The Date

Yesterday I went on a date. Readers to my blog may notice this is a relatively unusual occurrence but I think I actually dated the person who probably dates less than I. I think it went rather well, all things considered and hopefully there will be the chance of that fabled ‘second date’ that I have heard so much but rarely encountered. In one afternoon we ate, had coffee, watched a movie, walked to Brooklyn, sailed down the River Thames and had more coffee. It was all rather nice, although the mood I am in I felt I wanted to jump him at several points throughout the day - it's been a while. Naturally I am far too much a gentleman for that. We shall see.

New York Knights

In New York, everybody appears to be a cavalier, boldy attacking boundaries in their field to achieve success. Ralph and Tyron go from strength to strength as make-up artists. Ava is heading over here again in her bid to conquer the fashion world. Nomi is already here, taking the London Music scene by storm. Then there is Brian, who fortunately still knows how to flirt outrageously whilst wearing purple and keeping a lip line sharp; Hans' Interior Design; Florencio the muralist; Andy the model....the list goes on. Such a lovely last evening together in Williamsburg - Brooklyn's answer to Camden.

Today, I am back in London. It is raining, the washing machine is on and me Julie has done her best to not be annoyed that I had flung everything on the floor and slept for 24 hours. The garden has had some changes and my sunflowers need to be re-planted. Tomorrow I have to settle back into the idea of deadlines, 2 plays this week and start planning a few battles on the front myself.

Lets hope for a long hot summer.

The Telectroscope

It is very difficult to explain, but the Telectroscope is an 'installation' set up both at Tower Bridge in London and Brooklyn Bridge in New York. At its simplest, it is a fibre-optics transmission between two continents allowing each to view the other in real-time - a bit like a large webcam. What makes this special is it's marketing. It's being sold as a Jules Verne-esque style tunnel from one to the other and is dressed as a large, brass, electronic telescope.

As I say, difficult to explain, but great fun. Whilst I messaged all and sundry to come along and wave hello, nobody managed to make it, but there again, it is the sort of thing that needs to be seen to be understood.

I have made plans for a 'wave' with my buddies over here sometime soon.

I'll give it a week before the first trans-Atlantic moon!!!!! Go Howard!!!! LOL

A Moment Away From My Story

Waking up in Brooklyn with a vague hangover and several messages to this site - are they mixed messages?

A Rumble In Chelsea

On this particular morning I got to the pool in good time to discover that it was warm and relatively empty. Sliding into the water I decided to go into the fastest of the three lanes as there was only one guy in there and I knew I could keep up with him - even though for some reason he was swimming in an anti-clockwise direction around the lane. For me, one length went well until I managed to punch the guy in the face from my over-swing. It really hurt my hand so God knows how it hurt him. Naturally I burst into an immediate apology, this kind of thing always happens in pools - but that wasn't good enough. Oh the language!!!! Get the f**k away from me you f**king dumb f**king mother-f**cka!!! Sorry? F**king sorry? You think sorry is f**king good enough?

I honestly thought he was going to hit me. I was so scared I swam an extra 10 lengths because I wanted to make sure he wasn't waiting for me in the locker room. Oddly I had the lane to myself all through the session? Perhaps I now have the reputation as the mean swimmer.

Freezing temperatures followed by warm spells later.

The pool was absolutely freezing today. So cold, in fact, that even after the initial rush I didn’t warm up. Very scary! Finally I worked out that 1 mile at the Tony Dapolito Recreation Centre (pictured above) pool is actually 74 lengths. It’s a push as it’s so shallow I grated my knee and it’s over subscribed so I really have to slow down sometimes. But the staff are friendly and it's clean. Michael suggested I was very 'street' for finding it, whatever that means - tight, probably as it costs $37.50 to join for half a year. That's almost £5.00!!!

After a little wandering around and a visit to the trade show and the Temptu offices I returned home to realise that Ralph & Tyron are not back yet. If they were still on the shoot, then they must be knackered!!! I logged on, got some information and headed down to the View Bar for Woof! Apparently this is a regular Monday night feature and includes free food (I steered clear) and a PA from a popular Porn Star (we chatted, he stripped!)

I rather liked the atmosphere of this place. The clientele were cute and friendly, the drinks strong and the music – actually the music was really good. I know I can be a little backward when it comes to “happnin beats” but I liked their old school mix of cheese and classics immensely. I finally staggered home at 1.00am and fell into a deep sleep, clutching my picture of Ed :-)

Museum Shmuseum

Why does everybody keep insisting I tour the city? I realise that there is loads to see here Statue of Liberty et al, but I really have no desire to do so. I wander the streets, quite happily without the aid of a tour-bus or running commentary. I have seen the bits that I really wanted to see – Grand Central, The Rock, The Empire State Building previously. I certainly have no intention of going to see a Broadway Show. I get so much more joy becoming a regular, first thing at the Diner at the end of the next street, where I get a coffee. The girl, who looked so scared when I first wandered in at 6.00am, now greets me with a smile, has my coffee ready and encourages everybody to say ‘Cheers’. I am on holiday, leave me alone with my coffee and a preference for walking 10 blocks rather than riding the subway.

The Wind Beneath My Wings

Yesterday turned into yet another lazy day but the sun was shining and Ralph and I wandered up 5th Street in search of breakfast. We found a beautiful, faux French restaurant that served the most delicious poached eggs imaginable. Rarely has breakfast been such a taste sensation.

Later, further down 5th, we popped into Benny’s the barbers and I had a really relaxing wet-shave, whilst Lola Siciliano had his roots done. In the evening we hit 5th again and I shared a mammoth steak dinner with Tyron. I didn’t quite realise how early it still was and by 8.00 I was knackered and bursting at the seams. As the boys travelled off to see Nomi perform in Manhattan, I headed for bed and slept like a baby. Things had to change and they did this morning with a real sense of determination and adventure I headed to Manhattan and joined the Tony Dapolito Recreation Centre on Houston Street.

Their pool is all of 24 yards long and was packed to the hilt on a Sunday morning – thankfully not full of beautiful bods but more or less the same mix of pensioners ladies as Streatham Pool.

Upon returning home late afternoon I discovered that Ralph & Tyron had only just got up. Apparently Nomi didn’t perform until 1.30am and they never got home until 3.00am. The evening was rounded off with probably one of the more bizarre happenings of my life. Ralph was offered work on the cover of German Vogue. Preparation was in progress for a set of exquisite wings to be painted onto the back of a model. The model was flying in from Paris and would not arrive until 9.30pm so as there would be no time on the shoot for the work she came straight over to the flat, stripped and the work began. I had helped Ralph with the prep and painting the outline of the feathers on the models back. I was less successful with the shading – Dura Paint is really odd to use – and to be honest I was knackered. I awoke at 4.00am and the boys were still at it. By 4.20am the model, who had slept through most of the ordeal, was leaving and the boys were clearing up. In 3 hours they would need to be at the shoot ready for finishing touches.

It was fascinating to see so much dedication to the job and the boys attention to detail was amazing. I can’t wait to hear how they get on today but as ever, I am stuck in this peculiar vortex whereby I can contact no-one as my phone doesn’t work over here. Ah well, at least my sleep patterns are relatively back to normal.

Exposed!

Last night was interesting, to say the least. I managed to get myself out of the ridiculous blue funk that I seemed to be wallowing in and it had nothing to do with the Cosmos or the ever ridiculous Splash Bar. After one drink I headed back to Brooklyn via the Atlantic/Pacific subway stop. Climbing up into the drizzling frantic mess of Brookly-nites who were attempting to get home for a Friday night I visited my first ever American Mall. Less than a block and a half away from Ralph’s apartment I found a great store that would provide me with some decent clothes.

I went home, bought some Soya Milk and a packet of English comfort tea and began to work out how to apologise to Ralph. As it turned out, the moment he arrived home from the gym – where I should have been – he began to ball me out on being so negative and needy. We talked through how his day had gone and compared it to my version and came out the other side better for it. Ralph is a wonderful communicator and like so many American’s, believes in exposing his doubts, fears and concerns in order to deal with them. Rather like the brickwork that decorates every other surface of his apartment. At close inspection it is rough, ugly and at best, raw. The fact remains that taking a step back, and looking at the whole picture, it is in fact, ordered, beautiful and honest. The beauty comes from the honesty.

The evening ended happily on all sides, with take-out Japanese food and finally a good old bitch session about the encroaching disingenuity of the fashion industry and the ability to deliver the product eventually stifling creative talent. What a couple of queens!

This morning I woke with a determination to be a better communicator and the sun pouring through the window and exposing just how pretty the honest brickwork can be.

Not The Best Day

Rain in NYC is not something I am used to, but the torrents that seemed to have been pouring on this city since the early hours, have really taken their tole. I met everybody at Temptu again, which is lovely and Michael and Sam are expecting a baby - I am so happy for them both. Eventually I realised I ought to go out and ventured to the Levi's store. Nothing fitted. I don't suppose normal shaped people ever consider how depressing this is. OK, so I don't diet particularly but I excercise more than most and then I go to buy a simple pair of jeans and they don't fit. And the rain came down even harder.

Lunch with Ralph helped a little but he asked me a question I found really difficult to answer. Ralph asked me if there was anything I planned to do while I was out here, except shopping? Thinking about it for a while it suddenly occured to me that I had not planned anything at all. Nothing....nada. I couldn't help feeling a little stupid. More rain.

A trip to the bank to discover that my cashpoint card worked helped to ease my depression a little. I decided to cheer myself up with something familiar. My favorite Almond Latte from Starbucks.

"I am sorry, Sir but it's discontinued."

Can you hear the rain over there in London?

I am off to the Splash Bar, three doors down. Maybe a Cosmo will help push the sunshine out a little.

Come Fly With Me

Not the greatest traveller in the world, it was not without trepidation that I made my way to Heathrow Airport. I thought I would give the Heathrow Express a go and – nightmare journey to Paddington aside – it was VERY smooth. At my destination in 15 minutes and costing about a pound a minute. At some point in my journey it actually occurred to me that I might be cutting it fine. Of course for me, ‘cutting it fine’ means ‘with only an hour to spare’ so rather than set my self off in panic mode I decided to embrace the theme and chill out. Check in was smooth as smooth can be and the lovely lady at AA blocked the rest of my row so that I could lie down. How sweet was that?

I then wandered aimlessly around the airport – bought some Toblerone (new fruit & nut!), some Au Savage and decided I was hungry and went to the Oirish Pub. It was here that a simply gorgeous young gent from Connecticut bought me a drink.

I arrived in JFK a whole hour early. Presumably the gods had decided to compensate me for attempting to be louche. It was here that I picked up a sweet young southern belle and allowed her to share my car to Atlantic Avenue. Luckily for her I knew it was near where Ralph lived. She appeared to have some really high octane job where Hassidic Jews shuttled her all over the world – she was just returning from Beijing via Milan – and in her accent, which was a hoot, she acknowledged that at airports she often “relayed on th’ kandnass of strenjahs”.

Naturally it was great to see Ralph again and looking so well. I was amazed at his apartment, which is enormous. Dripping with arty things, no too gay and is wonderfully situated.

Falling into a dreamless sleep I awoke at 5.30am to find Tyron in his pants prepping for a shoot. Too funny. I waited for him to leave, because he must have had a lot to do and then sneaked out to find a coffee. The diner up the road is pure vintage America and the waitress, charming. I am cooking here for the boys tonight and am now off to wake Ralph up. I know he is always such a grouch in the mornings, so please, if this is my last entry on my blog, contact my relatives.

Death Becomes Them

More wifely crafts over this Bank Holiday as the boys came over for a make-over. Well, not quite a make-over, more of a slash fest. This was a test for something that Howard has organised for Gay Shame this year. It was all rather fun and very messy. Lloyd, was a particularly good sport, as it appears that Howard neglected to tell him what he was coming over for. Jonotron got the 4 minute make-over as we shall be under time restrictions on the day. Jules dished up some lightly grilled entrails for the gang to feed on and a jolly good time was had by all.

I need to remember to warm the blood slightly before applying it. Other than that, roll on Shame!

A Visit

The weekend saw friends Andy and Rowena visit from Gloucester. It was quite lovely to see them again and thanks to pressure from Rowena, we managed to get into the garden and transform it from it’s winter blues into a glorious place to chill out in the summer. I even planted flowers and at night, there are a selection of solar powered lights that look really inviting. All this in time for the sunniest week of the year.

Liza – acrylic on canvas with rhinestones 75cm x 100cm

This was a commission inspired by another painting I had completed last year. I am particularly proud of the movement in the dress and the colours in the spotlight. I shall continue in this vein until I loose inspiration.