

To say we have landed on our feet by finding a home here is becoming an understatement. Its far more than a home, its more of a community.

Thanks to our own residents forum we have regular meet ups with all of the gay residents in someones flat or last night in celebration of the grand opening of Red. The new bar right here within the complex. In the space next to Concierge there used to be a restaurant which has been closed since we moved in but has been under going major refurbishments for some months now.

As the countdown approached to opening night we the boys and the girls of the Forum decided we would support the bar and go down for the evening. A nice large selection of beers and wines and some really nice sized bar snacks it seems to be a very welcome addition to the development and aside from a bit of a hang over today, a great time was had by all.

Steve had worn as shirt with poppers instead of buttons which a few of us found could be ripped open in a flash leaving Steve with his belly exposed. Like a big red button marked as "Do Not Press", you somehow knew you shouldnt do it but soemtyhing made you do it again and again. I somehow think he actually liked the attention, but do apologise for my intoxicated manner.

The bar closed at 23:00 and thankfully this is one bar that I know I shouldnt have any problem getting home from. That said, Thank You to the boys that escorted me home. I can remember holding my fob against the lobby door and the next I was awaking this morning. Sign of a great night eh?

You really could say we painted the night Red at Red. Thanks to everyone for a great night and join us at the next one.

Staff Celebration - Trainers Party

I thought I had uploaded these before but seem to have missed them. Enjoy.

We started at the Rose and Crown and ended up at a fabulous Lebanese restaurant in Soho. A great time was had by all and I can honestly say I ended up hangover free.

David Released from Hospital

Following his hip replacement last Thursday, we are pleased to announce he was released from hospital to home yesterday and is now recovering at home. We wish you a speedy recovery my friend.

Mamma Mia

For once both our days off fell on the same day, Thursday and Friday of this week. So rather than sit around and do nothing, we decided to go and see the movie Mamma Mia. We bought our tickets and were shocked that even for a 1PM showing the cost was £8.50 each. I thought matinee tickets were cheaper? Maybe its because we went to the Greenwich cinema and Surrey Quays would have been cheaper?

The theatre was quite busy considering how early it was and was enjoyed by all. I mean, it is rather hard not to enjoy Abba's music, even if they are fitted around the script in a funny sort of way.

Came home and spent an hour at the gym. Only Cardio for me as I had done a huge workout with a trainer at the Y just the evening prior. You can tell when you have really done a good workout as your muscles phisically ache. My shoulders are tender and my glutes are killing me from all of the leg presses I was made to do. It proves that Harry, my trainer, was right when he said I should hold the weight for 3 seconds at the top and bottom of the movement. As I plonked my bottom onto a seat yesterday I suddenly realised I had muscles I have not felt in a long time. It hurt like heck. Mamma Mia.

2p is too little Darling

Yesterday, after much deliberation and debate in the newspapers and news channels, Chancellor Alistaire Darling Announced that the 2p tax increase per litre of Unleaded that he announced in the spring budget, has been put on hold once again, due to the excessive cost of fuel at the moment. I have never understood why our fuel always cost so much. I understand that they have made Billions in tax over taxing fuel, but this in turn has been part of the bigger problem. We have virtually the most expensive fuel in Europe. This in turn leads to higher costs for everything in our economy. Higher fuel means the cost of delivery of all goods is higher still.

As the price of Oil has risen to nearly $150 a barrel the percentage that money going to the treasury has risen so much that Whitehall have made an additional £5 Billion than what they were expecting in the spring budget. What do we get for our money? More yobs on the street? Out of control immigration? Inflation officially at nearly 4% having risen by 4.6% in the past month? Where is our tax rebate? What are they doing for the hard working people of this country that have for years paid taxes to support the economy? Nothing. Thats what.

No wonder that knife crime is out of control on the streets. The word CHAV is known in virtually every household. Council House and Violent is the meaning behind the word. When you have allowed a whole society to grow up with such bad education, they turn to crime to fund their needs. Instead of bringing up millions on people on handouts, surely we should be educating these people and getting them back to work. Instead of an unlimited pot of free money in handouts and tax credits? If our own people were willing to go out and work maybe, just maybe, we wouldnt need millions of immigrants to boost the treasury's coffers every year.

Every day we see how the cost of living is rising, how our schools are failing, knife crime is rising, most recently our power stations are all about to go out of commission but although the Government has agreed in theory to more new nuclear power plants, the majority, 65% of British Energy that own the power plants, is in public hands. The shareholders are refusing the take over of shares by the French who are due to build our next generation of nuclear power plants. Thus meaning we are drawing closer and closer to brown outs as the aging plants start to reach the end of the life span.

Will things really get that bad? Could we really end up in the dark? Knowing the clowns that run our country at the moment, very possibly.

With that, I shall step off of my high horse and take a breath and deep sigh. If only I could be in politics eh?

New Gym Routine

It has been about 3 weeks since I started back at the gym properly. A cross between not enough excercise for a year while I was working too hard with work and the fact that married life means I am naturally contended with my darling hubby.

But as the piles added up I made a concious effort to get back to the gym at least every other day back at the good old YMCA which is about to undergo a 2.5 Million Pound revamp.

So last Wednesday I managed almost 3 hours on one day alone and its clearly starting to be seen as work all asked if I had lost weight this week. :-)

Hoping to loose a Stone more before Autumn comes. Although from the weather of late, maybe its already here?

Visiting Dave the Best

I first met David back at the Richmond Arms in what must have been 1997. He and his then boyfriend David were regulars at the Richmond Arms. Ironic that years later we should re-aquint via the Gaydar Radio Chat Room.

Recently he found out that this past week he would have to have a hip replacement at the young age of 37. Most people that have such an opperation are way over 60.

He went in on Thursday morning and was in the theatre by 10:00AM. After 4 hours under anasthetic and a bit of a problem with heart puplitations and having to have a blood transfusion we are pleased to annouce he is well and on the way to recovery. I went to visit him this afternoon at the Charing Cross Hospital (Ironically its not at Charring Cross but actually in Hammersmith!).

He looked remarkably perky and in good health. Having an entire ward to himself this evening (apparantly they are expecting a bus load of pensioners tomorrow).

It was good to see him so full of spirit and looking very full of life despite the morphine. Rest up my friend and get well soon.

Mayflower Lunch with Richard and Mark

Having not seen the leather queens in a while we arranged to meet Richard and Mark for lunch at the lovely Mayflower. We should have known it would have been bad weather after the last time we went and the Thames was coming through the deck. It was such a nasty grey and cold day (especially for July) that it was just nice to see two dear friends.

We were seasonally late as Dusan didnt get to bed till gone 6AM and needed to make sure he was ready for work before we went to lunch.

We had a nice lunch (The portions are huge) and then back to theirs for coffee. I had to drop Dusan off at the station later so he could get into town and buy a new pair of work trousers. Apparantly his old pair had a massive hole in. One can only imagine what his been up to. Once I had dropped him at Canada Water I went back to theirs for coffee and a look through their pictures from their recent trip to Scicily. Shortly after Dusan called from Oxford Street, sounding kind of stunned. He knew he needed to go and buy new trousers but had completely forgotten that it was a Saturday afternoon and Oxford Street compares with Gay Hell on any gay mans Saturday afternoon.

Moments later, Warren and Antonio arrived. We all went out into the garden and enjoyed a pear cider in what was left of the blue skies on the horizon. Hopefully summer will arrive eventually soon.

Staff Celebration - Dover Street

Helen, Sinead and I agreed to meet up prior to the restaurant so that we could all go in together. Helen had a hotel provided by work (Lucky Bitch) but Sinead and I had to commute. So Helen was in town earlier to check in. I agreed to meet her outside the Ritz Hotel at 1800.

We went straight on into the Ritz to enjoy a drink before going to the restaurant. Outside the hotel was a huge Rolls Royce with the number plate ending RTZ. That let us let go of any major thoughts of seeing a celebrity inside. But then again, you never know.

We walked on in and asked a porter for directions to the bar. We were told we were welcome to go through and to the right but sir would require a tie. Thankfully I had one in my bag for such an emergency.

As we walked through the lobby it felt as though we were a first class passenger on an old style cruise ship such as Titanic as door men stood either side of grand glass doors, wearing white gloves, holding the doors open as we passed.

As we approached the bar the podium host said "Good to see you again sir, come this way please". Helen quickly replied, "How often do you come here?". In truth it was that the host was trying to get rid of a drunken gentleman who was trying to gain entry. He had been told that it was a private function but it did make us feel grand. (Should I say Ritz instead?).

We enjoyed a nice glass of champagne in the Ritz bar. I wouldnt say it was so much glamourous as glitzy. How much gold can you cram into one room? I much prefer the bar in the Ivy.

Sinead joined us shortly after we had ordered our second glass but despite their being empty tables they insisted the bigger tables were reserved. We decided that this was unacceptable and so would move on to a nicer establishment.

Making our way accross the street and down to the Dover Street Restaurant and Jazz Bar. Bali was already inside and we ordered a drink as the whole gang arrived.

Speeches kicked off the thank you celebrations followed by a 3 course meal. I took the Pate followed by Steak. I was quite good making sure I drank water between drinks and thankfully managed to avoid a hang over despite quite a large amount of wine.

During dinner live Jazz played and then they cleared away some of the tables and a dance floor was made where they played dance tracks for the remainder of the evening.

I had to retire at 1115 in order to ensure I caught the last DLR home. Apparantly I could catch a bus home but I wouldnt have a clue which number or where from. Besides, what would one wear on a bus?

Knives, Tax, Prisoners and now he wants....

Talk about a government that has lost the plot. I know I mention it regularly now. I just cant stand it all anymore. 19 teenagers have died on the streets of London this year, victims of knife crime. 19. It seems rarely a day passes now when we dont hear of another murder due to knife crime on the streets of our country.

Sky news have been broadcasting today talking about youths and knife crime and how it seems that carrying a knife is endemic. The youth of today all seem to carry them as protection to themselves should they be attacked by another knife carrying youth.

Our leaders seem to have lost the plot, unable to contain the violence. Instead they carry about their business of taxing the working and paying huge sums, something like 130 billion in benefits to the lazy. When will we finally get a governemnt that will stop rewarding those that dont want to help themselves and want state handouts? Sureley the hard working citizens of the country deserve a say before it all go to the dogs?

Today our so called leader was on the television at the G8 summit. Telling us all how now we should all be driving greener cars and should buy dual fuel cars. Not that any of us could afford to buy a new car now. Thanks to the huge cost of tax these days. 55 pence per litre, plus car tax, income tax, Council Tax, VAT. Its endless. No wonder the country has turned to crime. Why work hard and earn a decent living if it will still cost too much to afford a decent lifestyle. You can almost see why the youth have turned to a life of crime.

The days of talk are surely passed. Action is what is needed now. Everyone you speak to wishes we had an election coming. Instead of waiting in the hands of this bunch of muppets.

Today the papers reported that Judeges have been told to not put burgarlars into Prison. What? Lets just free the murderers while you are at it, along with the rapists. It would appear we have nothing but babbons running the country. They cant plan for prisoner surplus despite allowing a million plus immigrants into the country since 2004 and the EU expansion.

They have spent all our rainy day money on norther rock and trying to bail out the banks and yet there is still no credit to be had.

I am starting to save for myself, simply so I can move abroad. To a place where if you are rewarded for hard work and not crime or laziness. Where the sun shines occasionally and where you can walk the streets without fear of being mugged or worse stabbed. Move over Gordon. You have messed up our fair land enough. Let someone who is capable of doing the job take over and for goodness sake. Stop telling us all what to do in our own homes. No wonder you are the most hated and disliked Prime Minister of all time.

Woody, Steve, Millie, Mollie and Lucy too

Woody and Steve wanted to come to dinner so I spent the day cleaning the flat. Sweeping the floor, mopping the floor, changing the linning etc and then pealing the spuds ready for dinner later.

Once it was all sorted I made my way to town for a session of cardio at the gym. I like to go to the gym around 4PM as its befroe it gets too busy and you can get on all of the equipment. Then it was home in time to prep the rest of the food.

I had bought a huge 2.5 kilo chicken which I had to paint with Oil, stuff with garlic cloves and season and then start the potatoes on boil for 20 minutes prior to covering them in oil and seasonings ready for the perfect roast.

Woody, & Steve and their three dogs, Millie, Mollie and Lucy too (3 little Jack Russells) came over.

We have not seen them in ages and was a really nice evening catching up with old friends. Its been ages since we last had a roast but you have to spoil yourself once in a while with a few things you love. Funny thing is I never used to like Roast Dinners when I lived at home. I guess I just enjoy my roasts better. Maybe I should invite Mum and Dad over for dinner.

We all enjoyed dinner and a chat and then watched some little Britain. Its funny how its a national institution and you cant help but watch Fat Fighters or Bubbles De Vere and completely fall in love with the sketches.

Been awake since 7AM getting things ready and now quite ready for bed.

Good to see you boys. Hopefully see you again soon.

Happy Gay Pride

We decided to start the day off in a celebratory mood and had a champagne, Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Eggs breakfast just to mark the occasion of Pride. Dusan had worked till 3 AM so it was a late night so we needed a bit of a kick start.

Once we had eaten and dressed we took the train into Charing Cross and walked via Trafalgar Square to Regents street where the roads were already closed ready for the Parade. It was due to start at One but didnt actually get going till gone two but we were able to see all the floats and go go boys and take a few pictures. Somehow through the crowds we managed to spot Stuart and Yannis and Fabrizio in the crowds of it all and thankfully they saw us back and waved. Our very own gayers in the Parade.

From there we headed into Soho and met Neil Sexton for a drink and bumped into the lovely Warren too.

We then headed around Soho to look at the Stalls and boys passing by and bumped into many a friendly face, Lee, Matthew and Chris. Then Gerry. Then Dusan's friend Antonio burst through the crowd.

By this time our feet were aching. Its amazing how much hard work being fabulous all day is. We decided to wander down to Trafalgar square to watch some of the acts performing. The weather was divine sunshine all day and not a bit of the wet rain they had forcast. All in all a great day had by all.

We managed to get home in time for the season finale of Doctor Who. Its the one thing I have not managed to get Dusan into. He loves Ugly Betty, Hollyoaks but cant stand Doctor Who or Torchwood. Oh well. Tonight we are giving it large, well XXL. As they say One Club fits all. Happy Pride Everyone!

Happy 1st Anniversary

Isnt it amazing? Its been a year already?

It doesnt seem like yesterday that I was driving to Luton to pick him up from the first trip back since his visa expired. Let alone 19 months since he arrived back from working on the cruise ships.

All those years of hopes and dreams and tears and sadness as well as all the stress seem to have quite literally faded away. We did it. We had a love so strong that even when there was not the ability to do anything about it other than to call each other and email and chat and believe in the future. A future together.

I remember the night when the government was due to vote on whether they would allow the equality bill. Dusan called me from the cruise ship about 2 weeks before and we discussed the fact that, the law could be about to change to let us finally be together again.

The bill passed and when he visited some months later we discussed the opportunities. I fished as to whether if I were to ask him the question he would likely accept.

When he visited in 2006 it was just like it was was yesterday that we were together. We had an amazing 2 weeks together and I knew then, one day I would marry that man.

In October I flew to Zagreb to see him again before he went back on another Cruise contract and had a few surprises in store. Including the Diamon Mans engagement ring I had in my pocket. It was official, we were enagaged. How does one tell ones parents that one is getting married and the future Groom is away at sea? Still we did. Dusan went back to Carnival and worked another contract. Both of us hating each day appart more and more. Then the countdown began. The number of days until his return. The whole stress with Immigration and them almost not letting him into the UK. Then the hardest part of all. Getting the Home Office Approval. To marry a Non EU Citizen you have to have a "Certificate of Approval" from the Home Office. They needed proof that this was not a scam just to get a visa. Thankfully we had more than enough with the Photos, and telephone accounts, Emails, Blog, letters of support from friends, eventually they had to conceed that we were truly in love and officially allowed to have our big Day.

Then Mother and Father offered to have the event at their beautifull home.

A year ago today (Well less a few hours, its late now), we were getting dressed and ready to become Husband and Husband.

All that stress and worry and applying for permission to do something that comes natural. Love doesnt need a permit or a certificate. If love is true and strong then love is the thing that binds. It bound Dusan and I many years ago and binds us today. We loved each other so much we would not let anything come between it.

We consider ourselves lucky now. We have, after all, gone through a lot more before marriage than some couple do in the first few years. But we know that we belong together. I still cant believe that its been a year. A year of being married. Truth in the saying that "Time flies when you are having fun".

So we celebrated today by going for lunch in Soho. Nothing too extravagant, Balans for lunch. But we had some champagne cocktails and a two course lunch before Dusan had to go to work and headed over to the gym.

Its gone so fast it must have been I cant believe it. So as our first year ends and our second one begins I wonder what adventures, challenges, thrills we will unfold.

But for now I will end with a quote from a film I love. Moulin Rouge. "The Greatest gift you'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return".

Night night and God Bless. xx

Truckers in India

While watching the news, apparantly the Indian Truckers have been doing much similar to our own Truckers, blockaiding roads around the country.

Unlike in the UK where the tax exceeds 50% of the cost the fuel in India is apparantly subsidised. The government has increased the cost of fuel by 10% to cover some of the billions of Pounds of subsidies they currently pay to enable its people to have cheaper fuel.

Their truckers are refusing to move until the government listens. Sometimes it just makes me wonder what it will take before our truckers do much the same?

Toothache again!

To bed honest I dont know what has caused my tooth to get inflamed again. Not the new veneers but the tooth that had route canal a couple of weeks ago. Its all inflamed again and has woken me up at 330AM in pain.

I have taken a Paracetomol with Codein but I think the time for pain killers is over. Its crazy, my pain always starts when I am away from home at work so I can not go immediately and seek treatment. I am tempted to, instead of going to the Dentist, go to Accident and Emergency instead. I am sure its an Absess and I need it drilled so it can drain and extra strong anti biotics. I did tell my Dentist that I do not respond to Amoxicilin. It doesnt even touch the sides with me. I guess I just need a different one.

I am guessing that this evenings, staff end of project party will be spent instead in the Dentist Chair having the tooth drilled to release the pressure once again. Will my Dental work never end? Does anyone know of any insurance you can take out to cover these things? I know this one occasion will not be covered, but surely in the long run, per £400 of Route Canal, it has to work out a good plan to have Dental cover? We will see. For now, it just gone 4AM and I can't sleep. Roll on the weekend and hurry, please, give me a shot of lignecain.

Summer of Discontent

It would seem that as costs forever rise the outlook is far from bright. Newspapers feed back to us every day on how much the cost of living is rising. Presently around 3.3% per month.

As fuel is now topping £1.20 per litre. They predict that electricity and gas costs will go up by 40% this winter. Now our very small 1 bed, 1 living area with kitchenette already costs £60 of electricity per month. Does it cost that much to light a bulb and run a TV and personal computer? Its not like we are in all day long every day.

You cant help but feel that the government has failed its people. Selling off all our utilities to private owners means the State can not even step in to help us when times are tough. Instead we have to buy our Energy from private companies that can charge whatever they like.

Meanwhile the government has failed to build new domestic Nuclear Power Stations in time for the price hikes. Now the latest to announce massive rises will be the Train companies. Already charging masses of ammounts for a season ticket, it was one of the reasons we moved back to London. We are effectively £400 per month better off without the cost of the commute.

As things continue to rise people are getting more and more fed up. Why pay so much in tax if when things get tough you can't get some help from the Government? How does the phrase go about organising a drink up in a brewery?

Today more truckers are begining a protest. Teachers, bin collectors and government workers will be out on strike soon. Before you know it we will all be out protesting, not because we want to but becuase we need to. People are begining to struggle to pay bills and its almost a choice for many between heating or eating. How many people will die this coming winter due to excessive fuel bills?

Most recently, the government now wants to build some new Eco Towns (20 by 2020). Rather than following the Scandanavian model and building them just a short, high speed commute from the Capital, ours will be built in the middle of nowhere, thus soon making them Eco Slums nobody wants to inhabit.

Yesterday I was reading in the Paper how Canada with a Population of 33 Million is actually seeking people to emigrate. With Petrol at less than half ours, a 3 bedroom house available at £150,000 and a much better cost of living, I would not be so surprised if they make it easy if millions of Britons decided to move.

It would, after all, seem that staying here leaves you to a life of tax, rip off's and bugger all for your taxes. Bring on the General Election. Do we really have to put up with this Government for another year? Gordon is not the most unliked Prime Minister without reason!

Now Gordon is attacking my gym!

I never used to watch the news or read a newspaper. Current affairs were never my thing. Not because I didnt care, but my world, my fabulous world, was far better without hearing of all the bad things going on in the world or on our doorstep. I wish today I still didnt watch or read the news.

It makes you have too many oppinions outside of your own personal interactions.

But gradually over the past year I have heard more and more about our current Prime Minister interfering in everyone else's business.

If it wasnt bad enough he tried to tell the Irish how to vote at the EU constitution, now my gym has to remove the Suana. We dont have a steam room, but occasionally its nice to go and sit down and have a good sweat to relax. Now Gordon Brown and the government are trying to pass legislation to mean that even charity gyms, like mine, if they have a sauna, are not a charity and therefore should be liable to paying VAT (17.5% tax).

Is it not enough that we pay income tax of 25 - 40%? Stamp Duty, VAT, National Insurance, Airport Tax, Road Tax, Fuel Tax. We are taxed on everthing. Now, just as they are telling us all we should stop drinking and get healthier, we are all trying to get in shape and to start to feel better about our bodies when Labour now want to tax the gym.

Maybe instead of taxing us more and more they should look at cut backs of hand outs. They have axed the 10% tax rate but have to pay all those people Tax Credits. We are all having the most heavy of price hikes the country has never known and yet the government is broke and doesnt have any more. Where did it all go?

Still I did manage to do 2 hours at the gym today plus bumped into a few old friends there too.