Goodness in 2004

I generally don’t like Christmas for various reasons, those meaning that I have to return to my hometown for a couple of days – a place which I absolutely abhor. Unlike the other students here whom seem to take every passing opportunity to go “home”, I haven’t been home since last Christmas. Of course it’s not because I don’t love my family dearly, it’s just that the place where I grew up just holds so many awful memories for me. It just seems like the worst possible place on Earth for someone like me (mixed-race, gay) to be brought up and introduced to society. It seems strange, but after only a year away from home, I feel comfortable enough to say that this, Brighton, is now my “home”. And nowadays it’s my mother visiting me here instead of me rushing home to her… Another reason for disliking this time of year is that I become reminiscent of events that have occured throughout the passing year and being slightly pessimistic, I always tend to dwell on the negative. Here’s a rundown of the past year (let’s see if I can outweigh the bad with the fab!)

Good Things That Happened This Year

• January – Discovering beautiful sunsets over the sea, long walks with amazing friends and lovers, watching Arrested Development perform (bring back childhood memories), being so in love.
• February – Seeing Lamb perform (again) thanks to B. Boy as a birthday present and Damien Rice (thanks Occy!)
• March – Feeling very creative, shooting beautiful images with Maria in the early mornings on the beach, Eva visiting and providing sexy corset fun!
• April – Falling in love with the sound of water all over again, Rupa visiting!, more drag queens coming into my life.
• May – Having beautiful Scandinavian friends, feeling beautiful with hair.
• June – A blossoming friendship between Rowena and I (thank you for allowing me to create beautiful photos, receiving beautifully typed lyrics from Eva when I felt so alone, heading off to Germany in those pink hot pants!
• July – Having the most amazing time in Köln for europride with Rowena, finding beauty in nature & feeling able to write, good times with Tarik (including public space sex!)
• August – Brighton Pride (being on the float in drag, good fun!), having beautiful eyes, impromptu visits to London (including Eva), being the craziest tranni in the bar with A (that’s my wig in his crotch), Notting Hill Carnival 2004!
• September – mini breaks at Occy’s and beautiful friendships, Fatboy Slim, cutting my afro off (god it was getting toasty), mini-breaks to Mari’s in Birmingham, A’s birthday (including spooning on the sofa.)
• putting on weight, lesbian dinners & polaroids, basement halloween parties.
• November – Getting back with B. Boy spontaneously, naked jacuzzis with friends, being a sexy tranni bitch at Pussycat Club, more mini-breaks at Occy’s.
• December – Watching him watch the sunset, shaving my hair off, beautiful evenings of music and acrobatics (thank you J), finding lovely housemates & somewhere to live.

Bad Things That Happened This Year (doesn’t warrant a full list)
Someone spitting in my face, developing eating problems, dangerous self-harm, alcohol problems, getting into large amounts of debt, overdoses, psychiatric hospital admission, arsehole landlords.. Still, best to just forget these things & move on into the new year!