Grotty/Glossy

Well, I've just spent a couple of days in Melbourne - and loved it. Even though I was working (pretty hard, but with just enough time to catch up with a few friends...) I still managed to get out to a couple of nice restaurants, and even a bar! I had forgotten what a cool city Melbourne is... kind of grotty and extremely welcoming; it seems there that it matters not who or what you are - people are very accepting.

I've just arrived in Sydney and am staying in a big hotel in the centre of the city. Sydney is just the opposite of Melbourne: Glossy. It's a big, beautiful, brassy city with gorgeous people (almost intimidatingly so...) everywhere. And to call it beautiful is an understatement. The sun seems to bounce off every sandstone building, the water seems to glisten around every corner and edge of the city; and the Harbour Bridge just watches over it all. To top it all off, I'm catching up with a friend I haven't seen for 5 years tonight.

Both cities could offer me something lifestyle wise. Which is incredibly reassuring when considering my options....

D.I.D. aka Split Personality

So I've been here in Perth for a week now, and what with a little bit of work (and I mean a *little*) and many trips to the beach, between catching up with friends and family; I've been considering what it would be like to live here permanently.

The difficulty is, I've lived in London for so long now that it has kind of gotten under my skin. I have such a love/hate relationship with London; but when I come back here, the love bit really comes to the fore.

In equal measures, I now have a love/hate relationship with Perth. This place offers the most amazing lifestyle - good food, great beaches, wonderful weather and relaxed, happy people.

There are negatives to Perth though. It is reported to be the most geographically isolated city in the world, and gee, does it feel it. A lot of people are small minded and have problems with gay people (oops, that's a little difficult for me).

So as always, my trip back to the homeland is always a little confusing. Life, love and the universe all being pondered on the most beautiful white sandy beach imaginable. Hhhhhmmmm.

Things to Ponder...

Well given how quiet I was being after my last post, I feel I should reveal a few other things I will be pondering whilst I'm away in Australia...

1. Boring things first... I've had a job offer from one of my organisation's competitors; I'm not sure how I feel about this but am going to consider my options whilst I'm out there.

2. What to do with my parents when they come to stay over here for 2 months - they arrive in London a week after I get back from Australia and we are intending on travelling up to Scotland, across to Italy (to see the Cinque Terra) and they also want to get to see family in France and friends in Holland. This summer is going to be pretty busy.

3. The Taken Man (TM). Hhhmmm. I've had another offer (of a more personal nature) - and this might stir up a bit of moral debate.
Someone is chasing me to have a fling with him who is already in a relationship.

From a practical perspective, there would be advantages for me, because right now, the thought of being in a proper relationship breaks me out in hives; I can't imagine how claustrophobic I would begin to feel with all that expectation. But being with someone who already has all of that with someone else would mean that I could get the bits I wanted and nothing more. On the negative side, I'm not sure I could separate my emotions in this sort of scenario; can I manage it from a moral perspective?

So anyway... on that note, hasta la vista. I'm flying to Australia tomorrow! My posts while I'm away may well be intermittent...

Dating 101

Um, my Boyfriend at the Gym (BG) asked me out on a real date this morning.

He's been my boyfriend for ages, I keep seeing him and what began as little glances turned in to 'hellos' and then 'how are you?s' etc.

Then today, he waited for the space on the stretching mats next to me to become available and plonked himself next to me.

As you can imagine, I was looking at my very best. Tracksuit pants, sweaty t-shirt, my hair looked like it was about to take off in flight and my face was probably as red as... let's not even go there.

In addition to this, I was short of breath after my workout so when he asked me the standard introductory questions, my answers were given (not by choice) in a short, succinct, breathy stylee. Hopefully he didn't think I was doing it for effect.

If he does end up calling me (yes, I gave him my number), I'm a bit concerned about what happens next. I'm a bit out of dating practice. Oh well, at least it might make for some interesting stories...

Obsess-Head

I downloaded the new Yeah Yeah Yeah single Gold Lion yesterday and I am completely obsess-head with it.

I played it 9 times in a row on the way in to work this morning. I can't wait for their new album.

Obsess-Head.

Fun-Bags

I've read back over my last few posts (actually this entire blog) and realised how gay I am. I mean, I know I'm gay, but my goodness - no wonder my mother chooses not to read this blog. (sorry if you're reading this, Mum).

So anyway, I've decided to speak about something remotely heterosexual. I quite like boobs. Not in a sexual way, but more a 'fun bag' way. I think they are really fun.

F/BF (Flatmate/Best Friend) has two attitudes towards this. She thinks that it is a bit amusing - for obvious reasons - and the other is that it might be taken as a bit offensive by other women - because I'm desexualising their breasts.

The thing is, I'm not desexualising their breasts - I'm just not sexualising them. I just think they are fun.

And on that note, I proudly present my girlfriend of the week.

Dita Von Teese and her Fun-Bags. (look I know this has probably made me sound even gayer but jeez! Cut me some slack!)

Boy-Lust of the Week

I finally got a copy of "Cry Baby" on DVD... it was the last film I needed by John Waters to complete my collection.

F/BF (Flatmate/Best Friend) and I watched the movie the other night - it's pretty silly, but MY GOD... who cares when it's got Johnny Depp in it?!

Congratulations, Johnny. You're my boy-lust of the week.

Countdown...

9 sleeps till I leave for Australia....

I'm getting soooooooooooooo excited.

And I'm flying Business Class (which I didn't pay for). Could it get any better?

And could I be any more smug for that matter?

Hip Hoxton

There is always an area which is known to be of the moment - and for a little while now, in London; it has been Hoxton.

On Saturday, OBF (Other Best Friend) and I agreed to meet in Hoxton - I had been studying for most of the day at the British Library. We went to the White Cube gallery to see the Liza Lou exhibition - which was this impressive work which basically took domestic objects or human sculptures and covered them in tiny glass beads - it was pretty amazing.

We then went to a cafe in Hoxton Square (which is achingly hip) and sat down to have a coffee, when we saw someone we know quite well - GT1 (Gay Twin One). Basically he is a gay twin, and they are both incredibly good looking guys, and live in the Hoxton area.

GT1 was surprised (to say the least) to see us there - "This isn't your area, is it?", with a bewildered look upon his face.

My first reaction was to say "um... No, but don't worry we've got our passports". I mean, what? Is it such an exclusive area that you are only allowed to be there if you are a member of that specific community??

Perhaps he didn't mean it in the way it came across, but to be honest, I just felt (and OBF agreed) that this sort of exclusivity was unneccessary and really not that cool.

Hoxton hip? Perhaps it needs to learn a bit of humility.

My Latest Love Affair

On the weekend I managed to organise myself a 'Readers Pass' for the British Library. The Reading Rooms at the British Library are only accessible to those who are conducting some type of research (either academic or personal); and fortunately, given my new status as a student of Psychology, I meet the criteria.

So off I went on Saturday, went through the application process and then proceeded to venture in to the Humanities Reading Room.

I can honestly say that it was love at first sight. The huge vaulted ceilings, gorgeous oak desks and big comfy leather chairs surrounded by the most amazing leather bound books was almost too much for me.

Then to top it all off, the man sitting opposite me looked such the part. Dressed in a 3 piece suit, with a polka dot bow tie and a carnation in his lapel, small round spectacles and a big pointy grey beard... he was the quintessential British academic.

Yes, Ziggy was in seventh heaven. I have a feeling I am going to be spending a lorra lorra time in the British Library.