Killing time

Normally I don?t mind spending time in Soho. This evening was slightly different in the fact that I spent an hour loitering around Old Compton Street waiting for people to arrive.
The scheduled arrival time was 7pm and so I dutifully arrived outside Satsuma to be greeted by an answer phone message from Dave saying he was running late and the new time was 7.30pm
Other Dave arrived and we hot footed it to Barcode to kill some time.
Eventually an hour later Dave and Twom arrived and other assorted masses joined us for the best meal I have had in ages. The Satsuma bento box is brilliant.
All the gay boyz were down one end and the str8 couples down the other. Ironic then that all the boyz ate out of boxes then 😉 [blatantly stolen from Andrew?s comment last night]. If only Wade knew half the conversations down our end of the table 😉

Finally we wandered [and in some cases waddled] over to Retro Bar for Pop Quiz. Joined by many more assorted bloggers [Meg, Simon, Jonathan, Dave, Tom, Ian, Luke, Catherine, and Michael.] and losing our str8 contingent along the way.
Jonathan took photo?s and has them posted so go and have a look!
So it?s off to New York and then San Francisco for Dave and I?m missing out on the New York leg of the trip and meeting him in SF just in time for Pride

Friday Night Dave’s leaving party

Friday Night

Dave‘s leaving party at Retro Bar turned into more of a blogmeet than anything else. Wendy and Leslie had done wonders with the bar and lovely food, even going as far as to include kiwi fruit on the platters 😉 After a few tears, a few tantrums, and discussions about sweet tobacco and iced gems, I was convinced to go to Popstarz to continue the celebrations.
The club was packed but fun and Oliver [flirty straight boy] and Cathy [his girlfriend] kept us amused with their antics. Later after Tom had fallen asleep for what seemed like the tenth time we joined the queue to get our jackets. It seemed to snake around the entire club before eventually arriving at the coat check. Still it gave us time to cruise and be cruised. All this excitement was followed by a cab journey back to south London for pizza and pringles.

Saturday

After getting up late and missing Simon in the process I had a very lazy but enjoyable Saturday. I also managed to get rid of the futon and fridge that have been in my hall for a year. So I now have space for my bike, and Fabio’s bike, and Elric’s bike…
Although we had intentions of going out or going to see a film we ended up staying in and vegging. I’m not complaining though it was nice quality time.

Sunday

Got up relatively early as Nige was bringing Jack back to mine. Also we had plans to go and have Sunday lunch with Meg & Paul, Tom and Scally. A change of venue from the Ship in Hammersmith to the Curtains Up in West Ken was probably not good. The food and service left a lot to be desired so it was just as well we were gathered for the company and not the cuisine.
We then ventured into Leicester Square for Ice Cream and a jaunt in HMV. All of which was a pleasant and undemanding way to finish off the weekend.

I think the main thing I’ll miss about the pesky antipodean is the relaxed attitude to everything.

unrequited love


I went to see ‘The Fluffer‘ last night after seeing Adam and agreeing to take some photo’s and a very pleasant if somewhat unnerving chat about blogging, community and if there was anyone I wouldn’t want to read this blog .
The film was very funny and company was good too. Spence and Glenn, Colin & Dave [nice taste in A&F clothing]. I found myself laughing all the way through the film which was good – welcome light relief really – I like films with humour and drama.
Finally to end the evening it was a dash over to Retro Bar to grab a fleeting kiss off Blogger A and then home.
Glenn and I decided at the tube station that suited and booted guys are kinda cute – I miss not working in an environment where men are in suits. I mean I am glad I don’t have to wear one but I do like to see other people in them!
So anyways the chat with Adam came back to me so I decided since I may blog about said guy it was a good enough excuse to randomly take his picture. [Okay I didn’t really need an excuse he was cute] and then I thought about Simon‘s entry about people being in other peoples photographs – this was a definite case of tottycam though – it wasn’t a random person in the background. He was the focus of the shot but Glenn was there to make it slightly less obvious.
When I got home took Jack out for a wander too and came back and went online as I wasn’t tired – funny how my work day was a nightmare but my evening was just as hectic but much more pleasant.

wendy and leslie

well another really nice night at the Retro Bar for their 5th Birthday Bash. reminded me of the good old days at the bridge with sand castles and the like!
Getting home – well not exactly home but… was slightly more traumatic we went via waterloo and ran down the escalators reaching the platform after the last northbound train had left the station. After a bit of a wander back to the other line north we realised we would need to get a cab – but I by then was desperate for a pee!

top night out

Last night saw me venture out in the world for the first time since being sick. Started with pre theatre drinks and lovely food at Titanic in Brewer Street – nice food but not sure about the 6 foot wide mirror balls all over the restaurant though. Did the real Titanic have those? MPW probably didn’t cook our food but hey what the hell was lovely and relatively inexpensive too.

Then we moved onto the highlight of the evening Chicago which was really good. I think I am in lust with Simon Breen [I think that was his name anyways – he played the jury and was horny as…]

The a quick drink in Retro Bar and a flashback Wendy behind the bar ans Leslie DJ’ing – now in my day we had Leslie and Wendy behind the bar and Chris Reardon DJ’ing. HOw times change eh?

So all in all a top night out and a fun time had by all – lovely company great food and an entertaining show.

Well after many years of

Well after many years of not being especially organised for Mardi Gras but always doing the same thing we have decided to organise what we normally do – make any sense? No probably not. Well you see every year we meet up at the City of Quebec and then do most of the march but get strangely distracted along Whitehall and end up going to Retro Bar for some beers and then when the crowds have subsided a bit making our way to the venue for the party.
This year will be no different – just we have actually made this our plan. We are meeting at 11am at the CofQ and then meeting later at the Retro Bar. Those going onto the party will get a tube later. Simple innit?