



New years eve was great! My lil sis and I went out with a few mates. In what is fast becoming the norm, I drank far too much far too quickly and have no memory of several of the venues we visited. Midnight came and went with myself being completely oblivious to the passing of 2008 - this was probably an unconscious motivation. 2008 was shyte on so many levels and for so many of my friends and family, myself included!
New years day I made contact with a guy. He lives on a council estate, the council estate which one of jobs is heavily involved with. I spent many of my teenage years growing up on a council estate so they don't bother me. I understand them. However, I am now on the other side of the fence so getting involved (socially) with the zombies on this estate might not prove to be a good idea... It wasn't!
I went over for a coffee that night. I had already made clear that I was only looking for friends. This was a good evening and ok coffee... ew... splutter! I met him the following day to have a look at the remains of the sales and went back to his to watch the celeb Big Brother launch. Now, on council estates nobody has a private life with people always visiting each other and talking in the streets so no one can hide. This guy was a friendly guy and 'out' to most who lived around him, he wouldn't have much choice in that really without actually faking it with woman. So we are sat there enjoying the coffee... cough splutter! when a straight 18 yr old who was recently out of prison came around to use his computer, which was fine normally, but on this occasion he had drank one bottle of whisky, half a bottle of brandy and smoked a quarter of skunk that day. The lad was wankered like I rarely see anyone wankered (myself excluded cos I don't see me), he could not speak and proceeded to knock things over. I was extremely uncomfortable but I was only a guest so I kept quiet and had confidence that my host could deal with it. He couldn't and the lad started to strip as if he were going to bed, completely unaware of where he actually was. I started to join my host in... getting him out of the flat! We managed to convince him to leave and so he did... in his boxers!! leaving his clothes and keys behind! My job was flashing before my very eyes.. after a brief panicked discussion we decided to find him and take him home with his clothes. We did this despite the dog walkers and late night amblers. You can imagine how this looked and why I am still fearful of any repercussions, this is why I have decided to post this event in an attempt to preempt any reports etc...
I have since told the guy that I will no longer be visiting that estate unless at work. He didn't take this well...
...so I went out again. Another good one and the second time I have taken someone home. I spent most of the night in straight places but headed to gay town for a 'ten to twoer' (I guess that saying is void with the new licensing laws) but it didn't go down that way - no one did!
I started talking to kinda cute looking lad but immediately realised he was different. I asked "are you autistic?" he replied in a monotone voice "there is probably something wrong, or so they say". I was hooked, I wanted to talk with him more and so we did. He explained weather systems to me and how he predicts a really hot summer (you heard it here first), he went on to explain why. All I can remember now is that it has something to do with an el nino a few years ago which takes two years to settle... apparently. The club closed so we went. I knew he lived independently and was more than capable of getting his kebab (ew) and taxi but I felt I couldn't leave him there, so I took him home with the promise of a lift home in the morning. My place was a little untidy which he wasn't comfortable with so I quickly tidied. He went on to tell me in an emotionless voice of tragic events in his life and what they meant to him, which wasn't what they would mean to you or I. We then slept... separately as he does not like being touched. I did not try touching him, just for the record, he had previously told me this. He woke up and started talking more, I listened some more and then took him home!
I also caught up with some friends over the festive period, friends I hadn't seen for a long time. I really enjoyed this and plan to see them a lot more in 2009.
I was still a little puzzled about the scouse guy and remembered he said he had a gaydar profile, so I searched for it... found it... and left my number. In case he had lost his phone, not in a crazed stalker way - well maybe a little bit. I did this last night. He called me today! He had indeed lost his mobile but because he doesn't have insurance with the mobile network, a claim on his home insurance was going to take a long time. He was prepared to drive to one of my work places to find me... aw bless! I am grateful he's healthy and not dead. I'm grateful he called. I'm grateful he is coming to stay this weekend but that wasn't soon enough so now I'm going to stay tomorrow night... see what happens!!!
Happy New Year and here's hoping 2009 ROX!!
ts at work places 1 and 2 will now be called 'zombies', it's something I have been thinking about. One job is customer facing and heavily integrated with benefit claimers - benefits is the most inappropriate name for benefits, perhaps if the name changed fewer zombies would live their lives on handouts - you really can't blame them for this, it's the most obvious case of classical and operant conditioning. They fill in some forms and wait around for a few hours and hey presto a reward in the form of money is received, and so the behaviour is reinforced. The job centre is a giant Skinner box. I do acknowledge that for many the need is genuine, gratefully received and deserved as their contributions ensure the money is there when they need it, but there seems to be a growing majority who wander around from municipal building to municipal building making a career out of claiming. I do blame them and I don't, they have been repeatedly rewarded for their lifestyles with no emphasis on empowerment or self sufficiency. Doctors are also to blame and they aren't, they have limited time to see patients so they sign people off work or register them disabled for no significant reason other than to get them out of their surgery.
I started chatting to a guy on gaydar this week. He made it clear he wanted a LTR and I made it clear that I did not. I said I was interested in finding friends and maybe more. He wanted to continue chatting and he was kinda interesting and well educated, about to finish his PhD. He lived 40 miles away (approx) so really not a problem. We progressed to MSN. We talked about Julianne Moore as we both felt she is an underrated actress. It then transpired that my all time favourite scene in a film, which is the breakdown scene at the chemist in Magnolia, is a scene he shows to his students. Not so much of a coincidence as this is a great scene in a great film...

View from Hengistbury Head looking west as Southbourne and Bournemouth Beaches.
Although Hengistbury Head is located in Bournemouth it is actually Christchurch Council who manage and maintain Mudeford Spit as part of Mudeford Quay, I can't remember who pays who for what. Christchurch Council provide the sea defences.
I walked back along the spit past the beach huts that reportedly sell for £150,000 each, I doubt they're reaching that at the moment. I know of one beach hut that didn't get it's full asking price of £80,000.
£80,000 is still a lot of money for what is essentially a shed, some have electric and plumbing but most do not. I realise it's the location that people are paying for but it's still a shed in a nice location.
The South-east corner
The South beach at Hengistbury Head
And they said it would snow...