a.funnytimeofyear.com

Oh yeah, we cut all my hair off. Click for enlargement.

Shhh! Now, don’t tell any one, but I wasn’t a huge Fatboy Slim follower before I actually attended the gig. Yeah yeah, some funky house, I thought to myself. But God damn I could not stop moving my physically abused feet. Both DJ Touché and FB Slim were simply blinding. And to think, I got to experience this night for free! Albeit the management were rather feisty about me taking photos (which was ironic, considering I was wearing a t-shirt saying PHOTOGRAPHER and was supposedly allowed to). It made it a bit of a bitch to get some decent photos, but at one point I just thought, fuck it, and went up on stage to get some shots! (Twice. Oops.) More images to come. Now I have to buy ladies’ clothes for tonight’s promotional escapades!

Sat dangling my head from the heights of the pier, notebook in hand, enriched with the sight of the sun setting over the silhouetted sea. Took a seat on one of the old white benches, penning thoughts of today and tomorrow, expectations and desires that flooded me like the waters below. He arrived five minutes later, a broad smile on his face and a soft kiss left on my cheek, a hug that radiated the warmth of the setting sunshine. We walked along the rickety pier scouting for a candy floss stall. After buying our bag of sugar treats we sat down, chatting away as we picked and nibbled, my body flying high on a sugar rush from heaven. As the sun sank lower in the sky we discovered some unused deck chairs and perched ourselves in the direction of the darkening sky. Talking, talking, oh the inhalation of such freshness. On the walk home we ate chips coupled with turkey sausages (despite my dubiousness). Another moment that may have been nothing extravagant, but that I have learnt to appreciate (including you, and you, and you.)

Tonight I am photographing at a Fatboy Slim concert. This means free entry for both me and my guest! & tomorrow I am, of course, guestlisted for Pussycat Club (strangely at the same venue). What a weekend of freebies! Following that Catherine is visiting me on Monday - Weds, then on Weds I am visiting Mari in Birmingham until Sunday, and then Eva is visiting the sunny side of Brighton for a week or so. It’s all gogogo in my life right now.

Loves it! (Thanks Nicole Richie.)

Basking in the last of the summer sun we headed down to the beach, both in our flip flops (mine pink, his black). As we lay on the beach we talked and talked, taking breaks in between to feed on the sunshine that gives life to everything around us. We lay comfortably close to each other, a strange feeling rushes over me. I have not experienced this before - friendship with another gay man. It is refreshing, eye-opening, something I have perhaps always needed (and maybe even wanted.)

The girls turned up and all decided to pitch in for a rubber dinghy. Floating out to see, wet in my clothes, I looked down into the murky waters that rippled beneath the thin rubber housing. Sitting, facing towards each other with our legs straddled over each other’s, I realised, I am really enjoying your friendship. Thank you.

It is a vessel, a sinking violet that shrinks and grows and takes from the ocean. It grows as night falls, as stars streak across the upper ocean and the waves crash on the shore in the summer’s darkness. It grabs and hauls, stealing what it can from nature’s gifts. It gives and begs you to do what it desires, but knows that the water circles differently in your mental hemisphere. It is a ship that sinks and sails underwater, clandestine and wrecked in its wooden shell. It revels in destruction like the violet that implodes, its petals a myriad of tongues that suck in the bitter taste of the sea’s salty wounds.

This weekend we took a mini-break: lakes (& snakes!), cocktails & ice machines, swimming pools and golf courses, full English breakfasts and damn good company. Without you, I seem to be learning the art of true happiness. & it tastes like honey on my tongue.

Beach feet!

(click to enlarge)