OMG YOU GUYS!

Just when I thought things were slowing down ready for the summer the babe from the Bronx is grabbing his emergency lash curlers and heading over to these shores! Ralph Siciliano, make-up artist and Broadway Bares Softball Coach 2007 - 9 (pictured here with the lovely Ava 'Rica Swimwear' Sanjurjo) is now sporting his latest Streisand hairdo - Barbra: The 'Guilty' Years.

Ralph will be here on Thursday!!!!! Hurrah!

The Spotlight Showcase 2010

And what an exciting event this was! It was lovely to see Laura Albery again and to catch up with David Padbury and Tony and banter about the industry, this year in the delighful surroundings of the Bloomsbury Ballroom. It was particularly fun for me because I got to chat with a few of the graduates whose work I had already seen. Rosie Wyatt was in the up-coming Edinburgh Photoshoot; Jane Horn who I reviewed and recommended in her student showcase; Olivia Vinall, who I had the pleasure of seeing in Romeo and Juliet at the Leicester Square Venue and Andrew Gower, who performed a scene from a small play I saw at the Arcola, Me, As A Penguin.
I considered it good writing then, indeed nominating it for Most Promising New Writer at the Offies and Andrew had felt the same when author Tom Wells developed it at the Oxford School of Drama for a new writing season.

On the judging panel were Catherine Comerford, Janet Suzman - who I complimented on her work in Dream of the Dog at the Finborough, Paul McGann and the delightful Philip Glenister.

The great news is that Andrew Gower won the Spotlight Prize!

Rush Job

It seems that no sooner has one big event taken place, than another one looms on the immediate horizon. An obvious point I know but something that was hammered home when I finally booked tickets for Besancon last week. I seem to have spent a good deal of this year getting out and about.
Sydney, Taunton, Ford, Bude and now Besancon with the excitement of Belfast at the end of October. I have never been much of a traveller but this latest venture - a Eurostar journey - seems really exciting. Most of all, it will be lovely to see my dear friends Don and Celine again. They will have just moved to a small village outside the citadel and according to Don there is nothing to do there. Frankly, I don't care. A few days with nothing to do in their company sounds like heaven to me.

Caption Competition

J.F.D.I. Approach

I got back on my cycle and into the pool with a vengeance this morning, swimming the usual 2000m and then cycling to London Bridge (and back, today). Naturally the moment I was in the water I loved it and although rain was forecast, it has been glorious in London all day. Work that tan! Coming home was a bit of a struggle but the trick is not to take it too madly so I didn't. It was really interesting to chat to Will on Grindr who also cycles to town and back. Who knows, I may have struggled to follow him up the hill once or twice without knowing it. He had the good sense to stop for a cold beer on the way - only the one though, as he claims to have been inspired by my weight loss regime last year. Not sure if he was being ironic though, as such things are difficult to judge on Grindr.

Before I set off home, inspired by Rory, I changed my break pads - myself! This may well be my last blog post if they fall off tomorrow as I hurtle down Sydenham Hill. Gulp!

Ding Dong The Bells Are Gunna Chime!

Today, Giles very kindly sent me some pictures of his wedding to Corina, which look quite lovely. I was really sorry that I could not be there with them but it appears a good time was had by all. It’s nice to see Corina looking so happy in her stunning gown and Giles looking awfully elegant in his suit. He has printed so many pictures of me the beautiful slebs in his What's On In Somerset Magazine that it seems only right that I should post one of him.

Starting Afresh

This may seem a little revolutionary but this post is being sent from my phone. Lord knows what he spelling will be like?! Anyway the last week has seen me completely ignore any excercise regime or diet. I have been fairly good food wise but for the first time since I came off my bike, I shall be putting on DRY swimming trunks tomorrow. I guess I am actually quite disciplined when it comes to my working out - well Sean thinks I am. I had the attitude a few weeks ago that I rather enjoyed and did me well. Plan the routine for the week and STICK to it!!! Pretty obvious I suppose but all too often, I will make excuses for not swimming; not cycling; eating pies! This week begins the J.F.D.I. Workout begins - Just Fucking Do It! That's all.

By the sea, by the sea/By the beautiful sea

Remember?

Walking in the sand?

Julie's Black & White Birthday Bash

It’s difficult to know where to begin with Julie’s 40th birthday party. By the time it came around I wasn’t the slightest bit prepared and it seemed like I hadn’t seen Sean in ages. I had decided on Jules present and it was complimented by the gift Andy & Christian had bought her. I was extremely tired but as the morning of Friday 9th dawned I began to relax a little and think about the weekend ahead. Not only was it Jules birthday – I was going on a 4 day seaside break with my bloke and some of my oldest and best friends. It was a win-win situation. Chris Borg was travelling down with us to Exeter where Andrew and Christian were picking us up and driving us the rest of the journey to Bude.

Our hotel, the Edgecumbe, was absolutely lovely with great facilities and awfully friendly staff.

On the first evening, Julie’s actual birthday, a barbecue on the beach was scheduled. I don’t know if it was the warm sea, the cool cider, the greasy burgers or the balmy weather but this was an evening that will stay with many of us for the rest of our lives. There was light in the sky until at least 11.00pm and there were plenty of moments when Sean and I could catch a kiss in the twilight. Sean and I left the beach at about 1.30am but others stayed until four. I don’t know if it was seeing Jules looking so happy or simply because it had been a long exhausting week but I was asleep the second my head hit the pillow.

Saturday was a day for lazing around and slowly getting ready for the evening ahead. I was very pleased with my ensemble – all new! White embroidered shirt from Oz and new black jeans (size 34!) and my aviators for effect. Sean looked fabulous too in his new shirt and snake skin shoes and hand in hand we headed toward Northshore.

It was SO lovely to see how everybody had made such an effort. The black and white theme produced black-tie, ball gowns, striking sixties geometrics and even dyed hair on some of the men. Chris wore a suit!!!! In the ten years I have known him that had only happened once. Julie looked wonderful in a purple fitted, filmy dress, cut below the knee that could have been made for her. Just lovely. Food was served, drink flowed and Sarah had baked a trio of gorgeous cakes. Sean and Janine were wonderful hosts, both attentive and fun keeping the whole thing rocking until the early hours. Happy Birthday, Julie!

Sunday was a day for sore heads and swimming in the sea. I got tossed around in the warm salty water with Andrew and Alex then baked in the deceptively strong sun that gave me a tan. Sunday was an informal leftovers party at Northshore, leftover food and leftover guests, and finally Sean and I headed towards Edgecumbe for our last night.

It was sad to leave and a very peculiar dynamic, as Sean had to pack for Greece. Ho hum. I shall try not to be jealous but I did actually get terribly sad, going from being in the heart of my family for that's who they all are, my family - and then nobody being around. He texted me though, from Greece, which meant the world to me.

Terribly Grand

I got to meet a few more of Sean's friends that weekend as I headed out to Ford for a dinner party. It was a salubrious affair with the weather lovely enough for us to sit in the garden and it was fascinating to hear all the theatre gossip. I also met the designer for Britain's Got Bhangra, which I enjoyed very much indeed. I also met Robert Allsop, who I have heard talk of for many years now through my colleague, Robert Smith.

Would you believe that Sean actually had the gaul to say that having a picture taken with Charles' BAFTA was embarrasing - well, excuse me, see below!

Stags & Hens

A week later I was heading towards Somerset for Giles' Stag Night. It was rather an impromptu decision on my part but I got a bus ticket for only £17 and set out early on a Friday morning for Taunton. All things considered it was a simple journey and it was really lovely to see Giles and Corina again.

Now contrary to popular belief I am a resonably outdoors-y kinda guy as you can see with this picture of my new friend above. However nothing could prepare me for the venue Giles had selected, namely and old, disused cider barn. No electricity! I was looking forward to an evening of booze, food, dancing and flirting with straight men. I gave up on the dancing idea fairly early in the proceedings.

Thankfully Giles friends really pulled together and we ended up sleeping in a relatively luxurious camper van. Food and booze and the straight men flowed in abundance and I had an absolutely wonderful time - even if I was a bit of a lightweight and went to sleep before 1.00am

Jazz Babies!

I think this picture of me and Mel sums up the spirit into which most of Paul's guests got into. It was a real hoot of a murder mystery evening, with our own speakeasy and bathtub gin aplenty. I think the picture of Jules below is hysterical! She has been murdered, I hasten to add and has not simply been knocking back the cocktails.

A New Toy

So where to start as there is SOOOOOO much to tell. I suppose the weekend of Paul’s party is as good a time as any, as several important things happened that weekend. For a start, Jules came back to London for a visit. I first caught up with her at Rory and Marina’s Barbeque, the first of the season, hopefully. On this day I also purchased my iPhone, which has proved very useful indeed. I still have very little idea of its capabilities but so far the most useful tools are the live maps – I have absolutely no inner navigation – and train times. Oh, and obviously Grindr, which is simply hilarious! The camera is rather good, despite what Simon had said about it and the first picture I took was of Marina's cleavage - for artistic purposes that is. In creating her painting for all this time I have been meaning to take a decent picture of her tattoo as it will help identify her in the painting.

For Goodness Sake

Sincere apologies for anybody who might normally read this blog but I am in a bit of a stew with regard to layout and content. Hopefully by the end of the day things might have made some progress........

......OK, well that’s it for now. I have been um-ing and ah-ing over this for quite a while now and I still haven’t made up my mind how to progress. For the time being I shall continue as it is and see if I have a change of heart.