December 2010

Much has happened in the years prior to my last post - deaths, divorces and other endings, as well as new beginnings, relationships, additions to families, and little cats n dogs. Some constant companions have been helpful, others, although needed, less so.

A family member made a strange comment some weeks ago. On hearing about my proposed trip to Amsterdam, it was hoped that I might enjoy some time with a prostitute (female presumably) and 'revert' to heterosexuality. Rather a lot of hidden assumptions there.

There have been a number of things that have kept me at least somewhat focused over the last five years: work, being away from the gay 'scene' and my partner. Yet all of these are mixed in their influence. Being away from the 'scene', for example, has meant I've kept away from forms of sometimes less than helpful (sexual) relations that influenced me so much in the past. Falling into a duplicitous sexual relationship was the main trigger to tiring of the scene. But then not being on the scene also meant I became less bothered about going to the gym. When I moved from Vauxhall and away from the gym I used to attend, one charming staff member stated it was the 'end of an era' - meaning I was one of the first 50 members of the gym, had been attending for over 10 years, and was now departing.

I more or less saw the Vauxhall gay village grow up around me. Now called 'Area', this club grew from a space that was a disused youth club before being turned into 'Crash'. The RVT in Vauxhall was (of course) already there, but audiences for David Hoyle were, if not small, then more intimate than in later years. The corner shop in Bonnington Square was rather run-down, it then closed, and ended up as a 'taste of Italy in Vauxhall'.

Overall, the area has improved, it's more vibrant and greener - not least due to the vision and efforts of members of the Bonnington Square Garden Association and the Harleyford Road Community Garden. Those people have really shaped the look of the area (at least Bonnington Sq and surrounding streets).

The almost impossible to access bus stops were replaced some years ago with a new bus station - or rather, 'transport interchange'.

Property prices have shot up. Two bedroom flats bought for £72k in 1995 now sell for £350k. This is due in part to the mass of new developments in the area - noticeably the rather dense housing at St George's Wharf. However, whether the continuing development of high density housing in Vauxhall is 'good' for the area is open to a fair amount of questioning, usually

dismissed, though, by those who make planning decisions.

Given the charm of Bonnington Square, I wonder why those involved in planning decisions, do not insist on more green spaces, better landscaping and innovative planting?

Some attempts at this have been made in the area in which I now live. The award winning Barking town centre development, and the redevelopment of Barking park show signs of acknowledging the importance of plants to people.

To the Battersea Arts Centre...

... to see Adrienne Howells. A charming evening.

Adrienne welcomed us individually and we sat in a theatre got up to look like a sitting room: sofas, christmas tree, mulled wine, lovely. A few party games, some anecdotes and stories, and a Christmas gift.

The evening worked pretty much - but a few more stories from the audience about their Christmasses would have gone down well. With a format like this, Adrienne could hand over a little more to others - it's the guests, and the interactions between them, that become interesting, and Adrienne's role might, become more one of animating the audience.

Nonetheless, a surprising, delighful and gentle show. Recommended.

To West India Quay Cineworld...

... to see the Chronicles of Narnia.

Dreadful. Innocent children caught up in a battle. They learn to fight through a a belief in their righteousness - does learning about military strategy and battle training count for nothing? All men have to do, it seems, is to reach into their soul and fighting comes easily. What does that say about us?

Over two hours. Nothing much happens. Well, after an hour and a half I was willing them back into their wardrobe.

Mozart

I've never been one for Mozart and was even, in a dull then argumentative turn, bothered enough to row about him with a talented musical boyfriend. Yet, until this week, I'd not given him much more thought.

Then, I imagined Norman Lebrecht's article being read aloud - in a vituperative, bitter tone - it really is nasty and very welcome.

I was halfway through the article when I remembered a night at the Vauxhall Tavern, some years ago now, when the Divine David read out a piece written by Julie Burchill on the death of Princess Diana. It appeared in the Evening Standard and I'd read it just a few hours earlier, thinking it was, well, kind of critical.

The Divine David's rendition, every word spat out, made me realise that the register in which I read disguises too much.

Pam Ayres

Pam Ayres, Thur, 13 April, Bloomsbury Theatre.

In the meantime, here's a seasonal offering, passed onto me by Jonathan

Stuff done ...

It's been a rather eclectic mix of stuff happening: Leeds Castle firework spectacular; various films at Peckham multiplex (Libertine, Nanny McPhee, Mrs Henderson, Doom among others); Mikado at New Wimbledon Theatre (strange); News Quiz recording; and Kiki and Herb

Added to that, every Wednesday night has been a therapeutic trip. Fifty mins every week to talk about oneself is a welcome luxury and great stabiliser.

Revels ...

My flatmate, Leon, and I have found an advert that worked. Wanting, too, to face the challenge of the unwanted centre, we got some Revels.

This got us talking about the flavours. My flatmate's boyfriend, who grew up in Poland, got stuck at three - although he did mention 'raisin' which was either a fortunate guess or gave the game away that he was a relatively recent taster.

Leon and I both got six, but both included peanuts and I was sure there was a seventh - coconut. After some research, it's clear that others have carried out an examination of Revels with a greater degree of enterprise than we could muster from our sitting room sofas - that study having a concern to examine the numbers and distribution of types of sweets per bag. However, the research was underaken prior to the exchange of peanut with raisin - this substitution coming in for a not insignificant degree of criticism.

As for coconut? Well, my memory proved correct, it used to be included (when was it removed I wonder?) They should stop messing around with our coconut sweets - whatever happened to that cardboard tray that held the bounty bar duo so snugly?

My favourite? Well, it was coconut. But now I settle for the comparatively rare coffee creme - it's a perverse pleasure, which suits me. Leon's favourite is the chocolate one, got up to look like a naked minstrel, and he's most happy avoiding the coffee cremes. My least favourite? The toffee. While called 'fudge' on the packet, it's rather too solid for that and I worry about my fillings.

To Blackheath to see...

... the Chinese State Circus, with Jonathan, Martin and Winston. Brilliant. We had ringside seats and able to catch the eye of one or two Shaolin Warriors. Amazing acts and acrobatics - and, thankfully, not a clown in sight.

Freedoms

After deciding that I'd trust the Talk Test Test Trust aproach to safer sex, I'm currently not using condoms with the guy I'm seeing. When I was, I never much liked the range of condoms that Freedoms had to offer and didn't use the site.

But, with my nearby lube shop 'The Host' now closed, I was scouting around for another supplier. The cheapest lube in town is from Freedoms and, if you use a lot and buy in litres, getting 4 x250ml of silicone based lube from Freedoms is still cheaper than the 'offers' of 1L on other sites.

The service is good too - easy to use site and, er, it comes quickly. Stuff ordered at 12noon on the Tues arrived in Weds post. Recommended.

To Richmond Theatre ...

... to see Harry Hill. First thing I noticed - Harry looked somewhat thinner than on TV. I was somewhat concerned about his health, then realised that widescreen TV puts on kilos.

After an hour and a half, I felt he's probably better with a tightly edited script and 30 mins to hand.