Paul is not only the gay novelist of the moment but also hosts an event once a month called Polari. Polari is the official name of the gay language. Yes there is a language. I believe it routes back from the days pre legalisation of homosexuality. Polari night is usually held at the Freedom Bar in Soho. A reading is offered by Paul or another author and today was no exception. The event was advertised as the Stag Night. To work with the theme of his latest book out now entitle "The Gay Divorcee". The venue, The Ghetto, Old Street, a kind of metrosexual place on Old Street. Mark (Leather Queen) and I arranged to go and met at Old Street just after 1815 and taking the short stroll there. Up the stairs and into the bar an explosion of decor and so tacktastic that even Hollyoaks would be struggling to keep up. The wallpaper was silver with red and gold Phoenix printed upon it as though they were leaping from the flames. Throne style chairs, 1980s music in keeping with the genre from many of Pauls books.
The several tables scattered with chairs that lay around the bar were covered in Dear Antlers, Devil Horns, face masks and bubbles, helping set the Stag Night theme. Free nibbles and cocktail shots were provided and the Poet Trevor Medicine kicked off the first reading with a very touching personal poem which he read topless. Mmmm. He was a fit sexy young man. Who wouldnt enjoy watching that?
Meanwhile, we were asked to move to a table closer to the microphone to make for more of an intimate occasion. We gracefully collected our drinks and the gentleman who moved us helped carry our jackets. He was a very colourful chap. Dressed in very bright trousers, a tight top and wore both his trousers and underwear approximately 2 inches below the spotanyone would consider decency. So low that you could clearly see the top thatch of his pubic region peering above his trouser waist. Enough however to keep you looking over in a sporadic fashion.
Sat at our new table adjacent to the microphone Mark and I settled in and caught up and decided that the antlers and horns that were on the table were too good to resist. Wearing them as we continued chatting. Meanwhile Paul was standing just a foot away from me and considering that I have been chatting to him for some six months or so on Facebook said hello. This lead to his publisist saying hello and joining us for the evening.
Paul did a 10 minute reading from Gay Divorcee which was enough to capture your inquisitive side. You know what they say, Curiosity killed the Cat. Thankfully I have started the Gay Divorcee already and the reading was a nice treat. To meet your faveourite author doesnt happen every day.
Paul kindly signed my book and we stayed for a final drink before heading home.
Sometimes I amazed how you meet people so randomly and things turn out as though planned. I have friends I have met through online dating, friends I have met on courses, at work, in a line to see a theatre performance and others I have met from writing a simple thank you letter or email. A simple act that was meant to say thank you. Mother always said, be sure of your P's and Q's. But that email, that bumping into someone at the theatre, that occasion where I went out on a school night to see an act I really love and met someone who happened to become a life long friend and a lifechanger. You all know who you are. Thank you, God bless and if you enjoy a great read, go pick up Paul Burston's Gay Divorcee, Star People, Lovers and Losers and of course my most faveourite novel of all time, Shameless. Promise you will love it.
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